Dear Source:
I re-read, once again, Shaun Pennington's wonderful Journal entries throughout the last few week's on the powerful and life-changing Rwanda experience. All I can say is Wow!!!
Virgin Islanders have so much to learn from these entries…about selfless service to others as these youth discovered in adopting an orphaned HIV child as well as meeting so many others and experiencing their lives…working together ("Together we can" do anything!)…about the importance of reaching out to others in compassion…about the powerful experience of thinking that you are going to give…and find out the incredible unseen multiple gifts that given in return if we have the eyes and ears to experience them (and this group certainly did!) ….about the incredible creativity that lies within each human being…ready to show itself when we are not too busy watching TV and instead interact together and create games…ideas…partnerships…about the beauty and amazement of the animal kingdom like the incredible gorilla that the children got to experience…as well as the sense of humor that is also a great gift….about how money and "things and stuff" have their place but can never replace the values of the heart through the power of love. This group demonstrated the power of love and what it can do. This is wonderful!
I am also very proud of First Lady Cecile deJongh, her daughter Renee and everyone of those youngsters as well as their parents who made that empowering experience to happen.
Would it be wonderful to try and give every student in the Territories an opportunity of awareness and growth like this through some kind of future exchange program? I believe that many of our Youth would benefit from that.
Maybe our teachers in the Territories can use these Source Journal entries this fall to explore the many experiences that these wonderful young people have brought to us.
I am so proud to be a Virgin Islander when I read these stories. Shaun, you have done a wonderful job…I felt like I was there in many ways! Thank You.
Bonny Corbeil
St. John
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