"Katlin Dee-dee!" I heard my name being called out on the other side of the crowd of people in a familiar high pitched voice. The cry was then accompanied by an eight-year-old girl shoving her way through a crowd of people to get to me and throwing herself into my arms. It was then that the tears came flooding to my eyes, although I kept them at bay for the moment. For the first several weeks of our internship, it seemed that none of the girls could remember my name. For starters, they can't pronounce the "th" sound in Kathleen; so I changed it to Katlin to make it easier for them (imagine Kaitlyn but with a double "e" sound instead of the short "i" sound for the second syllable). Then, they seemed to be forever getting it confused with the other dee-dee's names. I had almost given up hope until about a week ago, when they all apparently remembered what my name was all of a sudden.
But, to hear that little voice calling out my name as she saw me in the foyer of the church this morning was one of my most precious moments of this trip. And to see one of the most shy and introverted girls shoving others out of her way to get to me...that feeling probably can't be described, even in the most eloquent of words.
I suppose something everyone struggles with as they come home after a trip like this is the feeling that you truly did nothing. You were only here for a short time, and you didn't change the world. In fact, yesterday I was feeling like I had changed no one at all. I mean, God obviously did a lot in my life...but did He do anything for these girls that I had wanted so desperately to help?
Today, I got my answer. "You made a difference," that still small voice whispered to me as I pressed the grinning girl to my body and struggled to contain my tears. At least to this one girl, I made a difference...and I suppose that's all that matters.
But, to hear that little voice calling out my name as she saw me in the foyer of the church this morning was one of my most precious moments of this trip. And to see one of the most shy and introverted girls shoving others out of her way to get to me...that feeling probably can't be described, even in the most eloquent of words.
I suppose something everyone struggles with as they come home after a trip like this is the feeling that you truly did nothing. You were only here for a short time, and you didn't change the world. In fact, yesterday I was feeling like I had changed no one at all. I mean, God obviously did a lot in my life...but did He do anything for these girls that I had wanted so desperately to help?
Today, I got my answer. "You made a difference," that still small voice whispered to me as I pressed the grinning girl to my body and struggled to contain my tears. At least to this one girl, I made a difference...and I suppose that's all that matters.
