A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Susan Zidlicky desires to lessen the gap between the
DuPage community and cultural pockets around the globe

By Mia Jones

Places like El Salvador, Kenya, and the suburbs of Chicago might not seem like they have a lot in common, but for those who choose to travel beyond DuPage County, strong bonds, relationships, and life-long memories await the people of these countries.

Maria Shepherd and her daughter Caroline were not quite sure what they were getting themselves into when they embarked on a trip to El Salvador this past summer, but they were met with the joys of serving others once they got into the thick of their trip. After speaking with Susan Zidlicky for years about her mission work, Maria decided to go with her daughter, Caroline, to El Salvador for the first time ever.

Erin Milburn also listened to Zidlicky’s passionate talks about her trips and took her eldest son to El Salvador. The impact of their first trip led her to take her second son to Kenya this past spring. Milburn said that she already wants to go back. Trips like these put things into perspective, offering DuPage kids a great learning experience, said Milburn.

“They have everything they need and want, and I think it’s just good for them to realize that the majority of the world doesn’t live like that,” said Milburn.

Susan Zidlicky began doing mission trips 11 years ago. Inspired by her experiences abroad, she founded Light of Love Ministry two and a half years ago. While Zidlicky was not exactly sure what she was envisioning for this organization, Zidlicky said the growth in the past two and a half years has been very impactful.

Light of Love Ministry partners with Sus Hijos in El Salvador, Mathare Community Outreach, and Kariobangi Outreach Children’s Home in Kenya. Zidlicky leads two trips to Kenya and at least one to El Salvador each year. Today, every trip Zidlicky plans and leads for her organization is filled with people, she said. Parents take their children on these trips to learn and grow together, and even bring a different child of theirs each time. Zidlicky encourages families to go, especially to see the real world.

“We can always find an excuse not to go, but all the much more reason to go. You don’t know how your life is going to be changed,” said Zidlicky.

For 16-year-old Caroline Shepherd, El Salvador presented a lot of firsts to her, such as going to a new country and building a home for a family of three. The Shepherds were placed with a family through Sus Hijos, a program that works with children in public orphanages in San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital. Watching the family’s neighbors become excited about the family receiving a newly built house was a highlight for Shepherd. The Shepherds are already looking forward to the next time they visit El Salvador.
“It made me want to build a house for everyone there,” said Caroline Shepherd.

Like El Salvador, relationship-building is at the forefront of the trips to Kenya, said Zidlicky. Going to Kenyan children’s homes and spending time with them concludes in a retreat on the last night of these trips. Visitors also spend time with teachers and students at three schools in the Mathare Community Outreach program in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

Inspired by the true story, I Will Always Write Back, by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch, Zidlicky started a pen pal program for kids to connect with Kenyan children. There are currently 90 U.S. children writing to 37 Kenyan children, meaning that the Kenyan children usually have two American pen pals, said Zidlicky.

“We see people as people, not projects,” said Zidlicky.

Currently, Light of Love is raising money for education with the Kariobangi Outreach Children’s Home in Kenya. They are currently sponso-ring the education of 37 children, with seven kids in college this year. It costs about $1,500 a year for a child to go to college in Kenya, which can provide them with a way out of the Nairobi slums, said Zidlicky.

Light of Love’s Junior Board, composed of students who have gone on the trips and are now helping to lead the organization, is raising $10,000 for El Salvador and Kenya. Funds raised will go toward providing a home for a family in El Salvador and temporary shelter for Kenyan students while their children’s home is being rebuilt after destruction from severe floods this past June, said Bill Shiell, who acts as a guide ,for Zidlicky while thinking about the potential scope and long-term vision of Light of Love.

“Light of Love doesn’t simply come once and then leave when the project is over; they continue to come and build trust, and they’re someone that people can really rely on,” said Shiell.

The children’s home in Nairobi’s Mathare Valley is a project that will cost about $300,000 total, with Light of Love having already raised the first $100,000 so far.

Zidlicky is not sure where Light of Love is heading, but her next steps include giving hope and inspiration for people to go on a trip, even if they may have concerns about coming on a mission trip.
“You see that we’re all people, we were just born in different places with different needs,” said Zidlicky.
To learn more about upcoming trips or to donate to this organization, please visit lightofloveministry.org.