Countdown to Ecuador…

Maybe it’s because we are getting so close to take off or maybe it’s the e-mail reminder that just arrived that said “be sure to register with the US Embassy”, “the accommodations are nice, but website images seem to promise a little more than you may see”, “the water is not fit for drinking, and it’s even suggested that you brush your teeth with bottled water”, “be sure to bring lots of trail mix and granola bars (I guess if you don’t, you MAY go hungry) and my favorite part “you are NOT allowed to flush your toilet paper and in some places there isn’t any (WHAT?!?!?)”.  Whatever the reason or reasons are, I have to be honest and say that I am starting to freak out!!! 

I gotta tell ya, my mind has been playing some pretty good tricks on me.  I started telling myself that it is still so VERY generous “if I just send my $2000 and add everyone else to my prayer list each night before I go to sleep in my own comfy bed…they won’t really miss me…I don’t really have a role after all, RIGHT?!?!?”.   I am feeling so scared that I was even willing to go as far as eating my non-refundable flight expense.  It wasn’t really that expensive ;)! 

As I started having these negative thoughts/excuses, I had to stop myself…not because they aren’t natural, but because in life there is room for FEAR, but I REALLY have NO excuses.  See we Americans are RICH- extremely RICH by comparison.  And I admit that while I sit here drinking my $4 cup of coffee.  Half of the world’s daily income is the cost of that one cup of coffee and ¼ of the world lives on $1 a day.  WE ARE RICH…even in today’s down-turn economy.  It’s so easy to comply with our world’s system that says “I need more, I HAVE to have more, and I certainly deserve more”.  Maybe it feels like NEEDS, but most of them are wants and I, for one, have a TON of wants, but all I really NEED is to follow God’s instruction and “use what he has given me to look out for those that are without”.   

 Okay…so I’m a little overwhelmed, but it’s time to stand up to my fear and put on my BIG GIRL pants.  So instead of my usual demands of “I need my hotel to have a fitness center, a GREAT bowl of raisin bran, and TOILET PAPER”, which are all bear necessities of course, I’m going to focus on putting my faith into action and I’m GOING to Ecuador.  It will certainly mark a new beginning for me, and I pray for the children that we visit everyday. 

 I am honored to call you all my friends and I ask you all to hold me accountable because without toilet paper, I may not be able to think straight.  Thank you for your generous gifts that have helped to support this trip and most of all thanks for listening to my list of fears.  Please continue to pray for all of us on this journey.  I can not wait to share it all with you guys very soon.  

Here am I, Send Me…

PS – Here’s an image from last year’s trip – my friend Lori Nordstrom showing this little girl her image captured for the very first time. While it’s exciting be a part of a group who will make a significant financial donation to these orphanages, I am completely thrilled to have the opportunity to give these children the gift of knowing that someone not only cared enough to take their picture, but who gave them a copy of their photograph to treasure forever…