HOME!!!

Seeing all the parents, siblings, and our church family in the parking lot when we pulled in last night was wonderful.  Lots of hugs and welcomes all around!  Over the next several days there will be stories to tell, pictures to share, sleep to catch up on, and laundry to be done.  Also, don't forget to take your malaria meds weekly over the next few weeks.

Even though we had a very long day of travel yesterday, all the legs of travel were completed with great attitudes, knowing that at the end of the journey families would be reunited.  Parents and church family, you should be very proud of our youth.  All week they loved kids and one another, shared their faith and their friendship, and had fun with positive attitudes and a "can do" spirit.

Matt is to be commended for his leadership, organization, and most importantly, preparing our youth spiritually for this mission trip.  Mission trips are by nature fluid and change is the norm.  We went into this trip with our role in the Bible Camp somewhat undefined, just knowing that we would be leading in some areas and helping in other areas.  As the week unfolded we found ourselves contributing to the program in so many ways.  Our youth and chaperones provided leadership in exercise, devotions, Bible Study, music and worship, skits, sports, and many other ways.

We met our water taxi on the pier in San Pedro very early Monday morning.  One advantage to the early start was the sunrise on the Caribbean Sea.  Here is one of many pictures of that sunrise.  The beauty and serenity of the morning reminds us that God's Creation - whether in Belize or here at home - is a place of beauty.  The morning is the start to another day He has given us to be His missionaries, His hands and feet, as we meet, encounter, and love our neighbors and one another.