I've done more trips in past summers, but this summer seems to be harder. Perhaps because I'm old(er)? Also must have something to do with the fact that I've made more trips to Llano in the past 6 months than I have in probably 3 years. Those kind of miles sure do add years to the body. New Orleans was such a wonderful trip - enjoyed all those miles. This week, we faced a different trip - 650 miles to a funeral (roundtrip) - in one day. The 11 1/2 hour trip is still yelling at me.
So now I start packing for Camp Pine Springs - the high school camp our youth group is beginning. I haven't been to camp probably since I was 10. Sure hope the mission trip packing comes in handy! :) Not sure of "my" job there - but looking forward to finding out. I do know I'll be blogging - "on the job" - right up my alley...
Cassidy and Jeremy are out of town - Tyson's out of state - and Joel's at work. Should be working on something productive. Guess I'll go start that now. Packing.. here I come.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
New Orleans - Post Mission Thoughts - round 1
It's been over 36 hours since we left the Crescent City, and thoughts are still running though my head. From the conversations in the parking lot upon arrival last night, to church this morning and seeing friends at Summer Spectacular tonight - the question has been: "How was it?" And the answers have not been as easy. It was wonderful, it was painful. It was fun, it was hard. It was worth a million words, and it is impossible to put into those words.
What I've found myself repeating is how much we felt appreciated. Everywhere we went, people asked where we were from, and thanked us for coming to help revive the city. It did not matter where we were - from working in Chalmette, to eating in Metarie, everyone was genuinely grateful for any help that the outsiders were willing to give. Thinking back to three years ago - those are the same responses we got when our 8th graders were there mucking out the houses. This time, those kids are 11th graders and remember the houses in ruin, and the work that would contine for years. We were a unique group - who returned to continue to help.
Several homes were worked on, and several lives were affected - oh not only the local people, but ours too. It was another mission trip that will go into the memory banks, but this one has deeper roots in my heart. I don't think I would ever want to live in New Orleans, or the swamp area of Louisiana, but I do love the people we met there, who do love that city and that swampy land. Home is home to any group (and I'm very thankful to call Fort Worth my home) - and I'm grateful to live in a country that allows and encourages others to help those who need it.
Thanks Dave and Jason, and the leaders of RHCC for allowing me to be part of this trip - and to all the teens, who let an old person invade their trip - and their lives. It was a great week.
What I've found myself repeating is how much we felt appreciated. Everywhere we went, people asked where we were from, and thanked us for coming to help revive the city. It did not matter where we were - from working in Chalmette, to eating in Metarie, everyone was genuinely grateful for any help that the outsiders were willing to give. Thinking back to three years ago - those are the same responses we got when our 8th graders were there mucking out the houses. This time, those kids are 11th graders and remember the houses in ruin, and the work that would contine for years. We were a unique group - who returned to continue to help.
Several homes were worked on, and several lives were affected - oh not only the local people, but ours too. It was another mission trip that will go into the memory banks, but this one has deeper roots in my heart. I don't think I would ever want to live in New Orleans, or the swamp area of Louisiana, but I do love the people we met there, who do love that city and that swampy land. Home is home to any group (and I'm very thankful to call Fort Worth my home) - and I'm grateful to live in a country that allows and encourages others to help those who need it.
Thanks Dave and Jason, and the leaders of RHCC for allowing me to be part of this trip - and to all the teens, who let an old person invade their trip - and their lives. It was a great week.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Root canals... stink!
I have to stop and realize... we live in a wonderful country - with wonderful doctors and dentists - who can make bad things good. I keep saying that today, happy to have a knowledgeable dentist - but hurting like crazy! Maybe I should have listened to his office staff more - who kept asking.. "are you really having 2 root canals done at the same time?"
Yep.
So to live on tortilla soup and ice dream from Chick-fil-a today... throw the diet out the window!
:)
Tomorrow will be better, right? It has to be - I have too much to do to get ready for the New Orleans mission trip!
Yep.
So to live on tortilla soup and ice dream from Chick-fil-a today... throw the diet out the window!
:)
Tomorrow will be better, right? It has to be - I have too much to do to get ready for the New Orleans mission trip!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Missions on the Mind
We are 3 days out - 3 days from another mission extravaganza.... ...
My experience this summer will start in New Orleans. It's such a different feeling than I'm used to the first weekend in June. Normally, we head south - to Mexico - to tie rebar, mix and pour cement and help build a church. This year it's still about building a church - one of dry wall, windows and floors. But there's another church we go to build. One that has no tangible part - because it involves hearts and souls.
It will be an odd feeling in some ways, as we will be a smaller group, we'll have a third new leader in 3 years, and many faces I've come to know and love will not be with us. On the other hand, there will be opportunities that would not be available in another place. Excitement will build once we get on the road. It's just getting there, for there are still work days to complete, a tragic dental appointment to meet and one more painful yoga class to endure (hoping I'm able, after the dentist...).
There is also one great event to look forward to ~ dinner with the whole family. Friday night has become very precious to me - as the 6 of us gather to enjoy a meal and each other - somewhere neutral and fun. It's a time that also reminds me that we are still missing one member - one that always was so predictable that we still laugh about it. Daddy. His preference was to eat lunch at noon, and dinner at 5:00. With Tyson's schedule, we rarely eat before 7:00, and that would have distressed Daddy greatly.
But that's another post - maybe one day when I can find better words to express feelings. I think I'm dealing with those emotions most of the time: until I'm not dealing with them at all.
So now, it's missions on the mind. Talking to a mom tonight about her son, and his lack of respect for her showed me why I still enjoy going. Yes, we build - walls, ceilings, floors, and more - but we also build confidence, love and support in some of these teens. My prayer tonight will be that I can move that one teen closer to his mom, closer to a successful life, and ultimately, closer to his Savior.
My experience this summer will start in New Orleans. It's such a different feeling than I'm used to the first weekend in June. Normally, we head south - to Mexico - to tie rebar, mix and pour cement and help build a church. This year it's still about building a church - one of dry wall, windows and floors. But there's another church we go to build. One that has no tangible part - because it involves hearts and souls.
It will be an odd feeling in some ways, as we will be a smaller group, we'll have a third new leader in 3 years, and many faces I've come to know and love will not be with us. On the other hand, there will be opportunities that would not be available in another place. Excitement will build once we get on the road. It's just getting there, for there are still work days to complete, a tragic dental appointment to meet and one more painful yoga class to endure (hoping I'm able, after the dentist...).
There is also one great event to look forward to ~ dinner with the whole family. Friday night has become very precious to me - as the 6 of us gather to enjoy a meal and each other - somewhere neutral and fun. It's a time that also reminds me that we are still missing one member - one that always was so predictable that we still laugh about it. Daddy. His preference was to eat lunch at noon, and dinner at 5:00. With Tyson's schedule, we rarely eat before 7:00, and that would have distressed Daddy greatly.
But that's another post - maybe one day when I can find better words to express feelings. I think I'm dealing with those emotions most of the time: until I'm not dealing with them at all.
So now, it's missions on the mind. Talking to a mom tonight about her son, and his lack of respect for her showed me why I still enjoy going. Yes, we build - walls, ceilings, floors, and more - but we also build confidence, love and support in some of these teens. My prayer tonight will be that I can move that one teen closer to his mom, closer to a successful life, and ultimately, closer to his Savior.
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