The Spring Break That Changed My Life Kelley Ann Moore

Instead of racing off to Florida's ever popular and over-crowded beaches, I spent my junior year's spring break sleeping in a room without air conditioning, cold showers, cleaning up trash, picking weeds, and wiping little kids' runny noses. Punishment? Forced community service? Guess again- I and twenty other motivated teenagers willingly and excitedly flew to the gorgeous island of St. Lucia for a mission trip.

No matter how many times someone may try describe the impact of entering a third-world economy, the change in your heart and mind is neither felt nor understood until you actually experience it first hand. My team and I spent that week traveling to eight different primary schools where we sang songs, acted out skits, gave personal testimonies, and preached the Gospel of hope and salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is where my first big challenge approached me. Public speaking: yikes! Even though I had successfully progressed through twelve years of schooling, I had yet to master the art of calming my nerves and steadying my voice when all eyes were on me. The first thirty seconds were mortifying as I looked out to these seemingly judgmental eight and nine year olds. I stood...