Saturday, December 25, 2010

And we're leavin' on a jet plane...

It’s Christmas day and I’ve been busy doing all the typical things—spending time with family, opening presents, eating big meals, sleeping in a post-meal carb-induced coma, etc.—but even as I've been doing these things my mind has been halfway around the world. You see, on Monday morning (12/27) Michelle and I will leave for Southeast Asia. We'll meet our group in Evansville at 10:00 AM and about 40 hours later we'll arrive at our destination. Hoorah for jetlag! Seriously, though, I can't wait!

For several months now my excitement and anticipation have been building. I went to the same country for the first time last year and had an amazing experience. I love travel and culture and food... and all of that serving and teaching and stuff we did, too. Before I even boarded the plane to come home I was already looking forward to being back sometime soon. For weeks (ok, maybe months) after I came home I told anybody and everybody (but mostly my poor wife) story after story after story... and I might have given her a steady diet of facts and statistics and whatever I’d read in the news recently. This year, though, Michelle is going as well, and though there are a lot of things I'm excited about, one of the things I'm most looking forward to is being with her as she experiences for the first time all of the incredible things I got to experience last year. It's only a day and a half away. I can't wait!

If you're in a praying mood, here are some things you can pray about:
  • Safe and smooth travel
  • That all of our luggage/supplies will make it
  • Good health
  • That our work would be fruitful
  • That we would be an encouragement to those we are going to serve
  • That we would be changed by our experience

 

3 comments:

sandra stence said...

Good for you both and for the people you will be serving. I am hoping you will continue to post. I enjoyed reading yours last year. Know the Stence family will be lifting you in prayer. Recently, I was sitting in Sunday School and we were watching a video on the Hole in our Gospel. I loved something that Bill Hybles wife said on the video. She said, Jesus tells us that ANy EFFORTS done in HIS NAME will be MULTIPLIED. I loved that! I have been helping, trying to fill in some of the gap of Youth leader lately at our church. Something I am so not comfortable with. I prefer the little kidos not the teens who I really struggle with how to even reach. However, God is God and I am not. Somehow, any effort I have made has been only in his honor so when I heard that he will multiply my effort it brought me such Joy. The same goes for you all this week. I can only imagine that as you depart each time you leave feeling like there is more to do. Know that ANY EFFORT you all make this week will be MULTIPLIED!!!!!!

Dena G said...

I'll be praying...for the work that God will do through you and in you. It's such an honor to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that will learn to know him through our efforts--may yours be blessed and may you be blessed in the process...I know you will be. Can't wait to hear how you saw the face of God in a sea of unfamiliar faces. Love you both.

gpfrench said...

You and Michelle and the entire group will be in my thoughts and prayers! I am sure you will help others by your presence and work!
Love, Love, Love- is all we need
ginny