TRAVEL
From Issue #23
A Holiday of Hope
 A
group of inspired teens joined Faze last summer on a
trip to the Dominican Republic. Instead of tanning-it-up
at an indulgent resort, they enriched their lives by
helping others through a humanitarian relief project,
Hero Holiday. After a week of building homes for Haitian refugees, cleaning
dump sites, and bringing food to locals, they had a
lot to reflect on.
|
Kaelyn, 16, Qualicum Beach, B.C.
After digging in the mud in the villages and seeing what little
people live on and survive with (yet they are so joyful), you
can’t look at your life the same. It truly
is life-changing. Not only for you, but also for those you go
there to serve.
Kyle, 17, Etobicoke, Ont.
This was a life-changing experience. I know everyone says that
they’ll never be the same after they have experienced
something out of their comfort zone, but what Hero Holiday has
done is beyond that. This trip has not only showed me what a
third world country looks like, but for seven days, I became
a part of it. I provided help to those who do not have the basic
necessities of life, and through that, I left the Dominican
Republic with a profound respect for its people and their positive
outlook on life. The one thing that I learned on this trip is
that by helping others we can help ourselves understand
the importance of life.
Amanda, 16, Maple Ridge, B.C.
I knew I was making a difference. I would love to bring friends
and just about everyone I know next year so they can experience
it too. I’m going to save up everything I have
so I can go again.
Nicholas, 17, Lower Sackville, N.S.
One of my favourite memories is when we were digging a trench
for water. We had some of the pipe already laid and covered
and then we hooked it all up. All the locals huddled around
the pipe as the fresh water ran through it. Everyone was emotional
at that point. I was holding in tears until we walked back to
the truck. I was the first to sit down and I started crying. I knew they would all have a better life because of what we
did.
Kayla, 17, Burlington, Ont.
It’s hard to put into words the experience I had while
on this trip. I am so much more educated on poverty and everything
that comes along
with it, and now I am able to do something about it, whether
it be holding a child’s hand or sponsoring a child or
family. Going on this trip has made me a better
and stronger person.
Heather, 16, Fall River, N.S.
The people there have nothing, but they are so happy. They praise
God for every little thing they have. Back in Canada, all we
want is more. We want the new toy, the new computer, the new
car. All we think about is what we don’t have. The
Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic are happy for what they have,
and they literally have nothing. When you walked
into the villages, there were kids dancing and singing and smiling.
It’s amazing how these kids are so happy when they have
nothing. I guess I’m a totally new person. I try to be
like those children; happy with what I have. Not always wanting
more, not complaining because I don’t have something,
and always being happy. I want to be able to dance and sing
and praise God for what I have, not complain about what I don’t
have. This is a project I hope to do every year from now on!
Stephanie,
15, Elliot Lake, Ont.
We came from all corners of Canada with hardly anything in common,
and we left as a family, with an unbreakable bond and unforgettable
memories. We even accepted each other’s sweat (like it
or not) on the bus. It was crazy how after the second day, we
were so dirty, wet, and tired that we forgot completely about
the simple luxuries of home. We take everything like that for
granted. Even something as simple as brushing our
teeth under the tap was impossible on the trip.
Those tiny things seemed to have one of the biggest impacts
on me. After getting home, I was amazed at how easy we have
it. I’m still in disbelief that people in the world are
living the way those people are.
