What I’ve seen......

I’ve been in my worksite for 5 months now, and have almost since 
given up on trying to explain how I feel about it all. The following 
is just a small list of the things I have seen since arriving here.

• I’ve seen myself fight to try to understand a language I didn’t 
  know, yet understanding completely just by a look or expression.
  

• I’ve been surround by my friends, yet at the same time completely 
  alone.

• I’ve seen the things I value as strengths become my greatest 
  weakness, yet things I took for granted gave support.
  
• I’ve seen five strangers in a short couple of months become a 
  community. Ready to face a year of the unknown together.
  
• I’ve seen old friends, yet have met new ones along the way.
  
• I’ve seen myself call a place I barely knew before home.
  
• I’ve seen children fight malnutrition, and swam in a river with Guatemala's 
  Vice-president.
  
• I’ve worried when the ground began to shake, while my family said 
  “It’s just an earthquake”
  
• I’ve seen a church put down another because of a slight difference 
  in belief, yet they offer their homes to a stranger of a different 
  language and culture.
  
• I’ve seen the word of God used to oppress a majority of his people, 
  yet it also gladdens the hearts of many.
  
• I’ve seen a church refuse to change from the past, yet in one moment 
  took a step that changed everything.
  
• I’ve seen grown men fight out their political differences in the 
  street, while the children celebrate through grace and love.
  
• I’ve seen a church spend 30 minutes in silent prayer, while yet 
  another sang loudly for just a long.
  
• I’ve seen the youth go crazy in the name of God, while others 
  watched quietly.
  
• I’ve seen myself help those who where moved to tears, and moments 
  later was the one in need of help.
  
• I’ve seen people take two days to help deliver food and medicine to 
  a remote church, yet fail to help one man with a mental disability when he entered our church. 
  
  Many things have stayed the same and gone on like nothing happened. Yet, other things have changed dramatically. I haven’t been able to put to words most of what has happened here. This only describes a piece of what life is here and my place in it.