One more day til takeoff!

The trip that Laurel and I have been planning for many months is (almost) finally here! Praise God! There were a few moments when we weren't sure we'd be going, and we've had our share of convincing/reassuring family about why we are going and whether we'd be safe, but, Lord willing, we are gett-ing-on-a-jet-plane...on Monday. And, Lord willing, we will be back the first week in March.

Of course, we realize that nothing and nowhere is perfectly safe, but, as our missions pastor said, the safest place to be is in God's will. It's when we are out of his will that we are not 'safe.' Indeed, we will be taking precautions in order to prevent looking terribly like a tourist, including hair dyeing on Laurel's part, local clothes on both of us, and avoiding expensive hotels (the easiest part). :)

I am overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him at work in the midst of suffering and poverty and look forward to meeting those who humbly and faithfully serve as his hands and feet to those who need healing. And I hope, at least for a while, to learn to let go of my materialistic and schedule-driven tendencies to focus on people and loving them as Christ does. While packing and moving some of her things to Hien's/my place, Laurel commented on how much useless stuff she'd accumulated and how realizing that made her feel guilty. I must concur. Although all of my worldly possessions fit in my smallish room, I know by just looking around that MOST of the things I buy are unnecessary. Acchh...consumerism! Anyway, we hope that in the middle of India, away from normal routine, TV, constant internet, instant gratification-everything!, family and friends, we'll take to heart what it means to be strangers in the world---to have our eyes fixed on the eternal.

Depending on the internet availability, I will try to keep this blog updated throughout the 7 weeks we are there (and maybe put pics up but NO promises). I hope that you will partner with us in prayer as we serve at Kothara Community Hospital and in the region of central Maharashtra state.