Letter to the Family

We just got back from our "missions" trip to Guatemala as a family. I say "missions" because it wasn't in the sense a normal trip. Yes, we got the opportunity to work with Mama Carmen at her orphanage, hear the story behind her coffee plantation (just ask if you want to know!), help out with food distribution at the city garbage dump and then later a worship service for the drug addicts at the dump, visit with some local families and pray over them and much more. But a lot of what I appreciated from this trip was a chance to observe my family together. So I decided I would write this letter to you all just to thank you and everything for an amazing time. (Another post will tell more about the trip... no worries. :) )

Dear Family,
Thank so much for coming on this trip to Guatemala. I know at times it was hard getting excited to spend a week with each other, but I'm so glad we all went. I left pieces of my heart in Guatemala the first two times I went and it was a pleasure for me that you could see a little of the country I've fallen in love with.
To my dad: thank you for providing us with this opportunity. You are the reason this became reality and I thank you so much for the effort you displayed. I apologize for not being more compassionate when you were sick- it must've been hard sitting in the hotel and thinking about all the things you could've been doing. All in God's plan. You're a great leader of this family and I love you very much!
To my Mom: Thanks for getting out of your comfort zone mom. I saw how concerned you were going into it but you tackled all the challenges of the language barrier and being in difficult situations with grace. I love that in everything you tried to make the best of it and to look at the bright side of all things. You kept me positive. Thank you for playing with my hair in the van, and loving me. Thanks to both you and dad for being so understanding and so willing to let me go out with my friends. You don't know how much of a blessing that was to me.
To Bryan: I can't believe I haven't gotten the pleasure of seeing you speak spanish before this. Seriously, this trip opened my eyes to how God has blessed me with a brother like you. Everywhere you went, all people said after was Bryan this, or Bryan that. (As much as I wish it had been me ;) joking!) You spread joy and are always "happy, happy" as Enrique says. It's true. You have a wonderful heart that wants to help and I know that you mean what you say when you want to help those people and love them. I can see you going back a few more times... make sure to take me with you. ;)
To Amanda: This trip was so much fun for me to see where you've been in Guatemala- the places you've served and the people you've touched. You've made my brother extremely happy and I"m so glad he found an amazing wife. I am so glad you're a part of our family and because of that you were able to introduce us to some new friends in Joe, Enrique and Cecy. I am forever grateful to you for that. I see that the country has worked its way into your heart as well and I know that you and Bryan will (hopefully!) continue to serve there. I also can't wait for you to adopt a little Guatemalan niece or nephew for me... :)
To Erin: You're beautiful, inside and out. I know you're in the right profession Er, because when I see you with kids I see the joy you bring to them and the joy they bring to you. It was great to have you with me, and it was a joy for me to have you hang out with my Guatemalan friends. Your approval and support mean a lot to me and I look up to you. I hope we'll be able to travel together, maybe back to Guatemala, maybe to somewhere else! Either, way, we'll have fun. :) I saw the delight God takes in you during this trip in blessing you with little girls to love on you and girls for you to love on.
I love you all and hope that this trip will be one that hasn't just changed me, but has changed you all as well. That as a family we will unite and say that we will pray for countries that don't have the opportunities we have here and that we will be active in spreading the gospel, not passive. Thanks so much for blessing me through this trip and being able to celebrate my birthday in the country I'd love to someday call  my second home.
Till next time, Jackie