Dear Y.W.A.V,
Solely because of your group and your loving kindness I have completely fallen in love with the city of Kokomo. If the rest of the people there are anything like your group, then Kokomo is an incredibly rich and blessed town. Part of me wants to move there to hang on to the memories of Guatemala and to continue to serve along side of all of you! Thanks again for including me- I felt like everyones daughter, sister, and sometimes mama bear :)
If I may, I'd like to give a personal yet public shout out to each of you individually:
Brent- I appreciate you as our fearless leader, who put up with days where you felt terrible and also when you were at your best as far as being in Guatemala goes. Besides the first day where you tried to stick me in a room seperated from the team, you made me feel part of the group and I am so grateful! I enjoyed all your antidotes, your silly song shout outs regarding waterfalls, and opening up to us about how if you were a vegetable, you would be a green bean. I feel extremely close to my brother in law now that i've spent 2 full weeks with you and you remind me of him! Much love to you and Addy and I wish you both a lifetime of Cilantro and limes!
Addy- I loved getting to know you and your hippy ways. It was awesome to see you lead kids time in Spanish and also lead the girls from the team. Right away it was clear to see how much they respect you and it's obvious why. Can't help but notice that you are fun, flexible and relatable- all great traits for someone who serves along side her husband while working with teenagers! If I lived in Kokomo, I'd insist we'd be friends- I'll settle for long distance buddies though. P.s. is your butt bruised at all from the teeter-totter? Keep up your great posture- Lots of love lady!
Kent- Everyone knows that I'm going to say something about you and babies. You are good with babies :) But besides touching every little baby that you held, you also touched so many of the workers in the baby house and every house you went to. Your willingness to serve in the unpopular areas was noticed and I'm blessed to have met you. If I ever have a baby- I would trust him in your most capable hands, you baby whisperer!
Jamie- For a while I thought you said inappropriate things, turns out I just misunderstood- what a relief! Painting with you was great, you are a great delegator and supervisor. I am so glad that you went back to work yesterday. God is truly a God that provides!
Jen- We had some great conversations in those small rooms with lots of paint fumes and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I loved hearing you talk about your children, you were so full of pride. I'm also so impressed with how you and Jamie adopted Nathan into your family. If only more people had your heart, the world would be a much better place!
Becca Smith- Always remember that a happy hand is a good hand. For Christmas I am going to cross stitch that on a pillow for you so that you'll never forget :) What can I say Becca, I love you lots! You are so caring and considerate of other peoples feelings. Always one to do the jobs nobody else wants to do and such a lover! I loved climbing down to the waterfall with you and making tons and tons of memories!
Shannon- You are so sweet and wonderful! I loved painting with you and working with you in the garden. You had a great attitude, I don't think I ever heard you complain. I was so sad I didn't get to say goodbye to you- but I plan on seeing you again in July! Enjoy your summer!
Kayla Price- If I had to go into a place where I needed to meet a bunch of new people... I would take you with me! It was so great watching you meet new people, talk Karin's ear off in our room and work your spanish while talking to the older girls. Some of it was funny (if we are being honest, some of your questions WERE funny, i think you know that ;) ), but other times it was really touching to see how much you care for other people- to make them feel welcome and to genuinely want to get to know them. We could all take a page out of your book and get to know our neighbors!
MK- I loved hearing about your trip to the waterfall and how you were hugging that tree with all your might! You always had such a positive attitude with every job you were doing and you took such good care of your fellow room mates- I know you gave me ear plugs when someone (I forget who) was snoring and when someone else was all congested. It was so great to get to know you! You are a gem!
Angelina- I honestly loved to come in to the room and find you sitting in a chair by the window just taking in all of Guatemala. I think it says a lot about your personality that you like to meditate on what God has done and don't want to miss the quiet moments. I enjoyed you so much Angelina and I'm sorry for the one day you were taking a nap and I came in the room and acted like I had the place to myself! My bad :)
Gracie- It was great to hear you share about the trip, I loved how you found the most random person to love and appreciate (the woman who mopped the floors after us). When you recognize and notice people that other may have over looked, you truly are seeing people through God's eyes. How awesome! I was also glad to hear that even though you were afraid of heights, you still agreed to climb down to the waterfall- what an experience! Proud of you!
Josh- In some areas you really put yourself out there and were stretched- I couldn't be more surprised each time you volunteered for the baby house! I can't wait for the day where you get really really hungry and realize food is your friend and you try all sorts of new foods such as potatoes, apples, meat and other staples :) I kid, but for real- I was really impressed with your willingness, keep it up! p.s. keep on working on those euchre skills too!
Drew- You were another one that surprised me for volunteering in the baby house that morning. I remember one day I was in there with you and you had Louis and he was fussy and it didn't phase you in the slightest. You requested (demanded?) a bottle for the boy, patted him on his belly and back until he calmed down and then gave him his bottle. You were completely confident and it showed! What a shock coming from someone who only 2 weeks ago had such trouble changing a diaper. Very very impressive!
