It's Time!

Tomorrow we'll be in El Salvador!  It doesn't even seem real yet & I don't think it will until I actually step foot in El Salvador.  We're leaving the house at 3:30am and heading to Norfolk where we'll fly out at 5:45am.  I think it goes without saying that I won't be sleeping tonight.  I am beyond excited; I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.  I skyped with Lauren earlier today and we talked about how our lives were radically changed last summer.  I learned so much and in many ways became a completely new person.  To summarize our conversation...last summer rocked my world and changed my perspective.  I wouldn't say that I was 'culture shocked' because I had a pretty good idea of what the culture would be like.  Rather, my mindset was altered.  I realized that so many things that I place such a high priority and importance on are petty and meaningless in the big scheme of thing.  When you live with eternity in mind, other things seem so small.  I know I've mentioned it before but 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 is something that I have to constantly remind myself of.  I am so excited to see what God will reveal to me during these next two weeks.  I can see God's hand in this trip.  His provisions and faithfulness have blown me away.  I worried about money, planning and details but God had a perfect plan the whole time.  God knows my heart and He knows that I have been longing to return to El Salvador since I left there last summer.  Gah, I can't wait!

So, we do have a tentative daily schedule and I will share that with ya'll so you have an idea of what we'll be doing. 

Morning - CISNA
Early Afternoon - Lunch/Transportation to CIPI
Late Afternoon - CIPI
Evening - Return to Promise House

I know it's not very detailed but that's what we have for now.

Well, I still have some packing and organizing to get to so I better get on that.  I thank you all for your prayers and support and will update you as soon as I can when we arrive and get settled in.  For those of you praying specifically I'd ask that you pray for the following;
-Safe and easy travel (I really hate to fly!)
-That we would remain healthy
-That we keep our focus on God alone.
-That in spite of all the hardship and sadness we will be in contact with, we will remember that God is still in control.

As Promised...Update 5/19/10

We are now less than 2 weeks away from our departure.  It is really hard for me to believe that.  June seems so far away and yet it's actually right around the corner.  In just four weeks we'll already be back in the USA. Weird.
Anyway, I thought I would just send out an update on a few of the details/plans so that those of who you are interested in following our progress would be aware.  First off, I'd really like to thank all of you who have been praying for the trip and for us as we prepare to go.  God has made it VERY clear to me that this is HIS trip and He is in control.  He has had to remind me of that more than once (more than twice actually) and He has used a variety of circumstances to do so.  The hard part, however, is loosening my grip, laying aside my pride and keeping my eyes focused on Him only.  I am learning and I've found these past few weeks to be a period of painful growth that I am extremely thankful for and humbled by.  I'm glad that God is patient. :)  Okay so now...updates.
The Promise House is at capacity so we will be staying in a mission house that is run by a family who have been living and serving in El Salvador for the past several years (The Ackermanns).  They are actually the family that I stayed with on my first trip to El Salvador (in 2007) & they are awesome so it's cool that we'll be staying there.  I was a little disappointed at first that we weren't able to stay at the PH but I am so glad to hear that it is full of girls who desperately need a place to go.  Besides, we are still going to be able to spend time with them and I am really looking forward to that!  As far as daily schedules go, the tentative plan, which will undoubtedly change on a minute to minute basis (I just love cultural differences haha), is to spend the mornings with the girls in the detention center at CISNA, spend the afternoons at CIPI (the girls, younger boys and baby orphanage) and spend the evenings with the girls from the Promise and Hope houses.  Weekend plans are: one Saturday at Atami (yesssss!!!), one Saturday at the marketplace and both Sundays going to church across from the Faith House and just spending time with some of the coolest people in the entire world (I am not exaggerating).
Whew, now that I just typed all that out I am even more excited.  It's going to fly by but I know that there is a lot to do and a lot to learn while we are there.

I'm already dreading the day we have to leave El Salvador!

Pensamientos

At 3pm today my summer will officially begin!  Now that classes are over and I am (almost) done doing check outs and moving myself out of my room, I have had some time to think about the fact that three weeks from Tuesday, we will be in El Salvador!  It still hasn't hit me as a reality yet and it probably won't until I step foot in the country.  Since I got back last summer I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't thought about El Salv or the people there.  Part of me feels like it's been forever since I was there but the memories I have are so incredibly vivid that part of me feels like it was just yesterday.  When I think about going back I am filled with so many different emotions, it's ridiculous.  Most of the emotions are ones you'd expect (such as excitement, happiness, anticipation, etc.) but there are some others as well; including stress, sadness and fear. I'll elaborate...

