I have been trying to sum up this experience, but have been having a hard time with it. Kaitlyn just posted the following on facebook. It is poetic, beautiful and perfect. I'll let her words speak for me.
No one will understand the trials we went through as we poured that roof, dug dirt with sunburns, or watched as the burns and rashes got worse. No one will understand the sore muscles, strange food, or love for the locals. No one will understand the joy of jumping in the ocean, bittersweet goodbyes, or the longing to be a part of something bigger again. No one will understand that you had to be there.
As we go home and upload our pictures, wash our clothes, and sleep for hours, we reflect on our experience. How can we describe the past two weeks to those we've returned to? Well, we can't. Our experience was our own. Others will appreciate it, sympathize with it, and be in awe over it. But no one will truly understand all of the fun, tears, aches, joys, complaints, jokes, sights, or stories that we explain to them.
For me, this experience was one of the best that I have had, and will have in my life. It taught me how to live with others, trust others are doing their part, and how to have fun while working. Those are lessons that I'll never forget, and I know everyone learned something as well.
We found hope and love in a place where there is nothing. We found hard work, desperation, and frustration in a place where others vacation. We found joy in the suffering. And we found friends among the strangers. All of you have blessed my life.
Thank you,
Marty
As the sun sets on this indescribable experience, I say a fond farewell. Did I have a good time? Yes, moments were pure bliss. Others were not. Would I do it again? Maybe. Am I glad I went? Absolutely.
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