Q & A For Home Ministry (aka Furlough)

So, what are you up to these days? Between traveling to report to our supporters, going for doctor and dentist check-ups and reconnecting with friends, we are moving into and organizing our house. It’s pure pandemonium.

Any first impressions of the US? I could take a whole journal to answer this one, but what we continually notice is the bigness of the United States. We seem to take some special satisfaction in doing things big – overstuffed furniture, big vehicles, wide lanes, super sized meals and big screen TV’s. The list goes on and on.

What do you miss about Mexico? Mexico is filled with open air cafes and restaurants. We miss having that available year round. Bright colors, fresh corn tortillas and u-turns. I really like the idea of u-turns – anytime, any place.

Anything you don’t miss? We don’t miss Microdyn! It’s the solution we used to soaked our fruits and vegetables. It’s really nice to just wash, rinse and eat. We don’t miss always watching over our shoulder for the police and the paranoia of it all. Nor do we miss altars, shrines, scorpions and dry itchy skin.

What foods have you been enjoying since returning? I know this sounds absurdly crazy, but we like Taco Bell even though it has little resemblance to authentic Mexican. And the $1 ice tea at McDonalds. Oh yeah, Turkey Hill ice cream. Which by the way I’m finishing off some chocolate peanut butter cup at 11:47 p.m. while I wait for Maria to get back from a trip to Carowinds.

What’s the funniest thing one of your kids has said in the last 24 hours? Christina and I were on the way to pick up one of her friends today when we passed a “bump” sign on the road. She said, “That was a bump? That wasn’t a bump daddy. Americans are so civilized.” Funny thing is she’s right.

And your plans for the next couple of months? Maria and Christina get back into the swing of things next week with school. They are so excited – not really! Daniel has settled on going to a Torchbearer’s school for the coming year. They have schools all across the world. This particular one is in Colorado. We still need to travel to Pittsburg, Vermont, Tennessee, Virginia and as well as make some stops in West Virginia.

Tell us a couple of interesting things in parting. I’m not sure how interesting it is, but we loved picking blueberries last week. I got a bocce ball set for my birthday if there are any bocce ball enthusiasts out there.