First of all, I am continuing to fight a daily battle against stress.  I'm learning that it's okay to not have a "plan" but it's still something I struggle with.  I wanna know what we're doing & where we're doing it at and as of right now, I still don't know.  However, from experience, I know that plans in El Salvador change on a minute to minute basis so maybe not having a plan is the best route to take!

So why would I feel sadness about such an exciting thing?  Well, I am sad because I know what I'm going to see.  Last summer I pretty much went into the experience blindly; not knowing what to expect.  My life was forever changed by the people I met and the horrific stories I heard.  These people are so broken and so desperately in need.  This emotion ties in with fear because I'm afraid to be reminded and I'm afraid of leaving again.  I literally felt my heart break when I left last summer; something that I had never experienced before and I don't know if I'm prepared to experience it again.  I remember calling my parents when I boarded the plane to come home, crying uncontrollably.  It was the absolute worst feeling.  I don't want to start out this trip by dreading the end of it but I have a feeling that it will be constantly in the back of my mind.  How can I leave again??

Those are the thoughts for now.  Sorry it's not too 'uplifting' but I hope, at the least, that it is real and transparent :)

Details

First of all, let me apologize for not sharing information with you all sooner.  Many of you have been asking me and I have been unable to give you any details (mostly because I didn't have any).  The planning process has been a bit of a challenge; mostly because I've been trying to juggle school, work and life in addition to working towards the final plans of this trip.  Although I like to think that I'm good at multi-tasking and staying level headed in stressful and overwhelming situations, that is not always the case.  I'm a "passionate" person (which is a nice way of saying that I tend to freak out).  That being said, I really need to thank my parents for helping me out and talking me through things.  Also, a big thanks to Robert (our trip coordinator) and others at Orphan Helpers who have put in extra hours and effort to nail down these details.  And obviously, God has never failed me and continues to teach me lessons daily.  My faith has been tested and I'm realizing that there is a huge difference between saying you have faith and living like you have faith.

So here's what we have so far...
We're leaving out of Norfolk on June 1 and flying to El Salvador (with a lay-over in Atlanta).  We'll arrive in San Salvador around noon.  The airport in San Salvador is fairly easy to navigate so once we get through and get our bags, we'll be met by our driver and taken to where we'll be staying.  I wanted to stay in the Promise House again but unfortunately that isn't going to be a possibility.  Last summer there were 9 girls and their 9 children living there but they now have about 12 girls and babies, so there really isn't any room for additional bodies.  At this point, we're planning on staying with a family (the Ackermanns) who are missionaries in San Salvador and have a mission house.  The good news is, it's only about 3 blocks from the PH.  We will be in the country until June 14th.  Our daily activities are not set in stone yet but the plan is to spend the mornings in one of the government centers (CISNA or CIPI) and the afternoons with the girls and children in the Promise House.  More information about that will be coming once we have specifics.  I'll also post some info about the centers so you have a better idea/understanding of what I'm talking about.  If you're so curious and just can't wait you can try looking through some of my old blog posts from last summer :)

To all of you who have been asking, thank you so much for taking such an interest in our trip and for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Please continue to pray that the details get worked out and that things go as smoothly as possible.  I really am excited to see so many of the people that I have been missing since I left last summer and I wish that I could personal introduce each and every one of them to all of you.


