This past summer I had the privilege of going on a mission trip out of the country. This trip was not only one of the greatest eye-opening experiences, but it also taught me so much about how much children can actually impact someone’s life. The trip was about going and proclaiming the Gospel to children who do not have the religious opportunities that we as Americans have. We went and did our best to teach on what was planned in a way that these kids could understand. I was prepared to encounter various bugs and new foods, but I was not prepared to find out how these small kids would teach me what I believe are some of the greatest things we could have as humans.

They taught me encouragement.

The days were early and they were so long. Constantly being on your feet takes so much energy out of you, but arriving to see the kids smiling and waving and wanting to see us so badly made everything seem so little. Every morning we would drive to the schools and instantly be greeted by every single little one and it made everything so worth it.

They taught me patience.

In a place with a different culture and different ways of living, patience with your neighbors is difficult. You are with your team 24/7, and sometimes your buttons get pushed. The kids were so patient, and it made me want to be more patient as well.

They taught me gratitude.

Seeing where these kids came from and how they lived showed me that I had so much to be grateful for, even for just the little things. They constantly thanked us for being there and it was so clear that they meant every single bit of it.

And lastly, they taught me love.

Coming into these villages as an outsider, you think that the people are going to treat you differently than they would their own people. That was not the case at all. I have never experienced so much love from another human than I did with these children. They would hug us, and treat us as members of their families; that feeling was one of the most comforting I have encountered.

Kids are not only little and full of spunk, they also carry so much of the greatest qualities on the face of this earth. They are truly the things that make this world go round. Without children, this world would be a very terrifying place and having kids here makes it such a rewarding place. Our lives truly would not be the same without them.