This morning we were awakened by an exuberant calf. We calmly scrambled to get our things ready and clean up. Our next stop was San Pedro in a section of town that a friend of Derek’s, Luís, showed us to go shopping. Shops of all sorts were grouped together, many selling similar or the same items. Each of us had our fill of tourist shopping for our loved ones and friends all in one convenient place.

Driving to the airport, we saw yet another reminder of the “make use of what you’ve got mentality” that so typifies this country: an old pick up truck carrying three cows. Due to the cramped quarters, the cattle were restless and were asked to pull over upon entering the airport.

Alfredo helped us once again expedite the process of boarding. Then it was time to say our final goodbyes to Alfredo and Douglas. What a blessing they were to us.

What a great sight it is to see your loved ones awaiting you. The time had finally come to say goodbye and enter back into our world. We collected our bags and I prayed for us one more time. I reflected that I almost felt like a spectator on this journey, watching God’s providential hand work through everyone on the team.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.”