Zac and I just returned from an amazing week and a half adventure of a lifetime in Peru, with The Galileo Foundation. I am convinced that the people we met have some secret key to happiness. Their energy and love for life is rejuvenating, inspiring, and something that simply cannot be captured and shared through a screen.

If you have a desire to know it, you must see it.

That being said, I would feel selfish to not share a bit of our experience.  We arrived in Cusco after a long day of travel (nearly 24 hours in airports and planes) we unpacked our luggage filled with sweets, school supplies, and hygiene kits. Even after the long travel, our excitement was far too overwhelming to rest so we toured the city.

And that is how most of the trip went, exhaustion strong enough to pass out as soon as our butts hit a bus seat but filled with plenty of energy to play soccer with the kids at multiple orphanages in one day.

We also got the privilege of spending a full day in one village. Preparing meals, tending to the crops, and feeding HUNDREDS of guinea pigs. It was just looking through a window into an entirely different and beautiful way of life.

All the time we spent with the kids playing, studying, and laughing was irresistibly amazing. They have this instant love for you, a joy that is contagious. But my favorite moment was watching children in the upper villages untying balloons before they left the school to save them for another day. What a great reminder of what a simple life can create a wonderful and joyous life rather than our world bursting with material goods.

Our final full day in Cusco we distributed our remaining female hygiene kits. It was an incredible experience. The foundation’s partnership with Days for Girls we spread headed By Emily Sunderland. And she kept the girls laughing and highly engaged for what can sometimes be an uncomfortable topic.

Duane Gines, who has run the foundation since it’s original founding over a decade ago was our nearly local tour guide. Prior to going on the trip on several occasions, Duane had describe the light South America brings him, but seeing the village children swarm him shouting “Papa!” showed the level of connection he shares is unparalleled. I witnessed women and children running to great him with wide smiles on their face, experience the connection to the hills he has grown to love, and finally saw the selflessness that both the people and Duane share. It is contagious, It makes you desire to learn to instantly have that pure and unconditional love for others not just those closest to you.

This past week was a window into so much more than us and what we did. I am just one voice, one experience of many more who have been touched by others living in an entirely different space than we are.

The journey inspired me. I saw people who dedicate their lives to these movements, people who have an entirely different way of life than us. Small moments that pulled me out of my comfort zone. It was new, exhilarating, a huge blessing. I highly encourage every person to make time, it doesn’t have to be across the globe there are people in your own community who are waiting for someone like you to come around.

A huge thank you to The Galileo Foundation and even more to each of the beautiful souls we met.