Last week I had to make an unplanned visit to the USA. Unfortunately, I did not come with my whole family. We made a last minute decision to just travel with my Mom. It was an emergency visit because my grandma had an accident and fractured her wrist in two different places. No need for panic, my grandma is perfectly fine thank God! My mom and I just came back to assist her with the difficult things she cannot do. My poor grandma had to have surgery which required doctors to insert a metal plate with screws to hold her wrist together. Thankfully, her wrist is healing very quickly and she should be out of a cast by October, 8. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery. We are hoping Grandma regains full strength and motion of her hand.
It feels very strange being in my old house without my entire family. Normally, if I peek in my sisters' rooms, they are either playing with Barbies, stuffed animals, watching TV, or telling me to quit peeking in their room. It has only been a week since I have seen them, but I miss them greatly. I also miss my Dad, it really feels weird not having him around as well. Somehow the house feels empty without them. When my grandma is feeling better my mom will leave and return to Guatemala. However, I am going to stay behind to help her. This means I will be thousands of miles away from Mom, Dad, and my sisters. Don't get me wrong, I love my grandma, but I will always hold a special love for my parents and sisters.
Not only do I feel incomplete without my family, but returning to the house I grew up in feels strange as well. Even though my grandma now lives here, I lived in this house for the first 12 years of my life. My heart holds thousands of memories here. The moment I walked through the door of my old home a ton of emotions began to flood my mind. A couple days ago I saw one of my old friends returning from school. I remember the last time I saw him, he was a small little guy. Now he is taller than me! Granted, I am not extremely tall. I am a pretty average guy, height wise, but I was still very surprised!
Back to the topic of missing people. Soon, my mom will go back to Guatemala to help my Dad. Life in Guatemala is tough, and my parents always like to say, "It takes two." Meaning it takes both of them working together to help meet all of the needs we have there. Right now my Dad is in Guatemala by himself. Of course, he has my sisters to help him; but it can still be very difficult to do certain things without us being there. Usually, my Mom cooks and my dad helps with laundry. Now, that may not seem like a lot but think about it, my Mom is cooking for 14 people and my Dad is doing laundry for 14 people. Right before my Mom and I flew to the USA, our washing machine broke. So, for a little while, my Dad had to wash it all by hand. Thankfully, another missionary family came to our rescue, and gave us their only backup washing machine. Thank you Monk family!
To summarize how I feel, it has been a crazy week. However, the bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."