if.net

As you probably know, I am in a contest and am in the Top 5 nationally for a role on the hit series BONES. So, I need your daily vote there in order to win!

However, there is a new competition on If.net that I just entered this week. You are asked to post a shot from your greatest adventure to date for the chance to win a 9-day trip to Costa Rica in an adventure tour. I thought about it... and thought why not enter? I love adventure! I have rock climbed, overcome my fear of hieghts and jumped out of a plane, volunteered to mentor youth, treked across Italy to discover its art... but the greatest adventure was a trip I took to an area called Bacalar. So, I included a shot of me and Jefferson. There is quite a story behind the photo. You see one of the most memorable and life-changing experiences I ever had was a mission trip to the Yucatan where I assisted building a church and school. It is located in the little village of Buena Vista, Mexico.

It was rewarding... but also a lot of hardwork. We actually laid block and stone to build this structure that could withstand hurricane force winds. Most people have grass huts, dirt floors and sleep in hammocks. For a solid week, I laid block, mixed cement, hauled materials and one of my jobs was to create handmade iron rings for the cement rebar structure... all in the tropical summer heat of the Yucatan. We also built beds for the mission and cleaned up the main building area. The most emotional moment came when we left to come back to America. Jefferson's father (that's Jefferson in the photo with me!) was so overcome with emotion because we helped him build this solid structure for worship and education in the midst of grass huts, that we all were crying with him!

A month after we left, a 200 mph hurricane directly hit the area, but the little building survived! I will never forget that amazing week in the jungles of Buena Vista. I know that little village has a place for people to worship and children to learn. I thank God that I could be a part of that experience!

~Benjamin