The Journey Is About to Begin

So here I am a few months after asking my former professor, Dr. Pedrito Maynard-Reid, if it would be possible to return to Thailand on the mission trip he's leading this year. Normally I'd be preparing to go back to class in a few weeks, but this fall I'm on an unusual schedule; my class schedule is centered around a nationwide evangelistic series in October. Since there wasn't much I could do academically and I'd cause havoc on the fall schedule at work with lopsided availability, a mission trip was a plausible option.

I admit that I love to travel. This is even why I have the unusual fall schedule, because I told them I wanted to complete my field school/evangelism requirements away from Andrews University. I also love Thailand. One of my adopted church moms actually grew up at the university where we'll be working from.

This is a return trip for me. In 2009 it worked out that I could combine my study abroad program with the mission trip and save a lot of money on mission trip expenses, but the class schedule came first and I was only able to join the group for ten days. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life and I'm hoping this longer mission trip is even more fulfilling.

I'm not leaving for Thailand today, but my journey will begin tomorrow and there will be a bit of travel en route. Some friends contacted me a couple of months back and asked if there was any way I could help them move back to Oregon from Michigan. They were just unexpectedly blessed with a baby later in life and want him to be raised near his family. Rather than traveling with mom and baby in tow, they asked if I could drive their moving van in return for food, lodging, and a flight back to Michigan at the end. They didn't know who else to ask and it seemed like a shot in the dark. But God is good! They didn't know that I was already planning on traveling to the west coast a week later in order to get the best rate on airfare to Thailand and to see my family before I left. When I told them about the mission trip we agreed to apply the cost of getting me back directly to the mission trip. We'll also get to spend the night at my father's house in Idaho on the last leg of our trip. And just in case I get nasty aches or strains on the three-night trip, who better to travel with than a certified massage therapist?

I'm feeling a bit of anticipation now. All my packing has to be done two weeks early and I'm planning on traveling light, with only a laptop case and a carry-on gym bag. That cuts out $50 in luggage fees for flights within the states. It will also be easier to get around in Thailand once I'm on my own that way. If I'm looking at trains and buses to explore the country I don't want to pack heavy. I have to be mostly packed within 5 hours, and that includes doing laundry. So farewell for now. Please keep this mission trip in your prayers and I'll enjoy sharing with you as the journey continues.