Venezuela day 1

What an interesting roller coaster of a day. Beautiful morning with wonderful hospitality and smiling faces. The travel to Venezuela was safe and uneventful but once we landed it was clear that things would be a little different.  People here are curious and polite but very purpose oriented as we came through customs.  Considering it is nearly 1am and I am just now getting to bed while battling back pain, needless to say I am exhausted both mentally and physically.  I am not sure what I expected the seminary to be like but my only point of reference was a small college in the US.  It looks nice and seems clean but the windows don't have screens, ants in my room, and things are very rudimentary - no frills is kind of an understatement. I'm kind of worried I will wake up with a lizard in my bed.  I chose a top bunk hoping to avoid as many critters as possible.  It is hard to imagine life without things we so easily take for granted- toilet paper, sewers that work and an abundance of clean water.
I realize that at times in our lives we need to be broken down, pushed to the edge and relinquish any sense of personal control to allow God to show us a new way, a new aspect of our relationship with Christ, and to teach us and remind us of the sovereignty of God.  As I feel a little broken today and well out of my comfort zone I am excited and curious to see what God has planned for me as an individual but also this group as a whole.  I am sure my life will never be the same after this experience but how it will be different, only God knows.  I pray that this week will be a blessing for me, our group, this school and this community.  We will just have to wait and see what daylight brings.....