Yes, we're missionaries. Yep, we have a home church that we call our very own. But no, we don't really Do groups.

 I'm not sure why that is...but I'm not complaining!

 We have a group here now. (I know I just said that we don't really do that - but this is only a once a year thing) There are 18 of them - half are part of a medical brigade, and the other half will be building a house for our Miskito Indian pastor so that he can move back amongst his people after being here in the city for 6 years. Good stuff going on! Today they left at 4:30 in the morning on a journey out near the Nicaraguan border where they'll be ministering for the next week. I know God will do amazing things...

 But as selfish and pathetic as this may sound, it is BeYond Exhausting to facilitate something like this! I mean, not only is there weeks and weeks of planning, but quite often in a culture like this the plans turn to Dust before your very eyes! It is emotionally draining for many reasons.

 On Saturday my sweet hubbyman and our 2yo daughter spent an entire day driving 3 hours to an aiprort and then waiting for a plane that came within 300 feet of landing before pulling up and heading to Belize due to rains. When everyone finally arrived, (hours and hours and hours behind schedule) there was still the 3 hour drive back, but this time with water dumping from heaven So hard that the windshield wipers were basically a joke.

 Pulling into the Hotel I'm sure that everyone was relieved....until the blank looks on the faces of the staff told the story: No Reservations for a group of 18. Forget the fact that dh had gone in repeatedly and I myself had heard him confirm at least 3 times by telephone. No Records of Reservations. Go away. Of course this all looks like a lack of advanced planning on the part of the resident missionaries....

 But another hotel was found and we were on our way! Breakfast was switched to our house because the new hotel had only 6 seats in their "restaurant". I have no idea how we had enough bowls and utensils, but as always God made it to be enough! I had even made a few carrot cakes the night before - perfect with oatmeal. Add some fresh squeezed orange juice and I totally felt that we were getting Help from Above!

 There was church with the Garifunas and lunch at a small food stand. Husband had to miss church to go buy plane tickets, so the babies and I led the group to where we'd be eating. Everyone grabbed chairs and started laughing and chatting, and we sat alone - just me and the kids. That was hard. And unfortunately not an uncommon sight this weekend.

 But other than that it's been great to see so many people praying for those that we love and work for. It touched my heart to hear the passion and desire to see the Garifuna and Miskito Indians saved. I think we may have lost a bit of the passion in all our daily dealings with them. Such a good reminder!!

 So they all left this morning, and the babies and I will hopefully be starting school tomorrow. We've been on an extended vacation since Thanksgiving - which was when our litter of puppies came. They've kept us busy! I am pretty relaxed about seat-work, but we've been collecting some great kiddy games that I think do the job just as well. And if not, we've got plenty of years of catch up! :~D