Hi friends. This week, I’m choosing to reflect on the MAD Mexico trip to Tijuana I participated in this fall. You may argue this is not much of a destination, rather a unique experience. You are totally correct. But what I’ve come to realize is that one of the best things we as humans can offer the world is support to those who are lacking. What better way to give back then directly taking action and providing a better shelter for a family in need. This trip opened my eyes in many ways; reinstating an appreciation for the life I’m lucky to live, and proving how happy one can be with so little. I’m recommending to anyone given an opportunity to go on a service trip similar to this to absolutely take it. The outcome of giving is worth any sweat or blood lost in the process. Anyways. Speech over. Here was my experience.

We drove down south in carpools driven by chaperones. The contrast between lower San Diego and the hillside of Tijuana on the horizon felt like the difference between two worlds. We set up our tents once we arrived where we were to stay, which was pretty barren and resembled more of a dirt parking lot with exception to a few small buildings where food was served at night. I tented with Lucy, one of my very close friends. We were two of only four girls on the trip which made the experience very different but ultimately very fun. I got the chance to meet many new people I had never met before, and become close with those who I would never expect. The labor itself was no easy task. For three days, we split into two teams to build two separate houses for two different families. From the concrete base, to the wooden frames, to plastering the roof and walls, we did it all ourselves with much appreciated help from the chaperones. It was hard work, but you could see everyone was putting in their best effort to get it done for the families.

After both the houses were finished by the end of the third day, all the hard work was done and we could finally give the keys to the owners of the house. Over the course of our time working, we had gotten the chance to talk to the kids that lived there and play with them a little bit, as well as speak with the older women. The look on their faces when we handed over the keys was priceless, which sounds cheesy but was really true. When we returned to the campsite, Lucy and I found a hammock and chilled out for a while, downloading all that had happened the past few days. We both agreed that it was such a life changing experience to put aside any stress we carry around all day back home and focus on the basics of getting a hard job done.

On the ride home, the spirits were high as we talked about all the fun memories on the trip, stopped for Chick-fil-a, and listened to Grant’s EDM music. I plan on going every year I can on this service trip, but it also inspired me to look at other service trip options through different programs since I loved the feeling of gratitude and pride that this offered. This was no dream destination but definitely the experience of a lifetime!