Sooo... yesterday we had our second to last missions meeting. Sad day? I'd say bittersweet. I try not to procrastinate on homework, but yesterday I still had so much to do! It was like projects threw-up on my life. The classic life of a high school student. Whatever.
Back to the meeting. Confession: this was the first meeting that I had actually looked forward to. Normally the night before I'm dreading Sunday so much that I just want it to be Monday. Which is stupid. Everybody knows that Mondays are no good. We talked about packing and what to bring. I guess the trick is to pack three times. Pack three weeks before the trip. A week later unpack and take out everything you won't need, then pack again. Wait a week. Repeat. Good suggestion. My friend Bailey and I are planning on packing together - taking two suitcases of course. We figure that if one of our suitcases falls off the face of the earth, we'll at least have half of our clothes in the other bag. Travel smart, people.
We were sitting meeting and it was suggested that we take a group prayer time. Popcorn prayer, if you will. I was sitting there listening and praying when someone brought up them. Prayed for them. Asked for their hearts to be open. For them to be willing to speak with us. For their minds to understand what Jesus is all about. And it hit me. I never thought about praying for those we were going to serve.
How did I miss that???
I guess I was so caught up in the "ohmygoodness-I'm-going-to-another-country" that I forgot what I was going to another country for. I am so excited to "see the world." Traveling is in my veins! But meeting and seeing and being with the people in that world is what's most important.
Right now I'm most worried about being distracted by the, um, unsanitary conditions that these people might be living in and not being able to see past that. People are people are people. We all need love, we all need security, and we all need God.
1 Peter 4:7-11 says, "The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another, without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen!"
I love watching you grow so much through our preparation time. I can only imagine what God will reveal on the trip. You hit it perfectly: it is about the people we will meet. For some of them our opportunity to share the life Jesus offers might mean the difference between eternity in heaven or hell.
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