Today I got to experience one of the most heart warming feelings I’ve felt in a very long time. I had the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of the homeless people of St. Croix by providing them with breakfast at the Lighthouse Mission. In this day, not only did I have an opportunity to volunteer at the Lighthouse Mission, but I also had an opportunity to volunteer with another organization called Clean Sweep Fredericksted and help prepare for the restoration of murals. That was a great morning of service, so it was only right that we spent the afternoon at Rainbow Beach. The water was so clear that you could see the small rocks on the ground and all the colorful fish, it was really beautiful. Although the beach was beautiful, my favorite part of the whole day was serving food to the homeless people and praying together was just very special. I am glad I got to experience new things and looking forward to experience many more volunteerism, workshops and activities.
Amy Rodriguez Cohort 2022
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Today made me feel accomplished and helpful. We started off the day with an early start and an opportunity to give back to the community of St. Croix. We went to the Lighthouse Mission Homeless Shelter and not only helped prepare meals but also greet the homeless while serving them food and drinks. They made us feel so welcomed and appreciated us for all our help and even showed excitement to see new faces. After we served meals to the homeless, we made our way to the St. Croix Educational Complex High School. There, we were able to experience a new setting and helped another community partner of St. Croix, Clean Sweep Frederiksted, by assisting to seal their beautiful murals. Each of the murals celebrated minorities in the field of STEM and I felt honored to preserve such treasures. We even got a chance to meet a couple of the students who appreciated our efforts in beautifying the school and reminding them of the importance of STEM. We later finished our day by relaxing at the beach. I truly took advantage of all my time at the beach by building sand castles, collecting rocks, playing beach volleyball, and swimming with all the colorful fish. It was a very exciting experience that ended with a delicious cultural dinner, journaling, and meditation. All I can say is, WHAT A DAY!
Pamela Bullard Cohort 2022 Today was our travel day to St. Croix and I was beyond excited! We all met at the airport to get settled and ready for travel. We proceeded through TSA and I was a bit nervous about how I would gel with the other girls. At that moment, I made a mental note to myself that I would make an effort to get to know everyone on the trip. We arrived at our gate and while waiting, I observed some of the girls and they all seemed like they’d be perfect friends. Usually, I am a pretty shy person but these group of girls gave off an energy as though they would be loving, understanding, and respectful. When we arrived at our home for the week, I knew we were in for a treat. I could see the ocean in the sunset from our balcony and realized that I would get to share this sunset with my sisters for the entire stay. What a beautiful journey ahead of us!
Maya Douyon Cohort 2021 & 2022 Imagine arriving to the airport for the first time not knowing what to expect about your first flight. Everyone else seemed to be calmly arriving and gathering their belongings, but I was extremely anxious about the flight. One of the Global Love Leaders from the previous year could see the slight panic in my face and offered some words of encouragement. While we waited to board, some other adults chimed in on what to expect during takeoff, landing, and throughout the flight. Although the jitters never wore off prior to the flight, the take off didn't seem so bad with all the other Love Leaders surrounding me and even one holding my hand as the plane thrusted into the sky. Fast forward, we finally landed in St. Croix, got our bags, headed to our house for the week, and grabbed a bite to eat from the local Chicken Shack...the johnny cake was amazing! After eating, we didn't have much time to spare because we were set to go on a bioluminescence nighttime kayak. We listened to the instructors about the specifics of kayaking and the importance of our life jackets. After getting the green light, we each got in pairs, put on our life life jackets and got into the kayaks. I was a bit nervous about kayaking at night, but it was still very new but lots of fun. It took a while to get the hang of it but once everyone really warmed up to it, we had lots of fun roaming the ocean. The most memorable part about the kayaking was touching the bioluminescent water and catching the tiny jellyfish in a net. They didn’t sting so if we caught one, we could hold it in our hand as it glowed in the night sky. After a few hours in the water, we headed to our temporary and prepared for our next experience. Jaykayla Harden Cohort 2022 First we went to the Crocodile Bridge and saw some crocodiles. I really enjoyed myself. It was a memorable experience to see such large reptiles! After the Crocodile Bridge, we went to a portion of the rainforest called Carara National Park. I was surprised to see so many different types of animals and insects. I have never been able to experience what it feels to be in nature until that very moment. I am so thankful that I was able to connect with nature during this trip.
