Three months ago, I shared that I was preparing to go on my first dōTERRA Healing Hands trip Feb. 12-19. My husband and I embarked with eager anticipation but purposely attempted not to be too specific in our expectations. We just wanted to go along for the adventure, witness what Healing Hands does on the ground, and see what God might show us through the journey. It certainly did not disappoint. Each detail was planned carefully, and we experienced a well-orchestrated balance of bonding as a team, serving the natives in the indigenous area where our essential oil is sourced, and being tourists in the beautiful country of Guatemala.
I scheduled a Webinar so that I could share my thoughts and photos in one place with my friends, family, and team members who were so supportive and interested in hearing about our experience. In the meantime, a team member asked if I could present some of my souvenirs and talk about Guatemala for her son's class at school. I ended up presenting to his class on the same day as I recorded the Webinar, and I loved how thinking about the trip all day and evening took me back to that beautiful place. I doubt I'll ever show every picture or tell every story, but I attempted to share an overview and some highlights, and I hope you'll watch, if you have some time.
Looking back, I'm grateful for how much we accomplished and interacted with each other as a team and with the native people in just eight days. I can already see how the experience has impacted my husband and me, and we believe it's just the beginning of understanding our place and purpose with dōTERRA's greater mission to change the world. I'm truly astounded at how much of a difference our company has made already in less than nine years! In addition to supplying the highest quality essential oils, dōTERRA is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of farmers, harvesters, and distillers who contribute to our essential oil production.
Traveling with our fantastic team of Wellness Advocates, corporate representatives and leaders, a medic, a photographer, and Choice Humanitarian staff members was unforgettable. We had some long days, difficult moments, and times that required mountains of patience and flexibility. I personally had a tough time readjusting physically with my stomach and immune system challenges after the trip. (Oils and supplements to the rescue!) However, I must state clearly that the value of our trip was more than worth any challenge we faced.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the entire cardamom oil production process from seedling to distillation, and it made me love and respect dōTERRA's founders even more. Quite honestly, this is a difficult and expensive way to source essential oils. It would be so much easier and cheaper just to buy a big farm and employ people to work it. dōTERRA could cut so many corners like most of the industry does and has always done, but refusing to budge on our standards has resulted in the beginning of major changes in the industry, the lives of small farmers, and the quality of essential oils. For me and my team, seeing dignity and hope restored to the growers and their whole communities is a special and beautiful experience. Our Healing Hands donations really do matter, and knowing that every penny given to Healing Hands goes directly to people and projects like the ones we saw firsthand made me want to come home and shout from the rooftops that we all should be donating at least $1 through our monthly orders, as well as ordering the Rose hand lotion and Hope oil blend, both of which directly benefit Healing Hands.
I plan to write future posts specifically dedicated cardamom
production, Days for Girls, Co-Impact Sourcing, and Healing Hands. Stay tuned ... and if you get the opportunity to travel with Healing Hands on a service trip or Co-Impact on a sourcing trip, don't even ask whether I'd recommend it. Just know that I would say, "YES! Go!" I highly recommend it and know you won't regret it.
My only warnings might include the following:
Your eyes might be opened.
Your heart might be changed.
You might fall in love with the country and people.
You might decide to learn a language, travel more, start your own mission, adopt a child, or in some other ways stay connected with a newfound passion that you discover as a result of participating in a trip.
If you do take the opportunity, be sure to let me know. I'd love to interview you, look at all of your photographs, hear your stories, and see the increased love and admiration you have for dōTERRA shining in your eyes. I promise not to judge you if your eyes are filled with tears. In fact, I'll probably cry a little with you.