Re-entry...

Houston, we have re-entry... stand by for culture shock 2.0.

We have been back in Guatemala for four days. One day was spent unpacking, sorting, organizing and purging all the junk/goodies that we imported. One day we drove 7 hours to and from the city to restock the pantry with food, paper products and miscellaneous junk/goodies. One day we went to our home church (AWESOME!!), then unpacked/sorted/organized all the junk/goodies from our trip to the city. Today, we started back to school.

Parker - 6th grade - age 11

Anna Kate - 4th grade - age 9

Here is what I can say about re-entry so far. You know how it feels when you come back from a really great vacation at the beach, and you have to unpack, clean sand off everything, wash laundry, grocery shop, etc. Then you get back to work or school, and you're thinking, "Really, did I go on vacation?" That "back-to-the-office/school" feeling - is exactly how I feel.

As we have driven and walked around town, I keep thinking to myself - "Oh yeah, I remember - lot's of people/bikes/cars/dogs/potholes etc. in the street. Oh yeah, this time of year feels like camping in the rain. Everything takes twice as long here - like trying to find a new car battery that will work in your car. (We suddenly miss Autozone.) Hmmmm, what do I love about this place again?"

Then, I went to the market and I bought 3 avocados, 2 onions, 6 carrots, 8 limes, 2 heads of broccoli, 2 red peppers and more for Q40 - which is about $5.00. That's when I started to remember what I love about living here. Of course, there are many, many more things, but sometimes it's the little things that remind me why I belong here and not in Georgia - where the roads are wide, clean, and smooth but my $5.00 would only buy 2 avocados.

First day with new teacher (well, not new, but I didn't want to say old teacher)

I always love the beginning of a new school year. It's a fresh start - with new books, new pencils, new schedules. But this is a big year for us - we now have a middle schooler. (Oh dear, can it really be true?) It can be overwhelming to think of these next few years. There is another layer of pressure and expectation to prepare him for high school and then university. Am I equipped? Am I enough? Can I really do this? and do it well?

That's when I pull out some of my favorite scriptures:

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

Phillippians 1:6 "being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

We are in a place of new beginnings and fresh starts. It feels good to be looking at the next year with new ideas, new perspectives and new opportunities. I am confident of this - whatever he has called us to, he has given us everything we need, and he is working toward his purposes in our life for His glory. We feel the peace and joy of the Lord (in spite of the reality) as we begin a new chapter of life in Guatemala. Let's hear it for year numero dos.