Reflections of DREAMS
D.R.E.A.M.S.' Reflection - By: Michelle
When you think about going to the Dominican Republic, you think of going to an all inclusive resort and sitting by a pool or on the beach, but for the rest of my life the Dominican Republic will be more than a vacation destination, it will be a place that holds many memories that I will never forget.
I was lucky enough to be able to travel to the Dominican Republic for a week. I went with fifteen other students and three chaperones from St. Mary's. We were not there for a vacation; we were there to make a difference, and implement a change in the lives of many people.
It was an experience that I will never forget, both for the work we did and the people in the village that we met. It is an experience that you cannot even begin to imagine, and it is hard to explain to other people about the change in yourself after visiting the Dominican. It is always a change that is for the better. By traveling to the Dominican Republic and participating in this experience, you realize how blessed you are to live in Canada, and how fortunate you are to have clean and hot water, to be able to go to school, wear new clothes, and to have the basics such as food everyday. The attitudes that we came back to Canada with will stay with us forever, and I have found that the experience that I gained influences my attitudes and lifestyle everyday.
Throughout my week in the Dominican, I discovered a lot. Not only did I learn how to build a house, but I learned a lot about the people I went with, the importance of friendship and the value of it, the meaning of community, and through interacting with the people of La Cienaga de la Horma that they are grateful even for our presence there, that some people are happy and grateful for the smallest things that we take for granted on a daily basis.
Upon our arrival, none of us had fully thought about how hard the work was going to be, but we never once complained. It was hot and sunny, and we were all outside all day digging with shovels, mixing cement by hand, carrying water with pails and moving cement blocks into place. We never complained because we knew what we were doing was going to have a lasting impact on these people and we sensed the profound gratitude of the people who were already living in a house built by St. Mary’s. We knew that no matter how tired and hot we were, we kept working because we knew at the end of the day it would be worth it. Even though it was hard to communicate with the people, by their smiles we could tell they were grateful and appreciative.
This trip and experience was one that I will never forget. It has changed my life in many ways and the lessons and experience I gained by traveling to the Dominican Republic are ones that in my opinion cannot be learned in Canada. They are life lessons that change you and make you realize and appreciate the little things in life on a daily basis. I will forever remember the Dominican Republic as far more than a popular vacation destination; I will remember the children and the families that I met there, the difference that I was able to make, and the many new friendships that I made.
“Let no one ever come to you
without leaving better and happier.
Be the living expression of God’s kindness:
kindness in your face,
kindness in your eyes,
and kindness in your smile.”
Mother Teresa
An Experience to Remember
How do you describe the desperate desire to change the way people live and put a small dent into improving an impoverished community? What can be said about making new friends, traveling to a foreign country and testing the boundaries of your everyday living? How is it that a small group of people can make such a big difference in the lives of others . . . this can all be accomplished when taking the amazing journey with St. Mary’s to San Jose de Ocoa in the Dominican Republic. From personal experience, I know that these dreams of accomplishment do come true as I was fortunate enough to travel to the Dominican Republic in my grade 11 and 12 years.
This experience is one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors a student can encounter in their teenage years as it pushes the boundaries of everyone on the trip each day. It was on this trip that I realized the true hardships and difficulties that those less fortunate than myself experience on a daily basis. It made me realize how truly blessed I am for having been given the opportunities I have and the luxuries of everyday life I take for granted so often. Placed in a totally unfamiliar setting where we had to work and live without the benefit of running water, electricity, plumbing, or any other “everyday” necessity, the group of amazing people I traveled with not only learned to survive in this situation, but also to adapt and become productive in this environment. By working together and defining a common goal, we were able to collectively make a significant progress in building houses high in the mountains for poor families . . . an accomplishment like no other.
Furthermore, it was gratifying to see how extremely appreciative this community was and the manner in which they welcomed our help with open arms. This visit contributed to not only my spiritual and emotional growth, but also to the growth of the Dominican people. Adults realized that they are not alone in their plight and that others recognize their hardships and are willing to help. Children embraced the added attention and love showered upon them by their new Canadian friends. This experience showed how a relatively small group of students could make a monumental contribution to an impoverished community.
