It's real now!

...sitting in the San Fran airport, waiting for my flight to Tokyo...surrounded by a fog - which is exactly how I'm feeling right now after waking up at 4:00AM to get the airport...

I got to the airport at the same time as the US Ski team and it was borderline insanity. I'll be the first to admit that I would be cranky if I had to work at 4:30 AM, but panic set in when the ticket agent said "I don't think you can check 3 bags". She didn't seem to care that my 3rd piece of luggage was a trunk full of backpacks and supplies for PDK and needy children...

What are you feeling insensitive or blind to today? Will you come across as insenstive the next time you encounter someone who speaks words about orphans, needy children or those less fortunate?

...the next time I post, I will be on the other side of the world! My daughter gave me a great suggestion - alternate writing with a video blog - great idea. While I'm on the subject of Mara, I am attaching a picture of the 2 of us taken on my last eve in Reno. I had the good fortune of helping Mara/Aron pick out and decorate their first Xmas tree as a married couple. More memories to cherish...

Wish List

When was the last time you wrote a "wish list"? as a child for Christmas? as a single for your perfect partner... for your job or house hunting?

We make our grocery (Costco) lists to include things like band-aids, batteries, vitamins...office supply lists to include things like sharpies, file folder hangers…

I thought about the irony of these lists we create when I read over the "wish and needs list" for PDK - the organization I'll be volunteering with. They wish for things we put on our weekly grocery list. Things we pick up as we're standing in the check-out line and grab while the rest of the items we had on our list get scanned. Things our kids grab as a treat for getting stickers from a good week at school or as a way to spend their "allowance".

Then I thought about the way God provides for us - often in subtle ways. When I first read over the list, I wondered how I would fill this list - in the same way I wondered what I should fill my extra suitcase with. Of course, it took very little effort on my part. People in my small group brought items on the list; people I serve with at church brought items on the list; people on staff at my church who work with kids brought items on my list. God orchestrated the collecting of items on this list in the same way he's orchestrated everything else in preparation for my trip - as if he's sitting in his office chair - checking off the items on his list...

Here's to humidity, bugs, mud and dirty feet

I knew I wanted to go overseas again, but I didn’t know where. I had to be willing to be redirected. I thought that Ecuador was the place for me but - I’m heading back to the Philippines!

The decision-making process started last March. After researching, discussing, praying, and list making, my decision to volunteer with Project Destiny (PDK) was affirmed the beginning of July. PDK was started in 2003 out of a need to reach and minister to street kids. Butuan City children-in-crisis include child laborers, children caught up in trafficking, street children, and severely neglected slum children. This is the most vulnerable people group in the world because these children have no rights, no protection, are the most susceptible to abuse and disease, and they are the easiest to exploit.

I was reading a story about a missionary training the other day and the speaker asked the group a question, “who wants to go to change the lives of the people there?” Everyone in the room raised their hand with much enthusiasm. The speaker then went on to tell them that if that was their motive, they shouldn’t go. They should go because they love God. I have been pondering this since I read it, perhaps because I was a bit overzealous about my upcoming adventure.

I love God and He loves me…and that is enough. I am His and He is mine, wherever I go and whatever I do. And it is out of that purpose that ministry flows.