25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:25-26
This story never quite hit so hard as it did while packing for the World Race. A frequently asked question about this trip is how do you pack for an 11 month trip, to 11 different cultures, and to different climates? It’s rather simple, you CAN’T!
But God has called me to trip, and He told US not to worry.
Easier said than done though as I started the packing process. Initially I took over a spare bedroom at my parent’s house to gather potential World Race Items. I piled clothes all over the bed, gathered all the camping gear (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, tent poles, etc), organized medicine, and added potential “luxury” items. Luxury items is a loose term as it refers to hiking boots, playing cards, exercise bands, portable speaker, and bananagrams.
I quickly realized EVERYTHING can’t matter, you have to learn to say NO.
Instead of listing everything that made the cut to go on this trip, here are some notables that did NOT make the trip: 7th pair of underwear, 6th pair of socks, 5th shirt, 4th pair of pants, 3rd hat, 2nd pair of shorts, camping chair, exercise bands, and shaving cream just to name a few.
Below is a picture of everything that did MAKE the cut.
The blue long bag at the top is my tent, followed by my sleeping bag in the silver, then the green item is a winter coat that doubles as my pillow. The red cube is all my clothes minus my socks which are in the silver bag at the bottom left. The orange/white cylinder at the bottom middle is my sleeping pad.
Then I have my daypack which I will carry everyday to keep up with electronics.
This bag contains my laptop, camera, kindle, 3 journals, Bible, external hard drive, inflatable neck pillow, bananagrams, and charging cables.
Overall less is truly more in more ways than one. My large pack is astonishingly only 28 pounds!
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.Matthew 6: 33-34
Here I go, embarking on an 11 month mission trip with a 28 pound pack plus electronics! Fully knowing my heavenly Father has my back. I am going to seek Him first, advance His gospel, and trust in Him.
Be Bold in living out the Gospels.
Be Intentional in putting Him first in everything you.
Happy New Year!
Obedience in 2013 is why 2014 will be amazing! Only God can lead you from a solid career to an 11 month mission trip. Submit to Jesus’s calling and your 2014 will be mind blowing too! Be Bold Be Intentional!