To say the least, the highlight of this experience was most definitely the people I met going on the trip with me from St. Mary's, and the beautiful personalities of the Dominican people. It was these people that made my trip so fulfilling and enjoyable as not a day went by when our spirits were not optimistic and appreciative of the task we were given. I felt a bond and formed friendships with the new “family” I was given for that week and will never forget the many gifts and lessons I received from each of them. Stripped of all superficial aspects, luxuries and material possessions, the true personalities of each and every one of us was revealed and embraced by all. Having been exposed to such selfless, down to earth, loving and humble people, it made me reflect upon what is really important in life and understand that the troubles encountered throughout high school are nothing compared to what really matters.
High school students are often stereotyped
as lazy, unmotivated people who are unaware of world issues and oblivious to
reality; however, I feel this label is unfair and the farthest thing from the
truth as proven by the St. Mary’s community. By participating in this
D.R.E.A.M.S.' project, students are repeatedly showing the world that they care,
that they can step outside of their boundaries and that they are willing to
challenge themselves in order to make a difference with their own two hands.
Audra
“Live simply, so that others may simply live.”
In retrospect, my experience in the Dominican Republic was more enlightening after the fact. During the trip, I had many revelations about my own life, all the while affecting someone else's. Digging a hole in the hot sun suddenly became appetizing. The comforts of home became a distant memory. The smiling faces of locals and friends alike inspired these feelings.
It was during one of the nightly reflections with Mr. John Labatte, I encountered a line that touched me: “Live simply, so that others may simply live.” At the time, the quote struck me as very meaningful. It was a simple way to solve the world's complex problems. If I could only live my life that way, then I could make a difference.
Yet when I look back on this line now, I see
so much deeper into its meaning. Simplicity, to me, became not only the keyword
of the quote, but of the whole experience. By embarking on this trip, we left
behind the comforts of our lives in Canada. We embraced a simple lifestyle.
Digging holes with shovels and mixing cement on the ground became our work. The
labour was fruitful yet simple. Sixteen students and four supervisors were put
together for a week. The simple outcome was a lasting friendship. In building
houses for the locals, we changed their lives for the better and they left an
impression on ours. In working together as students and friends, we made lasting
bonds with each other. Quite simply, D.R.E.A.M.S. was a life-changing
experience.
Mike
When I got the call from Don Hall to ask whether I could travel with the D.R.E.A.M.S.’ group as a parent supervisor, I was thrilled but slightly anxious that my daughter might not want me to come. As it turned out, she was as excited as I was. I knew from the school presentations, and from previous trips to the Dominican about the level of poverty that we would be witnessing first hand.
The first wonderful experience was meeting Sister Mary-Jo and visiting the convent in Ocoa. It seemed as if we were being welcomed by old friends. When we arrived at La Horma, and we saw the school, I felt incredibly moved at the evidence of what had been accomplished so far by previous students, teachers and residents of the community. The scenery of the surrounding mountains was breathtaking, as was the contrast of living conditions of the local people. Each day we encountered incredibly young mothers with their beautiful children, and I was saddened at their hardship, but impressed by their spirit and bravery.
It felt good to work really hard during the days, and see the progress evolving, then sit around the fire at night reflecting on each others' experiences under the guidance of Mr. Labatte. Each day there I felt an incredible sense of pride in the students. Watching them interact with the community, cooperate with each other while working, and then seeing their joy at giving away as many of their belongings as they could, demonstrated the inherent goodness of these amazing young people. It's easy to feel a sense of helplessness when faced with the desperate plight of people in developing nations, but this experience proved that a difference can, and has been made by people who care.
Thanks for the gift of this experience,
Angela
We aren’t the lucky ones. Their smiles are so genuine you can do nothing but smile in return. They look at you and their eyes are full of the purest kind of happiness that comes only from loving and being loved. Their willingness to love you, before you’ve offered them anything, forever alters what you thought you knew about life. And as I came to know them, I knew that something in me needed to change.
