Before we started our trip to St. Vincent, I was unsure of what to expect. However, as soon as we got through customs at the airport, I knew that I was about to have an amazing time. I was the first person to walk out of the airport and I was greeted with a very warm welcome. Every person I have met has been very welcoming to every one of us! Even though we have only known our new friends for a few days, it seems like we've been friends forever.
Walking into the school on Monday was an experience I will never forget. Every child we saw seemed overjoyed to have us there. The best feeling I've had since being here is when I am at school and all of the children hug as many times as they can. All the children here want is love. Love from their family, love from their friends and love from the community. It's made me become more childlike. Childlike in the sense of carefree-ness but most importantly, childlike in the sense of being a child of God.
To have the opportunity to be here in ST. Vincent and show the children and other people int he community love is one of teh greatest things we could ever do on a mission trip.
Since being here, we've been referred to as many thing by many people, Vincentians and Americans alike. "Americans, white, miss, them." And we have referred to the people living here as many things as well. "Vincentians, black, them." However, being here makes you start to think of many things like why do we, as Americans, as Vincentians, as neighbors in the same global community need a distinction? In the end, the biggest lesson I've learned so far here is that THEY are not THEY. THEY are US and WE are THEY. Regardless if the relationships are between different countries or within the same country. We are all created by one Father. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Experiences like the one we're having now, are once in a lifetime and to learn that it's okay to look at someone as only another child of God during this experience is something that I feel everyone should get the chance to have. You can definitely experience it in another country but more importantly, you can experience it in your home country and in your own neighborhood.
Opportunities like this are very special and I want to challenge everyone, myself included, to see them out and act upon them in ways that Christ would.
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