Assisting Impoverished Humanity

Throughout my entire life, through all of my travels, I always understood the importance of assiting society. No matter what race, religion, or ethnic background an individual comes from, I always found it absoutely imperative to help those who are suffering from hindrances such as poverty, illness, abuse, and much more. Although my family and I are the polar opposite of financially prosperous, I have always understood the importance of giving back, no matter how much I had or did not have. My dedication to assiting those in need has come in forms such as Student Congress President, a hospital volunteer, and a determined National Honor Society member. However, the most unique form of my dedication to assiting the impoverished world is my travelling to Laos a few years ago. Indeed, this trip had changed my life for eternity. 

It was the fourth month of 2010, it was my final day residing in the mountainous region of southern Laos; it was a rather frightening, stormy morning and my days at the camp were coming to an absolutely heartbreaking conclusion. The mornings in Poh Nah were generally gleeful, filled with smiles from the villagers welcoming us and breakfasts filled with the most exotic, yet most delicious cuisine; on that morning, the weather had matched the mindset of many. Gusts of sadness had been maneuvering through the storm.

Frantically running towards our van, a pair of young children with the most beautiful laugh approached me with a surprising absence of laughter, which was instead replaced with teary eyes. These tears had been so severe, reminding me of the memories I had shared with them at a recreational waterfall near the village; they came crashing down, crashing down upon the memories made. My eyes filled quickly as well, it was the final time I would ever see Edena and Kao.

My final time felt as if it was also the beginning of a new chapter in my life, but in between those chapters came much reminisce, much sadness. Yet, with the sadness and reminisce came treasures and blessings; the treasures had been the lessons learned. Edena and Kao had been the same heart-warming souls that taught me to greet others in Laotian, to adapt to sticky rice in the early morning and ridiculously humid afternoons; most importantly though, these blooming children taught me to find happiness and appreciation in all that I come across, regardless of the circumstances.

Visiting Laos for the sake of a simple service project had inevitably changed my life, changing my life for eternity. The purpose of the trip had been to aid in the construction of an elementary school for Edena and Kao, as well as the many other marvelous children of Poh Nah. Now, as I retell this story time and time again, it brings back Laos to my dreams, as if the moment can be relived once more. Unfortunately, it cannot, but indeed the stories, memories, and lessons that came from the impoverished, southernmost point in Laos have remained with me forever. After our determination to build a wonderful school for these children had been at rest for a day, my friendships with Edena and Kao would rekindle once again, as we would travel through the lush forests and escape when we heard the footsteps of jungle cats.

Spending my days with the blessings that came in the form of young friends had allowed me to recognize what a ‘necessity’ in life had truly been, how blessed some of us are everyday, and most importantly how appreciation and love are able to hold so much together, so powerfully. When I rest my head every night, I pray for blessings that spread to all that I have ever shared a simple smile with. The same tears that were exchanged four years ago with Edena and Kao arise from time to time, but the thought of their stories and what they had taught me continue to make me stronger everyday. Incontrovertibly, friendships come and go everyday in life; however, the memories created and the lessons learned from helping others, helping Edena and Kao, shall live on with me for eternity.