Whiz Kid: Parkway Central Senior Uses Foreign Language Skills on Medical Mission

A spring trip to Central America may be a vacation for some, but for Elizabeth Ditch it is an opportunity to use her Spanish skills to help others. Elizabeth, who is a senior at Parkway Central High School, just returned from an eight-day medical mission to Honduras.   

“She’s an amazing student and a great young woman,” said Nancy Wesselman, Elizabeth’s Spanish teacher. “She deserves credit for utilizing her language skills in this way.” Wesselman nominated Elizabeth for Whiz Kid.

Elizabeth served as an interpreter for the International Medical Assistance Foundation (IMAF). She worked 12-hour days with teams of medical personnel to bring health care to the people of Catacamas, Honduras. While doctors provided checkups, medical care and surgeries for those in need, Elizabeth spent her time interpreting for the people of the region. The days were long, busy and exhausting. Elizabeth said she feels fortunate to have been able to help.

“Catacamas is a very beautiful place, but people struggle to live a good life,” Elizabeth said. “It is a poor region, and people can’t get medical care. Our team provided help for hundreds of people."

This was Elizabeth’s second journey to Honduras with IMAF. She became involved with the nonprofit group with her mother, Sharon Ditch. As a nurse, her mother heard about the medical missions and thought it would be an opportunity to provide service to others. She has gone on both missions with Elizabeth.

“The people are so grateful to receive free medical care. Their emotion is so evident. It was a cool experience for us,” Sharon Ditch said.

As a fifth-year Spanish student, Elizabeth said she felt comfortable as an interpreter. “There were times when I didn’t understand what someone said, but we worked through it. Going to Honduras  really makes me appreciate America and the life we have here,” she said. “Hondurans have a hard life, and it was great to be able to help them.”

Elizabeth said she wants to continue the annual mission even though she will attend Truman State University in the fall. “I hope to work things out with my teachers at Truman so I can keep going on the aid trips,” she said.

Spanish has kept Elizabeth on the road for several years. In addition to aid trips to Juticalpa and Catacamas in Honduras, she spent 15 days in Spain on a class trip. Costa Rica is next on the itinerary. A group of Spanish language students from Parkway Central will spend 15 days there. They will live with a Costa Rican family for five of those days. When Elizabeth isn’t traveling, she serves as a tutor and is involved in basketball and cross-country running. 

Elizabeth is the daughter of Loren and Sharon Ditch. She has one brother, Gabe, a sophomore at Parkway Central High School.

The IMAF, a nonprofit group, accepts monetary donations as well as supplies.  If you would like to donate or volunteer, visit their website.

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout? Or did your kids' soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kids honoree.

Each week, Chesterfield Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to rachel.heaton@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

We'll contact you if your nominee is selected. For questions, e-mail rachel.heaton@patch.com.