Lots going through the mind as of late. Where to begin, where to begin... Well I suppose we could start with the most recent and move backwards (seems the most logical to me anyhow).
Yesterday the team left for Haiti. They're going to be gone a total of 10 days and to tell you the truth I would be lying if I said a piece of me didn't wish I was going with them. From the day that the trip was put on the calendar to yesterday's departure so much has happened and changed. The team initially started with 18 people and only 11 hopped in that van yesterday afternoon. The journey to the van included several bumps and blessings along the way... For instance, our leadership team did all but dissolve after one of the key leaders dropped out, financial woes knocked several people out of contention and general inexperience and learning as we went tended to slow the process. The blessings however far outweighed the bumps... example being a leadership team much more united, enough finance to cover the building supplies and above all, a team that actually took off yesterday.
To help with international communication I traded phones with Paul Harris for the duration of the trip. I purchased a black and white Otter Box for the iPhone (which has been re-named "Stormtrooper") and sent it down to Haiti while Paul left me his Verizon something-or-other phone... While I like to maintain the idea that I'm not a total technology junkie I do have to say that adjusting to a phone that only performs basic telephonic tasks has proven to be a bit more difficult than anticipated (however I think some of that has to do with not having all of my contacts). I have been on the smart-phone sauce now for a little over 3 years and essentially downgrading to a basic phone has really opened my eyes to how reliant I had become on something as simple as a phone. I'm glad to report that it wasn't a full blown addiction as I haven't developed the shakes or irritability or anything but it's been a learning experience to say the least. I'm glad my phone got to go... I feel like that since I had to drop out of the trip that was the least I could contribute.
There is so much more that is on my mind but I don't even know how to express it in words right now... (that and if I ramble on too much longer I might want to start talking to a publisher)... I think I'm going to go help Trinity Communications put together gift bags for this weekend's festival...
PS... Today we had storms roll through and I got online to check the weather... the heat index was 102... I decided to check Les Cayes, Haiti's weather... the heat index there was 106... 4 degrees difference... Pray for them down there... We got a taste of that heat today and most of us didn't have to construct a concrete block building. They have grueling labor ahead of them... pray for them.
