Taking a Leap of Faith

It's almost over. It's been 3 months. I can not believe it...3 months ago I seriously contemplated not coming because things were so complicated back home. Now I can't imagine my life without this experience...
On our final canoe voyage across to Gambier, Viki came with us. Viki was one of the YPNers who was deathly afraid of the water at the start of the summer. Everyone else was so excited to jump off of the pier, Viki was content just to watch. However when we arrived we forgot about the time of the tides...The water was a good 10 meters below the pier...Many people were hesitant to jump when they caught sight of it. Somehow I was able to make the jump and made quite a SPLASH! But everyone else was still nervous to follow me in. Then from the water I saw Viki climb to edge of the pier....

Of all the YPNers, Viki was the one to take a leap of faith!!!! After that everyone was inspired to join us in the freezing water!

It has been such a long summer, and we spent so much time apart during camp, that I forgot how much these 17 individuals inspire and motivate me. Juliene doing a canoe flip, Maru introducing new games, Marco and Chari motivating their campers, Juliana and Iuliia winning the Trifecta award, Elizabeth improving her English... I remember now why I signed up for this, and I why took a leap of faith in coming here this summer. I left my job (and my poor boss all alone!), my apratment, my family friends and even a boy to be with these amazing people from all over the world. And I would do it all again...Because it's not about what I gave up anymore, but what I can give back when I go back!