Happy Five Minute Friday! I’m baaaack after a few weeks’ hiatus due to mission tripping.

This week’s word is highly appropriate, and not just because it’s Easter-themed:

This is probably going to be longer than 5, but I’m going to try.

This was my 4th trip to Cozumel, Mexico on a mission trip with my school. We go spend time at a children’s home on the island– it’s primarily a relational trip, doing ESL/VBS classes in the day and having fun activities with the kids at night. I sponsor one of the kids at the home (Wendy-pictured below), so this place and the kids there mean a lot to me.

This trip has taken me a bit longer to process than in trips’ past, (and I’ll probably write more in-depth about it this weekend), but there’s one thing as I’m reading my journals and thinking about the trip that just keeps repeating in my head:

I come alive when I’m in Mexico. 

While I know a good portion of it happens to do with the team I’m with (my team this year was amazing), and the fact that I’ve built relationships with the kids at the home over the past four years, I am just a different person when I step into Mexico.

I’m happier. I feel more like myself. I feel like I’m in my element (which is funny since I do not speak a lick of spanish other than the words I’ve picked up over the past few years).

It’s like I can finally exhale. A part of my soul just comes to life when the plane steps down. 

A part of me that doesn’t come alive at home just awakens when I’m there.

I’m a better, more alive version of myself when I’m there. It’s home– and where my heart truly belongs.

And I long to be back there– and in that state of mind– oh so badly.

END.

I actually did make it in 5 minutes– I have a lot more I could say, but I’m already crying just at this much so I’ll hold off. And I’ll save it for a more trip-extensive post– for a post with some pictures from the trip, go here!