Missions Trip Prep
As I plan our Trinidad team meetings for the next couple of months, I'm looking for some ideas. I have some thoughts & plans, but I'm interested to know what others have done or would think of doing as part of preparation/team-building for a short-term missions experience. Your thoughts?
six week summary
Ok...over a month since my last post. December was ka-razy. I'm pretty sure I didn't reply to a single email for several weeks. Lots has happened, so the following is a very abbreviated summary of the last 6 weeks.
1. Grandad - losing Grandad was one of the hardest things I've experienced in my life so far. But despite the immeasurable sense of loss, there has been so much to be thankful for in the midst of it all. I am so thankful that I had such a special relationship with him all along that provides me with countless memories. I'm thankful that his suffering was relatively brief. I'm thankful for the incredible outpouring of love and support from so many people. I had absolutely no idea until these last weeks how much a card or a few spoken words of care mean in such times. I'm thankful for many meaningful visits with him in the final weeks. Most of all, I'm thankful for the experience of praying with him--a man who previously had no interest in anything spiritual, but then clinging tightly to a new faith in God. It has been very difficult, but we're doing well.
2. Echo Publications - I've started a small business! The keyword is small, but I'm excited nonetheless. Brochures, newsletters, trip journals...and much more. Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on my first big job, as well as working at establishing a portfolio. Hopefully I'll have a functional website soon.
3. Christmas 2005 - It sounds terrible, but I've been almost dreading Christmas since last January. Having lost Carter, we knew it was going to be very hard to have our first Christmas without her. Then, losing Grandad, it was tempting to just skip the whole deal. But we did a low-key Christmas, and it was good. Paulette & Stacy joined us for Christmas dinner, and having them was great. We played games, and went to see Fun with Dick & Jane at the theatre (I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5).
4. Logos5 - The day after Boxing Day we loaded a bus with 37 teens and 7 leaders and drove through the night to Boston, MA, for the Northeast Wesleyan Youth convention. What an incredible experience. It was such a privilege to get to know so many teens on new levels. I have a much clearer sense of where some of my girls are at; their challenges & strengths, insecurities & passions. Incredible. I've been to more rallies and conferences than I can remember, but this one far surpassed them all. There are always areas that can use more polish, but the theme was "Do the Word" and they nailed it. It was clear, foundational, relevant, and practical. I am challenged personally, and this week I will explore what goals and strategies I need to put in place to grow in the months ahead. We had piles of fun throughout the week and stayed to ring in the new year with Boston's First Night fireworks. I will never forget trying to herd 37 teens through downtown Boston among large crowds as we searched frantically for restaurant that was open New Year's Eve, could seat nearly 50 people and wouldn't break the budget. After the fireworks, we loaded onto the bus, and traveled through the night to arrive home yesterday afternoon.
So that covers to date. Still very tired and need to recoup, but back at work today full tilt. There is so much to do, it could be overwhelming, but I'm choosing to not let it be.
Hopefully I'll have some pics to post soon.