"Faith is the art of holding onto things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods."
-C.S Lewis

The Final Summary

As part of my “thank you” to my many supporters, family and friends, I wanted to write up a short summary of my six week stay in El Salvador. I have been trying to write this up for a while now but every time I try to start, I don’t know where to begin. I was thinking about what I should write and how I could express everything I did, felt and learned while I was there and I came to the realization that it would be near impossible for me to do that. I could write a book about every story, struggle, and success and I would cry and laugh through the whole thing while putting some people to sleep. After praying about it and reading through the journal that I kept while I was there, I was continually reminded that the important thing isn’t what I did but what He did and is still doing in El Salvador and in the lives of those people. It isn’t about me at all. I can’t tell you how many times I failed during those six weeks; times when I allowed frustration to get the best of me, times when I could have done more but accepted the easy route, times when I wanted to sleep rather than serve, etc. It was an almost constant internal battle between my selfish, sinful ways and the way of a humble servant of Christ. God never failed me though and I am so amazed by Him and His ability to use someone like me to share His love and His Word with people who are searching for a hope and a Savior. John 3:29b-30 says, “So this joy of mine has been made full, He must increase and I must decrease.” I hope that this overview of my trip does just that; glorifying God and recognizing Him as my Strength, my Protector and my One True Love while portraying me only as an instrument of Him.

I believe the only way to share about my trip is to be completely honest and transparent about it. Because of this I’ve decided to open up my journal and share some of the things I wrote while there. It’s very personal and close to my heart and so are El Salvador and the people I met there so I feel that it is appropriate. I don’t want to gloss over any of it or paint a pretty picture for you. These are real people with real problems, heartaches and feelings. I never thought this trip would impact me in the way that it did. To tell you that I had a “good trip” would be a lie and I don’t think that any of my supporters deserve that. El Salvador is a broken country. At first glance it would seem that it was a very “godly” place. There are signs all over, on buses, buildings, billboards, etc. proclaiming “The Lord is my shepherd,” “Jesus loves you,” and other “Christianity claims” but the hearts of many of the people are, in my opinion, empty and calloused. I don’t blame them. It’s a rough place. There are people living in shacks and under bridges. Gang violence has killed many loved ones and broken many families. Fathers have left, mothers are in jail and the children roam the streets. God is often spoken of but it almost seems like more tradition and empty thoughts rather than real and heartfelt words. I saw so many things (I’ll get into some of them later on) that are just wrong and disgusting.

I want to begin by saying a little about the other Americans that were there. I had no idea that I would be working so closely with other interns so it was both a surprise and a huge blessing. Now, thinking back, I can’t imagine doing it without them. Not only were they a ton of fun to be around but they also encouraged me, prayed with and for me and even corrected me when I needed it. I learned so much from each and every one of them; both in the things they said and the things they did. We began doing “intern devotions” which were times to read the Bible, pray, vent, cry, share and laugh. On June 6th, I wrote that I hoped that we (as interns) would become honest and transparent with one another while relying fully on God. My prayer was definitely answered. I can’t express how much these people meant to me and the special place that they will always have in my heart. It’s amazing to see God working in each of their lives and I am so excited to see where He takes each and every one of them. Every time I think or pray about these people my heart really does overflow with joy and gratitude.

It took me about a week to adjust to the living situation in El Salvador. As you probably know, I stayed in the Promise House. It was very hot, the showers were very cold, there were a lot of bugs (including cockroaches as long as my index finger) and there was NO privacy. Towards the end of the first week, I got pretty sick and I felt absolutely miserable. I had to get picked up from the center and taken back home. I was just lying in my bed and staring at the ceiling, wondering why God would bring me all the way to El Salvador only to be sick in bed. I remember calling home crying and thinking to myself that I was in way over my head. It ended up being a huge wake-up call though and a time for me to really set my focus on God; giving Him total control and admitting my weakness before Him. II Corinthians 12:9 has always been one of my favorite verses but it had never meant as much to me as then. One page of my journal has that verse written at the top with a prayer written below, crying out to God asking for His help and His strength. I asked the Lord two questions that I would continue to ask over the next 6 weeks and that I still ask today; “What am I doing here?” and “How am I truly touching and changing lives like I so desire to do?” Six weeks may seem like a long time but in the grand scheme of things, it isn’t and I wanted to know how I could help these people in a sustainable way.

