Steve flew out this morning at 2:45 a.m. Bonnie, Grant, Jessica and Sharon leave tonight for the Bay Area. Joyce will enjoy a couple more days in Ethiopia before heading home. The other seven members of the team will remain in Ethiopia for a couple of days before heading to South Africa and Botswana for a vacation. But even without Steve, the team took this last time together to affirm each other, reflect and enjoy dinner with the John and Ann Wheeler-Waddell , the MPPC missionaries in Ethiopia.

As we spent time debriefing and affirming each other, we laughed long and hard. We also cried some. And then we said our sad goodbyes.

I marvel at how God creates fellowships among the most unsuspecting groups of people. This unlikely collection of individuals, with all their incredible differences, became a true family during this trip – caring for each other when one was sick, or when someone was emotionally spent. As we grew closer together, we began sharing honestly and authentically about how God was stirring inside of us as a result of our work with students and our short time with HIV/AIDS patients. We praised God, but we also questioned Him.

Over the coming weeks, we commit to spending some time together and working through our thoughts and feelings. We commit to finding a way that we can make others in the MPPC family and beyond, a part of what this little family experienced in Ethiopia. As we do, we continue to covet your prayers.