Clinic not Clinique

I have discovered Prilosec OTC after 7 years of chronic heartburn; the only regret I have is that I did not discover it sooner. (Side note)
Today was a good day. For this week I am at Erin's site which is a clinic for terminally ill children. I find it to be one of the most uncomfortable things I have done in my life second to trying to fit into the harness for the canopy tour seen below. On a serious note, it is a breath taking site coupled with some pain and much needed compassion for the patients and there families. I now have a deepened appreciation for parents with special needs children. Many of the patients are non verbal often with a "button" in their stomachs for feeding. Imagine never tasting the glory that is a Netty's famous chili dog or a mother's homecooked dinner. It is a bit overwhelming to see the condition some of these kids are in with hydrocephalus or cerebral palsy; but it is balanced with the hopeful and strong wills of their guardians. It makes one appreciative of small things like tasting food, walking, having relationships/responsibility and having a "normal" life.
In other news, Liz had asked us to prep some answers for prayer tonight to her questions what does the gospel mean to you and how does it play out in your life via FrancisCorps's motto, "Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words." I'm off to discuss.

If God Wanted Man to Fly, He Would Have Given Him Wings.

The arrival back to Costa Rica was nice, considering we fled as a community to the NW part of Costa Rica (Guanacaste) for five days. The were some of the most beautiful beaches i have seen. It's no Edgewater Park, but it will have to do.

Brother Jim and Sister Ann arrived on the 10th of January to commence our re-orientation retreat. It was excellent to see them, and to have some time to reflect and look back on the of months down here. Each day on the retreat was a different aspect to review, but I found the reevaluating of goals to be the most influential; it was interesting to see our community goals in week 2 without knowing each other or the country we were going to live in. Some were lofty, while others we had and continue to make into reality. Many of the community goals would be seen in a family if family made goals...i.e. be forgiving, learn life experience from each other, humor and hugs, share thoughts and experiences but do not dump them on each other. We also bolstered our individual goals. My goals for the remaining part of the year are as follows:
- read 17 books by August 1st
- keep journal and blog updated
- speak Spanish with reckless abandon. enjoy learning sign language
- do not generalize...look at the individual
- keep in contact with friends and family
- win respect/trust of children I work with
- bench press 300lbs by August 1st
- run 10 miles in 90 minutes
- use balance in all things
- initiate retreats
- create website for my ministry site
- enjoy free time; I won't have it next year
- emulate Christ in every opportunity
Feel free to challenge me by asking the progress of these goals; that's why they're public.
In other news, yesterday the community, Brother Jim and I went canopy touring flying several hundred feet in the air across 300 meters of cable. It was awesome! Hence the title of this blog entry. With this said, there was a good quote said on retreat that can be applied to not only canopy tours but life as well.
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Back In The USS...Costa Rica

Christmas break was a most enjoyable time! I was greeted lovingly by my family, had an excellent first weekend filled with Angelo's Pizza, reunions with family and capped it off Sunday with an excellent Rockette's Christmas show to put us all in the mood. Later that evening, Moore made the trip up and Marty was in town, so we needless to say had some excellent man talk coupled with glasses of whiskey. It was frigid as I walked off of the plane in Newark; but now the reciprocal is true; 80 degrees and sunny. I suppose all things have there contra positive.
Break lasted two weeks; but I seldom was bored. Everyday was an opportunity to meet with friends and family to find out what they were up to and to share the experience I have had down here. On the eve of Christmas Eve Scott and I sat courtside of the Cavs vs. Rockets game...it was unreal. Yao Ming is the largest human I have ever seen. It truly is a different game when you're down there.
Christmas Eve at Grandma Smith's was heavenly as per usual. Christmas day was a treat to just hang out with my brother, sister, mother and father. Seldom, is it just the five of us, but it was an excellent dinner and cut of meat and a great memory I will have for the rest of my life.
After New Year's Eve, Erin and I went up to the Wilderness Lodge in PA to sit fireside and go cross-country skiing. Although I prefer downhill skiing, the atmosphere of the lodge makes up for the work one needs to do during cross country skiing. Friday, Nate and Angela met Erin and I there for an enjoyable Friday afternoon. It was awesome to get out in the country with some close friends. That evening, Marty treated Scott and I to a send off steak...stellar conversation and laughs. As evidenced by the above statements, my break could not have been better. I look forward to getting back into a regiment down here and hopefully giving some solid blogs! Thanks to all who made the break one for the books.

"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate."
-Henry David Thoreau