back...

Well, I’m back in Colombia! Let me start with the time at home – I was home for 2 full months and it was WONDERFUL. It was so great to be with family and friends. I admit and apologize for the fact that friends did get gipped because there was so much family time. Its amazing how even in 2 months time can run out and there not be enough to be with everyone all I wanted to. Goes to show how blessed I am with so many wonderful people in my life.

It was good to be home and enjoy time in Goshen, while yet feeling like I was visiting…it was very difficult to say goodbyes, yet I felt ready to come back when the time came. I did not find myself wishing I were staying and didn’t have to come back to Colombia and it was a wonderful re-enforcement that I am doing what I should be and want to be doing right now.

I got back Monday night two and a half weeks ago. My close friends, Leady and Alejo, picked me up at the airport and after a long plane ride full of emotions, I was instantly happy to be back. It is wonderful to speak Spanish, to see friends, and to work and have something to do! Alejo and I started work pretty much right away. There is lots to do, although we definitely don’t feel overwhelmed. For two weeks we did a lot of planning for visits and this past Monday we left for 4 weeks of travel, visiting the partner organizations and service locations where we are going to put the seeders. Its good to visit partners and communities, it is wonderful to get out of the big city of Bogotá, and its awesome to get plans for seeders more concrete as we look at where they’ll live, what they’ll do, etc…

The hardest part about being back has definitely been living in Bogotá. I am living in the MCC apartment, which is not physically appealing, and its somewhat of a shared space (being MCC’s office…). I don’t like living in Bogotá – its so big and cloudy and rainy and lots of traffic. I am very excited to get to the coast, but I actually don’t get out there permanently till September. For the next 6 months I am in Bogotá for planning and orientation with seeders. Its hard to be in transition for such a long time. To not feel like I have a home, a place of my own. I thank Godde for Leady and Alejo and for the community of the church here in Bogotá – a small group of about 30 people, who are my only friends and community here in Bogotá (other than MCCers). I do feel a part of that church community very much, and I am looking forward to having a number of months to build relationships with them and participate more in congregational life. Its also weird to be here without the other seeders. I feel much more alone, in the sense that a large part of my community and the people I saw and processed with regularly is gone.

Overall, I’m doing well, though. Good friends and good food is important. I am working at being more disciplined in terms of exercise and journaling, which also helps me stay happy and centered. I look forward to hearing from any and all of you. I miss you much, and look forward to seeing you again sometime. Much love always…