It was good to be home, reunited with my husband and back in my own bed last night after having such a long day of traveling back to Minnesota. Thanks to Doug Peterson and Don Linder for meeting us at the airport last night to drive most of our team back to southern Minnesota. It was good to sleep soundly without the call of an early morning rooster or the barking of all the neighborhood dogs!!! However, I did miss the smell of the wood stoves early in the morning, the early morning walk down by the lake with Jim, Katy and Sara, the sound of the motors grinding corn for tortillas and the other sights and sounds of the city of San Lucas during the morning hours. I missed the morning prayers and devotions we had together as a team on the roof of the hotel surrounded by early morning clouds, the nearby volcanoes and the beautiful sights of the nearby Lake Atilan. There was no fresh coffee aroma coming from my kitchen, and no breakfast waiting to be consumed like it was at the mission. There were no ladies outside on the street trying to sell me their goods, and no cobble stone path to walk on. There was no one to ride to work with today- an old pickup truck filled with our team members, volunteers and suitcases full of medications for the day in Guatemala was replaced with a lonely car ride to work. A desk full of papers and a staff eager for my return to work here in Minnesota replaced the primitive clinics and grateful people who had awaited our arrival into the village clinics in Guatemala. I actually missed having a cheese or peanut butter sandwich with warm bottle of soda for lunch. I missed the ride in the back of an older pickup truck on the way home from clinic with a group of amazing people surrounded by the beautiful tropical countryside of Guatemala. Instead, I rode home alone thinking 45 degree weather is cold; the earth looks so black after a fall harvest and the day somewhat dreary with no sunshine. I missed the warm smiles of the people of Guatemala, the grateful blessings of a patient we served, the playful interactions of the little children and the humble house calls we attended.
To the 2011 MDP November team: may I say our trip was a job well done and I appreciate the sacrifices you made to be part of this team. I appreciate your talents, your hard work and your love and compassion for what you have done these past days for the people in Guatemala! For all of our families and friends: we appreciate all of your support and prayers before and during our mission. Know that all of you were in our daily prayers as well. As Mother Teresa said “Kindness is a language we all understand. Even the blind can see it and the deaf can hear it. In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand” God Bless all of you, as he has blessed me with your presence this past nine days. Keep in touch! Nancy
1 Comment
2/2/2012 02:54:15 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
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