So excited. SO, SO, SO excited.
And then, I woke up one morning, and my first thought was just "yes, send me, I'll go!" I had that thought, felt good about it, and then back came all the doubts and reasons why I shouldn't.
Is this the right timing? Am I the best person to go? What about other plans? There are other people, with more experience, they would do better than I would! It's so much work! It's such a long trip! There's so many unknowns. It's hard. Blah, blah, blah.
I let all those questions and doubts come in and leave me restless for a couple of weeks....all while praying for clarity about my decision, and for God's will to be done. And then one morning, listening to a song on the radio (that's when I do my thinking...and sometimes my crying) I knew, yes, send me. I'll go!
God has His hands on all of the children we will meet, on our plans, and His guidance on our work and our group. This work has brought me to have a love for these children, and a desire to help! And really, it's not about me. It's about serving Him, and being his hands and feet. It's about hope for these children and families. It's about helping form a network of support systems to allow people to raise their children, who are ALL fearfully, and wonderfully made!
I would have laughed in your face if you would have told me 10 years ago, I would be about to travel on my second mission trip to Eastern Europe. Laughed! (I use the 10 year mark, because while I am traveling, we will have my 10 year high school reunion, how did that happen?!?! Gotta love those Alma Airedales!) Not that I wouldn't have thought then that it was good work...cause I would have, but I would have thought that other people go and do that stuff. Not me. Those other people!
I feel Him softening my heart all the time. I know this because I pray that it's softened, and because I can burst into tears at any given moment. Letting yourself experience need and hurt and pain is hard and uncomfortable.
And the way the trip works is "we go to help" but really, we are the ones who are helped. Funny how that works out.
And the way the trip works is "we go to help" but really, we are the ones who are helped. Funny how that works out.
On another funny note, when I told my partner in crime, Carmen out of the blue one day at work awhile back that I was in for traveling again this year.....she cried, in a happy way. And then we hugged, and I laughed because she was crying, and then I cried a little too (notice the crying pattern). Last year while in Ukraine, Carmen and I said so many times how we wanted to work in the orphanage and really show them what we do. We will be going the week before the group to assess the kids, set up a speech schedule, and do what we do, all day for 5 days! A special prayer request is that during our time of working in the orphanage that we are able to form good relationships with the staff, show improvement with all of the sweet kids we get to work with, take the right materials, and most importantly share our faith and Jesus' love while we work.
Join us in praying over our trip. Praying that lives are changed, people are touched, children are loved, and our work helps raise the status of all the children we meet.
PS Every day (well, when I can...is more like it) I am practicing Russian Rosetta Stone, so far my favorite word is "Yablakah" which means apple. I don't know why, I just like it. :) www.teamworksukraine.com
PS Every day (well, when I can...is more like it) I am practicing Russian Rosetta Stone, so far my favorite word is "Yablakah" which means apple. I don't know why, I just like it. :) www.teamworksukraine.com
