Straight-up Awesomeness

I am feeling grateful and I have been incredibly humbled by the volunteers I have stood side by side with on this trip. They are so young and already they have seen, heard and felt the need in communities. They have chosen the road less travelled and decided that they will be compassionate and loving. They are mixing cement, smooth coating and sweating. They are so eager to work and so excited to entertain the children. They are drinking in this experience with every ounce of their being.

These are the youth that will be happy. It is this generation that has the resources to make a difference. They will change the world. They will spread the word, inspire others and continue to live with hope. They are passionate about learning new things and connecting with the people in the communities. These student volunteers see the beauty in people, from every level of income and from everywhere, and they just can’t get enough. The ripple effect of this experience is going to be enormous. So much so that it is hard for most of them to conceptualize the magnitude of what is happening here.

I get to work side by side with these youth on a daily basis here and back home in Canada. I keep telling them that they have so much power in their hands, that they inspire and humble me, that they hold the key to ending the suffering of those around them.

If they weren’t so awesome, I wouldn’t get to do what I do. I wouldn’t get to lead and teach and inspire. I want to thank them. H. Jackson Brown said ‘Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you’. Seriously guys, when I think of fairness and integrity, I think of all the faces and names I have encountered on this trip.