This past summer, sophomore Hudson Holmes had the opportunity to be a part of a mission trip to Haiti as a member of Gateway Church. For a week, he visited local villages and met all the different people who lived there. With other members of his church, Holmes painted newly built houses for families in need and engaged in prayer for those who needed help.

“The most memorable experience of the trip for me was playing with the kids in the villages,” Holmes said. “While we were walking from house to house, I would put a kid on my shoulders, and hold another child’s hand.”

Holmes took a real liking for the children in the villages. They even played a game of soccer together.

“Being a part of these kids’ lives and put smiles on their faces, even if it was only a game of soccer, gave me the greatest feeling in the world,” Holmes said.

The mission trip taught him a valuable lesson, because of the completely contrasting comparison between the life of people in countries like the US and the life of the villagers in Haiti.

“My trip to Haiti changed my life spiritually, and it opened my eyes to another part of the world,” Holmes said. “It allowed me to come to the realization that it’s not about what you have materialistically, rather it’s what we have internally. I encountered people in Haiti that didn’t have shoes or clothing, let alone bug spray for agonizing mosquitos. However, I noticed that they didn’t care. They were still full of life and full of joy.”

Despite of all the fun, new friends and spiritual enlightenment Holmes gained, he still encountered some difficulties, but it was nothing compared to his good experiences.

“One night, I thought I could get through a night without bug spray, and I woke up to about 40 bug bites all over my back. It was pretty painful.”

As a whole, the trip to Haiti benefited him, including in a way that strengthened and shaped his character. This gave him insight that he wouldn’t have been exposed to elsewhere, and it gave him a sense of satisfaction that one gets when helping people.

“When I first heard about the trip, I felt like I was being called on to be a part of something big,” Holmes said. “I wanted to go on this mission trip to make myself reach out of my comfort zone to extend help to others.”