Marquette University High School students are warmly welcomed in the community of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho, in Africa

After two and a half days of travel, we finally arrived in Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by a parade of children singing, warmly welcoming us into their community and introducing us to a new culture. It was the perfect beginning to what would become an unforgettable experience.

Our first visit was to St. Camillus, where we met the children we would be serving. Before we arrived, the orphanage had paired each of us with a child who would become our "friend." What started as an introduction quickly grew into genuine friendships that would last throughout the trip. Later that same day, we were presented with a challenge, to organize a soccer game with the local community. We walked down to the field, inviting anyone who wanted to join us. Before long, we had gathered around 40 boys and girls of all ages. From that moment, we realized that this community was full of open-hearted people who were eager to share this experience with us.

To end the day, our new friends took us to a local snack stand, where we had the opportunity to try some of their favorite snacks. It was a simple but meaningful way to connect through something everyone enjoys, food. Over the following days, we woke up each morning to the locals waiting for us, ready to walk with us to the court. It was such an eye-opening experience to witness the generosity of the people and the gift of their time. Even during important local events, such as The King’s  birthday celebration, many still chose to spend their day helping us build the court. Like any worthwhile project, we experienced a few hiccups along the way. However, every challenge only brought us closer together. As one team, we worked harder, stayed determined, and kept our focus on finishing what we had started.

Finally, on the fourth day, after working past sundown, we completed the court. The feeling was indescribable. We celebrated together, laughed together, and spent the evening playing games, dancing, and enjoying the moment with the community that had become like family. On Sunday, we attended Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Although we all came from different backgrounds, we were amazed by how familiar and yet different the celebration felt. The Mass reminded us that faith can unite people across cultures. One of the highlights was the choir. Their songs were full of joy, energy, and rhythm. We later learned that they write and compose their own music, making their worship even more special and inspiring.

To finish the week, we were blessed to attend the court dedication ceremony. It was a beautiful celebration of everything we had accomplished together. The ceremony was filled with food, traditional music, and dancing. We even had the chance to share some of our own favorite songs, including "Party in the USA." It was a fun moment of cultural exchange that brought smiles and laughter to everyone. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and it was finally time to say our goodbyes. Leaving was much harder than we expected because, in just a few days, we had formed friendships that felt much deeper than the time we had spent together.

On our drive to Johannesburg, we made one final stop for a safari experience. Seeing rhinos, zebras, and many other African animals in their natural habitat was an incredible way to end the journey. To put the cherry on top, we visited an exotic restaurant where we had the opportunity to try meat from animals such as zebras, impala, and giraffes. It was a unique culinary experience that added another unforgettable memory to an already remarkable trip.

Looking back, this trip was an overall amazing experience. We are all incredibly grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We arrived expecting to help build a basketball court, but we left having built so much more. We built friendships with children who welcomed us with open arms. We learned from a community that demonstrated extraordinary generosity, resilience, and joy. We discovered that despite differences in language, traditions, and culture, kindness and service have a way of bringing people together.The court will stand as a place where children can play for years to come, but the memories, relationships, and lessons we gained from this experience will stay with us for a lifetime.

~ Nicholas Powell, Marquette university High School and Sarah Johnson, Divine saviour Holy Angels

Volunteer Quotes:

What I learned about myself is that if I step out of my comfort zone, I can accomplish so much more than I thought was possible. ~ Patrick Callaham

I have changed in that I am finally understanding that the relationships I build around me are much more important than those on social media. ~ Nolan Lautz

What I learned about myself throughout this trip is how much I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things. I met new people, tried new foods, and had new experiences. ~ Sarah Johnson

Every person here has shown a genuine love for the human next to them and is willing to work hard to make a change. Courts for Kids is so great because it allows for everything to really turn into something. Also, I have been more grateful for the things I used to look over, like the sunrise or the stars at night. I have never been happier to just sit in silence and think or spend time with God and myself. ~ Ben Moti

This community gave me so much to think about and reflect on. The lessons will deepen in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. They taught me that there are no limits to love and hospitality when you open your mind to other ways of living. They reinforced my belief in ritual, honoring and acknowledging the people in your family, in your community, and in your faith traditions. ~ Christine Fulcher

My favorite memory from the trip was staying up late with the kids from St. Camillus to watch the Super Bowl. While we were watching, we talked, laughed, and shared games with each other from our own cultures. I had so much fun bonding with the other kids, and it helped me see the people not just as one, but as individuals within the community. ~ Christian Berman

I've learned a lot of things about the world on this trip. One of the main things is that people aren't so different. I was able to relate to so many people here about many different things. Another thing is that connections can form between anyone. It's not likely a boy from America makes connections with a bunch of kids from Lesotho, yet it happened. The connections I made here are just as special as any I made back home. ~ Brendan Scmidt

Community Quote:

It is going to transform the children's lives because they will teach the children that meet here, playing together as a team. It will help their mental well-being, especially children from the outskirts, as they will get to meet other children and interact with them. ~ Rethabile Liploloana