Wow, what a rush!

Hola! Amigos y amigas. We were ahead of the soldiers through the airport as they were deployed to protect their borders but enough of our "escape" on the wings of the Lord! The mission was an unqualified success. SOME of the highlights: We gave out 250 Bibles, and the crowds of kids and families were still in line for more. It broke our hearts to turn them away, but the demand exceeded our supply. We began building flush toilets and a side bathroom off the kindergarten to replace the pit toilets in the back of the schoolyard. We had the new paint delivered to the clinic so that the kids could paint. It looks great! We taught several hundred 1st through 7th grade students about hand washing, germs and how to avoid spreading colds, swine flu, etc. We brought microscopes to the 7-9th graders and showed them how to use them, and left all the supplies, laminated posters and equipment for the teachers, and much more. They were thrilled! The village spokesmen surrounded us before we left to tearfully thank us for "springboarding" their health educational program years into the future from what they could have done alone.

For me, it's all about the kids. They are the future of the country, even the world, and they have so little opportunity to get an education and be contributing members of society, not helping in some way is to me just unthinkable. I still have tears in my eyes when I remember their hopeful faces, the sweet eyes. They followed us like puppies and appeared like magic every time we came out of a building. We taught them to play Uno and soccer, and hugged them. The mothers and fathers were every bit as thankful and affectonate. The "Village Health Committee" came to wish us goodbye and thank us, and we all were overwhelmed by love and gratitude. Even the "macho" men of the village hugged me back. I daresay we took back full hearts to take the place of the hundreds of pounds of supplies and Bibles we brought. It was our gain. Again, my thanks to you all who prayed for our safety and supported us. They told me it would be a life-changing experience. I was skeptical, but they were right. Seeing God's plan in action, and experiencing true worship with folks who had church or prayer meetings EVERY evening, was an extraordinarily humbling experience. They said they were privileged to worship. My heart is full.....Vayo con dios! Br. Sam.

Hard to Leave, Good to be Home

On our last morning in San Jose, I was feeling so excited to get home to see my family. I missed them terribly and thought I was ready to go home, but as we took off driving down the mountain in the back of the pickup, a great sadness overcame me. I thought of all the people I was leaving who I wouldn't see for at least 2 years. I thought of all the projects we had started - the bathroom, the painting, the bible studies - and wondered how they would turn out. I expect that we will get to see pictures from other people, who knows how long that will take. And hardest of all, I didn't get to say goodbye to my little friend Lilian. Lilian was a 10 year old little girl who seemed to especially like me for some reason. She came to the clinic almost every day and we colored together, played clapping games and even sang songs together. I became very attached to her as well and was expecting to see her on Thursday night or maybe even Friday morning to say goodbye, but she never came. I will miss her most of all - my little shadow. I'm getting teary-eyed now just thinking about it.

So here's my goodbye to Lilian, even though I know she won't see it. "Adios Lilian, mi amiga. I will think of you often when I am back at my home in America. I can't wait to hear your giggles again when I come back to San Jose someday. I will be praying for you and your family and I hope you will pray for me too. Via con Dios! Love, Susana."

Thanks to all the other team members and our translators who made this such a wonderful experience. I'm so thankful to be home, but I miss everyone already! I can't wait to see all the other pictures and re-live our week at the reunion.

God Bless,
Susie :^)