bug for missionary work.

Melissa Caldwell volunteered to take the two-month adventure organised by Teen Missions International to build dormitories for Camp Cenami in Escobar, which is 50 miles from the capital Buenos Aires.

Teen Missions is a non-denominational ministry that aims to challenge, train and discipline young people of any race, colour, sex, age, handicap, or national origin by exposing them to field projects worldwide.

The second year Arts and Science student said she and 19 other teens learned basic building skills at a two-week boot camp at the Christian ministry's Merritt Island, Florida headquarters.

"We learned how to make concrete and mortar the old fashioned way -- on the ground,'' she said. "I already knew how to drive a nail, though.'' Ms Caldwell, 18, and a graduate of Warwick Academy, said the course also included block laying and carpentry, in addition to a physical regimen of an obstacle course.

From Florida the group travelled to Escobar where with the help of some locals the group and its five adult leaders began work on the dormitories, a sidewalk, and a water tank.

Once there their day began at 7 a.m. in which they worked for a half hour before breakfast and a daily devotion period.

The work day, not including lunch, ran until 5.30 p.m. when the group had dinner and took care of personal needs.

The day ended with etiquette classes and a bible marking class which teaches the adventurers how to evangelise to people.

And before the group bedded down for the night at 11 p.m. there was a nightly rally where one person would have their turn teaching a devotion.

"I thought the mission would be interesting,'' Ms Caldwell said. "It was a way for me to travel around and see places I probably would not normally see.'' She said the adventure was not all work and no play as the group spent a weekend at a hot springs in Uruguay and another trip to Buenos Aires.

When asked what she wanted to pursue for a career, Ms Caldwell said: "After this experience, I'm thinking toward missionary work now. It was wonderful.

Everything was as a team.'' ALL SMILES -- Melissa Caldwell poses with children from Escobar, Argentina where she was part of a mission to build a dormitory this summer.