End of day 3 Anna

Hello all! I haven't had a chance to write much. So here is my story. On our way here our car was full of girls. It was me, my mom, my friend Mackenzie, Emily and Allie. I can honestly say that I am so happy to have these girls, along with Sarah and my new friends Ariel and Amanda. We have all grown so much closer and i am so happy they are here with me. For a while us teenagers were sleeping, I mean really, up before noon? What? Haha. After we woke up, energy increased and we played sweet and sour. The game where you wave at cars, in a van with tinted windows. We were slightly successful, one lady had her dog wave at us. We also got a truck to honk at us. We arrived exhausted, had a wonderful dinner, went on a prayer tour after an awesome worship service with contemporary music. Monday was our first day of work and it was crazy. We had all of our plans changed. We made lunch for respite and ate our bagged lunches with them. I met a guy who was shot in the leg with his forty five. Or some huge gun like that. I also got to interact with other people as well. Then we went to IHN where I cleaned windows with my new friend Amanda. We had a lot of fun and were mostly inside in the air conditioning. Then after dinner we went to a VBS. I was in a puppet show and a play. As my puppet made it's appearance, I was greeted by, "THAT PUPPET IS SO UGLY!" my hair was also going crazy. Then in my improv I was dressed up as a boy, and that went over well. But the smiles were phenomenal. I could go on and on about the different faces and pitches of laughter. As my second mission trip, simplicity seems to be the reoccurring theme. Just smiling can still make someone's day. Watching the kids at Stepping Stones, a day camp for physically disabled children, made me see the innocence and simplicity of kids. In tenth grade we read Catcher in the Rye and learned about protecting innocence and I thought it was unusual. But now I get it. I wish that I could ensure their safety, a meal to eat, a place to sleep. Every kid from VBS and camp smiled, laughed, played, with no care in the world. It seems that the harder life is, the more down to earth, and understanding you are. Your priorities are set straight. You learn to enjoy everyday and live life. Last year, and this year, I was looking forward to helping people and reaching my goal of making a difference. And I wish that I could explain to everyone that I have met how much they have touched my heart. They really have changed my life. They have reminded me of how lucky i am, and really what faith can do. Simplicity, and unending love can change things, something that I have learned and will take with me everywhere I can go. Much love, Anna. <3

P.S.- I also learned that Kathleen and Sarah are generous and love candy. My mom let her group eat my snacks and at dinner I was discussing my disappointment in the disappearance of my twizzlers. That night I came back to a note on top of a bag of twizzlers saying, "No one deserves to go without candy. Love, Sarah and Kathleen." I love my church family and random acts of kindness. :)