Debbie Campos Cohort 2021 Today we woke up a little earlier than usual. We ate a wonderful breakfast of eggs and sausage, and I enjoyed it immensely. After that I spent time relaxing and just really taking in the view. The mountains and greenery are truly worth a million dollars. After we left the house, we made our road trip to Carara National Park. On the way, we stopped at a small supermarket and some small shops by a bridge. I bought a small necklace which stuck out to the me because of the intricate designs on the wood. I wish I could have bought more stuff but everything seemed a bit overpriced. We then walked over to a bridge which looked down on some crocodiles. These crocodiles were huge and I have never seen them this big before. Ms. Dwanita explained to us that a couple years ago this was filled with 10 times more crocodiles, so I wondered what happened to the population. Then I noticed when we walked back to the shops, some people were selling crocodile teeth. When I get older, I would like to be a veterinarian so this truly hurt me.
After we left the Crocodile Bridge, we continued to Carara National Park. When we got there I noticed about 5 different species of bugs just in the bathroom. Surprisingly the bigger animals scare me less than the small ones. Funny, isn't it? We continued to the nature walk and everything was so beautiful. Between the animals and the plants I was just amazed. I fell back in the group and they had to keep waiting for me because I was just in awe. I was a little sad we left without seeing any big animals but still very appreciative of the exploration. Our day was filled with more activities such as lunch, dinner, and swimming in the beach but I would like to just point out that the national park was my favorite. It really gave me a new perspective on nature and to be grateful. I am looking forward to all the other amazing activities we have planned but thank you for allowing me to share! Maya Douyon Cohort 2021 Today our group and I went to a waterfall called Las Minas. It was absolutely mesmerizing! There is nothing like this in Miami. Along our hike to the waterfall, we were surrounded by so much lush greenery. It was as if a rainforest had swallowed us; besides that, the air smelled so clean. I feel like if we had something like this back in Miami, the residents would not keep it that clean. Sometimes people don't know how to take care of nature's gifts and it is such a shame. In Miami, we are kind of dirty compared to the residents here in Costa Rica.
When I think about our adventure to Las Minas, I can't help but believe that going to this waterfall was an experience of a lifetime. Just being here in Costa Rica is an experience in itself. The country is amazing! Additionally, the fact that we do not have Wifi or service regularly, provides the perfect recipe to really be able to enjoy the moment and take in all its greatness. Before this trip, I didn't know any of the other Love Leaders, so I was a little apprehensive about sharing this experience with strangers. After meeting everyone, I am so glad that I took a leap of faith and joined this cultural immersion experience because now I am making real connections with girls, connections that you can't make everyday. Shaya Lewis Cohort 2021 Today, June 22, 2021, I got the chance to see a waterfall for the first time. I was able to inhale all the natural oxygen that I don’t get to do and appreciate in Miami, FL. Before we reached the waterfall, I struggled to get past the stones and mud. Although the journey to the waterfall was challenging and I felt a bit exhausted, in the end, it was worth it. The scenery was simply beautiful. Seeing the different kinds of plants was astonishing. I kept admiring all the green surroundings. As the water came rushing down the large boulders, I said to myself “I’m not seeing this through TV, this is real, real beauty."
Shirley Campos Cohort 2021 There are places in life where we all find ourselves relaxed, at peace, as well as feeling like all of our worries have vanished. That is how I felt when we climbed up the hills across from Quinta Siempre to watch this beautiful scene. Although it was quite a struggle to reach our destination, with all of the rocks, mud, and twigs that were present, the mini leg workout of walking up; it was definitely worth it. As I watched this beautiful view, along with the lovely background noises of a few species, I felt like nothing at that moment could ruin my relaxation and the stress free state I was in. In addition, I never had such experiences before where I had the opportunity to view mountains and a beautiful skyline on top a hill. I am very grateful to be given this chance to experience great adventures with amazing people. As I now prepare to go to sleep, I wonder what my next peaceful place will be tomorrow.
Stephanie Jean-Charles Cohort 2021 It's Day 1 in Costa Rica and the country has already left me speechless. The heights, beautiful exotic plants and the views have all contributed to my awe with this place. I’ve never felt so much life near me, especially since I live in the flat lands of Miami. Miami is mostly flat and the weather is always extremely unpredictable, but here in Costa Rica there are so many loopy roads, beautiful rain showers, and rolling fog that covers the mountain tips. Sometimes the fog disappears as quickly as it rolls in blanketing the mountains in the distance. Mother Nature is so fascinating to me and I am excited to continue exploring.
Carmen Berrio-Cabarcas Cohort 2021 |