Before this trip, I thought I knew what community meant. I mean, I lived at college for 3 years. But let me tell you – living in a house with 19 people and 2 bathrooms 24/7 for 2 months is a completely different story than sharing a room with one or two other people.
Community is messy. It’s overwhelming. But I’ve learned to love it.
Community is using the toilet while someone is showering and someone is brushing their teeth and someone is fixing their hair. Having 25 bottles in the shower. 2 lines and a table full of everyone’s laundry, drying. Dirty socks everywhere. 20 pairs of shoes on the front porch.
Community is a dull roar that’s constantly interrupted by laughter. Brushing my teeth in the front yard with at least 2 other people. The terrifying moment when you open food anywhere in the house and people flock to you like vultures, but it’s okay because you don’t really consider food your own anymore. Movie nights crowded around a laptop with Mark’s kettle corn.
Community is using Ben as the human garbage can and giving him our leftovers because he’s always hungry. Nalgenes on every table and the fireplace. Family time every night that takes at least 20 minutes to organize and get everyone in one place. It's compliments flowing freely – I’ve never had so many compliments in my life. It's feedback that helps you see things about yourself and others you never realized. It's the kitchen that never truly gets clean because we cook 3 times a day for 19 people.
It’s huge games of mafia. Spontaneous dance parties. Taking at least 20 minutes to get out the door, always. Hearing things I never thought I’d hear like, “Does anyone know where my bed went?” and “I fell in the toilet” “me too!”. Conversations that somehow always come around to what food we can’t wait to eat when we get back. Random worship sessions. The constant battle to have enough water and toilet paper.
Community is praying together. Crying together. Laughing together. Loving people together.
Living in community is one of the hardest things about this trip, but also the greatest blessing.
