Stung in more ways than one.

This whole trip there was an urge that everyone had to see the ocean and not only that, but to actually swim in it. Myself, along with Joel had the opportunity to go swimming and snorkeling with our host on Thursday morning. Little did we know what we could encounter while we were there. Our lives were both changed from that experience. Joel almost drowned because he sucked in a snorkel full of ocean water. We witnessed a dead cow floating in the water that was made up of nothing more than skin and bone. And lastly I had gotten stung by a Man of War jelly fish that burned like none other.

Now being back in the states there is this sting that is still burning within me. I went to church this morning and seeing the kids in Sunday school was a bittersweet experience. There was a longing to be back in Trinidad with the kids from VBS, the schools, and just the simplicity of what was there and the mentality of the people as well. The leader that was teaching this morning was playing some music and then I heard a song that really hit me hard. The title of the song was called "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. This was one of the songs that we had done a drama for. All the memories from the trip and what we had learned rushed like a flooded river through me. As Shelby quoted many times on this trip, "This is not a game." What we have here we must be thankful for and cherish. God has given us so much that sometimes we take what we have and were we are living for granted.

God worked so much in me and the rest of this team through this trip. We could see God's hands moving through the ministries that we got to be a part of and I cannot wait to see the outcome of the work that was done down there.