This month has been a month of several things. It has been a month of challenges, and growth. It has been a month of birth and death. It has been a month I will never forget and that has forever changed me.
I came to Rome, Italy thirty-two days ago, and I had no idea what to expect. It was a journey I was embarking on, and I did not know what would happen or how these days would play out. I did not set much of an expectation, and I was content with whatever happened. The first few days I remember wanting to go home because I was not having a great experience, but that soon changed, and over the past thirty two days my world has been changed...and it continuing to change.
How many of you have seen real world? Its about seven people who do not know each other coming to live together for a few months...well lets just say that this past month reminded me of that show. I came to Rome, Italy to live with 20 strangers, with a representation of several different countries (Jamacia, Barbados, Moldova, Georgia, India (Chennai, Goa, Bangladesh), Argentina, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Romania . Talk about culture fest...For thirty two days we have lived together, studied together, talked about our faith, and challenged each other. Im forever changed...words can not express the things that have happened, the memories that have been locked away, the laughter I have had. This past month, I extended my family, and I now call the my "non-italian, italy family"
This month new friendships were born. I have grown to love these people. Throughout this trip I have constantly been challenged. My thoughts I have not been able to hold in. My life has been turned upside down. Im learning it is okay to question life, and it is okay to questions God, and it is okay to ask those tough questions and realize you do not have the answers to them. It is okay to be mad at God. One person in particular has challenged me a great deal. This person has been easy to talk with, and has busted out with some random questions and some random moments of laughter. You can never judge a book by its cover. This person will blow your mind away at times with the stories and the things that are said. Its amazing how one person can be so influential, its even more amazing to sit with this person and talk about several different things and have different opinions/views but the same questions of why.
There are times in life when you can not express the feelings you have. Its beautiful, and it is priceless, there are times when a picture can not even grasp the emotions of the moment. I have ahd several of those here and I look forward to having several more of those with these people.
Our time together in Rome is coming to an end. As I said goodbye this morning to two people it did make me a little sad, but one thing I know for sure is we are all connected in more ways than one, and that throughout the next two years these friendships will grow, whether it be through seeing each other at weddings, skype conversations, emails, or getting together in random locations I look forward to it all. I look forward to you challenging me and helping me to grow. Thanks to this town and this program I have some amazing friends.
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