BY BRANDON VEGA
Junior, Guard, Miami, FL

My Haiti experience has been a real eye opener. I have found the people in Haiti are very nice, and they are very thankful as well for us just simply teaching them the game of basketball. One kid told me "basketball is my life." That really touched me.

Even though we're from two different places we have the same thing in common "basketball"! What was very interesting to me is how much the kids were willing to listen and learn, despite the difference in language.

There was a kid named Angel who understood English a little bit. He and I bonded very well as I got to know him a little better. I learned that we had a couple things in common like music, and most importantly a dream. He told me his dream was to come to America and play college basketball one day and that really touched me. I told him and all the campers anything is possible if you try your best and work as hard as you possibly can.

The kids in Haiti have really enjoyed us. I could tell by how appreciative they are for us just being here and spending a couple of days with them. They are especially glad for the brand new shoes that we gave to every camper. Most of the kids put the shoes on as soon as we handed them out. It was Christmas in August for them. It was a real heartwarming experience to say the least.

If there's one thing I will take from this trip, it would be to be thankful for everything I have because there are others in this world with nothing except hope and a dream. This trip has definitely humbled me, and I'm glad I was able to make this journey.

(Note: Six members of the Winthrop men's and women's basketball team are in Haiti serving a Fellowship of Christian Athletes mission trip that was planned by Dan Johnston, one of Winthrop's two FCA Campus Ministry Directors. Winthrop student-athletes are sharing their thoughts about the trip from Haiti.)