During the summer, I went on a missions trip to Miami for three days. The first day we were doing actual missions work (which was helping sort through a thrift shop), we got up at around 5 in the morning to go to the beach and pray. It was still dark when we got there, and I remember feeling such peace before going out and seeing the poverty of the city. It made me feel really good, helping people who needed it without anything in exchange.

Our second day, we went to a neighborhood where there were a lot of kids, and our job was to play with the kids. After that day, I remember feeling such a sense of satisfaction and happiness, even though I was stuck with the rest of the sweaty kids in a crowded bus. It made me think.

I realized after that missions trip how lucky we are as Americans. The poverty in Miami can be enough to make someone tear up; but if you imagine the rest of the world, which is ten times worse. That mission trip definitely made me see the world through different eyes, and realize how lucky I have it, even though sometimes I don't feel like it. It made me more globally aware of what everyone else is going through, as well as little things I can do to help out not just in our community but everywhere else as well.