Wheatfield native Dirk Oudman used his recent mission trip to gain valuable experience for his future career as an environmental lobbyist.
A political science major at Dordt College in Iowa, Oudman joined a group of seven students in January on a 10-day trip to Brazil for an AMOR (A Mission OutReach) service project.
“AMOR is a mission trip that particularly focuses on raising students’ awareness of other cultures and ways of life,” he said.
“We learned a lot about Brazilian culture and farming techniques, and we made important connections with organizations in Brazil for further, longer-term projects.”
Oudman spent the majority of the trip in the cities of Ponta Grossa and Lagoa da Confusao.
“I learned that Brazilians like sweet coffee, they don’t worry very much and the country has some very developed sections and some very undeveloped areas,” Oudman said.
“I enjoyed the new sights, sounds and tastes, as well as meeting new people. And I picked up Portuguese pretty fast,” he added.
A 2010 graduate of Covenant Christian High School in DeMotte, Oudman is enrolled in the Kuyper Scholars Program, an honors program for Dordt students wishing to pursue intensive studies.
“I would like to be a lobbyist for a social justice cause or the environment, and I will definitely stay involved in missions throughout my life,” he said. “Missions are important to show us other aspects of global culture, as well as use some of the gifts God has given us to help others in need.”
The son of Wilbur and Sarah Oudman, Dirk is involved in student government and lacrosse, and is a board member for World Renew, a community development and disaster response organization.
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