I've been at CAP now for about six months. It pretty much just hit me yesterday that I've been here that long, and it's kind of sad actually to think that I only have three months left. So lately I've been taking some time to reflect on my time here and to look back on all that I've accomplished and learned, specifically in regards to my service placement.

Unlike some of the CAP programs, working at the spouse abuse shelter doesn't provide many tangible marks of progress of your service. At the end of the day, we can't look back at the window we put in, the roof we put on, the amount of food we gave out to people or the amount of donations that went to needy families. At first this inability to mark progress was hard to get used to and honestly slightly frustrating, as I am one who wants to see the difference I am making and have proof of what I've been doing. Yet over the past few months, I have come to learn that what truly matters is how you treat the people when you are with them and the amount of help--however seemingly little--you are able to provide.

For some women at the shelter, they are happy for you to just provide the basic needs, others are looking for support and encouragement. After six months, I am still surprised by the relationships that are able to be formed. I learn about residents' experiences and dreams and in turn am able to share parts of my life with them too. For instance, I am currently in the process of applying and awaiting decisions for grad school, and my residents know this. I remember the day I got my first acceptance, some of the residents were so excited for me, and it was genuine. They still ask me how the application process is going and if I've heard from any other schools yet, anxious to find out where I will choose to go. We talk about my future career plans and they share with me their experiences with certain similar jobs or situations. Another time, a resident and I were talking about what was being made for dinner. She was giving me a hard time and wouldn't tell me what she was making, and I told her it didn't matter because I was getting off work soon and going to dinner. She asked where I was going and so I told her. Her face lit up as she told me that it was a nice restaurant and I had to dress up and look nice. I generally wear t-shirts and jeans to work and she informed me that that was not appropriate attire for this restaurant. The resident followed by insisting I give her a play by play of my wardrobe as she told me what I should wear, from my hair style down to my shoes, and that she wanted picture proof of the outfit when I came back to work on Monday. Such incidents as those I mentioned, along with moments of just sharing stories or watching movies and TV, are some of the best parts of my job, getting to know the people I came here to serve and help. I have come to realize that although I am unable to provide tangible marks of the progress I'm making, the relationships I am forming and the positive differences in the women and children I work with are enough to remind me that I am here for a reason, and I feel I am where God had called me to be.

Sara Crombie is a long-term volunteer at one of CAP's Spouse Abuse shelters.