settling in, and a little about bootcamp...

so, today i kinda realized what it is like to be home. it is amazing to be here, but is is also strange to be in such an odd place of transition. home, but not quite home (staying at a friend's place). here, but not quite here (montreal in 20 days!). so much to do (savour vancouver), but nothing to do (no work, no school!). and, it is funny, because I know that the older I get, and the more times that I do this, the easier it is, but i also know that it is not easy.

it is not easy to miss the kids that I have just spent 2 months with.
it is not easy to try to explain the experience, but know that people just do not understand.
it is not easy to arrive back into technology. vanity. ease of life. and think back about what i just experienced and what i just saw.
it is not always easy not to be surrounded by people who share the same faith as you.
it is not easy to know that big transitions are knocking on my door.


but, it is also nice to be here.
it is nice to see my friends, and laugh with them again.
it is nice to ride my bike. and start running tomorrow. and anticipate going for a open water swim in the ocean.
it is nice to not have to filter water
it is nice to be able to sleep on a bed with a mattress, rather than a bed of cinder blocks.
it is nice to know that "all things work together to them that love god..."
it is nice to eat less grains, less beans, and more fresh vegetables. and drink milk.
it is nice to see our mountains and be at the beach.
it is nice to not wear the same clothes that
it is nice to hang out with people who are over the age of 19. and, it is nice to not worry about having interrupted sleep by someone who may be throwing up, or someone who needs a trip to the squatty potties.


i think that the hardest thing, though, is to want to share with people, but not have anyone to share the experience with.


so, let me start. and let me process on this blog. for now, I will give some pictures from our training, in florida. Our training is for 2 weeks, where the kids learn basic construction, and skills to live in primitive situations, such as washing in a bucket, scrubbing their own clothes, bucket flushing toilets, living in tents, being in hot and humid weather. They learn team-work, and discipline, and how to sit down and do 30 minutes of devotions each day, and puppets, and spiritual growth and character of god. They meet their teammates (I had 29 kids, aged 13-19) and their leaders (4 of us), and get ready to go to their project site. it is hard. it is sweaty and hot, and it challenges them. they expand the comfort zone, and a lot of times, they wonder what they heck they are doing. But their character is worked on, and they leave, prepared to do amazing work overseas. the last night is a candlelight commissioning service, and we jump on a bus, and head to the airport. here are some photos from the Teen Missions web-site...

Haiti Orphanage 09004

Haiti orphanage crazy!

Pack out day, "team nurse." This is about 1/3 of the amount of medications that my kids bought. Can we say a little hypochondriacs?

Commissioning night candle light service.