The Dominicans are the lucky ones. They know a love we can’t give and a happiness we don’t have. Their love is untouched by jealousy; their happiness never tainted by greed. Before we can know life as they do, we need to see the world as they do.
In seeing their smiles and the joy in their eyes, I came to realize that the Dominicans are blessed. I will be forever grateful for the lessons they taught me. I learnt from them that life is a gift and that with it I can do anything; that giving love means receiving so much more. They will always have a place in my heart because they showed me what true happiness looks like and the way that I can achieve it.
Carly
In January 2006, supervisors and students set out as one team to the Dominican Republic to participate in the D.R.E.A.M.S.' experience. Over my last three years of high school I had heard from others of their amazing trip to the mountains in the Dominican, and felt so fortunate to be able to be a part of the D.R.E.A.M.S.' program in my final year of high school. Now having experienced it, I find it difficult to put into words how this incredible experience has impacted my life. It was such an eye opener to see the wonderful quality of life in Canada, and then witness all the poverty that exists in the Dominican. With very few material items, all the people in the village were so gracious and overwhelmingly appreciative to each and every one of us. Everyone was just so happy. That is the best way I can put it. It touched my heart how easily all the adults and children opened up to us. It’s as if we had been friends for a lifetime. Our group traveled down to help build homes for families in need, but I had no idea that the Dominican people would give so much more to us. I will never forget this moment for all my life, as we were traveling up the mountain to the school where we would be staying, we stopped at a small, weathered home on the edge of the mountainside. A young woman carrying her infant child, wearing practically nothing, came up to us and said “Christ loves you.” We would have no profound impact on her life, but because we were there to help families in her village, she was thankful to us. This was the attitude of all individuals we were lucky enough to meet while in the Dominican.
Once we completed the building of the home, it was such a rewarding
feeling to see what we were able to accomplish as a team. I would without a
doubt relive that incredible and life-changing week. In those days in the
Dominican, I also made wonderful friendships with each individual that was
part of our group. For seven days they were my family, and each amazing
person has impacted my life in their own way. I am so appreciative to have
been able to take part in such a life-changing experience, and am so proud
to have shared it surrounded by such wonderful people.
Laura
D.R.E.A.M.S.' Reflection
I did not know what to expect when I got accepted for the Dominican trip. I had seen so many D.R.E.A.M.S.' videos, but I knew that there would be so much more than what you could see in a five minute presentation. I was nervous of making a mess of the building, scared of not being strong enough, and anxious to get going! I did not know a lot of the people on my trip, but we somehow got to know each other very quickly.
The D.R.E.A.M.S.' experience may have been a tiny bit different for me than it was for others. I enjoyed the work and wanted to keep going, however I got sick four days into the trip, and was not allowed to work for two days. This caused me to have experiences that not many others had. One of those two days I stayed back at the school, and had quite the odd conversation with one of the locals. I tried to explain why I wasn’t working, (basically with my own version of sign language) and she somehow understood me. I got to spend about four hours of one on one time with a boy named Ali, which I am very grateful for. The second day, I went up to the worksite and videotaped everything that was going on. I got to play with the little girls perhaps more than anyone else that day. They could tell I wasn’t feeling well, and tried their very best to help cheer me up. (It worked!)
My favourite memories in life involve music. One of my top favourite memories undoubtedly is the music we made together in the Dominican. On the last night, our group stood in a circle under the stars. We hugged, we cried and we sang. I will never forget it. It may have not sounded great, but at the time, it felt as though we could win a Grammy for our performance.
The Dominican Republic has changed my life forever. I knew that people had come back changed, but I didn’t see how that could happen to me. But since I’ve been back, I’m so much more conscious of how fortunate we are to live in Canada. It seems as though in the Western world, the only thing that makes people happy is success and fortune. In the Dominican Republic, the people's lives are much more successful than ours on a much greater scale. They are always happy, they are grateful for the smallest good deed, they love and they have faith.
