Reunion

During the past week plus we've been reminiscing about the time we spent a year ago in Guatemala - this past Wednesday afternoon, remembering about floating through Bocqueron canyon near El Estor and then participating in the "Despedicia" good-bye worship service; this Saturday afternoon, climbing the volcano near Antigua.

Sunday morning - the one-year anniversary by days of the week of the 19 of us from Crescent Hill church went to breakfast and mass in Antigua hours before our departure back for the United States - we had a couple of surprise reunions. Arriving to drop Vincent off at 8 a.m. to go to the Presbyterian Montreat church camp, we found a surprise: no one there except for one of the other seven Guatemala kids: Douglas - and his father. I thought they were there to bid Vincent et al. adieu because I didn't think Douglas - who had spent two months in Army Reserve youth boot camp - at Fort Knox - was going. As the other kids filtered in - Andrea driving herself, most came with a parent or two. And then Pastor Jane showed up - to prepare for church but also to wish the kids good-bye - and then we had a reunion of 11 of the 19 of us - five of the eight kids who went to Guatemala (all but one would be at Montreat) - Jane and five parents who went. Already in Montreat were a family of four - two parents, two kids - who also went.

After the Montreat-bound kids and adults at left, back in church, we were surprised - although I'd actually been told, I later remembered - when one of three mission workers who accompanied us in Guatemala - Ellen - plus the two youth coordinators who were also there (now with their newborn baby) (that they were there and not home was something of a surprise). All three of the mission workers have returned to the United States since we returned. Ellen, a former U.S. pastor, worked especially with Presbyterian Women in Guatemala. She's apparently back in Louisville - where we should get a chance to see her lots - living at the Presbyterian seminary down the street from where the Guatemalan pastor whose been here with his family since before the mission trip and working in the important old job of another church member and helping plan an every-two-years month of mission workers traveling presbyteries around the country speaking (Mission Challenge), an effort that - especially after the failure to set up a fifth special offering for mission workers - we hope will connect people in congregations with the work and livles of long-term Presbyterian mission workers. It was great to see Ellen - she and David were in Louisville for this past October's Mission Challenge - (and the baby again) plus so many of the folks - early on a Sunday morning - that we went with early in the morning.

Good memories of a great trip.