By Jennifer Troyan
A Dream Fulfilled
This month, I am writing a deeply personal story for our Good Works in the Community segment. This is not meant to be
a “look what I did” type thing. The reason for the share is to instill hope and encouragement.
There are many organizations and religious institutions that offer mission trips. I chose Food for the Poor (FFTP). I’ve
done volunteer work with this organization, all very rewarding, yet this trip was on another level for me personally. It has been a dream of mine for many years to go on a mission trip and I finally did it! Last month I went with a group to Kingston,
Jamaica. It was a remarkable experience.
What We Accomplished
Let me tell you what we accomplished:
- Served breakfast at a homeless shelter. We had an opportunity to meet and speak with the residents and I made a connection with a lovely woman. As it turns out, we have the same name!
- Went to the FFTP Jamaica complex to pack up food bags to distribute to two of the schools were going to visit. It was hot and still everyone was motivated. Our goal was to pack up 100 bags and we did 240 so there was more to share with people.
- Visited several schools of various aged children and distributed food care packages to 100 parents. One of the schools put on a show of singing and drumming, showcasing their talent.
- Spent time at home for children with disabilities. This was a hard one because I felt helpless there, however, the staff there do a wonderful job of taking care of the kids – they even have a farm business which supports their efforts.
- We built a house in a day for this lovely woman! This was life-changing for her and she was beyond grateful. This was very moving to see, especially seeing where she was living and the conditions. Now she has a brand new 2-bedroom home!
Where I Felt Called to Share
The children’s home was my most meaningful experience. We built toys, made jewelry, colored, wrote in journals, played games and basketball, blew bubbles, and just talked.
One of my moms came with me (a child there thought she was my younger sister — Mom was thrilled!). But when she stepped away to talk with another child, I saw the kids’ faces fall. These are children taken from their parents due to neglect or abuse, and I felt called to share something with them. I told them I had only met my own mom five years ago, and that while I don’t know what the future holds for them, there is always hope — maybe they’d find their families too. They were deeply moved.
A girl made me a bracelet. Another wrote me the sweetest letter, thanking me.
All I did was share my story with empathy and compassion, hoping to create hope for them.
What I Learned
I will be forever grateful for that time and the chance to share. My story was just different – I could’ve easily been one of them. I had a loving family, and later, the great joy of adding to it.
The kids may not remember me as time passes, but I believe they won’t forget what we shared that day.
I hope you get to experience (or already are experiencing) the joy of sharing your time with people who need help. Whether abroad or right in your hometown, consider trying it — or keep doing it.
It’s been wonderful to see the ripple effect of sharing my story. People have shared incredible things with me in return, and I’ve seen many hearts open. When it comes down to it, setting basic survival needs aside, we all want to be seen, heard, and know that we matter.
How You Can Get Involved
One big lesson for me that I want to share with you is this: Be grateful for the things we “get to” complain about (of course, be grateful for the good things too!).
FFTP’s mission trip webpage says, “Don’t just travel the world. Change it.” It feels like you are making an impact when
you volunteer your time to help others because you see the people you are helping face to face and eye to eye.
Everything you do to help is having an impact and we are moving towards change.
Someone in my group said, “This will change your life.” They were so right. I know I can be a continued force for good and I’m going to keep this going!
Here’s a 2 minute video on what a mission trip is like so you can see for yourself. Consider volunteering and make a difference. It feels incredible.
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