We’ve seen a lot of natural disasters in the Americas in the recent past with hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and North Carolina, and wildfires in the Smoky Mountains and California. This past June we saw the devastation caused by Vulcano Fuego in Guatemala.
I’ve made donations through work or religious foundations that I hoped had been put to good use, but I wanted to do more than passively write a check. It seemed like initially money helped but in all cases as the areas were trying to rebuild what they needed was people to come as visitors and spend money in these areas where tourism is a primary driver of their economy.
So this year as I planned a few get-away weeks, I looked at these areas and realized that some were new to me; I’d never traveled there! So, I’ve been deliberate in traveling to the Smoky Mountains to do some hiking the last week in August and spent the past week in Guatemala hiking an active volcano close to Fuego. In both areas, the people were gracious and excited that I had traveled to their land with the express purpose of seeing the wonders of the world through their eyes. What could be better than honoring them with our presence?
With natural disasters occurring with increasing frequency, I don’t believe I’ll run out of places to see. I’m already thinking about trips to the California wine country, Puerto Rico and the Eastern coast of North Carolina. All places I’ve never been.
Where are you going on your next vacation? Help people rebuild by traveling to be with them.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha