Labor of Love!

Going on a mission trip requires significant planning and preparation as a team but also individually.  Each of us have different lives, and different areas we need to prepare in our lives for such a big trip.  Missioners are busy planning out who is going to feed their pets, manage their mail, watch over their homes, and get them to the airport.  Also, planning what to pack for a trip such as this requires some thought too, because clothing needs to be sprayed with bug repellent.  Team leaders are making plans to ensure a safe and well thought out trip, and co-coordinating with our Honduran leaders to ensure things run smoothly.  This year is a little more complicated because we have 6 different flight groups arriving at different days and times!

For me personally, this is a time that I focus on all of the above but to also ensure my family is in "good shape" before I leave.  I am fortunate enough to have a husband who works from home and is around a lot, so that definitely makes things easier, but there are somethings that need to be worked out ahead of time.  Such as who is going to get to a particular activity when people are going in 3 different directions, and we are down a driver!  Our daughter has a dance competition while I am gone, and I want to make sure she has what she needs before I leave. Our son has an soccer tournament, and I manage his team, so making sure he is squared away and the team is prepared with paperwork etc, is also on my "to do list".  The biggest prep work I do for my family is making sure they are well fed while I am gone, so I spend time preparing a ton of freezer meals that are simple and easy for them to cook.  Today I finished that task!  Yeah!

I am very thankful that I have the time and resources to prepare healthy meals for my family.  While preparing meals tonight, I am once again reminded of the many blessings in my life.

But, while all of this is going on, it is most important that we keep in mind the reason we are going and that we prepare our hearts and minds to do the the Lord's work.  This is what is truly most important.  If we get caught up in the details and logistics, we lose sight of our greater mission.  We need to remember that the mission is not about the "work", but the people whose lives we touch and the people who touch our lives.  It truly is a blessing and truly a labor of love.

Blessings.

Shelley

Freezer Meals Prepared

Preparing Team Lanyards