The "Last Lunch" [For NOW, That Is...]

Just.. in.. case you've found yourself here, on my blog for the first time, I'll catch you up to speed in just a few words:

I'm leaving TOMORROW for a week-long missions trip. To Panama. 

It's only one week, yes, but this is far from a little venture. There is a lot ahead of us over the next seven days, and while I'm excited, I'm still human, and have struggled on and off for the past couple of weeks with the anticipation, inklings of worry and doubt that I've deliberately had to focus to dismiss. Not suppress, but completely dismiss. With what we'll be doing, there is no room for the human hesitations to cloud the beautiful work that is in store. 

Today was a fair wrap-up to a week that's been rightfully challenging. There is more truth than imaginable that when we intentionally set out to pursue a course of sharing Christ with the world, the opposing forces retaliate in full force to try and derail us. To demotivate and discourage. To cripple, tarnish and destroy our work, and to strip us of our resolve. It has never been more clearly evident of that happening than the past two weeks. 

That being said, I am here after a day of winding down and last-minute preparation for my team at work, and at home, too. During the day, Elisa, Carri and I finally made it over to Elisa's stomping grounds for our traditional Friday lunch - J. Alexander's! A veggie burger with some orzo & rice certainly isn't a bad "last lunch" before a week of Cliff Bars and free-range mountain fare. :) 

yummmm! 

^ Nom nom nom NOM. Elisa, I really don't know how you work there and don't weigh 500 pounds. Honestly. Haha. :) 

I met my parents and Sydni back on the homefront, where Mom [sidenote: if you know my mom, you know she comes bearing food like.... everywhere. I mean... yeah, everywhere] had dinner plans in the works. We went through the usual formalities of our visits: Pictures, catching up on the past several weeks in which we haven't seen each other, and sharing the most recent news from both sides. I so under-express how much I truly appreciate my parents, and how I hope to model them more and more as I continue to mature into my own life. Syd is headed to spend her Spring Break next week with them; I'm jealous of that time, but know they'll both have a blast! 

So her I am: On my couch in a silent house. Rob's taken off with the pups to see his family and friends for a couple days; my parents and Sydni left a few hours ago and I've circled out and back to finish the last two errands on the list. 

If you came here, and you're reading this sometime while I'm away in Panama, please take a quick moment to pray for my team. Please pray that we'll be kept safe in our travels throughout the week, that our stomachs will agree with the sudden change in diets ;) and that the creatures and critters of the mountains understand we're there as friends.. haha. All of those things would be great, but more and most importantly, please pray that our audience is not only open ears, but open minds and receptive hearts. Please pray that we are able to contribute in tangible ways to the furthering of their church community, already in the making well before any of us committed to this trip. 

Please pray for us. In all arenas of this next week: physically, emotionally and of course spiritually. I know that I can confidently speak on behalf of myself and my entire team when I say that the amount of support we've received is overwhelming. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU all for the love, donations and prayer you've sent our way over the past several weeks. 

Rob & Sydni, this week will fly by & I'll see you both soon. My energy is devoted to this trip, but you are both my home and I already look forward to coming home to you two. ♥

This girl... is out. 

See ya in a week, tech world :).

Love, Honor & BLESSINGS!

xo | cmd