Okay, so now we are two weeks away from our Parent Vision Trip (PVT) adventure. We’ve found/bought the clothing we will be bringing and bought the things Emma requested and all the miscellany we will want to bring. We’ve arranged to borrow a sister’s camera since Emma took ours. Homemade cookies are baked and in our neighbor’s freezer ready and waiting. Our son is providing our transportation to and from the airport; he’s arranging his work schedule. This week we’ll be spraying our clothing with some special mosquito repellent in a hope to augment our use of bug spray to avoid malaria and other diseases. We’ve arranged international calling for one of our phones; in case of emergency at home or if work concerns follow us even to India! We’re making our touring plans….seems like everything is done, right?
Now, we’re finding the questions are coming. How will we survive the loooonnnng airplane ride? Will we find we forgot something important? How will we do with the food, the bathrooms? Where will we be going? (for the PVT!!- hahaha!) Where will we be staying? Will we be staying as a couple or by gender with others in the group? What will we be doing? Will we be able to do it? Will our daughter be the same or dramatically changed? Will our relationship be the same or will she have gone somewhere we cannot understand? Will she be healthy, happy? Will her hair be cut? Will she have lost or gained weight? Will she be happy with her decision to invite us on the PVT? (yes, we had to be invited!-just a note…if we weren’t invited it would be due to where Emma was on her individual journey and not a reflection of our relationship with her) Will we embarrass her? (of course we will as that is a parent’s job, right?!) These are the easy questions….
Now, for the harder questions…. Will we find we aren’t who we thought we were? Will Emma be happy she invited us, after we get there? How will we handle potentially desperate circumstances that we may see? Will we have difficulties empathizing, sharing, helping or serving? What individual “issues” will arise? Will we be “enough”? Will we discover glaring holes in our faith? Will we be “up” for the challenges? We’ve already discussed that we are not evangelists. But we haven’t discussed that we’re more traditionalists; we have been going to a contemporary service at our church, that’s a step, right? We’re not the ones raising our hands in church during prayer or song spontaneously. We have no issues with others doing so, but count us out. Who knows what India will bring, but we’re sure some changes will happen!
