The Power of Travel to Unite Us

Today I listened to a talk from a Bethesda Friends Meeting attender about her work in Afghanistan. She remarked that it is hard to talk about her travels because people respond with either an admiration or a horror which do not resonate with her experience. I have felt that about my trips to Rwanda and Haiti (interestingly, although Northern Ireland has experienced a history of violence as well, that is not people's reaction when I travel there). I understand her frustration and exhaustion in answering those responses because although we love the communities that have welcomed us, it can be hard to put our transformative experiences into words. This is why it is so important for students to have opportunity to engage with communities outside of their own - when the 'other' invites you into community, you become connected. I have now traveled enough places that I know no matter what we hear about a place, there are always loving people within a community who are working hard to be the change they wish to see in the world. Sometimes it takes travel to open our minds and hearts.