CarissaAndJaye.com

One year ago today, at 8:29 at night, Hope Grace Howard was born to two very worn out, anxious, and joyful parents. She was also born to four grandparents dedicated to spoiling her, one adoring uncle and many, many loving and supportive family and friends. It was the culmination of nine months of tears, laughter, worry, wonderment, hope and prayer.

I don't really care. I like the sound of Twenty Ten. It follows the way I use to say Twenty Aught Nine last year. However you say the year's name, it doesn't cover up the fact that we've all been duped. Honestly, where is my flying car? My live-in robot maid or all the other push-button daily conveniences that were alluded to us back in the eighties and prior?

 

4 AM came real fast. We had a sort of going away banquet last night. Jeff took us to the steak house we ate in last year. Hector, Gerbert, Luis and his wife (no babies though!), Mirna and Lillian joined us as well.

It was great to have both teams and their site leaders in one room. We each got to see who the other had been working with all week. Saying goodbye is always kinda tough. I don't always know what to say or how to say it so it will make sense, especially since I cannot do it in Spanish and I want to use English words they will understand. It was the Gringos verses the Locals in going back and forth with praises and thank yous. I think each of us understood how important and how much one valued the other.

After dinner we headed back to the house. Jeff brought some Mission Impact shirts for us to take home. I was pretty beat so it was shower and packing and then bed. I was planning on sleeping on the plane today, but after 45 minutes or so, I am now awake. Besides, an episode of Desperate Housewives is on and I just can't miss it!

Anyway, we were able to get to the airport on time with Hector and Alejandro. I think this was the first time that Alejandro has been there. He kept a great house for us...always clean and in order. He must have gotten a lot of exercise answering the door for us as the house had an exterior gated entrance. The doorbell sounded like the intro from the Mission Impossible theme.

We got the whole team checked in for the flight. It is an overbooked flight and they had asked some of us if we would like to trade our seats for a first class ticket tomorrow and $300. None of us could accept the offer. That never seems to happen when we have the ability! We need to get home for the business of next week.

The flight so far is fairly smooth. Most of us got lucky enough to sit in the emergency exit row. There is lots of leg room here! I think I'll lay on the floor and take a nap after I am done with this entry. Seating this time is a little more friendly. Carissa is on my left and Bill on my right. No outstretched child to contend with. Randy and Austin were across the aisle from us but they had to move due to the age restriction in the exit aisle. They are now behind us. Sara is in the window seat across the aisle. KB and Megan are a row ahead and over one.

In all, it was another great visit to Guatemala. I think it was easier to say goodbye because we know we will be back again. I talked with Jeff about coming in December (if we can manage it) and he said it is his favorite time of the year. Christmas is not as commercialized there like it is in the State. Easter on the other hand is a different story. It is their dry season but the weather is cooler with bright blue skies. Sounds nice. I think it would be great to just spend time with his family and enjoy the country.

In the meantime, I have my work cut out for me when I get back. I really want to get the new Mission Impact site up and running as soon as possible. I know there are going to be a few unforeseen issues to contend with, headaches to sooth and a few bumps to smooth out, but I am really excited about helping them tighten their digital presence online. Their current site is quite involved but I think as soon as we get the framework and organization laid down, it should go quickly. I want this to be the best site I've worked on. This is the only thing I know how to do at the moment that will help them in the immediate. Maybe it will lead to other projects and ways in which we can further support Mission Impact and the people of Guatemala.

Well, I gotta shut this down now, I've been eying the bathroom and I think my turn to race down the aisle is coming up. Shrek 3 is about to start and what a way to see it...on constantly flickering screens and horrible sounding earphones.

See you when we land!

It's been a big week here...it's amazing that so much could have gone by so quickly. Last night Hector came and shared his testimony with us. You know those people who have such an amazing story that you feel as if you haven't done a thing with your life? Yeah, that was Hector.

We were so impressed hearing about his childhood and family and how he was able to overcome so much to now be an anchor for Christ in the village in which he lives. He has been able to save quite a few folks and get them off the streets and away from certain addictions. Now in his early 30's, Hector works with gang members and drug addicts in his neighborhood. He is also leading an outreach and building program in a small village about 45 minutes from here. Most of the smaller villages have houses whose walls are made from cornstalks. They are trying to replace those with block and metal. Not exactly a mansion but a huge improvement over their current living conditions. He told us the story of an elderly lady in her 70's that had lived her whole life in cornstalk homes. You can imagine her joy when they rebuilt her home with the more durable materials. Hector is an example of one of the many gifted people involved with Mission Impact.

Last night, Carissa and I talked together about the things we had been thinking ourselves the whole week. What is our role here in Guatemala? What do we do differently at home? Where do we fit in the scheme of things?

After hearing testimony from people like Hector, it is hard to not to feel that you aren't doing a thing. But we are each called to a different purpose. What is it that I can or am supposed to be doing? I think we are both in agreement that we are to somehow become more involved with Mission Impact. What that looks like is not clear at the moment. Maybe just starting with the revamp of the website is the beginning. Maybe it will turn out to be the only thing, God only knows. We don't see us moving down here and working full time right now. Perhaps we will somehow be able to support or take care of some need back in the States to further their progress down here.

What does the big picture look like for us? God knows...I just wish He would give us a little hint at times!