Three times gone, three times returned

The wind blows where it will, through the mountains and over the seas, howling with such force through the trees and across the sand, murmuring like a tiny child through the cities and towns... the wind is free... or is it?

Three times I've set out, three times return... the first trip, and the results of my homecoming, yielded so many changes in my life... the making of life long friends, the destruction of innocent pre-conception, the beginnings of humility. Two years later and I returned, doing what I could, and the result was a momentous shift, the best decision of my life.

Now the third year, once more I made the same pilgrimage, though the group is larger, and even my departure point is a different place. As before it was incredible, awe inspiring, humbling to see the hand of God move, to see the joy on our children's faces.

In many ways it was very much the same as the year preceding. We spent a lot of time drinking mango juice and playing cards, although this year, being part of the HK team, I actually roomed on the same floor as all the card playing, which somehow made it seem all the more accessible, and prevalent. (And, as was noted, I did disappear from the cards for some of the 2nd week) As before, I made some awesome friends from across the world (back home in Sydney actually) and now have so many more people with whom I will one day try to visit, no matter where they are in the world.

Yet there are some stark differences. Most notably, the harshness of it all. Never before had I felt so drained, so glad to be home, and indeed, every moment, while exhilarating and precious, was also incredibly tough. I was also a leader within a team, which was far more involved than I had anticipated... especially with all those team meetings... though I do believe that it helped me stay connected.

This year was also the best year of the three, I believe in most part due to my awesome teaching team, Ariel and Anny... both of whom was beyond 1337... and individually ragged on me about as much as M, Al and S do put together = P... (Which, for those of you who don't know, means they teased me a LOT). Hopefully it was all in the name of good clean fun, and it certainly made our kids laugh heaps!

However now, even as the memories begin to fade, and all we have to remember the past is Facebook (that evil, yet incredibly useful technological advancement)... I look once more to the future. Before it had always been apparent the direct effect that the trip had. Now, I'm just waiting, once again that breath of air... that wandering gust of wind, willing to go where the force that guide our lives will take us, waiting for the calling... listening for the voice of God...

There are a lot of pics on my Facebook, if you don't have an account, I suggest you get one, and add me.