I’ve spent the last week getting ready for this trip. On Monday, I took my 3 page packing list to Target to make sure I had everything that I need. I bought snacks and personal items like sunscreen, travel shampoo, bug spray, and Phase 10. On Wednesday, I started laying out everything that I wanted to pack to make sure I didn’t miss anything (I did miss a few things that I needed to wash and a few things I need to pick up like a journal). I also wanted to start strategizing on how best to fit everything in one large backpack and one small pack. Then on Thursday night…well, I just got busy so packing will resume tonight.

As prepared as I feel, I know that the most important things that I pack for this next week are: love, openness, and flexibility.  As long as I have these 3 things, I am prepared for whatever may come my way during the next 7 days. I want to love on the people of Haiti and love on my fellow teammates. I know God will be loving on me and I want to share His love with others. I want to be open throughout the trip – open to new experiences, open to a new culture, open to serve the people of Haiti. I also want to be flexible and go with the flow. We have a plan for the work we will be doing but it may change and that’s ok. We are there to do what the Haitians need us to do – our trip is about serving them and meeting their needs.

This week I want to be uncomfortable. I know going in it will be 100+ degrees but that is not what I am talking about. I want to be out of my comfort zone and learning/seeing a completely different perspective on life. I know I’ll be trading in my usual Monday night of Willy’s and The Bachelorette but for what? I am guessing it will be a lot more important and worthwhile than knowing if Ally picked Chris or Roberto. I hope that in 7 days that I come back with a new perspective and that I’m somehow changed by this experience. I look forward to sharing this experience with you all when I get back.