(Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica)
After five airports and three days we have finally arrived in Southeast Asia, more specifically the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. I am unable to even begin to fill you in with my thought process right now. I am still trying to process all that has happened since leaving Guabito, Panama. man it seems like weeks since we were living with Pastor Jose when in reality has only been about a little over a week.
Upon leaving Panama we traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica for a few days where we met up with the rest of our squad for a few days before we flew out on the 31st. While in CR team changes were made. Lauren, Tim and Abby who have been our squad leaders for the past three months will be leaving us shortly and so they needed to raise up new squad leaders to take their place. So Scotty and Shannon have been raised up as our new leaders for the rest of the race. Since they were both leaders of their own teams new team leaders were raised up as well. Now Cody and Lindsay have stepped into the positions of team leaders. many of the teams were changed around as a result.
After much anticipation we were told that Team Hineni was no longer. Emily and I were placed on Lindsay’s new team along with Dex, Ashley Aumen, and A.J. I can honestly say that I was not surprised that our team was changed around a bit. Yes, it was not a shock but none the less it was still hard to swallow. I mean this was my team, I had opened up to these guys and spent every waking moment with for the last three months. Now it was being taken away. I made some amazing friendships which I have no doubt will last for the rest of my life.
(Team Hineni leaving Panama)
I now have the opportunity to make those relationships all over again with four new people. So I am sad to leave my last team, but excited at the same time. When Tim was introducing the sensitive subject of team changes he talked about how important it was to remember that we are a squad of 60 people not just teams of 6 or 7. That really hit home cause it is so true. I can count on my hand my closest friends from back home and thats ok with me. I don’t make friends in big groups, I prefer small groups and so this is just another chance to have that close setting to make more close friends.
(Ash, my girl…I am gonna miss her so much 🙁
So from San Jose we flew to El Salvador then into LAX where we welcomed in the New Year. New Years Eve has never been a big deal to me at all but if you had asked me last year where I would be bringing in the year 2011 I would never have said LA. This simple thought is so cool to me. Cause in my plans I would never have imagined this being my life, but my plans are not what matters, its about God’s plans for my life. We spent the night in LA then flew out on the 1st for a 14 hour flight to Hong Kong then our last flight into Manila, Philippines. We spent a few hours in Manila before we took a ferry to the island of Mindoro where we will be spending the month of January. We are partnering with Threads of Hope, an amazing organization that the Lord is clearly using for his glory. More on this to come.
Until next time
Annalisa
