MY BIGGEST FEAR
May 4
There are about 35 people who are going on this trip, broken down into 5 smaller groups. My small group got together several weeks ago for a dinner as a way to get to know each other a bit better before the trip. During the evening, several people were talking about the things that are making them nervous as they prepare for the trip. One person mentioned safety, another mentioned insects, while another mentioned getting sick from the water and another said the language barrier.
Afterwards, this conversation got me thinking about what my answer to that question would be. I have been on a half dozen trips to foreign countries before, so that doesn’t faze me too much, especially since I am not the one responsible for the planning efforts. My church has been organizing international trips for years, and coordinates about a dozen trips each year. They have a lot of experience, and if something were to happen, I know that there is a group of people here back at home that would jump into action to make the situation right.
The food is going to be very different from what I am used to, but as long as my system can handle it, I am open to trying a new cuisine. If, by chance, the food doesn’t sit well with me, I am taking medicine to help with that – better living through chemistry!
The language barrier could present a challenge, but there are others in the group that speak Spanish, and locals we are working with that speak English. So, although it may present a challenge with interacting with the children we are helping, I am not concerned about a major issue with the language. When all else fails, there is Google Translate.
For me, the biggest fear is that this trip will simply turn out to be a good vacation – fun experiences and warm memories, but without connections with others or a meaningful impact on my life. I can easily see how this trip will positively impact the people we are going to serve. I am not concerned about that. The question is whether the trip will impact me. I want God to show up on this trip, I want to grow in some way, I want to see things differently. Will this just be a fun week, or will God use this time to speak to me and draw me closer to Him? I guess that I will soon find out.
Afterwards, this conversation got me thinking about what my answer to that question would be. I have been on a half dozen trips to foreign countries before, so that doesn’t faze me too much, especially since I am not the one responsible for the planning efforts. My church has been organizing international trips for years, and coordinates about a dozen trips each year. They have a lot of experience, and if something were to happen, I know that there is a group of people here back at home that would jump into action to make the situation right.
The food is going to be very different from what I am used to, but as long as my system can handle it, I am open to trying a new cuisine. If, by chance, the food doesn’t sit well with me, I am taking medicine to help with that – better living through chemistry!
The language barrier could present a challenge, but there are others in the group that speak Spanish, and locals we are working with that speak English. So, although it may present a challenge with interacting with the children we are helping, I am not concerned about a major issue with the language. When all else fails, there is Google Translate.
For me, the biggest fear is that this trip will simply turn out to be a good vacation – fun experiences and warm memories, but without connections with others or a meaningful impact on my life. I can easily see how this trip will positively impact the people we are going to serve. I am not concerned about that. The question is whether the trip will impact me. I want God to show up on this trip, I want to grow in some way, I want to see things differently. Will this just be a fun week, or will God use this time to speak to me and draw me closer to Him? I guess that I will soon find out.