From July 27th to August 12th, I had the opportunity to embark on a humanitarian trip with 24 people from around the country. Through our program, Humanitarian XP, we were able to serve refugees in Malta (an island about 60 miles south of Sicily). Almost all of the refugees had arrived on cramped rafts, where women and children are put in the middle and men are lined up on the sides. They sail from the coast of Libya, with a container of open fuel and a direction North. Most of those who take this dangerous route do not know how to swim, making the journey through the rocky Mediterranean Sea even more harrowing. Most boats sink, and many don't make it.
We felt entirely inadequate to the task at hand. After all, what could 20 American teens do for them? We quickly realized that the people we were serving didn't need anything physical from us. They were so ready to share love and joy. The entire camp lit up like a light, and we did too. We didn't spend our time digging wells or building houses, but rather split our time between renovating the playgrounds and flower beds, playing with the kids, and learning more about the refugee crisis through an organization called Spark 15.
For all of us, despite the inadequacy we felt in the beginning we all agreed that the best moments of the trip were spent with the kids. We chased their smiles. Knowing what they had been through at such a young age, they are miracles.
I am so thankful for my group, trip leaders, Humanitarian XP, and most of all, for the refugees who let us serve them.
Due to privacy reasons, I cannot share any photos of the refugees. Here are some pictures of my group as we adventured around Malta.
