San Pedro Times, Pt. 6 - Back from the Desert

The last couple weeks in Mexico were a blur - soccer games, church services, camping trips, classes, late night hangouts. Overall it was a great way to end my time there. Our friend Candace came down to visit and we had some great times hanging out with our friends in San Pedro. We got to lead worship two nights at an evangelistic campaign, we had a late-night youth hangout at the church, and we got to go with all the youth to the plaza on a Sunday night to do dramas and worship.

The last week was a fun/sad time of finishing my time in San Pedro and saying goodbyes. I made it back to the prison to see my brothers there one last time, and Jacob, Candace, and I got to pray for each of them. Later in the week, some of the guys took me, Paul, and Candace out into the desert for farewell camping trip spent caving and climbing mountains. The Sunday before I left, I went for the last time to the church I had come to love. Marcela sang a blessing over me and invited everyone from the church to come up and their good byes. I was so blessed by the friendship that I found in that church.

Looking back on the summer as a whole, it was extremely different than the short-term trips I've taken in the past. Whereas short-term trips are typically a rush of activity and events, this summer was an experience of BEING - being immersed in Mexican culture and Spanish and beginning to feel at home in it (although there are definitely moments it feels very foreign); being in a church where for the first time I felt like I knew and loved every single person there; being a part of the Tolman family and being under the mentoring of Stephen and Marcela, seeing how in everything they do they look to advance the Kingdom. The experience was a blessing from God, and I look forward to telling you all more stories about the summer.

This fall I will be heading back to Stanford, living with several of my best friends and continuing to be involved in RUF. Then this winter I get to travel to Australia to study coral reefs and coastal ecosystems all up and down the eastern coast. I'm excited to be heading back and I look forward to seeing what opportunities God opens up through the year. Thank you for all your prayers and support through the summer. I will do my best to keep you updated on where God leads in the future through the website and e-mails.