Snorkeling in Haiti

Dear Readers,
I am grateful for your time. Thank you and I hope your days are going well.
In 1985, I went snorkeling in Haiti. I was 30 years old and just about to enter seminary at Boston University. I went with a United Methodist group led by Rev. Dave Strong and there were lots of college students on our trip. We were allowed 1/2 of a suitcase for our belongings on the way down, so there would be room for meds. and soap for the mission we were visiting. I used most of my alloted space in the suitcase for my snorkel, mask, fins and bathing suit. I am happy I did, because my snorkeling experience was one of the highlights of my time here on earth!
The coral reef was beautiful!!! The colors were fantastic and everything was so exotic, like underwater photos I had seen in National Geographic magazine. I found a live star fish, sea anemonies, and blue and yellow fish. The coral came in various colors and I wanted to pick some to take home, but knew I shouldn't. I had to come up for air and the reef was a little bit deep so I had to strain a bit to hold my breath long enough. On one of my trip to the surface I found myself in the middle of a school of baby jellyfish and I was scared. I tried to swim away, but there was no avoiding them. I felt a sting on the inside of my arm and I had no idea what would happen after that, so I felt anxious about it.
After I got back in the boat, the string kept hurting, but I didn't get sick. The pain lasted for about a 1/2 hour and then went away. It was like a bee sting! I had endured plenty of those as a barefoot child.
My fears felt silly to me after that.
My family was afraid when I went to Haiti, but they knew better than to try to stop me, because as my husband says, I am a "determined" person. Their fears for me were unfounded as well. I was not harmed in Haiti in any way. In fact I was a better and far more grateful person afterwards.
I had complained many times about my job before my trip to Haiti, but afterwards I was aware that most of the people in that island nation would have gotten of a boat and risked their lives to have that job. Before my trip to Haiti I took my morning shower for granted, afterwards I couldn't take a shower without thinking of the people there. Formerly my prayers of thanks before meals were simply words in my mouth, after the trip, the words took on a whole new meaning.
I wish everyone in America could take a trip to Haiti. We would be better off because of it.