New Sights

A week ago, my parents and I were driving down the Panamerican highway back to Antigua from el Lago Atitlan.  Now, looking at that fact, I sit here amazed at modern transportation and how fast and short a day really can be.

  

On Thursday, I was in Antigua with Dina.  A new friend whom I met through really obscure connections.

 

On Friday, we went to Guatemala City for a tour of the gorgeous city that I had never spent time in before 

and we stayed at a ridiculously gorgeous hotel and I had my culture shock for the year.

Saturday, we woke up to this...

and flew out to Seattle.  They are both gorgeous but look different.  That flight was amazing.  We took off at sunset in Houston and as we flew Northwest to Seattle, it was a sunset the entire way!  It was amazing.  Just a constant orange horizon that we flew into.  Tears fell down my face pretty much the entire flight as I processed all that was about to happen in my life.  Country, job, age group, language, housing status, comfort levels, responsibilities... all changing.  Quickly.  But the sun was a good piece of closure.  Closure that the day has set on Guatemala but the day is beginning in a new place now.

Sunday, I preached at FIUCC and received some of the most heartfelt hugs of my life.  It was amazing.

Monday, I visited some people I love and these fools who I really love came to visit... we tubed, floated, ate salmon burgers, camped out, and had a blast.

Tuesday, I drove to Walla Walla

And today, Wednesday, I started my new job at Whitman which I already love.

It will be good.

But it has all come sooooo fast!  Modern transport and technology are crazy.  

I'm really grateful to have a job and a house - it's such a blessing. 

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One night, before I left Xela, Kyra and I had a conversation about the saying her Thai friends always say, "same same but different"  That's what Walla Walla is.  

It's the same.  Same people, same roads, same college, same friends, same ice burg.  But it's also so different.  People have come and gone.  We've built a new highway and resurfaced lots of roads.  The college always has students rotating in and out.  My friends change, because they're people too. Ice burg has lots of people I know working there... 

It's also what I am.  I'm the same person, same personality, just different.  I've seen new things, learned a new language, grown up, matured, have a different job, different life expectations, and different goals.  

My prayer is just that I can healthily navigate the "same same but different"-ness of being here. Especially when part of my heart is still there.

I'm sure excited for what is to come.