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Rachel Marie Martin's avatar

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Years ago, I let my teenagers (15 and 16) travel to DC and Baltimore to visit friends. On their own. So many people questioned me, but I remember thinking, "If I shield them from everything, they will experience nothing...." and so they went. They still talk about that trip, the Metro, and meeting so many people. It was empowering all around.

And as one who has traveled to Haiti several times -- thank you for mentioning the mission trips.

The teams I went with had a "no selfie" policy. I remember thinking, "Would you want someone driving by your house taking pictures of you and just sharing them?" I actually went to document the back-end of missions and to learn about those working there and their missions and communities.

My greatest memories are of spending a day cooking in the kitchen with seven amazing Haitian women. I just worked with them, let them teach me, and enjoyed fellowship in the simplest of ways.

~Rachel

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Just Another Jim's avatar

Well done!!! Kids should eat worms, play in the mud and learn to fight in the street, all skills that make a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy and wise. We were a large family (7 kids + 2 parents) and grew up firmly established in the wrong side of the tracks. Let me tell you what I learned…from growing up poor ish, appreciation, from growing up crowded, comfort, from growing up challenged, excellence. Let them out of the bubble indeed! 🤩💕

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