rest.

FURLOUGH:

a. A leave of absence or vacation, especially one granted to a member of the armed forces.
b. A usually temporary layoff from work.
c. A leave of absence from prison granted to a prisoner.

Permission to take a leave of absence from an organization for a specified period of time.

A regularly scheduled period spent away from work or duty, often in recreation.





When I chose REST as my word-of-the-year back in early January, I was serious.

So even though this year has been extremely full, with more tragedy and challenges than I could ever have imagined as 2009 began, I've also made a point of taking a couple weekends off since my family left in March and finding other moments in the craziness to step back for a moment and...well, smell the roses. I didn't really have a choice if I wanted to hang onto what sanity I still possess!

Now, as mentioned in the above linked post, the time has come to make good on my "mini-furlough" plans. I can still hardly believe it myself, but in just two days I leave Cochabamba for 2 1/2 months!

That is by far the longest since moving here 5 years ago, and in the past 2 1/2 years, I've only been back in the US (Texas) for about 12 days....and spent said time completely worn out from trying to remember how we do things there! Definitely will need to put my own advice to practice as I attempt a graceful “reentry” for a time into my "home" culture.

So, after several weeks of intense organization and delegation, somehow I'm muddling through the goodbyes to the 20 staff members, the volunteers, the 42 children and babies who will grow so much while I'm gone, our lawyers and other friends, Cochabamba International Church's praise and worship team and Monday night women's Bible Study group, to head to Buenos Aires for a little vacation, then Miami to meet with a future volunteer, then onto Memphis and my family!!

This is only possible due to the faithful staff members and volunteers who are willing to increase their load to give me this chance to travel.

A thousand thanks to:

Rosa, Maria, and David, the world's best office team, with matching awesome attitudes, for encouraging me to go

...Katrina & Savannah for sitting through hours of meetings taking notes and receiving dozens of emails from me

...Joe & Denise Holman for talking to me till late one night last week to talk me out of canceling the trip (and ordering me to go and have FUN and spend MONEY, wow!)

...Rehanna, just back from London, for practically high-fiving me and doing a little jig when she found out I was finally taking an extended trip

...and my family for seeming truly excited that I'm coming although I know that at times I'll be like a caged lion! At least I have plenty of catch up work to do, meetings there, and of course will be in touch with the homes throughout the weeks.


So, until I start some catch-up posting, hasta luego...!