Last Impressions

( Here's the pizza delivery!)

Our trip was fantastic - worth all the inconviences and hassles along the way. We were able to see Joel, Heidi, and Jakob in their home environment and better understand some of their struggles and frustrations, but also their joy in serving the Lord where they are called. This is a poor country and that is evident everywhere you look -- the meager food selections, the street beggars, the aggressive vendors, the lack of simple things we take for granted, power outages, heat, constant dust, cold showers, filtered water, bumpy dirt roads filled with potholes to dodge, the dreary landscape and concrete buildings. This was the city. (The village is so different, so we've been told.) These are physical things we'll remember, but mostly I'll remember the people.

We felt totally safe there (except maybe driving on the crazy main streets!) The people are honest and for the most part, friendly. The Christians are joyful and cheerful - moreso than the general population, I found. (There are no agnostics there. Everyone believes in the spirit world whether or not they are Christians.) The Christians are so incredibly humble, as I mentioned earlier, and generous. Everything moves in slow motion and the simplest things take much longer to do than you would expect. Stores close for lunch siesta. Relationships are important and families are close. Age is respected, even venerated.

The children are beautiful. The music is wonderful - I never heard any of their native instruments other than the rhythm instruments, but their rhythms for each song were intricate and well performed. All ages love to sing -- and dance -- with enthusiasm!!

If we get to go back someday, we MUST visit a village!

The Calvary International Team: Kate, Heidi, Joel, Tyler, and John the Cat