VAFB Airman enhances others' lives

  • Published
  • By SrA Amanda Mills
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  A military personnel flight customer service Airman spent 10 days of his personal time in March helping others in another country.
SrA Brian Newman, 71st Mission Support Squadron, took leave to travel to Acuña, Coahuila in Mexico on a humanitarian mission with his church.
Events during the mission ranged from constructing five churches, to setting up a free mobile clinic, to distributing medicine, clothes and toys to people in the area.
"I now can say I've done almost everything for at least an hour," Airman Newman said. "I helped in the kitchen; was put in charge of a paint crew; dug ditches for concrete columns; mixed the concrete; hiked two miles through Mexican foothills without a translator passing out pamphlets, toys and candy; served food to the hungry; helped 5-year-olds with arts and crafts; taught English; and helped five Mexican teachers and four American teenagers watch 163 children."
Airman Newman said he was just happy to help give the people some hope. Walking through the urban neighborhoods gave him a small example of their situations: walls were cardboard, roofs were tin, floors were dirt and most did not have an indoor toilet.
"After 10 days I knew the name and face of about 30 of the kids," he said. "Most have never had a toy, ever. They didn't even know how to use crayons. And none have had a sucker or a piece of gum." The church rented an entire motel in the area, and the extra rooms were given to the homeless. During mealtimes, anyone hungry who happened to walk by was fed. Vacation Bible School was every evening in the churches for the children, and sermons were available for adults.
But Airman Newman sees nothing special about his actions. He was part of a 60-person effort that included church members from Texas and Oklahoma.
"I think it should be common to help others," he said. "Especially for me. I'm the one you'll hear complaining the most about the shape of the world, so I should be one of the ones helping fix it." And he does just that. Airman Newman is also very involved with the Enid community, volunteering for things such as a court-appointed special advocate for children and at the University Christian soup kitchen.
But others see the work as very commendable. The mayor of the 70,000-member Coahuila capitol visited the group and personally thanked them for their work.
"Senior Airman Newman is a very kind and compassionate person," said 1st Lt Janelle Feige, 71st MSS. "He is one person that puts others, especially the less fortunate, above himself. It's heartwarming to know that Senior Airman Newman took the time to help those in need."