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 ...