get ready, get set ...

... to get ready and get set.
It felt like we never quite hit 'go' today, though it IS Day One of work.

One of the big lessons of mission trippin' is that Your schedule isn't really so much up to YOU.

> There's orientation. No matter how many trips, no matter how big (or small) the group, no matter which agency, everyone gets a review of what's going on, what's planned, how things work, reminders about the 3S's and an F: safety, sensitivity, Spirit and flexibility.

> There's acclimation. Get the directions, follow one group to their site and see it and hear about what they'll do, and then follow again to your site and see it and find out what you'll do. And once you're there, see what the group before you did, didn't, kind of did (and sometimes really shouldn't have that you now end up UNdoing).

> And there's deviation. You think since it's already a short work day, so you should cram in your lunch and jump right back up and get a move on. But there's a homeowner there who needs someone to just sit still a few minutes and let him be frustrated about the condition of the neighborhood, or the attitude of the neighbors, or the injustices of the system, or whatever. That's part of your work, too ... knowing when to refrain from working.

So at the end of the day: "I feel like I didn't really do much today." Ohhh, but you did!
- You met another group from another church in another state, here to share in the same big-picture project that you're blessed to be part of.
- You got the lay of the land, instructions on all the tasks, and figured out how to get back and forth between 'home' and 'work' - and where the available 'facilities' are in between!
- You cleared the work space and found the supplies and figured out what is missing and still needed and organized the punch list to fire off right out of the gate in the morning.
- You met a homeowner, and learned that his mother and brother owned the double-shotgun-home you're working on, that his brother passed just before the storm, and that his sister-in-law and nieces left when the storm came. He'll live there next to his mom now, in this brand new home.
- You learned patience with yourself and flexibility with circumstances outside your control, and that compassion vastly outweighs spackle as a contribution to a project.
- You met the next homeowner in line, who came to work with you today, because her house is ready for her to work on it, but she is in town (from Chicago where she's been nearly three years) and wanted to help someone who was getting ready to move home.
- And you prayed: For a meal prepared with love. For the blessings of the day. For the peace to endure frustrations tomorrow. And for the blessed opportunity to offer some measure of comfort on a rainy and blustery day.

Not bad for a 'short work day'. Well done, good and faithful servant. It is an honor to serve with you.