Jesse A. Schroeder

We head back to Guatemala in about six and a half weeks. We'll be going with a different team of students, doing work in some new areas, and meeting new children and families. I've been doing a lot of preparation for the trip, sending emails and accounting for supplies and donations, etc. But I've also looked back at some pictures and information from past trips. 

In doing so, I came across this picture. It's actually the very last picture I took on our 2007 trip. We had just finished a full week of working on a huge construction project, and we were all very tired, very sweaty, and very much ready for a shower. As we piled into the van, we saw across the street a small group of children watching us intently. 

The group was moving quickly, gathering our items and supplies and making sure we didn't leave anything behind. We were just about to drive away, when "the Emilys" asked if they could go talk to the girls. I said, "Of course." 

It is this type of initiative, this type of love-in-action, that really excites me. "The Emilys" went across the street, shared a few small pieces of candy and some hugs, and then came back to the van. As they crawled to the back seat, I noticed they had tears in their eyes. That brief encounter, that small moment on the side of the road, that exchange of hugs, "hola" and "adios" was enough to touch their heart. 

I'm hoping for similar experiences this year. I'm hoping that as Kellye and I lead this new team of students to new areas and new experiences, the same change will take place in their heart. I hope that they will see that it is worth it to cross the road. It's ok to make your team wait a few more minutes. It's not that hard to do something meaningful, something that will change your life, and change the life of others. 

In fact, it's what life is all about.