Saying good bye for 3 weeks

Today the group that is visiting had a story time, lots of activities, singing and dancing that even the older kids enjoyed and stickers for everyone who learned the bible verse that went along with the theme.  After the team left the kids were still asking if they could tell us the verse to earn a sticker.

Every paid close attention - big or small

Sometimes our human behaviors can distance us from God
But all we have to do is JUMP back in and ask forgiveness

Christian won a contest with his shoelaces!

My friend Shelly graduated today.  She is now officially a dentist.  Wow.  What an achievement!  A doctoral degree.

Jose invited me to go to my first fútbol game tonight.  But at some point I have to clean the house and pack.  I leave for the US tomorrow morning.

Saying goodbye to everyone was different today than it was even 6 months ago.  I had to turn down dinner invitations, Christian's mom sent me fresh cheese.  Christian was so funny.  He sat down next to me and handed me a package wrapped in tinfoil inside a plastic bag.  He said, "Guess what it is?"  I picked it up and squeezed it.  It was heavy and firm with a little give.  He said he wanted to give me a cross necklace, but his mother made him bring me this.  I opened it up and said CHEESE!!!  I love cheese!  (I do, but I was worried how I could eat it all before I leave.)  He said, "My Mom said safe travels and we will miss you!"  And then he ran away to play.

I got lots of hugs and well wishes.  Lots of genuine "I'll miss you's".  I will miss them too!  3 weeks feels like a long time to be gone.  I didn't feel like this last time I left.  This time while I am gone I will miss a trip to Nicaragua.  I won't be here when Marlin finds out the sex of her baby.  Clara is going through a tough time and I'll be gone.  Lourdes and Jairo have stuff going on that I would normally help with.  There are two meetings and a final presentation for the Christmas event for Samaritan's purse.  And I'll miss the Honduras vs. US fútbol game.  Before I was never this involved.  Now there is so much I won't be a part of.

There was another death on the way home today.  I have never seen any deaths in the street before and now I've seen two in two days.  Yuck.  Yesterday's was in the newspaper today.  Two men on a motorcycle shot a taxi driver because he wouldn't pay them extortion money.

On the way to work a taxi tried to pass a car on the way up a hill and smashed head-on into a bus as they crested the top.  Taxi drivers are not known for their safe driving skills.  I didn't see anyone hurt there, but let me tell you, that little car was smushed.

Well, I'd better get to packing.  Tomorrow morning will be here soon!