Set?

We met up at church this afternoon... some of us laying eyes on each other for the first time. I stood to the corner with the worker sheet in my hand, trying to learn new names.

Beth Bailey tried hard to pass out First Aid kits and be sure everyone had turned in their insurance forms.

Dan Valentine, clipboard in hand, marched between vans and cars and trucks (oh my!) and proceeded to declare us worthy of two FPC vans!

39 people carry a lotta stuff, I guess. Plus tools, plus air mattresses, plus snacks, plus anything else that seemed necessary.

Debbie Petersen took the label maker in hand and virtually forced customized labels out of it. We each get these nifty lanyards with laminated, labelled cards with everyone's name and cell phone number.

We are so thankful for Mark & Karen Humphrey and all those folks who have gone down before. They know all the details. Even right down to the lanyard.

We all had questions we'd all been wanting to ask: "How is the church there set up?" "Where will we sleep?" "Did you check the weather?" "Can we stop often?" "How fast do you drive?" "Are there any grocery stores down there?" "Can we bring our skateboards?" "What am I forgetting?" "You sure you don't wanna go to the beach?" "Did I say that outloud?"

Then, our hard hat crew showed up.
I saw this shot from across the parking lot and nearly fell down trying to get close enough. I don't know all these kids' names yet... but I am sure, as Katherine Stegall said smiling, I will "know their life stories before the end" of it.

I am looking forward to that.

We would ask three things of you, friends who share our God.

Prayer for safe and uneventful travels. Prayer for us to sing songs of praise to our God. Prayer for the families we leave and the ones we will serve.

Yes. I think we're set.

-----

Becky Jordan
FPC Marietta New Orleans Spring Break Mission Trip
(FPCMTTANOSBMT)
2007

Ready?

Two summers ago, I got this crazy idea about taking my family on a cross-country vacation. Some of you may have heard a thing or two about the 10-days we came to know as The Great American Adventure. 4,500 miles, six states, three kids, two adults, ten hundred thousand videos, several maps and one car.

I planned our trip to the most minute detail. I had files with sub folders and printouts of every Starbucks between here and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. I had time charts and hotel reservations and planned educational field trips. I had worked out every possible scenario in what I envisioned to be our finest family moment.

I did not plan to break down. For four days. And be stuck in Bowling Green, Kentucky. With no car. And virtually nothing - except free Tuesday bowling and the highly impressive Chevy Corvette museum - to do.

I will confess, in the beginning, I was mad. As a hatter.

Why couldn't the car dealership fix our car? Why was the Warranty company delaying our approval? Why didn't the entire state of Kentucky have at least one MPV (of any sort) that we could rent to move along on our "adventure?"

By day three, I realized that my kids were having a blast. The entire hotel staff had become our greatest champions. The front desk clerk even babysat the kids one night so Trevor and I could go - in the hotel shuttle - out for dinner. Everyone we came into contact with quickly knew of our dilemma; by the time we left Kentucky, we had a bunch of new friends and a bunch of funny memories.

I have to say I'm a little hesitant about this Mission trip. I have no idea what to expect. I have never even been to New Orleans for any reason. I know there will be painting, construction, gardening and (to Joe, Alex, Michael and Mac's great delight) demolition. But I don't know anything else.

I have planned hardly a thing. In fact, it's Friday night and I haven't even started packing. Just an hour ago, Barry Christensen called to ask if I was ready or getting ready. Truthfully, I said: Neither.

The thing I learned on our last Great Adventure... the thing I am reminded over and over again... is that God's plan is so much more wonderful for me than anything I can imagine. His plan overcame the lost transmission. His plan will sustain us through any place that we get stuck. His expectations for us are far more fantastic than any internet research can provide.

In two days, I'll be getting into a car with my 4 family members, 36 of my church family, and our God.

I can hardly imagine what He will have in store for us.

I can hardly wait to share it with you.

-----

Becky Jordan
Blogging the NO Spring Break Mission trip, 2007