Happy New Year, 2023!

I write this new year’s post from my parent’s home in Southern California, on my first visit home since I left for missionary service in February 2022. The first part of my trip was filled with celebrations of Christmas, with my family and then with friends - exchanging gifts, catching up, celebrating the growth of kids, celebrating the milestones of the past year.

The second part of the trip was spent getting ready for the next year: running errands, purchasing supplies that are hard to find or too expensive in Europe, getting my COVID booster shot and my flu shot, and meeting with my home church community, Claremont United Methodist Church. I served as liturgist in their Epiphany Sunday worship and then introduced my mission work at La Siesta Evangelical Church to the community. It was lovely to see old friends and greet church leaders who are so interested in the mission of the church throughout the world.

Today, I head back to Spain after a peaceful and relaxing holiday. I am grateful for the time away and now I look forward to returning home to my Po and my work. God bless us all this new year!