I really can’t find the words to sum up last week. It was amazing, it pushed our comfort zones, it made us vulnerable, it taught us to rely on each other, and God never left our sides. My eyes are burning this morning and I am not sure if it because of all the tears, or the exhaustion.
I can’t help but to look back at last week and laugh in comparison to today. Last week I showered once in 8 days. Yes, I said ONCE, and by ‘showered’ I mean I used a bucket of cold water and a measuring cup to wash myself. Everyday was a baby wipe bath day for me. I learned to welcome it.
My highlight of last week was no makeup! For the most part I had no clue what I looked like at all. I may have looked in a mirror for 10 seconds last week. My hair brush was my fingers, and at one point so was my tooth brush. Porta-potties were delightful (hahaha). Every time I used the porta-potty I still found myself looking to flush the toilet or wondering where the sink was. Hand sanitizer was the closet thing to a sink. Dirty clothes, we rocked them…we smelled, we didn’t care.
We ate as a community. Tables and food platters were shared with seven people and some days we ate with our hands. Germs, I don’t think any of us cared at that point. My calorie intake decreased significantly. I struggled to stay awake through the days because my energy level was so low due to the lack of nutrition.
Today however, I sit here in front of three computer screens. I sit here and I am showered, clean, put together, wearing matching clothes and makeup. I sit here after having slept in a real bed for a night. I sit here and realize that this is not the life I am meant for.
It is mind blowing to think about all the excess we have and how much we take for granted. I have seen the third world areas. I have seen the houses that are literally held up with tree branches and a tarp for a roof. I have seen the barefoot kids playing in the streets. Most of the worlds population has way less than we do but they don’t take it for granted.
My life next year is going to be lived in a tent and out of a backpack. My life next year as simple as it is going to be is still going to be lived in better conditions than most. I packed my pack full last week to only find nothing but excess. I didn’t need all the clothes I took. I didn’t need some of the accessories I took. I didn’t need a lot of stuff. I think about all this “stuff” I have and wonder why I even have it…
