Thoughts from my first time going abroad

     This week, I decided to gather some thoughts from my first time being abroad—a week-long volunteer trip with fourteen other people to the Dominican Republic. Part of our time was spent hearing stories from people who provided locals with clean water, education, and a sense of community—even extending their efforts to local prisons. In a second, I will describe a moment that consistently stays in the back of my mind every time I pack my bag to head to a new place. This moment is from when we had the chance to sit down with a group of men who had been on the receiving end of this generous community while still being incarcerated. ​

     I was freshly twenty-one years old when I sat around a table full of inmates. With lush, green mountains outside the window to my right, I listened as a group of men thanked me and my team. They expressed gratitude for choosing to spend time with them instead of at the beaches, saying most people would never even consider it. The first thing they chose to use their breath for during our interaction was gratitude and praise (to God). This moment was a breath of fresh air, as I had voiced to my team beforehand that I was skeptical of stepping foot into a prison of all males.  However, their words of peace and encouragement brought all my negative thoughts to a halt. They were not blind to the number of tourists coming into their country year-round on boats and planes, taking full advantage of its beauty. They prayed, we prayed together, and they prayed over us. When this fully sank in, I determined that I would never go somewhere without truly understanding its people and stories. The freedom to travel is an enormous privilege, and I plan on using it for more than just my own pleasure. That’s something I can enjoy at home. Instead, I will ask myself: what allows me to see, learn, and appreciate the most out of this place?

     As always, I hope you start or continue to find places as fascinating and as wonderful as I have. If you enjoy reading these blogs, feel free to follow me on social media, where I share a lot of content, plus weekly blogs. I’m always down to learn more, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment on this page. I hope to meet with you again next week, and I can’t wait to share more.  ​