There are times when things get thrown your direction, which you have to make a choice on. It's either, you try to catch it or duck it and hope it misses you. In most cases, you're better off trying to catch it. How well it is caught is not always so readily observed. We had a tragedy in our community and it has impacted so very many people. And I felt as shocked - drained - imploded as everyone else felt. Not a good condition to be in to catch a fly ball, I might add. If there is to be any good that comes out of this, it's God's job to bring that to the surface. And do you know something? I am trusting that He will do just that. And I know that it will be surprising as to how He will do it. But God will do it and it will be accomplished through people. Sometimes, who the people are is as surprising as anything.
So, how does this impact the Haiti trip? Well, along with this going on, I still have some packing to figure out - personal clothes to pack - a mosquito net to try out - make sure I've got all those items I need: bug spray, sun screen, necessary clothes, malaria pills, vitamins, flashlight, etc. etc.
Oh, and I have got my normal routine work, plus it's Holy Week. That means Maundy Thursday Service, Good Friday afternoon @ 3 with the carrying of the cross. Plus, the addition of a very difficult funeral and all the preparation for that. And not to forget that for a Preacher - Sunday's Coming! And this Sunday is Easter Sunday.
So, whenever things get thrown at you, try your best to catch it. How well you do at that, quite often, won't be really known till sometime down the road. Besides, God is especially good at taking some botched up messes and turning them for good. I'm especially understanding of that. I look in my mirror each morning. God has done some marvelous work with my life.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
It wasn't on my list
I've made a list...and then I added to it. It's like a list all of us have made prior to making any journey. Some folks like lists when they go to the grocery story. I'm one of those who feel accomplishment when I check off items on my list. My wife will ask if I picked this or that up and I'll say "It wasn't on the list". So, as you might have guessed, I can get pretty tied to a list.
A list is what we practiced on in school when we were learning how to alphabetize things. You remember:
tuba
melon
almond
catnip
parsley
critter
title
appoint
And so on and so forth. Then you listed them alphabetically from the top (A) to the bottom (Z).
The list I've made was all the names of items people have given me to take to Haiti. Things like
soccer balls (including an air pump)
frisbee
tee-shirts
soap
lotion
dental floss
coloring books
crayons
silly putty
The way I listed them was according to categories. It wasn't in alphabetical order but in categorical order: toy - clothes - hair or body items - medical.
One thing I haven't done yet, is to weigh all this stuff. Now that will be important, because it can't be more than 50 lbs. I do know how much space this stuff takes up - one full suitcase, the largest allowed by the airlines.
Next time you make a list, think about how you lay that list out: Alphabetized, Categorized, your personal favorites. I've got my list and I'm checking it off when I unload it. So, when my wife asks if I took this or that to Haiti, I can say "It wasn't on my list".
I guess I'd better get started on making a list of what I'm taking for me personally.
A list is what we practiced on in school when we were learning how to alphabetize things. You remember:
tuba
melon
almond
catnip
parsley
critter
title
appoint
And so on and so forth. Then you listed them alphabetically from the top (A) to the bottom (Z).
The list I've made was all the names of items people have given me to take to Haiti. Things like
soccer balls (including an air pump)
frisbee
tee-shirts
soap
lotion
dental floss
coloring books
crayons
silly putty
The way I listed them was according to categories. It wasn't in alphabetical order but in categorical order: toy - clothes - hair or body items - medical.
One thing I haven't done yet, is to weigh all this stuff. Now that will be important, because it can't be more than 50 lbs. I do know how much space this stuff takes up - one full suitcase, the largest allowed by the airlines.
Next time you make a list, think about how you lay that list out: Alphabetized, Categorized, your personal favorites. I've got my list and I'm checking it off when I unload it. So, when my wife asks if I took this or that to Haiti, I can say "It wasn't on my list".
I guess I'd better get started on making a list of what I'm taking for me personally.
Monday, March 11, 2013
"Fat Agnes"
It was an exciting day on Saturday. We had our soup/chili fundraising dinner. We didn't state our goal, but through the people that attended, God more than met the goal. Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the great selection of soups, bread, desserts, chilis and celebrated the fellowship. Everyone (I hope) received a greem wrist band and that was to be their reminder to pray for me and the other folks who will be traveling together. Plus, I asked them to pray for the families of each one of us.
