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Enriched Souls, Kinder Hearts, Open Minds, Meaningful Travel, Giving Back, Service Projects, Voluntourism

Meaningful Travel

Elly’s Back from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

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Elly and family are back from our short, fun filled and most gratifying trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Elly enjoyed packing for the trip. We spent the first two days enjoying our resort pool, the beach, golf, a relaxing facial and massage, a dolphin and sea lion encounter, and an unforgetable ziplining experience. The 3rd day was dedicated to a half day city tour and then an afternoon with the girls at the AGAPE.
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We were greeted by the staff and shy girls who were ready to start working on baking cookies, making crafts, and clearing a storage room with us. We got a quick tour of their home before we got started. We switched from one project to another so that everyone had an opportunity to experience all of them.

The most touching moments were when the girls surprised my daughter and dad with a birthday cake, singing to them and giving them cards they had made. They all wrote beautiful thank you notes to all of us. The special messages were heart warming. [frame]

We took pictures with the girls and said goodbye. It was amazing to see the smiles on their faces by the end of the day. We were touched, emotional and grateful for the experience. We wished we could have stayed longer.

Even though we are back home and into our routines, we keep talking and thinking about the girls at the AGAPE. Hopefully we will be able to go and visit again someday.

To read more about this amazing long weekend getaway which included lots of fun, sun, a little giving and a whole lot of gratitude stay tuned for our next newsletter, Matters of the Heart coming later this week.

Elly the Elated Elephant

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Vacations that Matter has a new blog mascot, Elly the Elated Elephant!!! Follow Elly around the world as she travels with families and participates in the volunteer service projects. So why did we select an elephant to be our mascot? Because Elephants are one of the few animals who are nuturing and take care of their young. Mothers and other family members are in almost constant affectionate contact with the young, providing guidance and assistance.

Also, being a hindu, I grew up praying to Lord Ganesha (the God with the elephant head). The elephant head is symbolic of auspiciousness, strength and intellectual prowess. Ganesha is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles such as vanity, selfishness and pride. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. The elephants large head is symbolic of the wisdom and intellect. The large ears, like the winnow, sift the bad from the good. They also represent listening skills and being attentive to all requests, be they humble or powerful. The small mouth in comparison to the large ears convey that we should speak less and listen more.The elephant trunk is a symbol of efficiency and adaptability as it can be used to push down a massive tree or pick up a few blades of grass. And the eyes represent focus and concentration. The tusk (Ganesha only has one) represents retaining everything that is good and destroying what is evil. And last but not least, the large belly is symbolic of the teaching that we should peacefully digest everything that is good and bad in our day to day lives and may the sweets that fill that belly represent the sweetness that we experience in life through our faith.

So, meet Elly. She is elated to have the opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, and make a difference. She is expecting to have lots of fun!!! Her very first adventure will begin in a few short days as she travels to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Come back soon to read all about her adventure.

Vacations That Matter launches Blog

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My family is visiting Puerto Vallarta in a couple of weeks and we are going to spend an afternoon visiting a women’s shelter . We will be baking and packaging cookies and making crafts which they sell locally to raise funds for their shelter. I asked them what they could really use since we were coming and had some space in our luggage. The initial response was, “you don’t have to bring anything, just spending time with the girls will be great.” I just told them I understood but my girls would like to bring a small gift to share as gratitude for allowing them to enjoy such a fun activity with them, so they suggested that the shelter could use personal items like toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo. Then they sent another message saying it would be too heavy for us to bring all the way from here, so easier items for us would be new underwear and socks to wear with their school uniforms. (Usually they get clothing but no donations of underwear and socks). So we’re off today with the girls to shop for our trip. I never imagined that just knowing what they could use and being able to go out and shop for it could be so gratifying……

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Make Someone Smile

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Message from my Heart

As I hugged my brother goodbye last week, the thought that I will miss him and that he will probably miss family, friends, and mom’s cooking got me a little emotional and then I thought why??? He is only moving from California to Florida for a better career opportunity. And with all the access to technology today, we will be able to keep in touch via cell phone, text messages, Facebook, and even see each other via Skype.

He said to me, “I’m not worried at all. I have the best support system in the world.” As I heard those words, I began to think of all the people in this world from children to seniors who don’t have a “support system.” They have no family or friends, no cell phones or Skype, and no sisters or brothers to give them a hug. These thoughts got me even more emotional, but more inspired to do something about the lack of a “support system” for so many individuals throughout the world. But where do we start and what can we do?

Then, I remembered a Facebook message that my mentor had shared with me. And today I’d like to share that message with you.  It is something that any of us can do without ever leaving home, or spending a penny. Sharing just a few minutes of your time will bring a smile to someone….

Today’s Inspiration

“Women in Afghanistan usually don’t have smiles on their faces. They are taught not to laugh; they are told laughing is not right for women…”

These women don’t have the same support system we do. They don’t have a way to express themselves, however, they do have an opportunity to reach out to us via this amazing blogging project, and all they want is for someone to write back to them.

We can’t always travel to reach out in person, but we can be a brother or sister to those who really need the support. Bring a smile to these women and feel good about something you did today.  Visit the Afghan Women’s Writing Project website and join me in making a difference.

http://www.awwproject.org/2011/01/to-laugh/

Afghan women's writing project

Afghan woman