03/23/2024
I want to take a moment to share some of my personal insights from Peace for Warriors' recent mission to the Philippines. I hope this will provide a first-hand account of why we are so passionate about our mission here at Peace for Warriors.
I recall when we touched down in Manila, there was a very nervous energy I could feel running through my body. My previous experiences with international travel were always with a weapon in my hand and in much larger groups.
As our small group of volunteers went through customs in the Philippines, my anxiety spiked, given my past experiences. Exiting the airport, however, our host family greeted us warmly, embracing us with open arms. The matriarch of the family was even in tears, overwhelmed with happiness to see us. Once we got in the van, we drove 3 hours to the house which would act as our “base of operations” for our upcoming mission.
The host family had prepared a meal for us, featuring various local dishes, urging us to indulge in the delicious food. Their hospitality was remarkable, but my mind couldn't help but wander to potential threats in this foreign land. Despite the warmth of our hosts, the anxiety lingered as we settled in for our first night's sleep.
The next day, we transitioned right into work mode. Meeting at the school, surveying the needs of the students and faculty, and finding pricing for materials needed. It was a full operational planning session, and that work brought me right back to the sense of purpose I felt so strongly during the war on terror. We were using military planning and efficiency to feed the children, improve the buildings, upgrade facilities, and provide supplies. It was incredibly rewarding to witness the immediate impacts of our efforts taking shape.
Word of our efforts traveled through the town quickly. As we ventured out to visit the areas where most of our students resided, many of the elders and even the local tribal chief came to join us. They introduced us to the families of the homes along our path through the town and then up into the neighboring mountains and farm fields. As the day passed it became apparent to us how strongly our values aligned with the individuals we met. Regardless of backgrounds or languages spoken, the universal desire for a better life for the next generation resonated deeply. As the elders who guided us expressed their appreciation and gratitude for our efforts, I began to feel a sense of purpose reminiscent of my prior deployments during the War on Terror.
Here at Peace for Warriors, we have developed the ability to format these volunteer missions in a military-style format that our veterans are accustomed to, creating a humble, yet safe environment without the threats of combat. Each morning, we start with a mission brief to ensure everyone knows what must be accomplished. We debrief at the end of each day. We break bread together and talk about our experiences in the presence of those we know share our pain. We have bled together, and now we heal together.
Moral injuries suffered during combat, watching friends die, having to take life, and seeing so much suffering can destroy a person over time. We are balancing those experiences with feeding children, repairing schools, and other such positive experiences the best way we know how. Consider this proper nutrition for the soul. When military members are asked why they enlisted, the desire to make a positive difference in the world is the primary motivation for joining. The experiences many face on combat deployments, unfortunately, highlight the reality of evil and suffering in our world today. It can often be soul-crushing.
Since we’ve been back from our trip, our social media posts have gotten an overwhelming response from veterans across the country, all expressing a heartfelt desire to get involved. These responses underscored the underlying need within the veteran community to reclaim that sense of purpose—to once again be a force for good in the world, despite the challenges they've faced.
As inquiries from future participants come in, we plan to continue developing our program and expanding our destinations for outreach. We also continue our fundraising efforts, we ask that you please consider giving to our growing foundation. These donations fund not only our veterans but also the support staff and materials necessary to complete our mission which provides the proper environment to heal. To put our funding goals in perspective, if each of our followers gave just $10 to this project, we would have funding for 12 veterans to travel on our next life-changing journey. We greatly appreciate your consideration as we are nothing without your support. With every donation, we come one step closer to changing the world for our veterans and those they serve.
I want to thank you all for following us, supporting us, and changing the lives of our veterans. It cannot be overstated that you are truly changing the world.
(Written by Daniel Arcand, President of Peace for Warriors)
