I recently returned from a life changing adventure to Kingston, Jamaica. Thanks to the generous donations of a few co-workers, friends and family, I was able to embark on a journey that helped shed some light on my life and that of at least 9 other (amazing/courageous) people. After raising $1,000, I went on a Missionary Trip with some of my HBO co-workers to help Mustard Seed Communities, a Catholic Organization dedicated to helping abandoned, disabled children.
During this week-long trip:
We donated money. Thank you to all of those that helped make this possible.
We donated our energy through physical labor. We worked on some major projects such as farmwork/gardening, painting, organizing, moving heavy building materials, etc.
Last, but not least, we donated our time and our hearts. We met and spent quality time with abandoned children and young adults with major physical disabilities stemming from illnesses such as Hydrocephalus, Microcephalus/microcephaly, Macrocephaly, Spina bifida, Cerebal Palsy, Downs-Syndrome and HIV/AIDS to name afew. We hugged/spoke to/helped feed young children that will be wheelchair bound for the rest of lives. We met young mothers that were abandoned by their parents or that left home when they became a teenage mother. We brought joy and laughter to little boys and girls that were abandoned after being born with HIV/AIDS.
I was especially touched by a young boy named Anthony. Anthony is blind and has Hydrocephalus, which is a build up of fluid inside the skull, leading to brain swelling. (Source: https://health.google.com/health/ref/Hydrocephalus). Although, he could not see us, nor could he speak to us, Anthony seemed incredibly happy to know there were new people surrounding him and giving him love and attention. He held my hand and rubbed his face with it while he incessantly squirmed around in his wheelchair. Through my tears, I sang to him and he smiled. When we were leaving, I sensed that he knew something was about to change and he was not as cheery as he was every other day of my trip. He did not move around in his wheelchair as he had during the week and he did not rub my hand on his face, he simply held it tightly and close to his chest. Tears flood my eyes when I think of the tear drop I saw coming from the corner of his eye as I said goodbye.
This life changing trip will forever stay in my mind and heart. Even though it took some getting used to seeing the things I saw and staying in an area experiencing a drought (bathing with a bucket full of cold water makes you really appreciate the warm running showers in the US), I look forward to attending more Missionary Trips and I hope you will help me brighten someone else's life by donating when the next opportunity arises. Thank you in advance.
Please feel free to see some of the pictures from the trip (link below). Please note that due to confidentiality, this does not include pictures of the disabled children, but if you would like to see then, please let me know.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2101461&id=9505014&l=86d076816f
Thank you for your time.
All the best,
~Yomaris
