That's right, I'm actually packing prior to the day I leave for a trip. Pretty amazing stuff if you ask me, or my mother, who has put up with her share of "but where is the travel-sized shampoo?" the night before we left on a trip.
There are pretty strict weight limits on what we can bring down, so I'm praying that our Wii Fit scale is fairly accurate. And as I pack my skirts and mountains of old t-shirts (which I apparently have unparalleled skill at accumulating...a 'how-to obtain way more t-shirts than you'll ever need' post to come in the future), I'm thinking about how little we actually need in this world. I had one student that's coming on the trip tell her mom that she needed to go buy new sports bras - 2 per day - for the trip. Her mom came to me with her final payment and admitted she took some money to reimburse herself for all the bras. Now, I get that we'll sweat through at least a bra a day if not two. But new? In all different colors? Not so much. But to be fair, this girl has never gone on a mission trip to a third-world country. She's never seen women who wear the same bra, day in and day out for years. She's never seen kids that don't wear pants because there are no pants to be had for them. But she will. Next week, she will encounter all that and so much more. And I will not fault her for bringing all those sports bras, because I have a feeling that the experience will change her, and most of the clothes she brings will not be making it back to the States. Because she'll realize that she doesn't need 16 sports bras. And that it'll be much more fulfilling to come home with half-empty bags than to spend that much money on sports bras.
So I'm asking you to pray. Pray for these students, that they will not be overcome by the poverty, the hunger, the trash in the streets or the hopelessness. Pray that they will see God at work. Pray that God will work in them, that they would reflect His love, grace and care to the folks we will have the privilege of sharing our lives with next week.
We are praying for you and for your trip! I know that trip completely changed the way I viewed my role in God's world. Praying it will do the same for the kids that go. And that God will give you courage, energy, and strenght. I am glad for you that you get to see Shannon, I know you've missed her and I'm sure she's missed you. Love you friend!
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