I would love to go back to the Dominican Republic. I hope to be like Mr.
Labatte and go down for months at a time. Hopefully, I will someday be able
to do so.
Gillian
“We are in the world to change the world” is a statement that was said over and over again. All the D.R.E.A.M.S.' participants know this statement well… because it was said so often over the trip. We are all in the world to change it… and twenty-two other students, Mrs. Scione, Mr. Smith, Richard and Jean, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Labatte, and myself showed that we can make a difference… that we can change the world -- even if it’s a little.
When we left, we were nervous about what was to come, and looking forward to what would be happening. Our fears were put to rest, and we found out that we had a lot more to look forward to than we thought. We started off a little rocky… not exactly going where we were supposed to for a few hours… but we made it to our destination. Every day we would work our hearts out, to try and complete something that had more of a significance than we could know … a home. Not just a house, but a home. When you stop to think about it… A home is a lot like a relationship with anyone, any kind of relationship. It needs a good foundation, a lot of care, love, time, effort … it takes a lot to be sturdy. In a lot of ways, this project has built more houses than can be seen. We made relationships with each other and with the people there … we made strong relationships ... relationships that can’t be broken.
Every night, we would reflect on how the day was… and we got a bracelet. Five beads were on this bracelet, and each of them signifying something. Also the colors combining to make the flag colors of the Dominican Republic. Every night, I would be amazed by how much heart people put into reflecting. Looking into themselves, and finding something to show… something they hadn’t before. We all found something about ourselves that we hadn’t seen, a strength, a weakness … something. This trip changed all of our lives profoundly. We had heard it did, but I don’t think any of us knew by how much it would change us. We’ve all come to know each other, ourselves, and the world a little better. And we found that, even if we’re making a tiny drop of a difference in what would be called an ocean of a world… it can’t be denied that we’re not filling the ocean at least a little bit.
Twenty-two other students left with me. Some who I talked to on a regular basis and some who I would never see or talk to. Six supervisors also went with us. Some who I had never even spoken to or seen. We spent one week together. Just one week…doing something amazing… something others were jumping at the chance to do. Something that we could look back at and say “we made a difference”. After it all, I came back with twenty-two great friends who I’ll always remember for being so wonderful. Each one of them is special in their own way, and each one of them is absolutely amazing. It was a privilege and honor to be with each of them, and it always brings a smile to my face to remember how it was, and how it’ll be now that we’re all home, and all such good friends. I now have six people who I can look up to for being so great, so fun, so motivating, and just overall amazing too. The supervisors would wake up every morning, with nothing less than a smile on their faces, thankful to be with us, thankful to be in the Dominican.
Amazing times… times
that we’ll never forget were had. That’s the sign of something truly special…
something truly influential, and life-changing…
We went there with D.R.E.A.M.S. …. But we came back with memories…
Don C.
I always knew about the poverty that exists on all sides of the world. Knowing this, I had strived to treasure all the things others are not fortunate enough to have. Prior to going to the D.R.E.A.M.S.' trip, it was my belief that it does not require an experience with those in direct contact with poverty to significantly change the way a person perceives their life. I could not have been farther from the truth because it was during those several days where Christ was truly present in the smiles and laughter from the residents of La Ciénaga de la Horma.
Throughout our short stay in the mountains, we made relationships with the community that was like no other to the point where some of us wanted to take the niñas back home. The amount of fun the children had with anything we gave them was touching in a way that it made us recognize how life can still be enjoyable with so little. Living in two of the Dominican houses was quite the experience primarily because of the fact we squeezed thirteen people into each house which was probably the size of two master bedrooms by our standards. Regardless of the mild claustrophobia, it was still felt like a home away from home.
Although they may be suffering from material poverty, there was no presence of spiritual poverty in a way that they took the rosaries we gave them with open hearts and wore them everyday we were there. Even in Ocoa, the Mass in the Church demonstrated how much the Dominican people commit themselves to their Catholic faith.
