Stormy
Extreme Poverty
Love
Torrential Rain
Mud
Bare Feet
Hospitality
Care
Protection
Smiles
HOT!!!
God
Saturday: I traveled out of the country for the first time, passport in hand, excited to get my first stamp! I did not know what to expect upon arrival. I had no experience on which to draw upon. I knew that I was traveling with a group of 16 that I had a very small aquaintance with.
I didn't have a best friend, or my husband, no one to open up completely with to share my fear with with upon landing.
It didn't get any better as we piled into two vans, our luggage in a pick up truck to drive 2 hours through rain flooded roads. There do not seem to be any traffic lights in El Salvador.... I saw one later in the week... just one. Laws of the road seem to be up to the discretion of the drivers. When we got to our hotel, it was about midnight (2 am our time) and we were greeted with a hot dinner by our hosts! With a little trepidition I attempted responding to questions in Spanish, hoping that I didn't say an insulting wrong word. The food was delicious, but not as delicious as crawling into bed and sleeping. It certainly didn't hurt that we were lulled to sleep each night by the crashing of Pacific waves right outside our window. What I discovered of my fears the next morning? Uneccesary. What I found the next day was immediate friendships, a faithful God and people who would become like family.
To Be Continued... (because blogger isn't loading pictures anymore for me right now)
I didn't have a best friend, or my husband, no one to open up completely with to share my fear with with upon landing.
It didn't get any better as we piled into two vans, our luggage in a pick up truck to drive 2 hours through rain flooded roads. There do not seem to be any traffic lights in El Salvador.... I saw one later in the week... just one. Laws of the road seem to be up to the discretion of the drivers. When we got to our hotel, it was about midnight (2 am our time) and we were greeted with a hot dinner by our hosts! With a little trepidition I attempted responding to questions in Spanish, hoping that I didn't say an insulting wrong word. The food was delicious, but not as delicious as crawling into bed and sleeping. It certainly didn't hurt that we were lulled to sleep each night by the crashing of Pacific waves right outside our window. What I discovered of my fears the next morning? Uneccesary. What I found the next day was immediate friendships, a faithful God and people who would become like family.
To Be Continued... (because blogger isn't loading pictures anymore for me right now)
What a tease :) I can't wait to hear more. I can only imagine (and I so know) what you're feeling right now. It's overwhelming to process. Take your time. But write what you can before it slips away.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I've been thinking about your post today...and I just have to say that I don't know how you went on the trip. It was bad enough being away from my husband for a week, but to be alone...away from my husband and my son...I can't even imagine! I'm so proud of you for doing it. Perhaps God will give me the strength to do it someday. I look forward to reading the rest of your story!
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