"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
-2 Corinthians 4:18
I am writing this final blog post from the comfort of my sister's home in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. I am far from where I spent the past three weeks. I am in a city where the main modes of transportation are beach cruisers and flip flops... A beachfront town in which my biggest worries are the water ring my sweating glass of ice cold tea is making on my table and the three separate times my US women have hit the post in this World Cup final.
Now that I am back, wherever I venture I only see how unnecessary so much I have is. I have spent my entire life completely spoiled and had absolutely no clue: the luxury of drinkable water from my tap, a warm shower, clothing that dries within an hour, the ability to walk into my kitchen and make whatever my stomach desires, and accessibility to a wifi hotspot no matter where I am. Unfortunately I have picked up some funky habits as well. For example; I cannot go into a bathroom without inspecting the type of trashcan they have (In Bolivia, due to poor pluming you were not allowed to flush your toilet paper).
Now that I am back, wherever I venture I only see how unnecessary so much I have is. I have spent my entire life completely spoiled and had absolutely no clue: the luxury of drinkable water from my tap, a warm shower, clothing that dries within an hour, the ability to walk into my kitchen and make whatever my stomach desires, and accessibility to a wifi hotspot no matter where I am. Unfortunately I have picked up some funky habits as well. For example; I cannot go into a bathroom without inspecting the type of trashcan they have (In Bolivia, due to poor pluming you were not allowed to flush your toilet paper).
When we arrived to La Paz we were a group of individuals all residing in different places across the United States, all with different stories, different goals, and different reasons for being there. However, what we shared was a purpose and a love for the beautiful game. The three weeks were not easy by any means and something in life that you can always trust to be constant is the fact that "girls will be girls". You best believe that we did not always agree, and all of us were head strong enough to voice our opinions whether they may be right or wrong, but in 21 days I can wholeheartedly say that we became a family, "the LPF Clan". I feel so blessed to have each of these girls be a part of my life. If I were to never speak to any of them again, I hope they know grateful I am because by knowing each of them I am a better person.
The hardest decision I may have made during my entire trip was on the last day of camp. The night before I had become so physically ill that I slept on the bathroom floor becoming much too acquainted with the toilet bowl. The next morning I had to make the extremely difficult decision to stay back at the hotel and give my full attention to my healing process and being healthy in time for my flight than to give my proper good byes to each of my beautiful Bolivian girls. Because of my absence, I wanted to be sure the girls were aware of my true feelings about them, the camp, and some parting advice and I did this in the form of a letter. I could not be there to see it read, but I was told it brought the girls and multiple staff members to tears. It was not anything too extensive, but I do hope that they will remember my words and keep them in mind for whatever ventures may follow this LPF camp.
To the girls I was able to say bye to we put an emphasis on that fact that it was not really a "good bye", rather an "hasta luego" because we would each pray that our paths would cross again soon.
I have fallen in love... in love with this camp, this experience, this cause, and this feeling I get knowing that some way, somehow, I brought just a few seconds of joy to a few lives. So knowing that my life would not be complete without becoming involved in another experience like this I say to you as I said to the girl, thi is not the end of my journey and pitch less traveled, but just an "until next time"....
Thank you all who supported me and LPF and God bless!
To the girls I was able to say bye to we put an emphasis on that fact that it was not really a "good bye", rather an "hasta luego" because we would each pray that our paths would cross again soon.
I have fallen in love... in love with this camp, this experience, this cause, and this feeling I get knowing that some way, somehow, I brought just a few seconds of joy to a few lives. So knowing that my life would not be complete without becoming involved in another experience like this I say to you as I said to the girl, thi is not the end of my journey and pitch less traveled, but just an "until next time"....
Thank you all who supported me and LPF and God bless!