Home again...

On February 28 our day started at 3:50 am with the usual routine of making ourselves presentable to the world, then making sure everything was safely stashed in our suitcases, grabbing a cup of coffee, some toast, hushed conversation, hugs for Andy and Jenell and off we went for our final ride on the bus with our trusted, amazing driver, Fernando, to the airport. At the airport we waited in a succession of lines. As we finally arrived at our gate the security guard informed me that my suitcase was to be searched (random check, they said - did the dogs sniff another dog on my suitcase or what?) I sat and watched as people's half full water bottles got tossed in the garbage while waiting for my escort to bring me to my suitcase. Finally they took me down and a strange man took apart my suitcase of dirty clothes. So be it. Dave and I filed into the plane with the rest, it was take off time, and then we heard the captain "we have an indication light for the motor to be checked out, we'll be here another 20 minutes", a half hour later the voice was heard again "as you know, we have contacted the mechanics, they should be here in half hour". Then they started 22 minute pre-recorded English TV shows (we were blessed to have no commercials)At regular intervals we heard the captain explain "as you know, we have now filled out the paperwork for Houston", "as you know, the mechanics are now working on the engine, it is a very minor problem"... I seriously wondered how he gained such great confidence in our personal ESP capabilities :) Three hours after boarding the plane was ready and we took off, it had become a beautiful, sunny morning. The Andes' mountain range grandeur swept beneath us and it was dizzying to me. I have never seen mountains like this - huge, yet rolling, green and lush to the very top, carefully planted fields in every nook and cranny. Our team members had seats assigned close together, though we each were lost in our own thoughts of good-bye's and what's ahead. Due to this delay in take-off Dave and I missed our connection in Houston. While waiting for our flight we enjoyed a burger and fries - tasted awfully good. Then home to Detroit where Glenn and Bekah picked us up and we finally arrived home about 10:00 pm, where we were greeted by our daughter Tina, her little dog Oliver, and three very relieved cats.
Even though there was snow it did not feel very cold to me, guess I really am carrying some warmth from the beaches of Ecuador with me. I woke in the middle of the night feeling disorientated and had to think hard about where I was, our home, where we raised our kids, where we would stay again, I felt more like I was in a hotel room, needing to move on. Guess that will settle again soon. There's lots to process from this adventure and it probably will happen for some time to come. Today, my main aim was to work my way through a mountain of laundry, get some groceries into the house and find each item I brought it's assigned space again. There are so many things I'm grateful for, a list of God moments a mile long, as well as embarrassing moments, like wanting to become an ostrich and sticking my head in the sand throughout our long bus ride over the mountain pass from the beach (Ann helped with this by hanging a towel at the edge of my seat to cover up the view for me - I just found it unsettling). At a debrief meeting the night we arrived back in Quito Jenell asked how the whole trip had affected us, what had we learned, what were some highlights, how had God spoken to us in it all? Those are the things I will yet process for a while, but one thing is clear, God was speaking to me about my fears - how do I handle them? do I trust him with my 'whatever' circumstances? As Ann, one of my team members, said - we all have to learn to "let it go" in whatever areas we're struggling and we need to know that God can handle it and let him.
So for today I'll close. Tonight I get to meet with friends and worship God together at Lighthouse. And I realize that I continue to be enriched as God keeps adding more wonderful friends in my life, such as the team these past two weeks and I am so grateful for Andy & Jenell, Paul & Joan, Cornelius & Ann, Bev, Julie, Logan, Eva, Les & Elnise, and Fernando, as well as the many Quichua men, women and children who have left a mark on my heart. It has been such a privilege to be on this journey together for a short while. Thank you all!!!