In the book of Hebrews, there is a verse (13:8) that reads, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Simple enough, yet a wildly true concept to wrap your mind around. I've clung to this verse for years now, not fully grasping what this really means. But I know it's truth, so I don't need to fully understand it. I think that's what I started with before this trip. And I know that I'm back here, in my hometown, still with the same promise that no matter what changes in myself or in the world around me, my God; my Savior, and my Helper remain the same. 

This will be my final blog concluding this trip. It will live on in my mind and in the minds of my friends but the journey itself has come to a close. There is so much to reflect on that I can think of no better way to end this than with a poem. So enjoy this small bit of reflection I'd like to share with you.

P.s. I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read these blogs, supported, and prayed for me throughout the past 3 months. I couldn't have done this without you.  

 P.p.s. Read through the poem to see a picture of my wonderful squad at the bottom!

What I've Seen

I saw something

Something out where 

Your skin isn't its shade

It's of a thick dust

I saw the sun 

Beat down and kiss my shoulders,

And rise up 

To wake an already moving body 

I saw a stranger

But for a second

Before they looked familiar

And then were close

I saw a warm welcome

To then see an

Unexpected one,

One that couldn't compare

I saw a season

Of heat

A season of growth and life

In a dried-up land

I saw a community

Knit together by the same road

Until that could be no more,

Only Love could mend

I saw a still river

But unable to see its inhabitants

Or anything under its dark covering

And yet there was an echo of laughter floating atop

I saw a shallow hole

Known how to be dug

Yet nearly unable to refill

With what keeps it living

I saw a shift

In a direction of peace

A place of stillness

A healing; spiritual space

I saw an unusual cloud 

Illuminated by the rising

Of Christ

On a mount of celebration

I saw people before me

That became a part of me;

That became something 

I simply cannot describe

And then I saw myself leaving them

What I saw would have been clear

If it weren't for the flood in my

Eyes

Then I saw my home

I saw myself

And I saw that my home is within

And it remained the same the whole way through

Our last picture together as a whole squad!

(Top) Team Sal y Luz: Lucy, Will, Me, Daegan, Raquel, Levi, and Catherine

(Bottom) Team Hineni: Dailey, Jessica, Victoria, Abigail, Courtney, and Kara