I’d like to share a little with you about where I stayed and the people that I lived with. La Casa de Promesa (Promise House) is a halfway home for teenage mothers. There were 9 girls aged 12-18 living there with their 9 children, aged 8 months-4 years. Because I want you to realize that this is so much more than a story and that these are real people, I want to share all of their names with you: Tania and Nicole, Jessica and Alondra, Tatiana and Glenda, Marta and Miguel, Nubia and Alex, Johana and Jeremias, Daysie and Jefferson, Maricela and Nelsen, Susanah and Nancy. Obviously, because I was living in their house, I became very close to these girls and their children. They have all been victims of sexual abuse which resulted in their pregnancies. They didn’t choose this and that was difficult for me to swallow. I believe it to be one of the greatest injustices I have ever been in contact with. It’s disgusting really that these little girls were abused by much older men. Most of these men should have been in a position of trust and leadership as fathers, cousins, friends, etc. but rather they placed these girls in a world of fear, hate, pain and hardship. It was hard for me to really see these girls as mothers instead of the young girls that they are. They are the strongest group of people I have ever met. No, they weren’t perfect mothers but they have accepted the life they have been given with more dignity than I ever would. They have every right to be bitter and angry but they were the most loving and open girls I’ve ever spent time with. They welcomed me as a part of their ‘family’ and showed me the true meaning of love and acceptance. It was a love I didn’t have to earn and an acceptance I wasn’t going to lose. They have a joy that radiates in their sweet smiles and huge embraces. However, they do hurt and they do cry. They struggle with questions and doubt. They are afraid for their future and the future of their children. They want to be a good parent but don’t have any idea what that entails or even what it looks like. They don’t understand the concept of a positive male figure; they have never known the support of a loving father and they cry because their children will probably never know either. They feel guilt and shame over the things that have happened to them; things they couldn’t have prevented. They deserve to be treated like the beautiful, lively, and young girls that they are. In America, and other places around the world, the teenage years are a time of transition and learning; a time to prepare for the future and find out who you are and who you want to be. These girls didn’t get that time. They were thrust into motherhood with absolutely no support or help. I ask that you keep these girls in your prayers as they will continue to struggle daily. God does have a plan.

Every morning I was woken up around 4:30am and 5:30am. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I LOVE to sleep and waking me up is not a fun task. I either woke up to the sound of babies crying, water running, girls screaming or beans blending. To this day I cannot understand why it was necessary to put the beans in the blender. At first I was extremely annoyed and I really didn’t understand why they were awake at that time and making that much noise. It really turned out to be a blessing though and I can see that now looking back. I was able to spend good, quality time with Jesus in the morning before I began my day. Some of the biggest lessons I learned in El Salvador were on my top bunk before 6:00am. I’ve never been one to wake up early and spend time praying or reading the Bible because of laziness really. It was a good habit to get into. On the morning of June 11th, as I was reading I came across II Corinthians 4:16-18. Verse 18 says, “…for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The significance of the verses hit me really hard. It also answered my previous questions about how I could truly help these people. The truth is I am not helping anybody if I am not influencing them eternally. If I only teach them English, play games, do arts and crafts, etc. and then leave, I have given them no hope for the future. Yes those things are great and meaningful and I don’t mean to lessen the value of quality time, love and affection, I just want to magnify the importance of sharing the hope of Jesus with them. It also showed me that I need to stop worrying, stressing and getting frustrated about things that are temporary. There were many times when I wanted to pull my hair out and scream over things that seem silly now. It was a constant reminder every time I came up against something. I was always telling myself, “Chill out, it is only temporary.” As Lauren, my fellow intern and roommate, and I were getting ready for the day and talking about Jesus, we came to find out that we had both read those same verses that morning. God really is so cool. The remainder of the trip (and even now) we were able to keep each other accountable by repeating this verse when we were getting frustrated or upset. “Is it eternal or temporary?” It’s a good question to ask yourself daily; I find that most of the time my ‘problems’ are temporary.

On June 27th, I was struggling with all of the injustices and brokenness that I saw around me, especially in CISNA. I wrote, “These children have nothing and are broken. They don’t have anyone to fight their battles or stick up for them. How does any child deserve such horrible things?” In the girl’s detention center, there was a girl who was very sick with many of the swine flu symptoms. The director was told countless times that this girl needed to be seen by a doctor at a hospital but no one would take her. They wouldn’t even place her in another room to prevent the sickness from spreading to the other girls. They promised to take the girl to the hospital the next day but when we arrived, she still had not gone. In the boy’s orphanage there is a huge problem with rape among the boys. There are some boys in the orphanage who rape and sexually abuse the others. It is horrendous and it makes me sick to my stomach to even think about. It isn’t really a secret; most people know about it but still nothing is done. The directors make excuses for the behavior or simply look the other way. This place is both their school and their home. It is supposed to be a place where they can feel safe. The expectations for these children are so low. How can you expect them to rise above when things like this are acceptable? I still struggle with this reality every day and it is something that is very heavy on my heart. I hate that this is happening and I am praying that God intervenes in a way only He can.

