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Would you Choose Hard or Soft?

Ft bare-necessities-by-sharon-mollerus

The other day I found myself in a situation. I needed to buy toilet paper but all of the regular places to buy were closed. I was left with the option of buying really soft, really expensive toilet paper.

I did what I had to do, but it was painful. Although what I had was a better quality, it was at a cost.

This made me think. Many times, I find myself in the situation here of choosing luxury, or living like all of my friends and neighbors live.

As I was writing this post at my host family’s, it brought me back to the days of soft toilet paper. The days when all of my food was cooked for me. The days when I could sit outside and study Spanish, and my biggest concern was communicating.

Those days are long gone, and even though I have not had to spend a single day without food or shelter, life has gotten harder.

I feel like someone who has recently graduated and finds herself facing the realities of the real world.

There are obligations. There are meetings…way too many meetings. There are politics, dynamics, and new ways of doing things in each group I am in. I am tired, overwhelmed by problems, and worry about those I am trying to help and whom I love dearly.

Most days, all I want to do is go home and indulge in a good movie and chocolate cake.

But I fight the urge and usually win. I remind myself that I am called to be here by someone who is much more powerful than I am, who has all the answers when I don’t.

That I love what I do, and everything can be solved by the hug of a child. And sometimes a really big piece of chocolate cake.

Chocolate cake photographed by Valerie Ellis

Chocolate cake photographed by Valerie Ellis

 

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Featured image found on flickr Creative Commons from user Sharon Mollerus.

Valerie served for two years (2014-2015) in Cochabamba, Bolivia working with CUBE (Centro Una Brisa de Esperanza) to raise sexual violence awareness and prevention, and in CEV (Comunidad Educativa Para La Vida) teaching and nurturing children six months to 8-years-old. Valerie grew up outside of Wichita, Kansas and graduated from The University of Tampa. She found her way to Franciscan Mission Service after 12 years of working in higher education where she worked with international students and designed and taught a class called "Avoiding Violence: Be A Part of the Solution."