Last December, I set out with my best friend Julia on a journey of a lifetime. We traveled to Haiti along with 20 other volunteers who were part of an amazing non-profit organization called Clinicians of the World. This was truly a life changing experience in big and small ways. Before I left for the mission, I thought about how much help I could provide for the people there, but I never really thought about the impact it would have on me. I left after a week feeling complete, and so excited and inspired to join and be part of more missions in the future.
It seems so unreal when I think of how long its been since we returned from our mission trip. When I look back at our time spent in Haiti, all of the feelings and memories feel so vivid…as if we experienced them yesterday. We spent a week in Haiti expanding Clinicians of the World’s deworming program throughout remote villages in mountainous region of Southern Haiti near Grand-goave. We drove for over an hour everyday up the mountains and across rivers to bring care to struggling people who did not have access to care. We dewormed nearly 2,000 children, adults, and elderly individuals, and distributed 2,500 pairs of shoes. We delivered over $30,000 of medical supplies and medications, and treated over 700 patients in mobile clinics. It’s impressive when I think of all the work we achieved in only 7 days, and my hope is that we impacted the lives we touched as much as they impacted ours.
We met so many beautiful, warm, and kind people in Haiti. Time and time again, they blessed us for being there and providing help, and especially blessed the baby growing in my belly. No matter how much poverty or devastation this country faces and has faced, there is still so much beauty, hope, and perseverance within its brokenness.
I’m so thankful to have had this amazing opportunity, and can’t help but think it was a mission I was meant to be on. See, I applied for this mission only a few short months before it was set to start, and it was only a few weeks after being accepted that we found out we were expecting our first child, and not for a split second did I ever think of canceling the trip. I felt as if it was a blessing to be able to share this trip with my baby, and am hoping it will be the start of many amazing journeys we will share together.
I wanted to take this time, to thank the amazing team that helped make this mission so remarkable. Working alongside each and every one of you made every second of this trip worthwhile, and seeing how you all selfishly shared your gifts and do so on a regular basis was truly inspiring. I hope to cross paths with you again in the near future and work alongside you again.
To Julia, I’m so happy I was able to share this experience with you! I love you to pieces, and am so proud of you and all the amazing work you did. Thank you for documenting this experience with your beautiful photos. I can’t wait to go on another mission together… I think this was the start of many.
To all of you who helped sponsor my trip, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have done it without your support, and am forever grateful for your generosity. Haiti was such an amazing experience that I know I will never forget.
Haiti, I will forever have you in my heart!
Photography by Julia Azcona
