My daughter Robyn and I will be travelling to Malawi, Africa with 9 others for what has become known popularly as a “short-term mission trip”.  There’s some debate in Evangelical circles about this term, it’s accuracy, and the effectiveness of such endeavors regardless of what they are called.

I have some opinions on that – but I will keep them to myself for now and simply say, we are making this trip to:

– Help bring much needed medical aide to severely under-resourced people, some of whom   are dying from treatable conditions.

– Provide support and encouragement to the church in Malawi.

– Try to understand on a personal level how the majority world lives and learn from them.

– Learn how Permaculture is being applied in that context and bring that knowledge home.

For further information about the organization hosting this trip, go here:

www.e3worldwide.org

What’s Permaculture? Go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture

It started getting real a few days ago. It’s been such a busy season these last few months that I haven’t been able to dedicate much mental/emotional band-width to preparation for this trip.

There are a couple of good things about this, though:

1) I don’t have to lead anything connected to this trip. I’m a member of a TEAM and only have to follow.  It’s nice to just show up and do what I’m told 🙂

2) This is good practice for living in the moment. There really isn’t anything to be done now. I just need to pack (and Brenda is doing the Lion’s share of that for me).

I’m enjoying doing basic research on all things “Malawi”, like culture, geography, politics, etc. I’m particularly keen to learn more about drums 🙂

I’m looking forward to being with Robyn on this adventure. My biggest job will be: not screw it up – primarily by avoiding the temptation to force “teaching moments” or experiences. I just need to journey alongside her, be her dad and let her have her own experiences. She’ll invite me in to them as she sees fit. I just need to trust God with her.

I am worried about Brenda being at home with a badly thrown-out back. We have a great network of friends and family to look out for her, but I’m still feeling anxious about it.

There are also a number of “pastoral” situations which I’m leaving for the duration of the trip and that has me feeling…hmmm…concerned.

It’s not like I think people’s lives will collapse if I’m not there…it’s just…well…it’s probably control and image keeping. My anxiety is directly connected to someone feeling like I failed them. “What if I’m not there to “help” and things fall apart? Will they think I don’t care, or that I’m an unskilled  pastor, or [insert selfish fear here].”

So, I guess having the opportunity to deal with THAT could be considered a third benefit…

…yippee for me.

All that junk aside: I’m getting excited 🙂