Ryan- I didn't see you much buddy which means that you were working hard!The time I did get to spend with you I enjoyed quite a bit. It was great to hear you share at devo time and I was really blessed by your willingness to work and be used by God. And GREAT GREAT GREAT job at the soccer games!
Nick- What was cool about you was that you treated everyone equally- and by that I mean whether you were playing a little kid in card games or an adult, you showed no mercy equally. I watched as you stole cards and fruit from little Maya while we played spoons and I thought... "that right there is an equal rights kind of guy". Ha but in all honesty, you were a good worker and flexible and it was great to see you grow and be stretched!
Lamb Chops- I had a great time making you feel uncomfortable, thanks for being a team player. And thanks for volunteering for the baby house with my gentle prodding. You were a lot of fun to be around and I loved all the things on your list to do this summer. I was really really really proud of you playing soccer with the rest of the locals, you are very talented. Keep up the good work and I hope to point hair dryers at cars with you and Bootsie when I get to Kokomo :)
Kayla Howard aka Big Spoon- Lady you spoiled me this trip! Both with your thoughtful gifts and your words- I was so blessed by you! You are such a lover and so generous and you wear your heart right on your sleeve for all to see. You have so much to give and I'm so glad God has given you such a strong passion for the people of Guatemala- you will be so useful there! Maybe when I visit kokomo we can have crackers and chiz??? Remember: Guard your heart ;)love you!
Mel- I said it before, I'll say it again... You are small but mighty! There is so much to you, so much strength and knowledge and gratefulness in your heart, it is a privilege to have gotten to know you! You were such a tough cookie going down to the waterfall- up for any adventure! Love you like a sister and I hope to see you when I'm in town!!
Bootsie- you so crazy! Haha I love your enthusiasm for life! You were so refreshing to be around, you made me laugh so much. I loved trying to dodge people so we can just have a few moments to pepper (don't get pepper in your eye-josh). Your list of things to do this summer is hilarious and I hope you get to accomplish every single one of them- even building a raft and floating it in the lake that Kokomo doesn't have! Make sure that years down the road, you find me once you have kids so I can see you be a crazy mama. I also loved when you got serious and I saw your softer sweeter side when you shared about holding the little 5 year old boy and how you thought of your brother. Theres a lot to you Boots, don't ever change! love you like
a Guatemalan loves soccer ;) (a lot a lot).
Resey Cup- Oh Resey Cup Resey Cup I love youuuuuu! Reese you really touched me. I didn't know what to expect from you when we sat on the bus from the airport to the orphanage and we didn't talk at all. But you knocked my socks off! So loving and sweet and caring. I see so much Jesus in you it takes my breath away sometimes. I'm also so impressed with you and how you've handled yourself as a young woman of God. What an example you are! Love you so much!!
Pam Pam- There was such a noticeable difference when you and Dave had to leave! Tons of my favorite memories are with you in them and I'll remember them forever. I loved how you took charge going down to the waterfall- clearing the way for the rest of the group, completely fearless! Seeing you in the baby house was such a treat. You were so good with the babies and showed them so much love. I loved getting to know you better and having really great talks and bonding over how similar we are and how we love the same way. You are a treasure and always so positive- You are like a close sister to me- love you tons!
Dave- I knew I was going to like you when Pam introduced us and you said "Hi Linny Honey" :) By far, I have never even come close to laughing so hard in my entire life like I did when you tripped and landed sprawled out in Tony's garden bed on the way to the waterfall. It was a pleasure to laugh with you and cry next to you at devotionals and just be touched by your presence in the childrens, staffs (espeically those kitchen ladies) and team members lives. You have a servants heart and you clearly love to love. All the best to you and Pam!
Case- Something that was really touching was how much you shared during devotionals. There was one day where you talked about affirmation and the very next day you were out there affirming the kids, playing with their hair, picking them up, and getting in the poopy water with them. Another great thing was that you didn't show favorites... while the rest of us maybe preferred one kid over another, or one age group over another, you spread yourself out to all the kids and made it a point to get to know everyone- including all the workers and even the members from other teams. You were a great example to everyone who saw you; and I think all of us will forever look at the lyrics to Hosanna and Inside Out a little differently. Thank you.
Becca- Oh Becca my Becca. Lis did neither of us justice when she told us about each other. All she said was keep BOOM an eye out for Becca, you'll like her. What a fool! I love you! You were easily one of the favorite BOOM parts of my trip. Every moment I picture of us singing, gardening, crying, laughing, showering, hugging, confiding, BOOM eating, and sharing with you is easily a favorite memory. You are such BOOM a strong, positive and caring person with a huge heart! God BOOM is going to do so many great things through BOOM you and I'm so honored to know you. Love you with all my heart and our friendship has only just begun ;) BOOM.
Lots of love to you all and thank you so much for making the trip so special!
lin
