The first international Youth Meeting of Faith and Light took place in Alicante, Spain, from July 31 to August 6. Twelve of us came from Italy. I was nervous from the moment it was suggested—wondering why me, of all people? When departure day arrived, my mom, who was coming with me, met up with Daniela, Martina, Sara, and Federica at the airport. We clicked immediately. We looked at each other and said, "Okay... let's begin this adventure and hope for the best."
Once we reached Alicante, I ran into a few problems—first with transport, then with my room. Fortunately, both were sorted quickly. But the stress shook me. I wanted to go home right away. My mom told me to relax, sleep on it, that I was seeing everything through exhaustion's dark lens and that tomorrow would look different. She was right. The next morning, the problems from the night before seemed to have vanished.
Monday, the other young people began arriving—from Italy and from around the world. Now we were complete: about 160 of us, disabled young people, some accompanied by a parent like me, but many more were Friends—volunteers who, true to Faith and Light's spirit, helped anyone in need without being asked. There were no differences among us. Not skin color, not language, not country, not even religion. Some friends were Muslim.
I found myself thrust into a world bursting with color—alive with joy and enthusiasm. We radiated happiness from every pore, even though the real work hadn't begun yet. We were simply all there together.
Every day was packed. After breakfast came prayer in the chapel, then a seminar in the auditorium, then the beach or rest time, lunch, a break, an international music moment, another seminar, sports or free time, prayer again, dinner, a celebration, and the evening ended with time to get to know each other, sampling local foods and drinks. It was all so engaging. I didn't feel tired because I was so eager to hear the beautiful testimonies being shared. But I kept thinking: How can I help? I'm the one who needs help. What do I have to offer?
But as I listened more, I realized: of course I can help—by showing others how Faith and Light makes all of us feel good, without exception. It confirmed, once again, what I already knew: Faith and Light is a calling you simply cannot say no to. The day before we left, everyone was sad. We had celebrated the night before, but it hadn't cheered us up. In fact, we had all grown sad since the middle of the week. The meeting was invaluable—it gave us a chance to talk with one another, share new ideas, and discuss the challenges facing our different communities. For me, it deepened what I already understood about Faith and Light.
Arianna Giuliano, 2017