Stand Up & Say Something

I have been here in the DR with the team for 8 days now! Within those 8 days I have learned a lot about God, the community, my team, and myself. And to think we are about half way through the trip is crazy because of everything that has happened. There is one very important lesson I want to share with everyone and my experience! So here it goes!

So far on this trip I have learned a lot about how express to others when they have hurt me. I have had to do this a couple times so far on the trip because there were a couple incidents in the beginning of the trip. That was honestly really hard for me because I am a quiet person and most of the time I don’t say anything and hold it in. That’s what I have been doing for the past 18 years of my life instead of standing up and say something to someone who has hurt me. I had distanced myself from someone on my team because she had said something to me and it hurt. All this tension and anger built up in me and after a few days they asked if they had done something. So then we had a one-on-one talk about how I felt and what they had done. After the little chat all that tension and anger that built up went away. I don’t know about some of you, but to hold all that negativity in is really tiring. I really don’t know why it took me until I was 18 to figure it out, but I thank the Lord for truly showing me how much it affects me and helping me through it!!

Now on the other side I’ll admit I have said and done things to people that has hurt them in ways that I didn’t know it would hurt them. I knew I had to apologize and talk to them because it’s what had to be done! There was a night here we were challenged by our leader to think of someone to apologize to and apologize to them! Even though we were a few days in I knew who I had to apologize to. I had been talking to someone a lot at training camp and then once we got to the DR we didn’t talk as much. I felt bad even though I wasn’t doing it on purpose I still wanted to apologize and talk to them about it and see how they felt. We all know apologizing is NOT easy at times, but deep down we know it is the right thing to do. I think apologizing is showing someone that you care about your actions!! This is something I have to keep reminding myself. Part of my growing is apologizing to those who I don’t like, but also those who I have not treated well. I hope you can think of someone like that in your life and I challenge you to apologize!

I know these things can be challenging, but the Lord is always going to be with you through all of it! Now none of this gives you permission to attack anyone, it’s meant to release negativity and give you peace! I made sure to pray before I said or did anything so that I had guidance, confidence, and patience. I hope you all can take this and find a way to grow in it.

Happy Reconciliation!