After a recent mission trip to Haiti, sophomore Lindsey Edwards became more in tune with the world

While most kids were spending time hanging out with friends over the summer, sophomore Lindsey Edwards was helping in an orphanage in Haiti, near the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Lindsey participated in a mission group through her church, and worked with the Fond Blanc Foundation to help build a recreation room in an orphanage.

The trip was organized through Lindsey’s church and headed up by her aunt, Megan Way. Originally, Edwards was not supposed to go on the trip, but when a spot opened up, she took the opportunity.

Though Lindsey enjoyed the work with the kids, it was also difficult and straining.

“I loved it; I am going back either next year or the year after that,” Lindsey said “Every day you went to bed tired and every day you woke up at 6 o’clock sharp.”

Though the work was hard, Lindsey’s father, Daniel Edwards, learned how much his daughter liked being with the children.

“I know Lindsey really enjoyed the trip. She was talking about going back before we left. She loved playing with the kids; she had a hard time saying goodbye to the children and new friends we made when we were there,” Daniel said.

Lindsey also said the the kids loved having her there and that they loved meeting the volunteers in her group.

“All the kids come out and they meet you, they know no strangers whatsoever. [The missionaries are] so wonderful to them,” Lindsey said.

While on the trip, both Lindsey and her father learned how fortunate they really are.

“She learned how people can be so different but still be the same,” Daniel said. “She learned that you can live without all of the comforts we think we have to have.”

Lindsey also believed that she was “sent there for a reason”, so she could see how privileged she is.

“I think I was sent there to get a different perspective on the world; it opens your eyes,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey learned to be more grateful of everyday things during her trip, according to Daniel.  

“We all came back with a better appreciation for things like ice and clean water,” Daniel said.

In all, Lindsey was glad she went on the trip as it made her more sensitive to other’s feelings and emotions.

“It made me open my eyes a lot more to the world around me and feel compassions for a lot of things,” Lindsey said. “Now I am really empathetic.”

The trip changed Lindsey because she now knows so much more about herself and the world around her.

“[The trip] defined my life by leading me to believe that there is so much more to this world than what we see every day,” Lindsey said. “Even in bad situations there are always good things in everything, even if you don’t see them at first.”