I bought a "Fat Agnes" air mattess. Actually it's really a 'Big Agnes'. A guy I know calls it "Fat Agnes". I blew it up with air yesterday and laid down on it to see how well I might be sleeping. I guess I won't really know that until I'm in Haiti though. The real advantage of this particular air mattress is that it rolls up to be very compact. It's built for backpacking. So, it is light weight and takes up a small space. That is important for backpacking as well as a trip to Haiti.
By the way, the temperature in Haiti is presently 73 degrees with an expected high of 89 degrees. While it is 44 degres just outside my door, and the expected high is to be in the mid or upper 50's. I guess we're getting closer to Spring - YAHOO!!
I bought a "Fat Agnes" air mattess. Actually it's really a 'Big Agnes'. A guy I know calls it "Fat Agnes". I blew it up with air yesterday and laid down on it to see how well I might be sleeping. I guess I won't really know that until I'm in Haiti though. The real advantage of this particular air mattress is that it rolls up to be very compact. It's built for backpacking. So, it is light weight and takes up a small space. That is important for backpacking as well as a trip to Haiti.
By the way, the temperature in Haiti is presently 73 degrees with an expected high of 89 degrees. While it is 44 degres just outside my door, and the expected high is to be in the mid or upper 50's. I guess we're getting closer to Spring - YAHOO!!
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Desire to Give......
It is hard to imagine that it is presently 76 degrees in Haiti right now. And the expected high for today is 88 degrees. It's hard for me to believe because where I'm sitting - looking out the window - it's 20 degrees and the wind is blowing and the snow is drifting in my driveway. What a contrast!
As I continue to read in "Haiti after the Earthquake" by Paul Farmer, I continue to be moved by what it was like for others in Haiti in the days just before, during, and after the earthquake of 2010. In December of 2009, Dr. Paul was convening a meeting for Haiti and their need for preparation. Dr. Paul was concerned about Hurricane preparation. Hurricanes are a common event in Haiti. They are right smack dab in the middle of a regular path where hurricanes sweep through. The disaster expert at that meeting, a staff member from the United Nations, spoke these words: "Paul, the next disaster will likely be an earthquake or a tsunami".
The earthquake was not a totally unexpected event. But they had not had one in over 200 years. But Haiti does lie on a fault line. Will an earthquake happen again? A more relevant question for me and my family is, will an earthquake happen again on this trip to Haiti? We certainly hope and pray that it won't.
I received a bag of goodies, just the other day, to load in our suitcase for Haiti. People are continuing to give and they do that because they want to help in some way. People love to be part of something that is bigger than themselves and they offer whatever they can.
I now have two suitcases. They are both the largest allowed by the airlines. If one is filled and we have overflow, then I have the other to take as well. The airlines only allow one suitcase and the second will require an extra fee ($ 30). But that is okay. I don't want to squelch people's desire to give.
As I continue to read in "Haiti after the Earthquake" by Paul Farmer, I continue to be moved by what it was like for others in Haiti in the days just before, during, and after the earthquake of 2010. In December of 2009, Dr. Paul was convening a meeting for Haiti and their need for preparation. Dr. Paul was concerned about Hurricane preparation. Hurricanes are a common event in Haiti. They are right smack dab in the middle of a regular path where hurricanes sweep through. The disaster expert at that meeting, a staff member from the United Nations, spoke these words: "Paul, the next disaster will likely be an earthquake or a tsunami".
The earthquake was not a totally unexpected event. But they had not had one in over 200 years. But Haiti does lie on a fault line. Will an earthquake happen again? A more relevant question for me and my family is, will an earthquake happen again on this trip to Haiti? We certainly hope and pray that it won't.
I received a bag of goodies, just the other day, to load in our suitcase for Haiti. People are continuing to give and they do that because they want to help in some way. People love to be part of something that is bigger than themselves and they offer whatever they can.
I now have two suitcases. They are both the largest allowed by the airlines. If one is filled and we have overflow, then I have the other to take as well. The airlines only allow one suitcase and the second will require an extra fee ($ 30). But that is okay. I don't want to squelch people's desire to give.
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