...
Today we’ll move on to more serious things than nearly dying in the shower....
I wasn’t sure what coming back to Bolivia was going to be like this time around. I went home to Canada a little burned out last April, and when it came time to head back south a week or so ago, I wasn’t sure if I felt completely ready or not. Some years it’s been a challenge to transition back into life here. There are always things I miss about both my “homes”, and in some ways that tension has just become a part of life. Leaving one place for another is always difficult.
To add to all of that, my run of goodbyes started early this year. Some of my friends were leaving Saskatoon for various reasons, and weren’t going to be around when I eventually left. So that added to the sadness...a week of ending conversations with good friends with, “Well...see you next year I guess...”.
At the airport I just said my goodbyes quickly and didn’t think too much about the fact that once again I was leaving. Of course my sisters were late and I had to go through security before they got there. But it was okay...we waved and yelled at each other past the way too serious security people. It was also good to have some travelling companions this year. Three young guys from Saskatoon made the trip back with me, to work with us for a couple of weeks. That actually helped quite a bit.
All that to say, this year’s transition has actually been smooth and fairly painless. That’s been a real answer to prayer. When you’ve been gone for three months, you end up having to jump back in to life here in a hurry. I commented to one of the guys that I’d forgotten how many “crisis’s” we can have in one day. Some of they guys are doing well...others not quite as good. But that’s a part of life here. You can’t have 10 people in a house and not have a little variety in where people are at. Overall though...things have improved greatly since last April. A lot of that has to do with Isabel (my girlfriend). She worked hard with the guys while I was gone, and it shows!
Today we’ll move on to more serious things than nearly dying in the shower....
I wasn’t sure what coming back to Bolivia was going to be like this time around. I went home to Canada a little burned out last April, and when it came time to head back south a week or so ago, I wasn’t sure if I felt completely ready or not. Some years it’s been a challenge to transition back into life here. There are always things I miss about both my “homes”, and in some ways that tension has just become a part of life. Leaving one place for another is always difficult.
To add to all of that, my run of goodbyes started early this year. Some of my friends were leaving Saskatoon for various reasons, and weren’t going to be around when I eventually left. So that added to the sadness...a week of ending conversations with good friends with, “Well...see you next year I guess...”.
At the airport I just said my goodbyes quickly and didn’t think too much about the fact that once again I was leaving. Of course my sisters were late and I had to go through security before they got there. But it was okay...we waved and yelled at each other past the way too serious security people. It was also good to have some travelling companions this year. Three young guys from Saskatoon made the trip back with me, to work with us for a couple of weeks. That actually helped quite a bit.
All that to say, this year’s transition has actually been smooth and fairly painless. That’s been a real answer to prayer. When you’ve been gone for three months, you end up having to jump back in to life here in a hurry. I commented to one of the guys that I’d forgotten how many “crisis’s” we can have in one day. Some of they guys are doing well...others not quite as good. But that’s a part of life here. You can’t have 10 people in a house and not have a little variety in where people are at. Overall though...things have improved greatly since last April. A lot of that has to do with Isabel (my girlfriend). She worked hard with the guys while I was gone, and it shows!
So here are a few pictures and comments to document my first week back in Bolivia...
In the airport with the boys in Chicago. I take no responsibility for introducing
Jordan (the youngest on the right) to Starbucks. That's all Jordan (in the middle).
Notice the innocent face?
My birthday serenade. They come at midnight and sing and bring cake. It's good.
The guys getting their new soccer gear...
Andres and his jersey...
Yimy and Ronelo...
Thanks for praying everyone. I’ll post some more specific prayer requests and stories here over the weekend. Well...probably Sunday. Saturday the guys and I are taking our young gringo friends to the waterfalls for a little swimming and cliff jumping!
PS Oh yea...I almost forgot. My latest words of wisdom from taxi drivers story.
Okay...I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but I get the gist. I can work with you on that one...
But then above those words, he had a big sticker of Yoda.
Yoda? Really?
New shirts...new shoes...new shorts...new socks...
They were a happy crew.
Thanks for praying everyone. I’ll post some more specific prayer requests and stories here over the weekend. Well...probably Sunday. Saturday the guys and I are taking our young gringo friends to the waterfalls for a little swimming and cliff jumping!
And yes...all you Christian School people reading this should be jealous... =)
PS Oh yea...I almost forgot. My latest words of wisdom from taxi drivers story.
I was following a taxi the other day and he had stencilled across his back window, “Only God knows my destiny!”
Okay...I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but I get the gist. I can work with you on that one...
But then above those words, he had a big sticker of Yoda.
Yoda? Really?
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