Bed, Bugs, & Beyond

Bolivia already feels like it happened years ago.  It’s only been a little over a week, but everything is just a distant memory. This is not how I prefer to feel, but, if I’m to be true to myself, this is an accurate description of my feelings.  I feel like I’m trying to hold on to the memories so they don’t escape, but they already seem to be slipping away. I’ve been trying to process my time at Familia Feliz, but I’ve run into a few obstacles. This past week has been driven by an unparalleled amount of busyness. Upon arrival, I was reunited with my family and got my first look at my new home in Ooltewah, TN.  I had lived there with a couple of friends, Josh and Sam Marin, the summer before leaving, but without my family nor any furniture there. It doesn’t feel as much like home as Merced or Familia Feliz, but I think it’ll grow on me with time.  It was pleasant being able to take a hot shower and sleep on a soft, yet ridiculously large bed (I never would’ve considered a queen b

Warning: Long, emotional post ahead What an end to the experience of a lifetime.  I knew these last two weeks would have some unforgettable moments, but I never expected just how much it would fill me up, and then overflow in the form of tears as my plane sped down the runway in Rurre.  My time as an SM has taught me so much about myself, love, the world, and God. I will always hold Bolivia, Familia Feliz, and the experiences I had there close to my heart. No one, not even the other SM’s who were there, will ever know my exact experience and how it changed me.  I can say, however, that every sacrifice was worth it, and I wouldn’t trade my time at Familia Feliz for anything. I really began to feel the nostalgia on my day off a couple of weeks ago.  I had the opportunity to go to town before dawn, so I grabbed the rest of my trail mix (so much for a handful a day) and set off on the trail to the cross that overlooks Rurre.  I raced up the steps and crested just as the sun cam