"Re-entry" Experiences

Hola Amigos and Amigas!

Mike said it well, that we needed a good "decompressing" after our emotional long days and short nights during the mission and going to Copan was certainly a great start, got us about half way home with some of the comforts of home, and we had a lot of laughs in those last two days - mostly remembering funny things that happened during our attempts at speaking the language. The humor of our team members got us a through a bit of tension over being in such close quarters with each other (especially a brother and sister) and I really appreciated everyone hanging in there and coming up with some great "one-liners" that we'll not soon forget.

Now we get back to reality....Riding home in the plane yesterday, I was already noticing all the abundance we have in the states. Coming home after an experiences like this makes you think a lot about the differences we have in our lives versus the people of San Jose. We were about to land in Houston, so we could see the layout of the land pretty well and I was struck by the number of pools in the backyards of every house in the "cookie cutter" communities. What a shame it seemed to me that their "communities" enjoy their privacy so much that they can't share a community pool, and instead fence themselves in and built each their own private pools - eliminating the communication of neighbors and friends - so unlike the community of San Jose, where there is no privacy and they all interact with their neighbors daily and take care of each other's needs and share their lives. Makes me sad to think in my own community I barely talk to some of my own neighbors. I felt embarassed that none of us could remember the last name of one of the girls at our church - that wouldn't happen in San Jose.

Ashleah pointed out to me the big screen tvs in the airport advertising tourism in Pittsburgh - things we really don't "need" - excess. I told her she will be noticing a lot of stuff like that in the coming days and weeks. We have too much, they have too little. All of the team hopefully will be acutely aware of their surroundings and feeling very blessed to have been born in the United States. There will be all kinds of emotions we will be feeling, so continue praying for our mental state. Dealing with feelings of sadness, guilt, shame, missing our new friends we have just made and longing to go back when in reality it may be a very long time and for some of us never. Thank goodness for our happy memories and pictures and being able to communicate over the internet.

It almost seemed strange to me as I drove Paige to a check appointment for her ear surgery this morning at 9 to get in my car (after not driving for 10 days) and then go through an automatic car wash and return home and use the automatic garage door opener. we have life so easy here. simple things, like drinkable tap water and hot water to wash your hands with - awareness and appreciation - it's a good thing. It's fun to get to share stories with family on our cell phones again and we'll be exchanging photos soon and putting a slide show presentation together for the church on July 1st, so this mission is not over, the message continues and there is more work to be done. We have 9 more songs to have music composed for - it's exciting - the future...we're all thinking, "What else can we do to help now?"

My happy reunion with the kids this morning was short lived. Allison was first to come into my bedroom at 7:30 and showed up with eyes swollen shut with crust - nurse Mom and dr. Dad to the rescue...never a dull moment at our house. Then after several long loving hugs and lots of kisses, Dad was off to work and trinkets were given, next we were off to our routine of getting to a doctor appointment at 9 a.m.

The most trouble I had to today was at lunch when familiar attitudes began..."I don't want to eat that!" Then the lecture...there are starving children who would be very happy to have food on their plates followed by more complaining and whining....I'm so disgusted with their spoiled comments that I leave, I come back to find the food has been scraped into the garbage can - anger sets in - WASTE on top of complaints! Being yelled at disrespectfully after not having been for 10 days is like a slap in the face. "Welcome back Mom/Hurray! Our short order cook and maid is back!" It's like finger nails on a chalkboard to hear the kids fighting with each other. Bo yelled so loud at Paige walking out of the hospital that a woman commented that it hurt her ears! How embarassing. So much for peaceful surroundings. Makes the children of San Jose seem like angels (and I believe they are). Ugh...where did I go wrong? I love my kids, but it's been a trying day. Just part of "re-entry".

Behind all those hard feelings are great ones of how amazing God's plan was for our mission - far greater than our own. Trying to keep life in perspective. Love to all - Alisa