coming home....

Good morning everyone.

I don't have long to write, but I wanted to check in before we head out today. It is impossible to believe that this is it... we're about to get on a plane. We had a great debrief last night as a team, and we talked about why God chose us to be on this team. What is He trying to teach us? How can we effectively bring this trip back to Canada, and share our experience with all of you? It's hard to know for sure, but we're ready to try. We went to the orphanage yesterday for the last time. We spent the afternoon at the park, handing out as many hugs as possible. As to be expected, our goodbyes there were very tough. It was really emotional... but it was also filled with hope. Yesterday Curt and I had the privaledge of touring the new land that the orphanage has recently aquired. There is a Canadian man who has spent a lot of time in Beilze who was given the vision of helping to build a new home for these kids. In partnership with the orphanage, he is launching a fundraising campaign to raise the funds for the land and the new house. The plans are AMAZING and as I saw yesterday, so is the land. They have raised enough to purchase 40 acers of land and are in the process of clearing it. As Curt and I walked the land yesterday with a few of the kids, it was easy to dream. We saw visions of the kids running and running and running all over their new land. So much space that they won't know what to do with it. It was very encouraging, and as we left our little friends last night we were filled with the hope and the dream of this new home for them. As we come home we will join the team who are raising funds for this project. We want to help!

We have mixed emotions about coming home. It's always INCREDIBLY exciting to see our friends and family. But Belize has captured our hearts, and it's very hard to leave. As we come home I want to ask for your patience and grace. Our hearts are tender, and we have so many stories that we don't know where to begin. We want to share Belize with you, but also kind of want to keep it safely tucked away in our hearts. We want to settle back into our homes and our schools, but we've also experienced a new way of life. We're now stuck in the middle, trying to figure out how to combine the two. I ask that you please pray for us as we come home. Pray for safety as we travel, but also that our hearts and our minds will be ready for Canada. In some ways we've only just started processing this trip, and it will be a long process. We are excited to have so much love and support to come home to. It means the world to us. We'll see you soon! Our flight comes in on Tuesday night at 9:55pm (with the Nicaragua team!)

Signing off from Belize....

Kristin and the team.

PS. I think it's worth noting that yes, ALL of the team members held a tarantula!!! I told you that the jungle is empowering!