What an awesome, yet extremely tiring experience.  I'm sitting on the plane, ready to take off from Guatemala to Houston, TX.  Jim just reminded me how touchy I am, as I mentioned that counting wasn't a good idea.  <long fulfilling sigh>  We're actually going home; back to the industrialized civilization we're so accustomed to.  The thought, yet so refreshing and revitalizing at first, makes my stomach turn.  How fake am I to travel way out here to find such shock in life and love, if I am only to return to the lavish lifestyle?  Sure, the thoughts are fresh in my heart and mind now, but how little I will remember in a month or even a year after entering back into the US that's so rich in wealth but poor in love.  It's almost too much to take in... the poverty, the love, the new friendships, the heartfelt goodbyes, the kids, the martyred priest, the gorgeous views, the weather... all of these stimuli I trust were not in vein.  I just haven't digested it all.  How does God want me to use this experience in my life?  What I fear is that this will be just another experience that I can recall on demand, but not one that I absorb viscerally.

In an attempt to sum up some of the understandings and realities from this missions trip, I say God is Love.  Without His magnificent love, that community would not have been able to stretch its arm as far in our direction.  The women cooked and cleaned for us, the children shown light on us, and the men locked arms in unity with us to build the new iglesia.  Surely God was prevalent throughout our journey and His love allowed it all to happen.