When I was in Hawaii, I never once felt homesick or had trouble sleeping. Something about the trip and the people I was with made me feel at home. God was with me the entire time and his presence was strong within our group of girls.
I was hesitant about not having my phone with me on the trip; Not so much about taking a break from social media, but not getting to talk with my family every day. However, like I said earlier, you feel at home during the trip and the leaders are like family, so you don’t even think about your phone!
Don’t get me wrong I did miss my family, but I was never once homesick or uncomfortable. Taking a break from social media was incredible. So often I catch myself idolizing my phone over God and it was great to be free from it. I also feel like I waste so much time on my phone and it was so great to hang out with all the girls but not have it revolve around technology.
My experience in Hawaii felt like I was on a big family vacation. Everyone was happy to be there, and I was surrounded by such amazing people in an incredible place. The trip was relaxed, while doing everything on the itinerary. Our group would pile into two vans and ride all over the island to go on new adventures; we would listen to music and stare in awe at the beauty of God's creation around us.
One of my favorite memories from the trip was coming back from an amazing day, then all the girls came out of their rooms and headed outside to the patio to just stared at the stars. I had never seen stars so beautiful - they were so clear and close, I felt like I could reach out and grab them. It was a cool experience because I felt God's presence through his creation and through the peace I felt when staring up into the sky.
Another one of my favorite parts was all the incredible views I got to see. I had never seen anything like that before. The mountains towered over you and the ocean was incredibly blue! I loved it.
One day I got to swim feet away from a wild sea turtle and another day I got to watch dolphins swim with our boat, incredible. The whole experience felt like a dream, and I wish I had never woken up!
I got to see and experience some incredible things on my trip to Hawaii and those memories will last forever. This trip helped me understand how big our God is and how incredible his work is. The bonds and friendships I made on my trip will last a lifetime, and I am incredibly thankful for that.
– Ramsey Ross, Hawaii Girls Adventure, Kauai