And then there was April

Sooooo we have some time off until the next team comes at the end of April.  I have exactly 1 week to whip the Scary Room into shape (a priority) and work in the med room and clinic as well.  But I'm feeling GOOD.   The two weeks spent with Bud and Sue Eby were heavenly.  They finished up their weekend in San Juan with a bang and then we headed to Juan Dolio where I showed them the Capella, which is where our teams often stay.   It was cool to see how my folks just integrated their lives with our lives here- I feel like they could really experience WHY I love it here and that was a neat experience to have.

Bud setting sail to tour San Juan by pasola...

And Sue fearlessly tackling a pasola as well..

My folks at the gorgeous cathedral downtown.

Me and Laurita en caminooooo

My parents haciendo gira with mis hijosssss

Out for ice cream

Apparently during Semana Santa it is completely acceptable for grown men to sit in kiddie pools fully clothed and imbibe adult beverages.  This frequently occurs in the middle of the streets forcing all drivers to drive AROUND them.  I couldn't help but roar with laughter EVERY time I saw it.  Hilarity.

Jeff and Kamanda with my folks.  AWESOME

So it's been an excellent break for me, vacation time with my parents and then an awesome time with Jeff and Kamanda visiting....and just some general DOWNTIME has been heavenly.  There's been dominos and baseball and reading.   I've been trying to soak it in.  

And I've been challenged too.  Lately I've been challenged on some spiritual stuff that is kinda kicking my butt.   Luchando a bit with it.    Wishing I was just that super-disciplined person who stuck with stuff better.    Trying to be defined by how God sees me.  Wishing I could stay complete in Him alone.  You know.....all the stuff I always am luchando about.   Poco a poco.   One would think that at 40 years old I would have some of this figured out.  But nope-  it always comes back to me on my knees admitting I'm an idiot, that I'm clueless, that I wish the same stupid sins wouldn't slay me,  that I really am lost without Him.    There's this Hillsong song I keep playing like a billion times that possibly is driving everyone else here completely bananas.  It's the spanish version of The Stand.  And I don't EVEN understand all the words in spanish- I'm just not there yet.  But what I DO understand is this:

¿Qué puedo hacer, qué puedo decir?
Te ofrezco mi corazón completamente a ti.
En tu salvación camino, tu espíritu vive en mí,
declara (¿?) en tus promesas, me acerco a ti.

Aquí estoy, con manos cansadas vengo,
Pues tú todo lo diste por mí.
Aquí estoy, mi alma a ti entrego,
Tuyo soy, Señor.

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours