First-timer

"You're going to love it."
"This is my third time going on this trip because I like it so much."
- quotes from team members to the three newbies during our first team meeting earlier this year

Never were truer words spoken.  My wife and I are first-timers with this close-knit Macedonia trip team, but the more time we spend with the group, the more we feel connection through great conversation, shared goals and most of all, having fun.  Now that we're here in Skopje, I agree with the statements above - we're having a wonderful time.

Traveling eastbound across the Atlantic is never easy, but having a 9-hour layover between Rome and Skopje was a killer.  Hardly any restful sleep on the way over, but then we didn't get to sleep until 0200 local time last night and woke up early to get over to the orphanage to see the kids.  None of that mattered, though, because as soon as our van pulled up in front of the building, three of the kids, who had been eagerly anticipating our arrival, began to jump around near the door waiting for our group to get out.  They hugged a few of our team as if it had been a lifetime since last seeing them, which included two kids at once latching onto Todd and not letting him go for several minutes.  To see this level of unadulterated joy from children and to know it's absolutely 100% genuine is a thing of beauty.  I can't think of a better way to start a day's activities than to witness something like that.

Kids came pouring out of the facility as soon as they knew we were here.  Out came the basketballs and soccer balls, and I was involved in a soccer passing practice with a boy named Marco almost immediately.  Not much time passed before I was pulled into various basketball games - sometimes 1v1, others 2v2.  I even got to play with Hotel Fox as a teammate!

We ate some kebabs (of unknown origin) for lunch and quickly got involved in more sports, including a 5v5 soccer game on concrete.  My body is completely unaccustomed to soccer at this point in my life, and my hip flexor and groin are paying the price tonight.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow regardless, since by midday I was receiving hugs and pats on the back from these children I just met.

Tonight, one of the kids celebrated his high school graduation to which we were graciously invited and hosted by his mother and brother in their tiny, studio apartment which required us to sit on their beds so we all could fit.  What an honor and pleasure - I was humbled by the invitation and the spread of food and drink provided for us despite their meager home and less-than-desirable circumstances.

So far, it's easy to see why this is a special trip and group of people, both on the giving and receiving end.  What a pleasure to be serving others with this team in Macedonia.