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Hey again everyone,
It's been a busy week back in Anchorage, trying to get things sorted and arranged and caught up and
all that. And just trying to find my feet under me. Seems like everyone keeps asking me if it's good to be back. Hmm. Good question. Yes. No. Kind of. Maybe. Definitely maybe. Orrrr, maybe not so much. Not yet, anyway. Still feels strange. There have been good things, to be sure, like seeing lots of familiar faces, and the beauty of Alaska in the summer, and getting to ride my bike again, and more. It's just going to take some time for it to feel like home again. So, I'm trying to be patient (not one of my strengths) and let it happen in time.
When I sent my last letter from Guatemala in June, I was preparing to make my way to Costa Rica, from where I would return to the States. One of the founders of the orphanage in Peru (Pastor Dennis Smith), who lives in Costa Rica, made arrangements for me to visit various ministries throughout Central America on my way south. This allowed me to experience a little bit of each place from the perspective of the locals, instead of as a tourist, which gave me a better sense for each place. My first stop was in San Salvador, El Salvador, at the home of some good friends of Pastor Dennis. They were excited to share their culture with me, and show me their country. From there I went to another place in El Salvador, where I visited an amazing ministry working with sexually-abused girls. Next I went to Tegucigalpa, Honduras where I stayed with the pastor of a church that has a school and feeding program in an especially poor and dangerous part of the city. After that was Managua, Nicaragua, where I spent nearly a week at another orphanage, before heading on to Costa Rica. My first stop upon returning to the States was Denver, for a family reunion to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary. I got to spend a few extra weeks in Colorado after the reunion, during which time I got to do an overnight canoe trip with my brother and his church, went on several 4-wheel drive trips into the mountains with my dad, spent a few days at our cabin with my dad, and even did a quick road trip through Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.
So, now I'm back in Alaska, trying to readjust to life and figure out my place here all over again and catch up with lots of friends. It's been exciting to watch God continue to provide just what I need, at just the right time, including a place to live and employment. I'll be house-sitting for 9 months for some snowbirds who need someone to watch their house for the winter. Perfect! And it looks like I'll be going on staff with a local ministry working with teens in a position that seems just about tailor-made for my experience and passion. Perfect! I'll be sending out something more formal in regards to that in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
Twenty-one months ago I left Alaska for what I thought was going to be a few months in Peru working with Jed & Jamie. WOW!, did I ever underestimate what God was going to do! It has been such an exciting and crazy ride from the beginning, and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be in the middle of it. I'm also so grateful to each of you for being a part of it with me, and for all of your encouragement, prayers, packages, cards, visits, emails, financial support, and every other way you have supported me along the way. Thank you.
!Que Dios les bendiga!
Greg
P.S. I do have all my pictures from Guatemala posted to my photo site, as well as most of my pictures from my time in Colorado. The address is: www.picasaweb.google.com/biermag
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