Like this:

My parents came into town from sunday till saturday of last week. It rained everyday they were here, and on the last full day they were here dad was sick. Overall though, I think they had a wonderful time.

We spent a lot of our time visiting families. It was great to get to introduce my family to the families I know so well here. Parents particularly seemed pleased to meet my parents and they had a lot of nice things to tell my folks about me.  The house visit is the heart of my ministry here and it was great to get to share it with my parents. Also mom lent her more developed baking skills and we got a chance to make one of my favorites, cinnamon-sugar muffins, together. Also I found out I had both written incorrectly and misunderstood some parts of her chocolate-chocolate chip cookie recipe and yet they have been such a hit in Croc, mom wanted to try them my way. She was impressed and I think my new recipe might go down in history along side champagne and penicillin as one of the great-accidental discoveries.  While we baked we also got a chance to play foosball (a recent donation to us) with Jovani and Aline.

Jovani stopped by and my parents got a chance to sit in on one of our bible reading times (we are slowly reading through the gospel of Mark together).

One of the best parts for me was their getting to meet my best friend and partner here in Croc: Peluchi. He helped us put a door in at the Rehab Center
and he accompanied us on some of the house visits. Mom cooked chicken and mashed potatoes for him (he wanted to try real american food and also said I owed him since his mom often cooks for me). And Peluchi returned the favor by inviting us out to his stepdad’s ranch for discada one night. Several of my friends came too and we had a great time with Peluchi’s family.

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After my parents left I spent some time on my roof thinking about the week. It had been incredibly refreshing to me. I really respect my parents and it was great to share what life is like down here. They also reminded me about who I am and this was uplifting to me too. But while they were here we got into several talks with the families about how sad it was I was leaving (Olga said she will cry and Peluchi said he would too). Peluchi and I had a talk too about how things would look after I am gone. After my parents left I missed them more than I have at any other time in Croc and yet I also am realizing how much I will miss this place after I leave. I know that I can’t hold on to all that I love. But I asked God about it and how…how is someone to live when you can’t hold onto those you love? While still on the roof, I read in John 1:1-18 (a really strong passage) and pondered it for a while. Verse 4 “In him (Chirst) was life, and that life was the light of men.” I realized that life is in Christ. He is The Source and in life He is all we can hold on to.

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