Over the past few years, service has become a huge part of my life.

I live for helping others and volunteering is something everyone should get involved with. I owe one trip to my newfound passion of helping people. Mission trips sound intimidating, especially when you’re doing something you’ve never done before; however, they are one of the most rewarding journeys you can go on not only for the people involved, but also for yourself.

The summer of 2015, I traveled to Mexico with 18 people, some I had never met and some I was already very close to due to Fellowship of Christian Athletes at my high school. The mission was to build a four-room, stable home for a single mother and her four children within the four day period we were given. Tough task I may add, but with hard work comes success.

We crossed the border in two separate vans. To me, the unknown was on the other side. I had never truly seen poverty before that moment. My eyes widened and my jawed dropped as we drove through the town of Tecaté, Mexico. Words can’t describe the new rock bottom I saw. Roof or no roof, door or no door, this was all they had and no one ever took anything for granted.

Our days ran from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm with 10 and a half hours of labor within. We built that house from the ground up, concrete, stucco, and all. We sawed each piece of wood with given measurements to nail the walls and the roof together. We wrapped chicken wire around the whole house and wrapped it once more with tarpaper. We did it all.

I wasn’t planning on this experience affecting my life as much as it did. Shacks sheltered these people, while I had a stable house to go home to. The shoelaces I bought for my boots before the trip meant everything to Adriana, the oldest of the children, when I gave them to her to put on her lace-less soccer cleats. I go to the grocery store when in need of produce, while the people I met either line the streets as beggars or go on with their day, stomachs empty. I run the faucet for clean drinking water whenever I please, while each drop of refined water to them is a blessing living in the hot, arid conditions that they do.

My first mission trip to Mexico was a blessing in disguise. From then on, I have been committed to serving others in every way possible. Since then, I have traveled back to Mexico every summer, putting a roof over two more families’ heads. Living in a world like today, it is extremely easy to get caught up in the newest trend, the fanciest car, the new technology.

I urge you to think about all you have, but then, think about all that others don’t. Going on a mission trip should be something everyone should do in their life time if they are given the opportunity. It is an experience that is indescribable and I promise you won’t regret it.