Amanda Markowski
As the flight attendant’s voice announced throughout the plane that we had safely landed in Morocco, my stomach seemed as though it dropped all the way down to the floor.
At that moment it finally hit me that in the course of two weeks we would change the lives of young and innocent people; little did I know that my life would change as well.
When we arrived in the town of Er-Rachidia, I couldn’t believe the conditions the people lived with. Their “bathroom” was a little hole in the ground, rarely supplied with any toilet paper.
All the villages we traveled to were surrounded by poverty and destruction. It really made me realize how much we take for granted. It also made me appreciate the things I have now much more than ever before.
In the hospital, where we spent most of our time during the day, my partner and I tried to fit in as many educational presentations as we could. It was fascinating to see everyone really drawn into what we were saying. On the other hand, it was truly heart-breaking to see that some of the children and adults didn’t know basic health such as brushing your teeth or even keeping children away from open fires.
Since I knew they were going home with that knowledge, it gave me a great sense of accomplishment to know we made a difference.
Whenever we gave away toys or toothbrushes to the kids, their faces would just glow. I realized why missions are so important and why it personally means so much to me.
There was one girl specifically who I stayed with throughout most of the trip. When the team announced the names of those who were chosen for surgery, she was eventually called.
Her father came up to me with tears of joy in his eyes. She followed and took out the clip in her hair, placed it in the palm of my hand, and then closed it so I had a firm grip on it.
She then gave me a kiss on the cheek. At that moment, I realized what God had put me on this earth to do. By the end of the week we performed 68 surgeries - 68 lives were changed forever.
Junior at Westfield High School, Westfield, N.J. Er-Rachidia, Morocco: October 11-20, 2008
