My crazy India adventure begins tomorrow. TOMORROW. And I’m feeling all sorts of unprepared! I’m flitting from extreme excitement to chicken-y apprehension, but mainly… unprepared. The thing is, what can truly equip you for sights and sounds (and smells) you have never experienced before? So I’m hereby deciding to go with it, put aside my unpreparedness, and let the journey be what it will be. I’m rolling up my sleeves and girding my loins!
It’s okay, girding my loins isn’t anything painful. It’s Biblical actually— back in the day, it literally meant hitching up the long robe and tucking it up suitably in order to get the show on the road, whether a long journey or going into battle. These days, we tend not to go with the “robe” look, so it means “to prepare and strengthen oneself for what is to come”. Rather apt. Not only have we (I) been busily beavering away with laundry, packing, shopping, and running errands since my UK family left 2 short days ago, but we also want to be prepared spiritually.
In case you are a little out of the loop, I am embarking on a whirlwind missions trip to Hyderabad, India, with my hubby Lyndon, my youngest son Jacob (aged 15), and my dad (a pastor in the UK). I’m the delicious cheese filling in my very own “Indian manwich”, if you will! Cheesy, yes? 🙂 Our eight days on the ground will comprise of several days in the rural villages, where we hope to encourage the church plants with messages and music. Basically, we want to love on these dear people, let them know they are part of God’s family, and see what practical help is needed. Apart from that, we are open to whatever God has in store for us…
Unfortunately, the village huts are a little lacking in Wi-Fi and such, so I have decided to leave my laptop at home, and take my trusty journal and pen. Just like ye olde days! But I will have my iPad for when we hit civilization, so if you are interested in following my antics, feel free to “like” my Facebook author page, and I’ll be sure to post as many tidbits as possible when time permits. Of course, once I’m back on Canadian soil I’ll be blogging details and photos galore— I’ll try to keep the squatty-potty and Delhi-belly stories to a minimum!
I really should be filling my suitcases at this point, so I’ll leave you with this Bible verse I’ll be carrying with me:
“Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee…” Jeremiah 1:17a
If you think of us, would you pray for boldness and wisdom and love and good health? Oh, and that it would stop snowing so we can get there perhaps? Many thanks from us all…
Here’s to 31 hours of travel and 5 flights this weekend. Woot-woot!
Blessings to you!
Linking up with some fabulous encouragers:
