Tomohon Mission Trip

America’s historic inaugural statement, “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” is a truly seminal appeal to mankind. This line turned the first page of the epochal American saga that has since transformed the world’s moral and political framework. However, today as we bustle through our daily lives, it is easy to take for granted just how fortunate we actually are to be Americans. Despite our domestic and foreign quandaries, America is still so wealthy that our notion of poverty, where even the poor are fed, housed, clothed, and entertained, is well above the squalor that much of the world understands as poverty. Famine, war’s destruction, and other calamities are a relatively foreign concept in the American psyche, and our prosperity has unintentionally disengaged us from true gratefulness for our homeland. In times like these it is prudent to take a moment to reflect on what really matters.

This non- profit organization encourages individuals to learn survival skills in the wilderness and take risks that require stepping out of comfort zones. The organization believes that mission trips should have an outdoor adventure and a rewarding service project. The “adventure” part of this trip was backpacking eighteen miles through Yellowstone. Our path was filled with rocky hills and unleveled ground, and by the time we got to our campground, our feet were covered in blisters. That night, our exhausted group of eight slept under a tarp held up by a pole in the middle of a treeless field where buffalo hooves were imprinted into the ground. We woke up to the sun rising over the mountain tops and valleys that were unending. And though our bodies were aching, we felt energized and

It was my first time in the Dominican Republic, away from my parents and traveling alone. It was also my first mission trip and I loved every minute of it. As I sat and looked around the village of slums and shacks, I saw that the people were so giving and friendly. They had next to nothing, and yet they were still volunteering to give more.

In the essay “What’s so great about America” by Dinesh D’Souza, the India born author shares his experience while living in America. D’Souza first starts his essay saying “Here is a country where everything works”(D’Souza 237-238), everything from the highway sign to properly working public toilets. He also emphasized how overwhelmed an immigrant can find themselves while visiting a supermarket for the first time. D’Souza then compares America to most countries today that does not have the most basic of health care products like deodorant which “is unavailable in much of the Third World”. New immigrants and people all over the world are witnessing the lifestyle of the poor in America living well, other

The country was foreign, a first for me. Dilapidation and ruin scattered the horizon as far as one could see. Guatemala is a place where poverty has a strong grasp on its people. We traveled tirelessly for hours to reach the poorest of the poor. Upon arrival old, young, and natives of all shapes and sizes formed receiving lines, eager to welcome us with gifts of smiles and gratitude. It was an experience that forever changed me. This was the first time I had stepped outside the boundaries of the American culture into a world where nothing is taken for granted. Each day spent on my mission trip brought a fresh awareness of gratefulness. Any pre-trip reluctance quickly became a vague memory as my emotions welled within bring a fresh change to

We, in general, live in a wealthy country. With its wealth, the government pays for many things for their citizens. Whether we’re a man or woman, young or old, rich or poor, we’re given most of the same opportunities because of our government. In America, the poor can still go to school and get an education, receive insurance or other medical care, obtain social security, food stamps, and more. The government helps everyone in need of aid, which makes our country very unique. This uniqueness is especially what makes me proud of being an American. Our country helps those who can’t help themselves, which also makes our country thrive.

The streets roared with loud car horns as my parents and I walked down the polluted sidewalks. It did not matter how far I walked or what part of the city I was in, I’d always see homeless men, women, and children were all around. Those who were not already passed out from starvation held their hands out to us, to me, in desperation. The looks in their eyes told stories of pain and loss. Yet they lived on, clinging to life, waiting patiently for the next rupee. “Don’t stare at them,” my mother commanded. “But why? We have change, let's give them some!” I demanded. “If we give to one person, all the others will come, and we don’t have enough for everyone,” she responded. Her brutally honest words lingered as I helplessly walked past the crowds. This experience not only taught me how fortunate I was, but it also made me want to fight harder. To fight for all the people who could not fight and to one day give them a voice-a chance in our unfair hierarchical society so that they too could be self-sufficient and pursue their own endeavors. I was determined to make a sustainable

America was built on lies and lost lives, the backs of the downtrodden covered in the footprints of the fortunate. While the wealthy 1% lived in luxury, the impoverished 15% lived in waste and ruin; rundown houses, sewers, abandoned cellars, the underneaths of bridges and overpasses-- the poorest of the poor had to be happy with even the most awful of accommodations, taking what they could get and struggling to hold on to it.

All over the world, there are over 3,000,000,000 people living on less than $3.50 per day. However, even though there are many men, women, and children in our own country who live like this, there are others who live without a care in the world. These people need to take the time to realize that the basic necessities that they take for granted such as plumbing, water, food, and health care, could be the greatest luxury to someone across the world, or maybe even in their own country.

Lastly, America needs to build a bunch of wealth and give a bunch of it away. This concept is for the government and her people because when one gives and it becomes a habit, that person is forever changed. It reminds them that it’s not all about them. It’s not about getting a bunch of stuff that they can’t afford to impress people that they don’t even like. It’s about taking care of your neighbor; it’s about being a selfless person and nation in a selfless world. America needs to invest in herself again, because the best invest one

At the end of my junior year, I took a brave leap and went to Ecuador with a program called Global Student Embassy for a reforestation project. Before leaving, I got cold feet, and started doubting the trip. This trip was massively out of my comfort zone, for I hated heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and gardening. However, this trip changed my life. I met people who would change my life forever. Our trip leader, David, is the most inspirational man I have ever met. He is filled with joy, comfort, and laughs. He lives a nomadic lifestyle, and travels all the time, never settling down in one place. He showed me beauty in things I would have never found beautiful. His philosophy in life is to share love. David carries his own baggage that has given him his deepest and darkest insecurities, but he does not let that get in the way of

Living in a first world country, I possess many advantages. My life is bound to be a decent one even if I make a few mistakes and go through some hardships. Except, it’s not. Half of lower-class Americans do not have the stability we need to live comfortably. Consequently, our way of living becomes a hamster wheel we have to keep turning to generate enough money for basic living necessities. Experiencing such first-world misfortunes almost makes my remarks seem cavil, but the reality of low-income Americans living in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. is ghastly to say the least. Moreover, I have had firsthand experience of extreme financial hardships in my household living with a single mom. To illustrate, within weeks, my dad was

When I was little, I heard stories of Third World countries where people lived in complete poverty. I would hear of how they had dilapidated domiciles, contaminated water, deadly diseases, and shortages of food. I was always told how blessed I was to live in a country where I was free of these situations, but I always took this truth for granted. I would go along every day, not worrying about where I was going to sleep or what I was going to eat, when people all over the world were facing these situations as problems. It wasn't until I was sixteen that I realized how blessed I was, when I was given the opportunity to visit San Jose, Costa Rica.

In spring of 2016, my youth group and I began planning a trip to a neighboring city. This wasn’t just any trip however, we were going on a mission. Each of us there were bound and determined to

Alongside my studies, I run a nonprofit organization called The Esther Enaholo Foundation (www.teef.org.ng). This foundation is a platform for reaching out to children in motherless babies’ home. Our most recent project was organizing a Christmas party for children in Arrows of God orphanage home, Ajah. This party had in attendance 50 children from the orphanage home, masters’ students from Pan-Atlantic University and staff of the