right about now... funk soul brothers

look! it's me in kiev! :)
i'm fully immersed in the post-missions trip funk. the fact that i've been crazy sick hasn't helped.
despite how my previous post may have sounded, it was a great trip. granted, we had our challenges, but the trip was great. i'm hoping that i made some new friends - though i may have alienated some people w/my previous post... i guess we'll see how that works out. God worked in incredible ways.
i have tons of pictures to post, but that won't happen for a little while yet. i still have so much work to catch up on, and being sick has just put me further behind. i was supposed to go to Nashville this weekend for a youth workers convention, but there's no way that's happening now. i'm kinda bummed, but also kinda glad that i'm able to stay here and get back into some routine.
it's going to take a lot of time to process this trip. i think my perspective is quite different than other people's. but that's nothing new i guess. people tell me sometimes that i'm too honest. to willing to share bad things or negative things. and i sometimes wonder if they're right.
but the truth is... i don't see struggles and challenges as negatives. maybe that's the problem. in my head, it's just part of reality. and if no one ever says anything, the "negatives" are still there, so what's the point in hiding them? is it so surprising to think that a group of 14 people, when dealing with a foreign culture, foreign language, unpredictability, changing schedules, and sickness would have relational challenges? i'd be more surprised if they didn't. honest observations aren't judgements. truth is truth. the only positive or negative is in your perception of truth.
but like i said... i think my perspective is quite different than other people's.
overall, i'm so glad i was part of this team. if i hadn't gone on this trip, i would have missed out on a lot. i've never seen such undeniable evidence of God's sovreignty and provision. over time, i know the lessons i've learned will grow my faith, my perseverance, my spiritual and emotional maturity. all of which need work.