By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

At the young age of 28, Carrie Russpatrick, along with husband Scott, has seen more of the world than most of us will ever see.

This couple is serving in the Peace Corps in Zambia’s Southern Province of Choma.  They live like the local people – same home conditions and getting paid the same amount as the average employee in that country.

This goes beyond visiting and tourism, and dealing with all the changes almost defies description.

“I will never think of other countries, poverty or happiness in the same way again,” Carrie said. “My Tonga name is ‘Mutinta’ which means ‘white lady’ and it always makes me feel good when people can pronounce my real name correctly.

“This Peace Corps idea started when Scott and I were in high school,” she continued. “We loved doing something to combat the things we cared about.”

This couple at such a young age started the “Young Activists Club” at Hoover High School and at that time began to discuss the Peace Corps in their future.

Then after completing undergrad work they joined the Master’s International Program with the Peace Corps where you complete your master’s degree while serving.

Carrie’s training has been all health-related. Before leaving Alabama she was a Sexual Health Educator for the UAB 1917 Clinic.

Before that she also served as a rape counselor. She said that as a Peace Corps volunteer her life is essentially one big community activity.

“I work with a group called Saving Mothers; Giving Life,” she said. “The aim is to try and reduce the infant-mother mortality rate. I spend lots of time visiting nurses and staff members at rural health clinics to discuss clinic problems and how to access resources that could help.”

She also has held empowerment camps for young girls, worked with orphanage children and many other similar duties.

The Russpatricks have completed their Peace Corp work in Zambia and will hopefully be starting new civilian jobs in Zambia in the coming year.

Scott and Carrie Russpatrick are trekking in Nepal (the closest you can legally get to Tibet) in May of 2016 and this will realize a long time dream they have had.