By: Matt Ledesma
1904 Staff
Notre Dame Catholic School prides itself on preparing its students to spread the Good News of God’s love.
Some evangelize this mission closer to home through local community and church service. Others, like Josh Hernandez (NDCS Class ’08), have chosen to take the message world wide.
Hernandez is now halfway done with an 11-month mission known as The World Race, his travels taking him to 11 different countries on three continents.
The journey, which started this past September, has not only shown him some of the most impoverished places in the world, but also has led him to cross paths with many amazing people, he said.
“I had the privilege to meet an 8-year old girl named Raquel in Los Guido, one of the worst slums in Costa Rica. She was abused mentally and physically every day of her life. This girl stole my heart,” Hernandez said. “Through the relationship I developed with her, I was able to express the love, friendship and safeguard of God. I was put in a position to show her the kindness and love she deserves.”
Currently Hernandez is in Thailand, having already visited Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Malaysia. He’s developed quite a passport stamp collection for a young man now thousands of miles away from his hometown. And with each new stamped imprint, Hernandez said he has met countless others who have given him a new perspective on life.
“I have met leaders of villages, fellow missionaries, people who are homeless, teachers and so many more,” he said. “Each person has given me a beautiful sense of God’s love and inspiration. It is amazing how meeting a person, even if it is only once, can change and impact your life forever.”
When not aiding those in need, in his down time Hernandez said he thinks back to his days at Notre Dame Catholic School for strength and encouragement.
Hernandez thanked his parents, Paul and Cherry, for giving him the opportunity to attend NDCS and create those long-lasting relationships.
“Notre Dame has helped me walk by faith in Christianity and has helped establish a solid foundation for my belief in Christ,” he said. "I now see there are so many opportunities to serve and love the people within the community. There is an entire world out there God has created. You just have to spread your wings and see where He takes you."
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Follow Josh in the rest of his journey by visiting his online journal at joshhernandez.theworldrace.org