God is good and even though there are so many things I don’t understand He continues to show me that His ways are much bigger than my small understanding. On June 30th, just a few days after I vented about all the horrible things and cried out to God for help, I read Psalm 34:18 which says, “The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Wow! It was exactly what I needed to read and be reminded of. God hasn’t taken a break or forgotten about these people; it’s all in His hand whether I can see it or not. I don’t understand it and I certainly don’t like it but God doesn’t need my approval by any means.  
Who am I to think that I must understand everything in this world?

I was able to read a few books in my spare time while in El Salvador. One of the books I read was Touch by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. It’s a very real book written about the ministry of an inner city church in Houston. It really gave me some good insights to opening up and being vulnerable with people and loving those who have nothing to give back. It also talks about the importance of physical touch. He says, “When we touch someone, a connection occurs that is categorically different – and more powerful – than spoken communication.” I saw the application and truth to this quote during my six week stay; especially in the boy’s orphanage at CISNA. I can’t express to you how much I truly came to love these boys. They are crying out for love and attention. I could see how much they longed for a “motherly” type of affection. On July 11th, the day before I left for home, we were able to take the youngest group of boys to a water park. We picked them up in the morning and divided into our “buddy groups.” Each of the “gringos” had two of the boys for the day. I sat in between them on the way to the park and they each held my hands as we talked about different things. It was one of the best days of my trip. We were able to feed them a whole bunch of food including chicken, pupusas and pizza. On the way back Samuel fell asleep on my lap and it was a precious sight I will remember forever. His heart (and stomach) was full and he was absolutely exhausted! Bringing them back to the orphanage was one of the hardest things to do. I wanted to take each of them home with me. It was so hard to drop them back off in a place where they have no love, only fear; a place full of rape and abuse, no family and dark pasts and little hope for a bright future. I have only felt the sting of a broken heart a few times in my life and this was one. I felt my heart breaking for every one of those boys. On the way back to the house I was overcome with emotion. There were uncontrollable tears rolling down my cheeks. It wasn’t simply sadness that I felt. Most of my feelings were anger actually. I prayed and argued with God the whole way home. Why did God bring me to this country to meet these desperate people, only to leave them just like everyone else does? Why were these people in these horrible situations anyways? Why do I have it so easy? Why, Why, Why? I wish I could say that I have all the answers now, but I don’t. I do however know that our God is compassionate and that prayers can do more than any of us know. That’s what I have to cling to. James 5:16b says, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” All throughout the gospels it is repeated how Jesus felt compassion for all the people He encountered. As much as I love and care for those children, how much more must our Creator love them! Another book I read while in El Salvador, The Ragamuffin Gospel, states, “Human love will always be a faint shadow of God’s love. Not because it is too sugary or sentimental but simply because it can never compare from whence it comes. Human love with all its passion and emotion is a thin echo of the passion/emotion love of Yahweh.” It is so true!

Leaving El Salvador was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. After I said good bye to everyone and found myself sitting alone at my gate with nothing but my carry on and my thoughts, I began to cry, once again, uncontrollably. It's funny to think that before I had this experience I rarely cried and certainly not in front of anyone.  But there I sat, the only blonde girl at the gate literally sobbing as they called for my plane to board. I cried all the way to my seat and the first hour of the flight. Again, I felt my heart breaking. I cried for many reasons, both selfish and unselfish. I cried for the children I had met, for the entire country, for the people I knew I’d never see again, for the other interns and because I knew I would never be the same. That’s where I find myself at now; different. My thought process has changed as well as my concept of the world around me. I am blessed beyond imagination. I have a family who loves me, an opportunity to do virtually anything I want to and more stuff than I could ever need. I was exposed to a simpler way of life and, surprisingly, I really liked it. Life is so much bigger than the clothes I wear, the classes I’m taking, the problems I have, etc. In other words, life is so much bigger than ME!

