Reflections and Revelations....

So we've now been back home for a good five days...

...more than enough to fall quietly back in to our old routines and our ways of everyday life. It seems crazy to think that just a week ago we were all walking around Masada and playing around in the Dead Sea. But it WAS only a week ago that we were in the "Holy Land." It WAS only a week ago that we were still together, that as a group we got to meet with the most interesting, fascinating people every day. It WAS only a week ago that we were having one of the most intense, wonderful, incredible, draining, hardest experience of our lives.

It makes me sad to know that I'm not waking up to the morning call to prayer anymore, that mango juice is no longer in abundance, and that I'm not surrounded by 15 of the brightest, best, and most vivacious people I've ever had the pleasure of traveling with. Now it seems that all I have left is the memories...which are many and great of course, and I get to relive them all each time someone asks about my trip...each time someone wants to see a few pictures I get to go back in time a week or so and remember....

We met with some amazing people and organizations and heard more narratives and opinions than anyone's mind had room enough to hold-

But that kind of experience, it changes people...it changed us. I feel like our trip might as well have lasted two years rather than two weeks. I feel so much....older? Thats not exactly the right word but...I know I'm not the same girl I was when I left. I now, as I'm sure we all do, feel a much heavier weight being carried right between my shoulder blades...the weight of the knowledge we gained while in Israel/Palestine...and what exactly to do with it now that our trip and our experiences are memories.....

I knew I would struggle with this a little...and I will most likely continue struggling with it for some time to come. HOW am I supposed to transfer this knowledge, those sights, those experiences....how am I supposed to transfer them in to something tangible for everyone back here to see and feel and accept? It seems almost an impossible task....

But for now I guess I will continue the path of reflection that I'm on...and thank all of our supporters again and again for making a HUGE difference in the lives of many people....

I can't wait to see everyone again at the Shareholders Dinner on the 14th!

-Kadie