Our Father in Heaven, you are in every place, having arrived before us. Wherever we go, you are already there. Heaven is your dwelling place, eternity your throne. We acknowledge that we are strangers here -- wherever "here" may be on this earth -- for we are in transit toward eternity. Keep us from accumlating possessions here that would keep us tied down and prevent us from reaching our destination. For, above all, we want to get where we're going, to your celestial abode. Because our Lord Jesus has preceded us there. Amen.

I spent most of the morning working on the March issue of the magazine. Went home early to spend some time with Micah. Helped him pack some. He has to catch a bus tonight to Belo Horizonte in order to catch the plan tomorrow there and come back to Sao Paulo for the international flight. Said they wouldn't let him just catch it here.

Ana Paula (Anibal's wife) came by the house for a few minutes to see Micah. Was very nice of her.

After he got on the bus, a young man in an obviously altered mental state wanted to board. There was a lot of discussion between him and his brother (?) and the driver and helper. They finally let him on, but I won't be sorry to hear that the three policemen on board have put him off down the road.

Anyway, we're back to four in the (in-house) family again.

Our car was quiet on the way home.

Dear Lord, you are in the swirling galaxies and in the smallest components of DNA. Your overarching plan takes in and accounts for every detail. Let me not lose sight of the larger picture, while still caring for each brush stroke that contributes to the whole. Let me give attention to every person, let no sin in my life go unchecked, let every word be purposeful, let every thought be tied to our Master and his mission. Amen.

After a strawberry almondshake Vicki left me at the office this morning and I continued my catch-up from the trip. I still need to send 30 hymnals to the church in Mococa. Sr. Nelio had emailed me a couple of weeks ago, and then called (11 p.m.!) a couple of nights ago.

I nearly finished my Cloudburst poem for tomorrow. Hope the remainder falls together.

Micah was doing some shopping and chores this morning, so Vicki called and asked if I wanted to eat lunch at home. Rice and beans! Along with zucchini and salad. My kind of eating.

We're talking about me taking the car in the mornings, going home for lunch, and leaving the car with Vicki in the afternoons. Being a one-car family is a challenge.

Leila had her flute class this afternoon, and swimming class this morning, so she's getting back in the routine. She likes her new teacher, since he calls her by her name instead of some cutsy term of endearment.

Since Micah is leaving tomorrow, we ate out tonight at the new burger place, Gordao. I had a light chicken sandwich, and it served me well. Plus apple juice.

I finally called Anibal's house to say we'd gotten back. I'd forgotten he's in Lorena teaching from Monday through Wednesday, but Vicki and I talked to Ana Paula for some 50 minutes. By that time it was after 11 p.m. and time to quit for the day.

God who dared imagine a world peopled with creatures of free will and initiative, let us be bold today to live by your holiness, grow in your grace, and discover new ways to proclaim the eternal truths of the gospel! May the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ motivate and move us to go courageously forward, opening new territories and discovering new souls for the Kingdom. Amen!