(Me, Parker Tall, Braden and Rissa at our goodbye dinner from the Catracho team in Honduras!)

April 28th at 2am we said goodbye to Catracho missions in Comayagua, Honduras. Before I knew it, we arrived at the San Pedro airport and landed in Miami, Florida. There, we said goodbye to Mercy who had to return home early needing to go quickly to her family. From Miami, we flew into Atlanta, Georgia and drove from there to the Adventures in Missions base in Gainesville, Georgia.

We had to said goodbye to Karen, too, who left early to be present with her family mourning the loss of her sister's baby. But being together in the Atlanta airport with Karen and Avery was a full circle moment to when we first arrived on August 29th, 2025.

(Avery, Me and Karen at the Atlanta airport together for the final time, April 28th.)

(Me, Avery and Karen on our way to training camp from the airport, August 29th.)

In the Miami Airport before arriving in Atlanta: Carter, Rissa and I struck up a conversation with a man sitting across from us while waiting for our flight.

"But I pray every night. For people around the world..." He has a big heart and beautiful passion for the starving and hungry people around the world. "...That makes me feel better."

"That's good. Really good." I said. "But praying...that's just not what it's all about."

His face contorted in incredulity at my response and his eyes were already a softened red. He looked at me intensely, almost in desperation as if he knew what I was going to say but needed to make sure he heard me correctly.

"It isn't? Then what is it all about?"

Pause.

I hadn't planned out what my response would be. But it just came out in one breath, "Love." That is what the Gospel is about. That is what Jesus is about. God is love. 1 John.

He heaved and sunk back in his chair heavily. He nodded profoundly, blinking away his incoming tears. He must have been thinking that if was I said was truth, then that really means...

As the conversation continued he made a different point.

"What you're doing is really good but it's good to learn other things. You know, and see what other people believe, like in all parts of the world. What you're doing is trying to make other believe what you do."

What a valid comment. But, I needed to tell him what we really are doing.

"No..." I replied softly. "We just want to talk about the one we love and the one who loves us. We can't change anyone's heart. Only the Lord can change someone's heart. I can't convince anyone and I'm not trying to. But I love to share my story and how the Lord changed my life!"

Again, he leaned in as I spoke and then he nodded greatly, as he tried to maintain normal breathing. His heart was in his throat. What we said made sense, but it was so different than everything he had ever heard before. But if what we said was so logical, clear and tender, then it has to be...

We could tell his soul was being fed as it never had been before. But his body, his unsteady form couldn't understand how to receive it.

"It's about being loved. You are loved." I told him after a moment.

He desperately chuckled. "I hope I am."

"You are. I know you are."

On another note, we made it to Georgia! Back at the AIM base, I feel as though time has been reversed and I'm walking in my own life 8 months ago. Also, the springtime freshness makes life here feel nothing less than perfectly comfortable. It's quiet too. That is a big shock from the constant music playing and animal noises in Honduras. My body is already catching up with my heart because of this change of pace. I am beginning to truly process, reminisce and dream.

(Jennifer, Me and Rissa at the Braves game.)

Today, April 30th, our squad went to the Braves baseball game. I spent practically the whole time with Rissa and a worker we met named Jennifer. She was an older woman, and in love with the Lord. To her, the Lord was Almighty and so very good to her.

"Be encouraged." She told us. We had shared about our mission and we shared our ages. Jennifer's face was shocked at our youth and she wisely bursted out with a southern accent saying, "You got a long ways, a looong way, I mean long, loong, looong, loong ways to go. Take yo' time. Really." She nodded at us knowingly. "Just take one day at a time." I take those words as though they werre from the Lord. Thank you Jesus.

Info! We leave for North Carolina disaster relief tomorrow, May 1st. We return back here at the AIM base in Gainesville on May 7th and will have debrief until May 13th. Then I fly home to New Hampshire on May 13th.

Thank you all for waiting for this blog and I can't wait to connect with you all soon!

Please pray for:

• The transition and processing to come in the final week or so fo the Race.

• My squad as we continue to press in and give the Lord all that we have.

• Guidance and wisdom for life after the Race is completed.

Please thank the Lord for:

• Safe travels all the way back to the US of A!

• Bringing our squad into every circumstance and opportunity to grow in the knowledge and love of Him.