I didn't want to leave. I had been here for ten days and had formed relationships and friendships with people from all over and from all kinds of backgrounds. We were all sitting in the car getting ready to leave. All of us, my parents, my brother and me, sat in silence. Wanting to cry, waiting for someone to say the first word. Each of us had learned something on this trip. For me, this experience taught me about gratitude, the impact of a good attitude, what a servant looks like, and how the relationships we make with our lives are the most important aspect of the life. It was the summer after my freshman year of high school. Earlier in the year, my parents decided to go on a family mission trip. One of the tasks I was responsible for was translation. I was able to translate a sermon we presented to the kids at a vacation Bible school type camp. It was very difficult knowing that people depended on me, but it was also where I began to see where God had blessed me in my life and where I could be used on this journey. How lucky was I to be able to speak Spanish fluently? That’s when I finally became grateful for the talents God had given me. The trip opened my eyes and I was grateful for the opportunity to share what God had given me. Another task we had the privilege of helping them with was building them a new chicken coop. We built a new roof and cleaned it so the chickens wouldn't get too hot. The tricky part was getting people to understand that we had built exactly what they wanted. So I was there both to help with construction, but also to help control communication between us and the owners. I remember having to hit the road to pick up supplies. I was with my father and one of the employees of the orphanage. It wasn't the supply itself that made the event memorable, but rather the moment we stopped for coffee. We were able to sit down and ask him questions. I remember asking him why he did what he did, like I just didn't understand why, he wasn't making a lot of money and what he was doing wasn't easy. He just looked at me and said he loved serving people. I learned what it means to serve and what it means to be content and trust in God. I learned what it means to be grateful even in difficult times. My relationship with God has truly improved since my experience at Tecate and I will be forever grateful for this door that God opened in my life. Throughout the trip, I had the pleasure of living and working with the men and women of the orphanage. The boys and girls taught me more than I expected about what it means to be positive and get through tough times. The relationships I formed may not be intact today, but the marks they left on me and who I am as a person remain. I am forever changed by the people I met in a small orphanage in Tecate.