It was really hard for me to readjust to life in America. The first week or so I really didn’t want to go anywhere or see anyone. I woke up every morning experiencing the meaning of “the silence is deafening.” I missed the crying babies and the kids coming to jump on my bed. I felt really guilty for all of the things I had at home. In time, I did adjust but to be honest I still have days where I just sit down and cry. In fact, just today I had a meltdown. As I was driving and thinking about the kids and all of the people in El Salvador my eyes just filled with tears and by the time I got back to my room I just laid in my bed and sobbed. I was wondering when I would finally “get over it” and be able to talk about it without wanting to cry and I think I’ve come to conclusion that I probably never will; and that is okay with me. It changed my life and touched my heart in ways I could never explain.


*I cannot thank you, as my supporters, enough for everything. I wish I could list all of you by name; individually thanking you for your support. I know that I had many people praying for me while I was gone and I know without a doubt that it helped. Trust me when I say that without your prayers I wouldn’t have made it through some days. I also can’t finish without saying a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported me financially. It was an answer to prayer and a big comfort to see all of my support come in so early on in my trip planning. It’s humbling to me that God has placed such caring and loving people in my life and I know that I have done nothing to deserve it. In fact, because of all of the generosity I will be able to make a return visit to the Promise House in the near future. I will be sure to keep you updated on dates and details but I am very excited to see the girls again and to bring some things they are in need of with me. Once again, none of this would be possible without you all! Finally, to all of you who read my blog, commented on it, sent me emails/facebook messages and sent letters and cards; THANK YOU! You have no idea what a short word of encouragement can do and I thank you for your selflessness in continuing to write even when you didn’t receive a response from me.

I hope this gives you a glimpse into my summer. I apologize for the length but I tried to summarize as much as possible without losing the main point. I ask for continued prayer as I see where God leads me for the future. I know that I am called to missions/service but I am not sure where. I know that mission work can take place right here in America and I am open to that option as well. Basically, I'm just going to wait and see where God takes me. :)Thanks again to all of you and please stay in touch!!

Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT)

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

I'm Home

This is a little late but I wanted to let you all know that I made it home safe and sound. It was a long day of travelling but I finally got home around 2am on Monday morning. I can't thank you all enough for your prayers and support throughout my trip. Please continue to pray for me as I re-adjust to life here. It was extremely hard to leave everyone behind and I think about them all the time. Also, please pray for KT and Teddy who are both still working in El Salvador (until August 8th).

Thanks again everyone!
God Bless,
Sam

Last few hours

Well I am sitting here in my room for my final few hours in El Salvador. I really cant believe that I am leaving today and that tonight I will be back in America.

Yesterday we went with Hannahs Hands to take some of the boys from CISNA to a waterpark. They had a great time. For some of them it was the best day of their life. When we dropped them off at the orphanage at the end of the day, I felt so sad. I said goodbye to all of them. Knowing that I will probably never see any of them again made it really difficult. When I got back on the van I had so many emotions and thoughts running through my head. I just started to cry. I truly felt helpless as I thought of all the hurting people here. Six weeks sounds like a long time but in the big picture, it really isnt enough time. I cried a lot last night, just thinking about all the people Ive met here. God has been good to me. He has revealed so much to me while Ive been here. Even as I type this I am overcome with emotion. I am so thankful for all of my supporters. I know that so many people have been praying for me and I know that without all of your prayers I wouldnt have made it. I am so blessed to have so many people that care about me. Please continue to pray for the people of El Salvador.

I love to make lists so Ill finish with some things Ill miss about El Salvador and a few things that I wont miss :)

Things I will miss: All of the wonderful people I have met, The other interns, Being constantly surrounded by babies, having Miguel and Glenda jump on my bed and ask me for cookies, pupusas, pan dulce, being told Im pretty all the time even though I havent looked good a single day here, good conversations, Talking to God at 430 in the morning, Walking to the tienda with the girls. (There is definitely more but Ill stop with that)

Things I wont miss: COCKROACHES!, all of the bugs in general, the pollution, cold showers, my stupid mattress.

Clearly there are a lot more things that I will miss. It really has been a good trip overall and even though it is hard to leave I know that God has a plan for these people and for me.

Thanks guys for everything and I will see most of you very soon!!