By Michelle Zuniga, Kaleo Dallas Intern
The story of our impact goes far beyond what our eyes can see. It goes far beyond what our ears hear and indefinitely far beyond our lifetime. “Impact” is a continuous thing as it ultimately is a never-ending ripple. The words that were spoken spark from one person to another. I am sure that ancient philosophers never knew that their studies would still mark and impact current studies. Poets and scholars never knew the lasting impact of their words on this world.
It is easy to speak and remind ourselves about how fruit doesn’t always bear within the week for some teams or the summer for the interns, however, it sure is something when you get to witness it.
We had begun our second week at Kaleo Dallas; the team was doing crafts and playing with the children when a man, not too known by contacts, came into the building. I turned as I began to hear this man slightly mumble to himself. As I turn, I see a sign covered in ink within his grasp. I realized that he wasn’t mumbling but reading out loud the lyrics written upon the poster. “I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in you alone, and I will not be shaken.” These were the lyrics a previous team had left hanging within the room from the song, Build My Life, that they led last week. The man was reading out loud and became louder by the second. He then walked over to our contact, and I couldn’t help but notice a very passionate conversation about the love of God that sparked. It sparked off of an unforeseen impact that the previous team had made. The impact made went beyond the time physically spent in a place by any specific person or group. Oh, what a sight to see! I couldn’t contain my amazement as I began to share what happened with teams. It was so encouraging!
I believe that sometimes, the impact isn’t seen because we do not realize it happened. Influence isn’t always planned but always made. I was reminded as I was closing out a final debrief with a team when they decided to pray over me as well. One of the teenagers spoke up, saying that the vocabulary used in my prayers throughout the day impacted and inspired him. I was left speechless as I thought my only impact was made out serving our contacts and the team; never did I know it was made during the prayers of the week. I was reminded that amid simplicity impact is still made.
At Kaleo, we are allowed to step into a place where the impact is continuous, and you get to partner with it, become a part of it, and even be impacted by it. It’s not always seen but always made.