Why travel for the Summer?

We’ve been away from home in Yakima, WA for 2.5 weeks now which makes this the longest time away for me from the US since my study-abroad in college almost 20 years ago.

It’s taken me a few weeks to get my bearings. And to slowly rid myself of the notion that my value is based on what I produce… We are a productive family in the US, 20+ patients per day for me at the clinic, Erin working with her med students and staff at PNWU, soccer, ballet, baseball, cello lessons, rental house repairs, yard work, etc, etc. Here, in Northern Peru, we get up, have a “continental Peruvian breakfast” generally bread and cheese and ham along with some fruit, some days go to an ancient ruin or hike to a waterfall, then figure out where we’ll have lunch. Tip the taxi driver. Breathe in the smell of eucalyptus trees growing outside the room we’re staying. Don’t get me wrong, there are hardships, such as a decent cup of coffee – most people drink instant Nescafe and the good south american coffee is exported…

Simon told me yesterday that he’s a little sad that this is longest time I’ll get to be off work and do things with him during the whole summer…

Eloise said that she enjoys traveling in order to see how others live.

George likes to try new foods be it Cuy (guinea pig) or soups with chicken feet in it…

Beatrice just wants some more Maracuya (passion fruit).

I am travelling this summer to gain a fresh perspective.  It’s easy to get in ruts in life wherever we are – whether it be mental, spiritual, or physical.  I enjoy the community in Yakima that I am apart of.  We have better friends than we have ever had.  I also want to be fully present with my family – my wife and kids and sometimes my attention gets crowded out by the business that is just part of life.  When I speak with taxi drivers who are supporting 4 kids on less than 30 dollars per day, or the university professor who works in Chachapoyas, a 12 hour bus ride away from his family, and only sees his family 3 times per year, it’s pretty tough for me to complain about how busy I am or how hard I work…

I’ve had the chance to read several books this trip, one that I am reading now is Love Does, by Bob Goff.  I’ll end by a quote in his book;

“God finds us in our failures and our successes, and He says that while we used to think one way about things, now He wants us to  think another way about those same things.  And for me, I’ve realized that I used to be afraid of failing at the things that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at the things that don’t matter.”

Aaron