Our family of 4 went on this mission trip together. It was the first time any of us had ever been on one. Our boys are 12 and 14 yrs old. They were really wondering how this boring trip could have slipped in and taken over the family vacation to Disneyland, the one place they are absolutely sure EVERY kid their age has been to, except them. I must say when we look around, the people here in Washington seem to be well traveled (at least all the folks we know). The mission trip was an opportunity that was whispered to us in that soft spoken voice our Pastor has, “Would you be interested in going?” When I heard the question....it took about 1 second to answer, and then when I asked my husband, he took about 1 second to answer too! It was a great feeling just knowing that we were both on the same heart page. When we approached our boys about this awesome opportunity, we got the deer in the head light look. Wow, their world turned upside down on them that day and we were smucks for changing plans on them. Not only were they going to Mississippi where it would be very hot & humid, they would be driving in a van for a total of 5 days and would be leaving the first morning of NO school. They brought up that idea of sleeping in for the very first time on a summer day. We were not off to a great start selling this idea of a mission trip in place of a family vacation. They moped about it all the way to the church van.....they hopped into the van and “Our Lives Have Never Been The Same Since.” All the negative went out the side door when we entered, and God took over from there. He’s so great that way, we just got to stand back and watch it all unfold for our family.
Our boys got up every morning ready to go, more importantly WANTING to go! To see them work long days under extreme heat, yet recognizing “The Face of God” at least once if not several times each day, was one of many, many blessings. When you hear your child say “I just saw the face of God, Dad & Mom” straight from their heart.....it is as sweet as a song from an angel.
As for Marlon and I, we took each day and submerged ourselves from head to toes, and from heart to heart with an open mind and open arms to embrace whatever God put before us. The jobs varied for us and each one felt just as important as the next. So many names and faces and stories. So many tears and hurt and pain. We actually cried WAY MORE every day over the Blessings and Miracles we experienced, then tears of sadness from what we heard and saw. I guess that’s another beautiful thing God is capable of showing us. With all the pain, Love is so much more powerful.
We were Thanked by store clerks, post office folks, waiters and people from a tire shop, the custodian of the church, a man standing at the memorial we visited, the Home Depot delivery man, an A/C furnace dude, lots and lots of folks from Mississippi, and even people waving at the van as we drove down the freeway. It felt really different to be doing good works and to have so many people appreciate every single thing you did. Your smile, hugs, tears, a listening ear, a small purchase to help out with an elderly man’s income, making and serving food for other servants, taking garbage out, sweeping glass up......do I get to write a book? I know, not now.
I leave you with this; there is more love in Mississippi right now then probably any other place in the U.S. The appreciate is times 1,000 of what you actually give. The people are saying “Thank you God, for what we have.” (not Lord, why?)
We are home now, the week is slowly going thru my mind non stop. It is hard now....those tears of sadness have let go and the weeping and pain has started, now that we’re not so busy in the middle of it all. This is turning out to be a harder time then it was when we were in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Please pray for all who went on this trip, and please be considerate of our feelings at this time, because it is heart crushing to see such devastation and meet so many people who’s lives will never be the same.
Peace and Understanding,
Rochelle