"it's just a day in the life"

Hey All,

Well, I thought I'd give you a brief (but slightly detailed) look at a normal day for me. In reality, Kelly and I have days that look quite different from each other, but I thought I'd wax personal here and share mine with you. First, a look at a day without a team. Then a look at a day when a team is in town.

7:40 - usually get out of bed (by now the alarm has been "snoozed" about 3 times.)
7:45 - check email, blog comments, seattletimes.com, cnn.com, usually also either nytimes.com or msnbc.com or latimes.com or the chicago tribune.
8:00 - breakfast, with the Bible, which for me includes a yogurt, a bowl of Fitness (basically Wheaties) and a glass of milk with a protien powder added.
8:10 - shave and cold cold cold shower
8:30 - bug spray and dressed
8:50 - head to the office to check in
9-11:30 - if no errands to do for work, typically I work via email and phones at work to continue to coordinate details for upcoming teams and to help plan for various other events.
12 - lunch at home with Kelly and Manuela (our cook) - usually some form of rice, beans, meat, vegetable salad and fruit.
1:00 - nap or read and a shower
2:00 - back to the office or out to a village
5:00 - head on home
5:30 - shower
6:30 - light dinner (eggs or pasta or something)

From about 7pm on, our evenings are filled with debriefing with each other, friends stopping by to visit and play cards, reading, SKYPE'ing, emailing, laughing as much as possible, etc.

**The irregularities to the schedule is that every Wednesday morning is filled with all staff worship and prayer (usually about 2 hours). Thursday morning is set aside for meeting with Malou (spiritual director of the mission). As well, I was previously teaching an English class that took the whole of the afternoon on Mondays and Wednesdays (but my kids graduated last week!)

Now, the schedule when a team is here:

7:15 - get up
7:20 - check email, blog comments, seattletimes.com, cnn.com, usually also either nytimes.com or msnbc.com or latimes.com or the chicago tribune.
7:40 - breakfast, with the Bible, which for me includes a yogurt, a bowl of Fitness (basically Wheaties) and a glass of milk with a protien powder added.
7:45 - shave and cold cold cold shower
8:00 - bug spray and dressed
8:15 - out the door for whatever it is that the team is doing. Usually I accompany them out to help attend to and facillitate their trip. I only don't go if I have more pressing items at the office.
12:30 - lunch at the Mission House with the team, translators and drivers.
2:00 - Back out with the team or to the office.
Evening - get home as soon as possible which is usually sometime between 7 and 9.
Aftewards - debrief with Kel, play cards, read, laugh as much as possible, etc.

**In truth, when teams are here, I run at a much higher pace and much higher stress (something that you can pray for and that Kel and I working diligently on for developing strategies with this). It's fun because I end up with a lot more interaction with the people in our villages which is a tremendous blessing and I get to see the great work that teams do. It feels sometimes like I'm in warp speed but it's good to work hard you know?

Now, weekends.

Saturdays:
-shop for staples (read: junk food and prepared foods!)
-putz around the house
-read/rest
-straighten up a bit
-laugh as much as possible

Sundays:
-Church (2 weeks/month we go to a local church and 2 weeks/month we listen to the UPC podcast)
-Go get ice cream (Ice Cream Sunday's you know!)
-Go to the beach (every week. It is ESSENTIAL to our lives down here. There is a sort of transcendental peace that refreshes and prepares us for the week.)
-Rest in the evening.

In truth it is difficult to convey our schedule exactly. So, come down and experience it. The invitation is open to all of you! Come see us! Come see what God is doing!!

Cheers,
M