Mission Trip Prep

Prepping to head out on a mission trip with middle schoolers is always an interesting endeavor, I feel like there are about seven layers of stuff to get ready:

• the kids forms and paperwork, the activities to pull out of my bag as I may need them, the med kits, the snacks (just in case a kid gets hungry - which leads to crabby kids), and a few miscellaneous type things for kids to do
• the work I will miss while being out of the office - this is just a strange layer of stuff - I have to make sure that all the stuff I would normally do in any given week gets covered by someone and that they have everything they need and that they are well prepped for my absence (I realize I am not the end all be all and that I am not perfect or have all the answers, however, I know there are just certain things I do without thinking about them that help to make things run more smoothly) - also I like to leave my office with a clean desk (it is easier to tell what has been piled on it while I was gone) - set up the auto reply on my email to let people know if they need something that they can either contact my colleague or call my cell
• pack for myself - this is actually probably the easiest piece for me - most of the clothes come out of the "mission trip" tote of clothes that I just keep in my closet - I know it may seem strange to have a tote full of mission trip clothes but it makes sense to have a bunch of clothes that can get painted and stained and look a little crappy with who knows what on them - and if I have to throw them away it seriously is no big deal - also the packing piece seems to be the easiest for whatever reason - I pack WAY on the light side - I have the haul enough other stuff for the kids that I don't want to have to haul anything extra for myself
• leave Marc a list of all the stuff that he may need to know - he just moved into my place and hasn't quite yet learned the schedule of when the recycling and the trash needs to go out - when Dakota needs fed - where the key to the lawn mower is - the number of the plumber who is working on fixing the sump pump in the basement etc... - yeah it doesn't sound like much however - when everything is new I would rather leave him a list with all this stuff than expect him to remember it - not to mention I think we are going to try to sell my house and it will go on the market at the end of this week --- soooo just want to make sure he knows what's happening there and what not (yes, yes, we have talked about all this and he agreed that a list would be best for him)
• return & renew the library books that I have (seriously I am anal retentive and have never had a library fine in my life and hope to keep this streak going) - I LOVE public libraries

Do you have any particulars when you go on a trip?

I love traveling with my youth but why does it always seem like more work to be gone than to stay home?

Do you get to travel anywhere fun this summer?

Call Perks

One of the perks of my call is that occasionally I get to help lead worship at a local nursing home. (The clergy in the area all rotate through the nursing homes in this area, we have several nursing homes we get to help lead worship.) Today is one of those days that I get to lead worship with the older folks. Now generally it is not in my call to come alongside the older generations. My primary focus is children, youth, and family ministries, which I LOVE. Seriously, I am over the top blessed to be able to have the call I have. However sometimes I do enjoy the chance to lead worship at the nursing home.

I love the wisdom and the pure enthusiasm of the folks gathered at the nursing home. They are genuinely excited to be in worship and to receive communion. Some of these folks have fading memory and do not always remember what is going on or where they are but there is something outstanding that happens when they gather for worship, some how the Holy Spirit works and moves and they always seem to remember The Lord's Pray, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, and other classics. Most of them can also still recite the Apostle's Creed without any hesitation. It is humbling to worship alongside these folks and to bear witness to their testimony of our wonderful God.

I enjoy taking some of my high schoolers and junior high kids with me when I go, occasionally we even have a family or three join us. If someone brings a baby they are always passed around from one person to the next and smothered in love. We are to the point that the youth also look forward to sitting next to these folks in worship, while these aren't their grandparents they have a deep respect for those in this particular nursing home. They have developed favorites and everyone has a buddy. I love the chance for mutual ministry, the older folks love seeing the younger youth and the youth love to spend time with their elders. Both the youth and the elders love to share stories and be in one another's presence.

Thanks be to God for the ways in which God calls us to walk alongside one another and to value each and every person.