(Before the Jayco)

When I decided to go to the Philippines, I was so excited! For months I planned and worked toward being approved to go. There was a lot of paperwork to do and a ton of study. I wrote my statement a of faith – twice, made phone calls, sent emails, made new relationships, reconnected with old ones, confirmed lasting ones. It took months of planning and weeks preparing. I Packed, sold, gave away, donated and moved. The destination became my focus.

I traveled 18,000 miles in two months. Driving ‘almost’ coast to coast and flying halfway around the globe. I spent countless hours on a plane, and hours and hours in my vehicle – alone with God. I passed through a dozen states and stayed in half a dozen hotels and/or homes. Stepped foot in three countries and spent time in two. I mottled my way through several airports, a lot of security and too many customs desks. I’ve eaten strange food, drank odd smelling water, slept on hard beds. I’ve added a plethora of faces to my memory bank, photos on my phone and added new names to my prayer list. I’ve experienced different beliefs and denominations and church services. I’ve struggled to communicate with people who did not understand – some who didn’t speak my language, some who did. I’ve had the pleasure of making drapes and sewing everywhere I’ve been. And even thrown together some rag dolls out of old sheets in a last minute effort to teach sewing to some beautiful girls in an orphanage. I could go on!

One treadle singer, a half a dozen girls, and no fabric or supplies. I had to think quick!

Back in Nashville I began to process all that had happened, everywhere I’ve been, lives I’ve come across, people who effected me in some way, those with no effect at all. It has been a treasure trove of feelings and emotions and hard to sort, file, or articulate…until now.

I was in Antipolo City, that is the view coming down from the birthing center to the city. That is Manilla in the far background.

In every service since I’ve been back at Christ Church Nashville, God has been unfolding the meanings and the workings of it. He is showing me, it is NOT the destination – it IS the journey. If we focus too much on the destination and not enough on the journey, what will we have when we stand before Him? How many souls have we touched, encouraged, shared with, prayed for, brought along?

This past Sunday our visiting missionary, Ann Smith, said – “With God nothing is waisted”. I needed to hear that.

How can I sum up my first trip to The Philippines? It was an Experience of a lifetime! What did I gain? or lose? That is yet to be known!

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My favorite Scripture right now, Psalms 91