Echoes

As the disappointed member of Team 1 who had to cancel at the last minute, I am delighted to post the first blog following tonight's surprise FaceTime conversation with Tim.

Other than one missing bag, Team 1 is in Manaus! According to Tim the heat is unbelievable. He is a polar bear so this will be interesting!  The group arrived by 12:30 and spent the afternoon downtown. They met Pastor Augusto and will enjoy gathering with folks from the church tomorrow evening. Or is it folks from the boat? Hmmm, I was so surprised  by technology I missed the detail.

The briefest glance at the hotel - via FaceTime of course - left an impression of sound more than picture. The echo in our conversation was persistent and stuck with me after saying goodnight. So in the spirit of noticing, I looked up the word echo: a reflection or a reverberation. Not a bad way to think about a band of United Methodists landing on the Amazon to serve our brothers and sisters who are already there, have been there all along.  Speaking for the teammates I've met, we all have so much. In that sense we aren't doing anything big, really. Except for what we're reflecting. That's the big deal - the echo.

So thank you to my team mates for extending yourselves on behalf of all of us that have so much, bringing generosity of care and resources to what amounts to a minute strand of water, a few winding miles in the midst of a vast creation.  In the long run will it matter? Absolutely. That's what reverb is all about. It's what persists after we do our thing and then get out of the way.

So go in love, bless and be blessed. Let the echoes fly!!