This trip changes people.  I’m not sure exactly why, but it does. In the midst of this tragedy too horrific for words, we feel like we want to help. Being here, we all can feel that we are making a difference, but no matter what we do it’s not enough… It drives me nuts knowing that I cannot fix everything. I feel like I should be able to fix this, like I should have some kind of superpower to suddenly make everything alright and make everyone’s lives better. But I can’t. Period. I need to let go of that idea, that I can be the one to fix everything, which is really hard for me to do. These people are amazing and have touched my heart so deeply so quickly, that there is no way to express it in words.

This one lady’s house I’ve been working at, Miss Dot, is becoming somewhat of a grandmother to me. She has welcomed me into her life, despite the horrors she has experienced. The first day we showed up to her worksite, she welcomed us with open arms, took the time to learn each of us by name (though she still refers to us as her babies), gave us a tour of the house, and fed us each a large slice of homemade bread pudding. The other women are no different. These people are too incredible for words. Despite what they have been through, these amazing people have the room in their hearts for us.

Like Michael has said, we don’t come on a MISSION trip to give to others. We come on more of a quest, in desprate search of something we cannot find in our own lives. At the end of the “quest,” is a treasure which you must experience, one that makes the quest worth while, the reason you are there. For us, its these women, and their stories. It is a horrid shame that no one has or is hearing the truth of what happened here three years ago. Being here, and hearing the stories of people around us is the most incredible part of this whole experience. As David has said time and time again, talk to people, talk to as many people as you can. It’s the truth, going home, we become the voices for these people, allowing their stories to be heard and the truth to be revealed.

Don’t get me wrong, change is happening. Tonight at our evening gathering, we talked about it. The first mission trip there were about 15 people, and this year, the third year, we have 48. What an awesome thing, and it’s not just us helping the change. Garrett, PJ, and Gabe were mowing a lawn the other day, it was more of a park than a lawn, and the mowers they had were the typical push mowers. They only got about a block mowed, but today when they returned to the site to continue mowing, a large truck pulled up. Someone had been payed by the government to mow that area, but took the money and never followed through. The truck carried a couple LARGE mowers, and finished mowing that grass. Someone saw the three of our members working, and shit happened, they started a chain reaction which brought about change in the way things have been happening.

Like I said, this trip changes people. I have seen people grow up here, I have seen people cry and open up, and getting to know people on a deeper level than ever before. Everyone here is amazing. I just need to realize that even though I cannot do everything, what I CAN do, is making a difference. And that is something I believe with all my heart.