So we are back in Georgia for some final training before we head out in a few days and as I write this we are in some big old yellow school bus that’s too old for any other use than heading from the mission center in Gainsville (where we went through intensive film training for the last 4 days) into downtown Atlanta for the final launch preparation. So if you see us, wave, you can’t miss us, bags are piled up high in the back seats, and we may look like we haven’t showered in the last few days 🙂 I’m finally actually getting excited about what lies ahead for Sara and I; let me tell you my story.
We arrived here on Tuesday of this week and the days leading up to coming here, (or more like the weeks, were so super busy for me personally I felt like I lost perspective and focus on life and the upcoming trip. I like to travel as many of you know, so no problem there. Check. I consider myself a realist (and no, I’m not a pessimist J ) and in the months and even more so in the weeks leading up to departure, the reality of what we were about to embark on and all the un-pleasantries we are about to face, started to settle down upon me I started actually dreading the day that I would leave the comforts of my lovely parent’s home and head out into the big wild world. See, I’ve done this before and I know at least a little about what to expect, it’s not all roses let me tell you, there’s going to be thorns, some places more than others. Hot, humid, stinky, tons of people, food that makes you sit in small rooms for extended periods of time getting rid of it, late nights, tiredness, no control of your schedule, sweating and going crazy while trying to sleep, bites, more bites, bugs, separation from friends and family, big business stuff happening without me (like buying a property and moving into it), doing things you are not good at, failing at things you try, getting along with cranky team members, and the list goes on….and on….. See how dreary my outlook on life and the expedition had become? It’s amazing I was still even smiling or pleasant around you guys 🙂 wait, you said I wasn’t? 🙁
So, in the last few days, I finally took it to God and he gave me a new perspective! Yes, I’m saying it with you, THANK GOD! The short of it is that yes, there will be trials and troubles and parasites and mosquitoes, and food I don’t like and sleepless nights in sheer heat, and I may die of sleeping in a hot overcrowded bus, my team mates will bug the tar right out of me, BUT, in the middle of all that, it will be an amazing time of drawing close to God for me personally. Hard times make me and God closer than easy cushy times do, and in the midst of all the trouble and physically hard times, people will be encountering God and I will get to be a part of God’s kingdom invading earth and taking back people and territory that belongs to God! Orphans shown a real love, fresh life brought to tired or worn out missionaries, friendships made with countless peoples everywhere across the world, places seen and experienced people only dream of going to, people being healed, lives being changed, truth being spoken, slaves freed, and who knows what else, maybe even bungee jumping?! Now that is exciting! I know God has amazing things in store for the world and our team and my life. God, I’m in. Let’s do this! And yes, I’m excited, because you are going to be there right with me in the middle of it all. You and me and all of us, we got this because God is with us!
So maybe I am a realist (Sara and I are in a continued discussion on the accurateness of this title in describing me) but in my real and raw outlook, I forgot to see all the amazing stuff in store for me this year. So here’s the realist scoop, it’s going to be incredible, and hard, but life changing in the most real way if I allow it to and get out of it what God has for me. Warning; you may not know me when I get back. Final warning; I may not even know myself 🙂
Update; The countries are planned as follows and in the subsequent order; Guatemala, Nicaragua, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Swaziland, Botswana, Ukraine, & Albania. Should be a lifetime of culture experiences in one year.
!
