This most recent trip has also proved to be a formative time that will certainly shape my life; perhaps similar in the crazy way just I ended up being called to move to Rio Viejo (I was first introduced to Martin and Wendy through a Wheaton/HP alum, Larry Smoak, who lives in a nearby village and has been an influential leader and mentor for many HP teams over the years). It was exciting to see and feel God at work but also difficult to continue to wrestle with ongoing questions of poverty, justice and God’s sovereignty.
I really felt God used the time in the village of San Ramon and the 2 debriefing days directly following to reflect on the relationships and questions from the week and process how these experiences can be used to spur others on to a life seeking Christ – for me, with groups that come to serve at the clinic, my family, friends, and others later on, along with my own personal walk. 
Joe, Caterino, me and Ricardo. Topics of conversation ranged from faith, to proper cement consistency, diabetic diet modifications, beauties of a simple lifestyle, sustainable farming, and soccer. Caterino was a pretty well off community member as evident by his house, business and he even owns a car. As one of the few people with wheels, he was the go-to guy for transportation of workers, materials, and delivering us snacks. Joe and I spent many afternoons on his front porch playing with his kids, talking to his wife, and sipping Coke out of glass bottles and eating chips.
Along with the water system, the project emphasizes building relationships within the community. This was facilitated through 4 of the team members working alongside the women in the kitchen, preparing all the food for the group. Also, we had children’s ministry every afternoon, which included a craft, skit, songs and games. At night the village and many people from surrounding villages came together for a night service, with songs and personal testimonies from the group, a drama, and a message (either from a local pastor, Larry, or one of our advisors, Dr. Roop). This picture was taken the last night in the village – each work partner shared a few memories and thoughts with the rest of the village about his North American work partner and also gave each group member a “San Ramon” t-shirt as a departing gift.
The director this year was my good friend Blake. We did HP together our first trip, and the following year we were on cabinet together with 3 other students. Blake is a senior at Wheaton this year and did a great job leading the group, addressing the village in Spanish, keeping track of cultural awareness/sensitivity/minimizing the negative impact of bringing in a large group to a small village, and encouraging us throughout the week to focus on Christ as the ultimate example of love. 
This being the third time I’ve been on HP, I’ve realized to an even greater extent the importance of taking time to think through and make decisions during this short window of time since the trip and life as usual in the States. How to act them out and how to remain in a the “chaos” of difficult questions and frustrations and injustices, amidst the temptation to again find more comfortable and less meaningful things with which to focus my attention, continues to be a struggle for me. 
It is my hope that I, as well as all of my fellow HHIM family and endless volunteers, continue to seek to develop a deeper relationship and understanding of Christ and his Word and to continually look to Jesus as a perfect example of love and justice. May we all strive to overcome doubt with confidence, complacency with new challenges and arrogance with humility, using our gifts and abilities to serve the Lord wherever He leads us in this world, an ever-present mission field.
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