AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

3:06am Waking up on our last morning in Tenjo, happy that I didn’t miss the sunrise!

3:07am Glad that I am conscious – realize that I am really sick…

3:07½am Greatful for fast reflexes… run…

3:08 So glad there is an outside potty b/c we had no running water all day yesterday and I am guessing we still may not…

3:08½am Thankful that Pete taught me how to think like McGiver… b/c as the door slams shut I remember there is no inside door handle.

3:10am Grateful for a sense of wonder…. Wonder where my sense of humor went as the only other living creature in Tenjo awake is a fly… buzzing around my head…. as I try to figure out how to open the door. Try not to cry…

3:15am Realize I hear Claudia the kitchen – note to self…. I guess she really does get up at 3:00am - wonder if her music is too loud to hear me - in case I need to scream for help to get out of the bathroom…

3:30am – I am free!! Go to the kitchen to say good morning to Claudia. More than grateful for the meals she serves us as I see her sitting on a small stool, in front of a HUGE pile of potatoes…. Peeling each and everyone… with a smile on her face…. AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING…. Feel very humbled…

3:35 am – There is no place else in the world I would rather be at this moment than sitting on another small stool, peeling LOTS potatoes with Claudia… and bonding… even though she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish…

3:35 ½ am Remember again, the song….. “Love in every language, Straight from the heart… Pulls us all together… Never apart…"

3:45am Grateful I am fast… even in the wee hours of he morning… quickly run to the potty…

3:45 1/2am – So glad I didn’t break anything in the pitch dark…. as I realize there are actually 3 steps coming out of the kitchen instead of 2…. Try not to cry….

4:00 am – There is still no place I would rather be at this moment than sitting on a small stool, peeling potatoes…. Then mangos…. Then pineapples with Claudia… and bonding…

4:15am – Grateful I wake up peacefully most mornings as I hear the house moms… speaking VERY loudly in Spanish… telling the girls to get up for showers and school…

4:20am – Glad I know my manners as I politely say “No gracious” to the stern house mom as she offers me something to drink…

4:20 ½am Glad I am not stupid… realize I don’t have a choice… as the stern house mom gets MORE stern, crosses her arms in front of her… and makes sure I know I do not have a choice but to drink whatever it is she is giving me in that huge mug to drink…

4:21am – Glad I had some practice drinking shots back in the day… downed a half mug of straight lime juice… as I see Claudia walk by me, smiling as she throws away an armful of juiced lime peels…. Thanks Claudia… I thought we were friends….!

4:22am – Realize it is always a good thing to be in good graces with the house moms – and with the chef!!!

4:30am – Grateful my tummy is feeling better… Wonder if it really was the ½ mug of fresh, straight lime juice that I downed in less than 3 seconds…

4:35 am…. There really is no place I would rather be at this moment than peeling potatoes, and mangos and pineapples with Claudia!!!

4:36 am Hear the rooster crowing… and see the beautiful sun rising… with Claudia…

On this – our last morning in Tenjo, happy to have woken up early….


THANK YOU LORD for TENJO, COLOMBIA –
Seriously… the absolute most beautiful, peaceful place in creation...
With the most beautiful, amazing people…


TRULY… HEAVEN ON EARTH -
Humbled and deeply grateful that we were blessed with 2 weeks here….