straight out of my support letter, here are some prayer requests.  please pray for us.  it's almost time. 

• That I and the mission team will serve Him wholeheartedly and do His work, witnessing and sharing His love to those we meet through words and actions. 
• That the mission team will rely on God’s strength, serve in unity, and remain safe and healthy throughout the mission. 
• That God will work in the hearts of those we meet, that they may be touched with His love, grace, and mercy. 
• That when we prepare, are on the field, and return home, we will not trust in our own efforts, but we will know that it is through God that every good work is done.   
• That His name will be glorified! 

thanks everybody.  God bless. 

so, i'm back from Guatemala.    came back on monday

what should i say about it?  yeah, it was good.  i did learn a few things, and i guess i did a few things, but i feel like i didn't do much.  i could've definitely pulled my weight more.  the 7.5 years of spanish did come in handy, though.  finally, those years are useful for something.  although i did go to Mexico before too.  it was useful then too.   

so, basically, here's the gist of it.  i went with a group of korean adults, 50 years and over.  i was the youngest, but not the only one under 50.  i helped out with vbs, which was hard in different ways than usual.  we went to a different town each day.  i got to speak to the people there, even had to pray in spanish... harder than i ever imagined it would be.  but i did learn a lot from the people, the kids, the adults on the team.  i had never been on a mission trip with that many adults before.  to see them working, doing what they gotta do, focused, not complaining, and so much more... it's different than being in an environment with other kids, youth group, peers, whatever.  i also got to go with my parents.  it was a blessing time.  i, stupidly, didn't really expect much from it.  i doubted and didn't always want to be there.  i was wrong, mistaken, another adjective i can't find right now, in my thinking.  oh, but how God teaches us and shows us His truth.  yes, this is all very general and all over the place, but i'm not the best at testimonies and writing about mission trips and the like and my experiences and what i learned and got out of it and so on and so forth.  oh, and i met sam yoo's mom. 

well, one thing i did learn was that Guatemala is yet another country full of people who need to hear of God's love.  there are churches there, but not all of them are doing well.  there needs to be a revival.  many there are also catholic.  the kids don't finish school, and even they have to work.  little kids take after their younger siblings.  but you would be amazed at the love and dedication they have for their families.  we could learn from them in that respect.  also, imagine being the pastor for 3 or 60 years of a church that has not yet had a revival.  that dedication to God's calling, that trust in His work and faithfulness... that's what we need. 

the work ethic and dedication of our parents' generation.  what we can learn from them.  their spiritual maturity.  let's not underestimate them or push them aside.  there's yet a lot we have to learn.  you'd be surprised at their strength and willingness to help, whether they're in their 50's, 60's, or 70's. 

ok.  so now what?  good question.  i just got to baltimore today, and i'm pretty much dreading it.  i didn't want to come back.  last night, i kept trying to think up an excuse to try to get me out of research for a week and coming back here so soon.  i had actually wished i had gotten sick on the plane or something.  but i needed an excuse that didn't have anything to do with somebody being harmed or sick or physically unwell or anything like that, and i didn't want to lie.  conclusion: i just had to suck it up, pack, and come to bmore.  it was my fault for planning my summer like this anyway.  but, right now, i just wanna be back at home or in Guatemala.  i'm basically bored.  after the mission trip, i've just been bored.  i'm bored with how things are here, my wasteful lifestyle, whether it's time or whatever i'm wasting.  i need to do something... something real... yeah...

so, i now conclude my ramblings.  i hope you all are doing well.  have a good summer, and i'll try to have one too, despite Drosophila.