At the end of Year 12, instead of going on the normal “schoolies” trip to the Gold Coast or camping with friends, I went on a trip to Timor Leste with Catholic Mission. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
Our group of ten, from all over Australia, left on December 1st 2014. It was great to spend ten days with people who started out as strangers and coming back feeling I had known them for all my life.
Some of the highlights of my trip were:
- Staying in A Dominican Orphanage in the heart of Bidau where we sang and played games with the children
- Having a ‘retreat’ in Conossian in Bacau
- Seeing Christo rei Statue – an amazing statue of Christ
- Meeting a university student who showed us around his uni and accommodation
- Meeting an Australian volunteer in Laleia – a Registered Nurse who has built her own clinic for young pregnant girls – there to support and look after them and their children
- Meeting a lady who had lived through the Indonesia occupation
- Teaching 40 children English – colours, numbers and farm animals through games.
It was such an eye-opener to see how children and young adults are living and witness their daily struggles in a country that is less fortunate. I loved the smiles and laughs on the children’s faces and running around with children in heavy rain. I was impressed by the hospitality and hope of the Timor Leste people.
I would absolutely recommend this trip. The Timor Leste people touched my heart and made me grateful for the small things in life. For Christmas 2014, having just returned from the trip I felt I wanted more family time, not presents.
The trip has changed me in many ways. I met men and women who had a strong relationship with Christ. I feel more open about my faith and I feel I have a different approach to my family friends and I want to become closer to them. I feel the need to help children in less fortunate countries.
Claire McWilliam
You must be logged in to post a comment.