good news / bad news

So - it's a little bit of both in mission trip land today.

Bad news is ... we've made the excruciating decision to forgo our July mission trip to Covington. With only two of us committed (one of 'us' being 'me'), and with painfully tight mission funds, it seemed the better part of stewardship to focus our resources on the already-growing group committing for the September journey to Gulfport.

This stresses me out for a lot of reasons:

1) "Oh! We want to do one of those trips! We want to be part of that with you! We don't know exactly how we can help, but we want to do something! If there's one in the summer, that would be perfect! We could even do it as a family!" Months, emails, newsletters, bulletins, slides, announcements, conversations later ... one. reply. in the affirmative.

2) That one reply? Was so absolutely committed to this, she had taken off work, talked to her husband, and emailed me saying "I'll go!" within 30 minutes of my message announcing the date. To have to then get in touch with her and say 'It just isn't fiscally responsible of us to put our mission fund to work getting "only" two of us down there' JUST. KILLED. ME.

3) Our church (denominational office) was counting on us being there. To have to call and say 'Uh, can't do it.' is ... painful.

4) I just hate it when stuff doesn't work out the way I want it to. Hey, if we're being honest, let's throw that one in, okay?

So what to do?

I realize that people, well, they have lives. I know that. I get that. Just because I would spend every moment doing this kind of work (if I could have figured out how to have the church keep paying my bills even if I never showed up, I'd have just STAYED after our first trip back in November!!) ... doesn't mean that it's reasonable or do-able for everyone (or anyone) else.

Mission work is excruciating. It's back-breaking and heart-breaking ... and bank-breaking, sometimes.

But it has to be done. Not because someone has us on the work calendar. Because 'someone' has us ON EARTH. We're here together. It's not unreasonable to think that at some point we will need something - it's not unreasonable to think that at some point we will have something to give. Both of those things are true. Part of 'we' is in need ... and the other part of 'we' needs to respond.

And we will ... of that I'm confident. (There's the good news.) People have schedule conflicts and work demands and family times that need to be honored ... without a doubt, without exception.

But people also have gifts to give and needs to meet and things to do that have NOTHING to do with them and EVERYTHING to do with being faithful.

hold on tight

I am fascinated to see how this scenario plays out ... there are countless people who could tell this same tale, sing this same song (insert your 'been there, done that' metaphor of choice).

It will be interesting to see (1) what happens for this particular first case, and (2) what happens to all the other cases that are already pending or (depending on the outcome here) will be filed from this point forward.

And? Welcome ... again ... to hurricane season!

This could be interesting ...

Last call!

Last week, a friend asked about our April mission trip. I was telling him about the work we did, the woman we met, the experience. (Telling it, of course, pales in comparison. Hardly does the reality any justice.)

He said, "So you just go and do whatever?"

"Well, we don't just show up. We have an office we work with that coordinates for us. It's not like we pick a town and pack our stuff and say 'Okay! Here we are! Let us help you!'"

Just this morning I was talking with a bible study about 'faith and works' -- in the good sense, not the 'earning your way in' sense! -- and how living out your faith in mission work involves setting aside what you think is the 'right thing' to do or the 'right way' to do something. Going in and saying 'Here, let us fix this' does nothing to truly nurture, support or empower those who will still live where you've served long after you've packed up and gone home.

WHICH led me (anyone need a life jacket for this ride on the stream of consciousness?) to recall the great Newsweek feature I read yesterday. Remarkable people. People doing things because they need to be done -- seeing a need, finding a way to fill it. It's really much simpler than we make it, you know?

In that feature, Brad Pitt (stop rolling your eyes, keep reading) makes some great comments about the benefits of celebrity and the responsibilities thereof. Say what you will, but I'm willing to bet a large percentage of the American populace had no idea where Namibia was before Brad and Angelina decided to encamp there for BabyWatch. And now, that country's schools and hospitals have a huge contribution coming their way (thanks to People magazine's willingness to shell out ungodly amounts of money to satisfy the prurient interests of the American public).

Something to be said for 'If you're going to follow us all over the world, we'll at least take you to places that people need to see, and while we're at it, we'll make you leave your money here.' I kind of respect that boldness. ANYWAY, the upshot is something that he says in the video clip accompaniment to the article (referring to his first, and coming, trips to African nations, emphasis mine):

It’s a multifaceted problem – this is just the beginning for me. One, the beginning of my education, and also I guess the beginning of how I’ll participate. I can’t predict all that. But what I do know is that I have seen it, I have been there and to walk away from it, to turn my back on it, makes me culpable ... and I cannot do that.

It doesn't have to be a trip to Africa, or millions of dollars in assistance. Just find something to do ... something you can do ... something YOU. can. do ... and get out there and do it.

Oh, hey, by the way ... last call for the July 23 - 29 trip to Covington LA ...