Clement’s exercise in humility floors ’em

Dani Clement has endured a lot of hardships during her Carmel Catholic gymnastics career, including six broken toes, a broken foot, pinched nerves and irritated tendons, among other ailments.

As a senior, Clement has been forced to focus on the balance beam and floor exercise this season due to her nagging injuries.

“I realize, no matter how bad I’m feeling, that there are people out there who have much more to worry about than what I do,” Clement said. “So I know I have to keep (my personal issues) internalized and not bring others down. There are a lot of people who are worse off than what I’ve endured.”

Clement knows that first-hand. After helping Carmel win the state gymnastics championship last February, she experienced others’ hardships in July when she traveled Peru on a mission trip through her parish: St. Patrick of Wadsworth. She traveled south with teammate Jen Zeller and about 20 others, including Carmel student Katlyn Elfering and Warren’s Madi Beckley.

“I think I’m a different person now,” said Clement, who’s in her fourth year on Carmel’s varsity team. “That (trip) made me a better person. I’m more humble. I don’t get over-dramatic and am more respectful of others. It was really emotional down there, seeing the humility and the pride that they have.

“They’re grateful for everything. I went down there expecting to give to all of these little kids, parents and families. But, they give more to us than anything. It’s really awesome. When we come back, we almost feel guilty in all that we have, and really grateful for what we have. We talked a lot about that when we were down there.”

The church members went to Peru to work, to deliver food and clothes, to build homes out of bamboo, to visit the local orphanage.

They also passed out ice cream to the local kids.

And befriended hundreds.

Such as Rosa Maria, 7, who speaks limited English. Clement speaks limited Spanish.

“She would find me at every work site and was just always there, helping me out,” said Clement who, before leaving Peru, handed Rosa Maria a Bible as a parting present.

The two cried and hugged each other.

“That was like the best feeling,” Clement said. “I’m sure I’ll see her next year when I go back, at least I hope I see her.”

Added Zeller, who has gone twice to missions in Peru: “I mostly go for the people there. They are so friendly. I just love them. It’s a great experience. This is something I love doing every year. Just seeing the bright faces, especially of the kids. They are so welcoming.”

Clement, who lives in Gurnee, had heard about the mission trips to Peru for years, and when Zeller asked her to go, Clement agreed.

“It was hard work, but more fun than hard work,” Clement said.

They spent eight days in Peru, celebrated a local’s birthday and also America’s birthday: July 4. And the locals threw a party for the Americans, complete with hamburgers and hotdogs.

At the morning mass on July 4, the Peruvians even sang American song to the visitors.

“That was very emotional to me,” said Zeller, a junior in her third year on the varsity team who competes in all four events: vault, bars, beam and floor exercise.

Clement and Zeller even shared a bit of gymnastics with the Peruvians, teaching the locals how to jump rope.

“It was amazing to see how open the kids were as opposed to kids here. That was awesome,” Zeller said.

They rode in the back of pickups during their Peru experience, carefree and fun-loving. They slept at their sister parish, Santisimo Sacramento Parish. On beds made of bamboo.

“They brought youth and enthusiasm,” to the mission, said Deacon Ed Tomkowiak, of St. Patrick, whose three sons (Ed, Terry and John) graduated from Carmel. “There were several work crews that we had down there, and both participated in all of them. Each was eager to participate; they were not slackers.”

Added Carmel gymnastics coach Sarah Doyle: “I’m lucky to have Jen and Dani on my team. Both are very giving and friendly girls. They are all-around good kids. It’s really impressive that they’d take time out of their summer (vacation) to give back and help others. What’s even more impressive is that this (mission) is something each wanted to do. It was not something they had to do to fulfill a (work-study) obligation or anything like that.”

Clement and Zeller witnessed life unlike their daily runs in Lake County. They saw dirt, lots of dirt. A limited number of paved roads. Many in Piura, Peru, cannot afford clean water.

“Poverty is just … killing that area,” Clement said.

Still, she added, “The people we were around were so positive about their situation. It was just a real spiritual experience.”

And both plan to return to Peru in 2011.