"...This will be a humbling experience for all of us..."

"...The purpose of the wall is to prevent rocks from falling onto their homes. The houses are built onto the side of a mountain, and earthquakes and tremors occur often..."

"...I think one of my favorite parts about the mission trip is winding down at the end of the night, reading through the Book of James, and talking about what we saw/thought that day..."

"...This morning's mass really hit me- the first reading had a line ,"...For God likes cheerful givers..."."

"We went to one of the local restaurants, ordered donuts and drinks. I mean, there's no harm, right? We're all allowed, so might as well take the chance.
It's not like two Cuba Libres will be a bad hangover..."

"...A couple members of our team went to help at a preschool..."

"...We took our lunch break early and took the opportunity to hand out rosaries, toys for the kids..."

"...the work stopped just because los gringos had never seen a scorpion before!"

"It's the end of the night- time for a debrief with Randy. We read the first part of chapter 2, all about Sin of Partiality. As he read this line,"...have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?" (James 2:4), the first thing that came to mind was prejudice..."

"The main message tonight was this: Are we willing to leave our comfort zones and show others the love of a Christian?
Something to pray about."

"...we played with the 2 and 3 year olds. They taught me a new word today- la pelota..."

"Going to the zoo tomorrow! We're going to have about 20-25 children from Pamplona with us..."

"The bus rides to and from were great, too! Despite the language barrier, we were all laughing, singing, having a good time."


"[She] nicknamed him the Fresh Prince of Pamplona."

"...I think the best part of this trip is bonding with the girls..."

"Considering we didn't meet each other before the mission trip, we've gotten along pretty well this past week!"

"...We skipped the work site and visited a school called Cerrito Azul..."

"...It's really amazing to see the community in San Juan de Miraflores, more specifically [him], help the people with special needs..."

"Azul- Blue is the color for autism awareness.
Cerrito- literally means "little hill"... the name of the school directly translates to "little blue hill""

"... a line of people passing rocks... breaking up boulders... mixing cement. It was a busy mountainside!"

"There's major progress on the wall- and not only that. We've made connections with the locals in Las Violetas that we didn't imagine would exist 2 weeks ago!..."

"What we do with our time here is so valuable. The wall keeps them safe, but the connections last a lifetime!"

"...I'm surprised by all the American music they listen to..."

"...The people of Pamplona have stolen my heart..."

"... I've never really had the desire to go on a mission trip before this..."

"...That good feeling you get even tough you're exhausted... There are no words to describe it..."

"...I'm going to miss the community of Las Violetas in Pamplona.
Gabriella, who calls [him] "chico malo".
Her mom, who is very wonderful.
A young mom with a very happy little boy!"

"...We went to Alegria en el Senor (Joy in the Lord), which is a school for physically disabled students..."

"It was such a special experience, to be able to see how happy they are despite their disabilities.
They see them as a blessing..."

"...Pan Para mis Hermanos (Bread for my Brothers)..."

"...It's a way for the street vendors to feel appreciated and loved. The volunteers go out once a week and hand out bread and whatever drink they have- hot tea, hot chocolate, water.
They also pray with the vendors."

"...This trip has been very humbling overall, because the things that I complain about at home are things that I take advantage of."

I love all these little things about you-
So why don't I love all of you?
What's holding me back?

Jaded love, maybe?
Or it could be that I'm afraid-
Afraid of the fall.

But I don't have to be. Because you'll be there to catch me.
No matter what.

The feelings you create within me- happiness, the want of a deeper connection with another person... Are like nothing else.
When you're around, I'm pretty sure I'm one of the happiest people on the earth; You bring out my biggest smile without a single effort, that nervous but pleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach... That what we have is good, what we can have in the future will be better.

A relationship based on trust, respect, boundaries neither of us cross. One(s) that encompass the eventual physical part of a relationship.

Your romantic gestures, the comfort you give me... I would give anything to feel that forever, however long forever may last.
You make me want to be better, and I think that's what I like best about you.

His face,
So...
So close to mine.

It frightened me.

I like him, he likes me.
Yet I was afraid.

Afraid of what would happen if
I took it farther,
Tried to take it farther.

His arms around my middle,
Tickling my sides.
His big, warm hands near mine.

We were alone...
Sort of.
The only ones in the room, at least.

And I was afraid.

I see.
I see the love, the adoration,
In other people.

It hits me deep-
Because I know I don't have it.

That connection with another person,
That feeling of happiness,
joy beyond comprehension.

The loneliness that casts a shadow over my heart-
I'm vulnerable to it,
More than I can take at times,
More than I care to take.

But my other half,
The soul that completes me...
He's out there somewhere.

5 months.
5 months of you, me, marching band competitions.
5 months I didn't keep track of.

Time seemed to fly by, I only thought of what we had...
Hiding it from my family. I was only 15. I wasn't old enough to date.

But when you asked me.
Withdrawn, a loner.I was shocked, I couldn't not say yes.

You were my first love...
Love being a relative term.

It was no deep relationship, just two teens feeling puppy love.
And it had to end sometime.
That sometime was the end of marching band.

You were an eighth grader, I was a freshman.
It was goodbye for us.

One thing happens to you and it feels like the end of the world.
But it's not.

Because a distraction provides itself...
Someone comes around to provide comfort.

They are your other half,
Your best friend, perhaps...

They'll always be there for you,
Listen to your problems.
(A caffine-induced headache, maybe??)

No matter what may happen,
Another door in your life will open.
It is God's saving grace, his guiding hand.

Follow...

Love hurts
I cry my heart out, feel alone in the world.
All because of love.

I long for a friend, a warm hug to go to.
It is scarce.

Prayers are my consolation,
But even those don't help all the time.

Love hurts.

That empty feeling you get when
The person you think you love ignores you.

That empty feeling you get when
You think about that person, even though you don't want to.
When your life begins to **** without them in it...

That empty feeling.

Disappointment strikes the heart
Like lightning strikes the ground.
It's not exactly heartbreak,
But it feels like it sometimes...

I need to focus on something else,
Divert my attention.
If I don't, who knows what will happen?

If anything will help the feeling go away,
If anything will help heal the light scarring on my heart,
It's welcome...

I don't know what to feel,
how to feel.

Too many emotions are barraging me,
and it's overwhelming me.

Something akin to love,
maybe closer to friendship than anything...

Desperation for my wants.

It seems pitiful, and admitting it just
makes it even more gruesome.

But looking past the gruesomeness,
there is truth. Honesty.

A lack of denial...

I have to face it.

I need an antidote to fear,
an antidote to tears.

I need some love and comfort.

Because I just did the scariest thing
I've ever had to do:

Left the nest, flown the coop.
However you want to put it.

Either way,
I'm my own person from now on.

The scent of smoke fills the air,
Explosions screech in the starry sky.

Yellow and blue.
Orange and red.

If only every night could end like this...

What is heroism?
I'll tell you what it is:
Risking your life for others.
But it's also love. And giving.

Another question is- what tests heroism?
A burning building. Two burning buildings. Three.
Nothing else tests heroism like that.
Nothing else provokes the feeling of the incessant
Need to help others.

Risks accompany heroism. Risks like death.
An unimaginable death.
But along with risk is respect. And appreciation.
Nothing else gives you respect like saving lives.
Saving the lives of thousands of people.

You gain appreciation from doing what's best for others,
When they need it.

But there is more to heroism.
There is more than meets the eye.
It creates change.
It touches people's hearts,
Urges them to change the world.

Then the world changes people.
Will the world change you?
When they need it.