OSHKOSH, Wis. - CitizensFirst Credit Union President/CEO CarlaAltepeter doesn't believe in coincidences as much as destiny.

"I went to Africa as a moderator at a WOCCU annual meeting in1998 and was moved by the plight of the poor. I was just hit withthis need to help so I came back and proposed to my church to leadmissionary teams to Third World countries," said Altepeter. "I'vealways been fascinated with Africa and felt an affinity toward thepoor so when I was there everything pulled together and I had an`aha' moment this is what I was meant to do."

It took her first trip leading a missionary team to help rebuildafter Hurricane Mitchell in 1999 to get hooked.

Since then Altepeter has been leading teams into such countriesas Bolivia, Guyana, Peru, Nicaragua and most recently she returnedto Africa in Uganda to conduct a medical/dental mission.

As a leader, Altepeter is responsible for everything fromfinding out what help is needed where, gathering a team togetherand providing training to coordinating vaccinations, visas,passports and airline tickets for each team member. It takes aboutsix to nine months to plan the trips. Team sizes range from 15 to22 people and she turns to Phoenix-based Food for the Hungry, afaith-based organization that specializes in bringing hope and helpto those in need in Third World countries, for local contacts. Foodfor the Hungry establishes worldwide nongovernmental contacts inthese countries and provides short-term missionary trips. It wasexactly what Altepeter wanted since she has a job and family totake care of.

"Again I was provided guidance to Food for the Hungry-someonejust happened to give me a pamphlet on it because they heard I wasinterested in missionary work. I feel confident taking people toThird World countries under their leadership," said Altepeter. "Myjob doesn't stop until we get back and I drop the team off at thechurch. It is hard work, but so rewarding to reach out to othercountries."

Despite the security of having local contacts make no mistakethese trips are typically dangerous. For example, when in GuyanaAltepeter's team was chased by men wielding machetes.

"Fear makes people do things. We went into a squatter village tobuild homes and they just didn't understand why this group of whiteAmericans was in their village," said Altepeter. "This is a greatexample of why I love working as a missionary leader-witnessing thetransformation of people. By the time we were done they wereinviting us into their homes and to hold their babies. It is justsuch a life changing experience." [email protected]