Bags are packed and all of them are picked up. The "Russia room" indicated by the large Russian flag hung over it, is eerily quiet. Neat piles of cardboard, plastic, paper, and aluminum are on the floor. (Even in this, we recycle!) A few items that did not make the final list are lined up on a table, ready for the next trip to leave.
Families are even now, scurrying in and out of stores buying up the last of the travel shampoo and deodorants. Last week, there was a run on the Typhoid medicines at some of the local pharmacies!
Now, it's time to pack and say goodbye. The goodbyes are not permanent unless God has something planned that is not on the itinerary, but the goodbyes are painful none-the-less. Missing your spouse, children, parents and friends is inevitable - although somewhat short lived. This kind of trip leaves only the flights as empty time. We'll leave for the camps at 7am and return around 9pm. Long days and thankfully exhaustingly restful nights.
But, there is also a "good" goodbye. This is the one you say to your old self. The self that lives for only purpose - the betterment of you. This self we can say goodbye to. Working with orphans and sharing God's love will change you. No, it will transform you. It does not matter whether you want to be changed or whether you think you need to be changed (we all need to be changed!) God has a way of entering one's life and transforming it on a viral level - and that's my prayer for the entire team. That God will miraculously and powerfully alter us. That He will change our spiritual DNA. That we will say goodbye to our loved ones and to ourselves and return ... changed. That God will rewrite our priorities for us and write them upon our souls. That we will bear scars of the transformation and will be loud with our exhortation of His Grace.
God - change us all to be more like you and less like ourselves.
Next stop - Russia!
2 comments:
fbc russia group 2008.
today you are on your way.
but our prayers have already gotten there ahead of you. we'll be thinking of you all week. we wish we were there.
colleen and eugene
Just found out about your trip to Russia from Anne W. Surely it will be a wonderful experience for your group. For those who have not traveled with David before -- buckle up and hang on to the "oh-my-gosh" handle and enjoy the fun AND hard work! He's a little crazy but he really does know what he is doing, how it fits in the Father's plans, and usually knows what he's talking about if the topic is Military History, so learn from him, but keep him humble!
Know that faithful people like Colleen and Eugene are praying for you back home to keep you healthy and safe from enemy attacks. Perhaps because they prepared so much for this trip they have had to miss, they will be the best people you could have to be your prayer support. They know the needs, the schedules, the people on the team --- what assets they will be for all of you!
David: try not to get homesick at the sight of every dirty, banged up Lada you see, and don't scare the newbies with your worst tales of Life in a Former Soviet Republic! [{:-O Your Old Quartermaster]
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