Get away from it all

I was reminded of Psalm 84 while writing this blog. If I can give it another meaning, I would rather be in Panama for a thousand days than be a guest of a sinner for a day. For it is as if I have not been away. Like it was just last week that I was there.

A lot has changed, though. Many facilities have improved since my last visit, but the unconditional love is still the same. It's so common that the first thing I did when I arrived in Soná yesterday was to set up my room, take a shower and hop to church to greet God. Only then did I greet the rest of my loved ones.

Today, too, I greeted many acquaintances. It is really great to be here again. It feels really special to be loved so intensely by so many people. The love for loved ones is very much here. Although I don't know if I'm describing it well. But the culture that is here, I would also wish for in the Netherlands, where peace is sometimes lacking. So that's why I'd rather be here one day than a thousand days elsewhere. As we call it, heaven on earth.