I went to the roughest b-ball courts in the burbs yesterday, ahah, at least it used to be, and I balled until I was drenched in sweat, w/ dirt on my LAMP shirt. My team kept winning so we stayed on the court. My body and mind were wearing down but I told myself to keep going and keep going.

Later on we started running full court games, and we played a few games until sundown... in between the wired fences it was pretty much dim and it was getting really hard to see, being that I'm nearsighted it was almost like playing blindfolded; I became hesitant and my mind was racing, so I tried to visualize everything: where the ball was, where everything and everyone moved, it took some adjusting to but I got more involved.

And for the last 1/2 or so hour that we played in the dark, 5 on 5 became 4 on 4, then dwindled down to myself and 3 other guys running full court. I played on instinct and my eyes stopped seeing and very little occupied my mind; all I needed to do was catch the ball, keep my dribble, and make sure that I kept my opponent infront of me. That felt really good.

The last few days have been hard, my heart had really taken a "plunge". The missions trip this year was still amazing, for the 1st time in the 3 years that I've gone, I actually shed a few tears as my mind brought me to the culmination of everything that had being going on in my mind; maybe I teared up more for myself, maybe they were out of joy/relief, maybe they knew what was up ahead... whatever it was, I'm always impressed by the type of resolve/resilience that these adorable kids exemplify, and the trip was still a memorable, purposeful, and worthwhile experience.

TJers(especially MNers that I might not see for a good while), thanks for all the laughs and good times amidst the "trying" circumstances that we came across, and I love your hearts for the kids and the Lord.

que sera, sera.