We took a couple detours on the way back to the city of Huehuetenango from San Sebastián Coatán on Friday. These new roads were rougher, tighter, harder to navigate. They slowed us down, but allowed us to see things we hadn’t seen before. Returning from mission can often be like this. Just as the Magi had to return home by a different route after encountering the baby Jesus, our encounter with Christ leads us down new paths to new outlooks on our lives and our faith.
Our day began with two farewells—one from the children of John Paul II School and another from our host families. The double goodbyes were filled with both joy and tears. There was joy in recognition of the blessing of our time together. There were tears knowing that our time together had come to an end.
After receiving a year’s supply of hugs, we boarded the little yellow ship that has become our gathering place. The bus was filled with excited chatter and stories about our time with our families. Christ the King parishioners Mark Zimmer and Mary Lou Flearl were effusive about their amazing experience with their host family. In what seemed like only minutes, they became part of another family. By the end of the evening of the second day, children in the home were calling them Grandpa and Grandma. They were humbled and overjoyed by the openness and acceptance they received from their hosts.
We arrived back to Huehuetenango for a couple hours of relaxation with the Disciples of the Good Shepherd. While our first encounter with them might have had a little uncertainty, our experiences over the past week had relieved us of our nervousness and allowed us to have fun. The evening featured dancing, playing, and a short presentation on recycling, a new concept in Guatemala. Laughter echoed throughout the house all the way through dinner.
With this joy received, we returned to the retreat center where we began our time in Huehuetenango a week ago. Though we are in the same place, we are no longer quite the same people. We’ve all been filled with a little more joy, a little more humility, and a greater desire to find the beauty in God’s plan for us.
