This little boy has been on my mind all day.  We met in Guatemala about 3 years ago, when he also met his parents.  Juan Pablo was an orphan, abandoned by his parents after he was burned in a home accident and his medical expenses became to great for his family to bear.  But [...]

I used to hate reading the book of Job.  It didn’t make much sense to me, and there was all this talking, talking, talking, and these 4 guys.  Then one day I read the entire book in one sitting while I was home sick with strep throat, probably because I was feeling especially Job-like and [...]

This is what it looked like before things went awry:

We couldn’t dive today because Ida was making big waves in the ocean after dropping lots of rain overnight.  Renting scooters was the next option, since no one wanted to be stuck at the hotel all day long.  I have been on motorcycles and have [...]

 
Things I love about this trip so far:

A great shore dive within an hour of arrival in Cozumel.  There were bright blue fish, eels, rays, spider looking things, flounders, and other amazing creatures with unknown names.  There was a tiny fish that was purple and orange.  Purple and orange don’t go together, but [...]

I’m leaving tomorrow for a dive trip to Cozumel, and I’m looking forward to so much about it.  Warm weather, seeing tropical fish eyeball to eyeball, the taste of salt water on my lips, floating along with just the sound of my breath in my head,  reading a good book by the pool, letting [...]

Change is very difficult for me.  I take great comfort in the known, in the familiar people, tasks, expectations, and routine.  Anxiety appears when I don’t know what to expect, and I worry over all possible outcomes.  I came across a passage of scripture in Daniel chapter 1 that gave me comfort about trying new [...]

I spend a lot of time in the car, driving around 4 counties to see clients.  It’s nice to have the time alone with my thoughts.  And it’s terrible to be alone with my thoughts.  I find myself worrying over situations, relationships, possibilities, opportunities, etc.  Prior to the Guatemala trip, my brain was full [...]

The last day spent in Guatemala is always wonderful and terrible.  It’s so good to have those last moments with the kids, squeezing every drop of joy and laughter out of the day, but then comes the part at the end when we say good-bye.  Today was no easier than the previous 6 times [...]

Today was a beautiful day with many great moments, from celebrating Estuardo’s 8th birthday with all the babies and toddlers this morning, to celebrating with pizza and cake at Eliza Martinez this afternoon.  It was a series of encounters which left each of us smiling.  Read about the birthday party and pizza party at the [...]

One of my favorite things about returning to these orphanages is found in the moments when we first arrive and recognition dawns on us and on the kids as we make eye contact with familiar faces.  I love that moment when to door opens to the babies home and kids come spilling through the [...]