Even though our intentions in the Dominican were altruistic, the Dominicans still gave us a feeling of joy and love without them even knowing it. An important lesson myself and others who made this trip is that we can truly make a difference in the world regardless of how miniscule it may be. The ultimate example of this belief in action is Mother Teresa where she was living proof that one person, filled with love, purpose and determination, really can make a difference - can, in fact, touch the entire world.
Thank you once again
to everyone for this experience and I hope to see some of you back in the same
village very soon!
Niccolo
It is really hard for me to find the right words to explain our trip to the Dominican Republic since the D.R.E.A.M.S.' experience hardly seem to involve any words at all. The language barrier proved itself only just an inconvenience. Our failure to communicate with words surprisingly seemed to benefit us, bringing us closer with the people of Ocoa. The relationships created in the Dominican are those that will last forever. Although the poverty in Ocoa was great, it had no affect on the spirit that lived there. I really learned the true meaning of the phrase “do not judge a book by it’s cover”. The houses were shacks, the clothing was torn and the shoes were missing but the smiles remained. The town of Ocoa was enriched with love, a love that was free of all material things. I feel so blessed to have had a chance to experience and share that love. When I think back, I am still in awe of the respect and generosity shared within the community. Being apart the D.R.E.A.M.S.' trip gave me an opportunity to meet people who live only to care for others. I learned that above all, caring for others is the greatest gift you can give. I will always remember the people in the Dominican, the laughs shared and the lessons learned.
Emily
There are
moments in this life that should not be questioned. There are
times when one simply says: “This is exactly where I am
supposed to be. This is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I don't
know
how, or why. I just know.” For me, the D.R.E.A.M.S.’ experience was
exactly
that. As soon as we arrived in the Dominican Republic, I was struck with a
sense of purpose. Immediately, I knew that the twenty-three of us were not
there
through some strange coincidence. We were not there by chance. We were
there
because we needed to be. For ourselves, for each other and for the
people's
lives we touched during our short stay in San Jose de Ocoa.
I don't know
how much of our lives are pre-decided by some gigantic master
plan, or if we all have a destiny that we will meet some day. But what I
do
know is that we did not all just happen to get together by accident. We
were
there because it was the right place and the right time for all of us. How
else do you explain the instant connection we all had with each other?
Some
of us had never even spoken a single word to each other before at school
but that did not matter. The twenty-three of us share a bond that is
unbreakable. There
is a connection between us that is so amazing, it can never be reproduced.
Our time together in the Dominican stands out in my mind as the single
greatest experience of my life.
One of the
best memories I have from the Dominican is from the second night
we stayed at the convent in Ocoa. We had just come back from our
picturesque
day with the children in the first village, and I was starting to realize
just how much the people really appreciate us. We all assembled on the
rooftop of the convent to reflect on our day and just spend more time with
one another. We sat in a circle, told stories, sang songs, and I believe
that it was the birth place for our love of El Scorcho. Somewhere in the
middle of all that, I realized there is something truly special about this
trip. It brought out the best in all of us. But on further revision of our
video tape, I admit that it did not bring out the best in our group
singing. We're only amazing singers on that rooftop, for whatever the
reason. (except for Gill and Meg, our human jukebox, or Don AKA Dallas
Green, or Rob/Adam/Joe - the supreme MC's of the trip). On the whole, it
was
simply a night to remember.
The love that
I have for all of you is not easy to describe. It is a love
that can only come about through an experience like D.R.E.A.M.S. No matter
what happens to us in the future as we go our separate ways, I know that
this love can never be touched, and it will always exist between us.
Andrew
| Love |
 |
Gifts |
 |
Sharing |
 |
Choices |
 |
Hope |
 |
| Prayer |
 |
Faith |
 |
The Spirit of God |
|
Sometimes we find a story that really sets us straight and sometimes the story comes from an unlikely source. After all, how could "the wisdom of the ages" come from a teen student? But why not?
|
|
|
Reflections of DREAMS Michelle,
Audra , Mike,
Angela , Carly ,
|
|
|
The
World of Grandpa Don www.plefka.net |
|
|
by The JavaScript Source | |
