Heather Marie Harkins

       My name is Heather Marie Harkins and I have lived in Dahlonega my whole life. I will be a junior next year at North Georgia and of course I love my school. I was trying to work on a spanish minor but that didn't work out the way it was suppose to. Even though the minor didn't work, I still really wanted to go abroad. When the trip to Nicaragua came up, it sounded like a gift sent from God. I have always always wanted to go on a mission trip and the fact that I get to now go on one and get college credit for it was amazing. With the support from my family and friends I raised the money to go, and here I am writing to you from Nicaragua.

        We have only had one day so far. We walked around two different villages and have seen first hand how these people live. I have to say that I now want to slap myself for ever complaining about my life. People in the US don't know how lucky we have it. We sit around and complain about our houses, cars, children, and neighbors and look what it has done to us. We have everything and we are still often unhappy. These people barley have a roof over there head and yet they seemed to be the most joyful people I have ever met. They work together as a family and as a community. We have come down here to help them and teach them but really I think it is us that needs the lesson. I hoped to touch lives on this trip but I can already see that it will be my life that will be touched.