WAIT Training and Testimonies in Ohio: Day 2

Dear Everyone,
Monday we slept in--I didn't wake up until about 9:30, and it was from a deep, deep sleep helped along by a session of warming and aromatic essential oils on my back.  We met up at the church and laid out the mats and linoleum so the kids could figure out a breakdance act with girls and new guys, and work on Desert Rose.  I went to do some shopping at some health food stores and the target here (very clean--I realized I was in the midwest.)  Several Ohio team members were with us, and a few more joined for the fundraising, which was in a rich and artsy area, where we did performance fundraising.  We had a really good experience--made about $200, which we offered to the Ohio team, but they gave to us.  We got back to the church, met up with Sonshine who presented to the team the idea of WAIT chapters in the schools, and getting youth pastors or others to step up to help us.  Although some of the Ohio team members looked daunted and a bit doubtful, others were completely called by the idea.  They stepped up to take responsibility for the implementation: a few on the design of approach materials, several on meeting with pastors and others on meeting with school administrators.  After, we had a spaghetti dinner lovingly made by Aunt Yoko, and then we shared testimonies. 
 
Each Year of Service member just shared their realizations from the year.  It was pretty tearful--Rakim started us off describing how important it is to be a brother, be a sister, cause it really did help save the life of a friend of his which he only found out recently.  Harmony talked about how our thinking creates our reality: when we believe we are powerless, we become powerless, when we know we can affect change, we suddenly have an amazing impact.  Wendy talked about coming as someone who is an only child, and experiencing a family, and giving that to others.  Rachel described realizing that people need us, that the world is desperate, and that when we just go to respond to that need, we just automatically grow.  Insung described how his initial motivations changed, and how he developed a deeper sense of who he is really, what his true character is, rather than some external ideas.  Jasmine shared about how she thought she could go out and save the world, but felt weak in her home community, but has realized that WAIT is something you do everywhere, that you can always affect others, always be saving lives, even when you don't realize you're having that impact.  Kensei shared about how it was growing up this way, where in our house people are irritated if someone knocks at the door because they should know they can come right in, and how we just live a public life all the time, as our normal state.  Il Seuk shared about how after finishing the year of service, he just felt he wants to always move forward, develop things in Ohio, commit to growing the team. 
 
I told the backstory: all their hard work, heroism in the face of grouchy people, cheerful generosity even when I would think they were totally exhausted.  I shared how they sang in the cold and grimy warehouse, melting the hearts of all the other workers.  How they had melted the hearts of our neighbors and moved the churches and kids in the schools. 
 
When we all finished talking, and stood up, I looked at the little stage platform where we were sitting, and saw it littered with crumpled wet tissue balls. You could see from where the damp crunched up kleenex was where each person had been sitting, from all the crying.
 
We're on our way now.  See you all soon!