Sidebar...

No pictures in this post (I know that is the only reason some of you check) instead I want to share a few things & ask a favor. This blog is mostly pictures & slices of the fun things we do as a family...and I love that about it. I do occasionally delve into deeper things & this is going to be one of those posts so you have fair warning if you want to stop reading now.

On Saturday I will be leaving for Ecuador for a week. I'm going with a small group from our church on a medical mission trip. To answer the 3 most popular questions...my parents are going to be keeping the boys, Josh is not going, and I do not have a background in the medical field.

Josh & I have been on 2 oversees mission trips together to Romania (and he has been to Brazil) but this will be my first trip out of the country without him. I'm not so much nervous about traveling without him as I am anxious about not having him as a buffer for when I get cranky (it's true). My prayer & desire for this trip is to be helpful HOWEVER I can.

I was looking forward to working alongside our nurses & doctor and getting a feel for the medical clinic, passing out pills, taking blood pressure, whatever. However, because I want to be helpful and not serve myself I volunteered to be in charge of the children's program. Now, don't get me wrong I like children (& love mine) but working with children is not my gift...I learned that the hard way helping out with Awana's last year. Being with kids all the time drains me and often does not put me in the best mood. But this is a key component of the clinic and since I am one of those going who does not have medical credentials or speaks Spanish this is where I will serve. I pray that I will serve gladly & not out of obligation.

There have been several issues come up for our team while planning this trip, but I'm not going to go into all that. I do want to ask you to pray for us...whenever it crosses your mind. We leave on Saturday & will be returning the following Saturday/Sunday (gotta love all night travel!). Pray for our safety as we travel. That we won't lose our luggage...most of which will be filled with the supplies we require to operate the clinics. The hearts of the Ecuadorian people to be open to what we want to share with them. For the missionaries that we are going to serve. For our team to come together & function with the purpose of serving God & sharing the amazing & awesome hope that we have through Jesus Christ. Thanks for reading and praying...there will be pictures soon!