As a team, we signed a team covenant (I actually didn't, but they know I'm down). The first part of the covenant reads as followed:
On my mission trip, I surrender my rights to....
1. Quality of sleep on a comfortable bed
2.A private and clead toilet
3. Familiair Food and what I normally eat
4. Comfortable settings-humidity, bug bites, loud sounds, and terrible smells
5. Light when I need it.
6 Being on time and making sure others are on time.
7. My free time.
8. Understanding the culture and language
9. Being in control
Personally, I love number 6, since I have become apt to not being places on time.
But I experienced my first uncomfortableness on the airplane. I was in the very last row, next to the tiolets (which smelled pretty bad), there seemed to always be a line,I was next to the window, the crew was right behind me and they talked the whole time...did I mention I was 3 people in, next to the window?
Right away, I began to think and pray over this trip and what I was already experiencing. I had the mentality that since I wasn't actually in Haiti, I shouldn't be experiencing any "uncomfortableness".
I had a discussion with a friend a couple months ago. She has been to Africa and has used some pretty nasty toilets (or holes). We were at a park, and she wouldn't use the restroom. I questioned her on this, and she said she expects better conditions in America. She thought it was gross. This led into a whole slew of discussion. Needless to say, I have used some pretty disgusting tiolets in El Salvador, and I didn't care if the toilet was gross in Fresno...when you gotta go, you gotta go.
This thought process led me to the conclusion: As Americans, we think we deserve to be catered too and that we should never be uncomfortable.
Funny...I'm pretty sure Jesus Christ gave up everything that He had in heaven, so that we may know the Father. All that was comfortable, He left.
It is my prayer that I throw off my selfishness and remember all that Christ has done for me, as I go to serve Him, serve my team, and serve the Haitians this week and beyond.
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1 comment:
Funny. I was having lunch with a friend who was visiting for a few weeks. When we were about to eat, he looked at his fork and it had a little food stuck on it. I just thought, "Hey, dude is a missionary in India, this won't be a problem." He promptly asked the waitress for another fork and said, "See, in India, sure... but I'm not going to eat with that in America!"
Glad you're able to see what Haiti is like. Keep us updated.
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