The New Drill

Well, it's 7:30 AM, the clock just turned.  I have that nervous, weezy, in my stomach thing going on.  I tossed at the beginning of sleep and at the end of sleep.  I would not say that I am nervous but more like a young child waiting for Santa or Disney World.  I was telling Jennifer Peters, our World Mission Center Director (and my boss for this trip) that I had no apprehensions but that taking a full team into a new project is always filled with a bit more nervousness.

Often we get the opportunity to send an advance team to see, touch, feel, hear and sense the work as we spend time with the new partners or community.  The small, experienced advance team is highly trained and experienced so that bumps just aren't bumps.  They come home with an idea of the protocol, the work, the needs, the facilities and the people.  With this trip, I am carrying four people to a well drilling mission.  Don't get me wrong - these people are great and I have served in many trenches alongside of them but only Jimmy and I have been in the "foreign" field together.

I have also overpacked for this trip and I still have only one very small duffle.  But I just don't know what to bring.  The temperature swings will be from 40 to 80 degrees farenheit.  The fact that it is a work trip makes it easier.  This is also only my second trip on my new diet (thanks to our friend "pre-diabetes") so I had to pack a bunch of "special" food now that I am "special."  I just love being "special" - don't you?

Sum it up to say, "It's the New Drill."  In fact, there is nothing finer than hearing a call from God and getting to do a new thing (whether you are leading or following).  But be certain that it comes with a lot of "new".  There will be nervousness and many questions.  There will be much to plan.  But never forget - God knew what was going to happen before you got up this morning!  Nothing will surprise him.  As we teach our team members in their weeks of training: pray, praise, meditate and study and you will be ready to be used.

So the next time you are rolling around in bed trying to figure it all out - spin it a different way, since you don't know what is going to happen and you live with a big God, I bet you just can't wait to see how incredible it is going to turn out.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The blogs will be added throughout the days of our trip.  You will be able to track the trip from "Today's Blog" (where you are now) and by looking at all the articles in "Today's Blog".  Only five articles are listed per page - you can click on more pages by scrolling to the bottom.  Pictures will be in the "Pictures" - see link at left.