Packing up the boxes

This week is hospital week, as I call it. So many tests and doctor's appts. This month has been very busy for me and I think it finally caught up. The first week-end of the month, we had the first Filipino convocation, followed the next day by an anniversary celebration of our good family friends. That week, I tried very hard to pack as many of the boxes we needed to send to the Philippines. I finished 3 of the 5. We left that Tuesday to go to Atlanta for a leadership conference. Catalyst Leadership Conference is an annual tradition for us... we've been going the past 10 years and it's changed our lives and our paradigms drastically. We always learn something new and every year, we think it's the best and there's not way they can top it, and every year they have surprised us. It's as if the speakers are right here with us, facing the same challenges we're facing and then they go out there and give you pointers on how to meet these challenges head on. It's a very cathartic experience... I've learned more about myself and my spiritual walk whenever we go to Catalyst.


So we came home that following Sunday. On our drive home, we decided to stop by a national park in the southern part of the state. We took a little 2-land country road to cross from Kentucky to Illinois. In the map, it did not say that there was not road to cross the Ohio river. We had to cross by ferry... and what do you know, that week-end, there happened to be a gathering for bikers somewhere north of the river. So the ferry operators and the locals who were lined up ahead of us waiting told us that usually there's about 4 or 5 cars waiting on either side of the river, waiting to cross. That day, there were probably over 20 cars on each side. Problem is, the ferry can only hold 12 cars, 15 if there are no trailers... and then they try to fit in as many motorcycles as would fit. It was quite interesting. I took some pictures. It was quite a surprise and took us 1 1/2 hrs before we could cross. By then, it was too late to go to the state park. So, we just found a nice place to eat, had dinner and drove on home. Met some interesting people while waiting for the ferry, though. Maybe next year, we'll try to get down to visit that national park... it's called Garden of the Gods... lots of hiking trails there...


Came home and finished packing the rest of the boxes. God has really touched so many people's hearts with this mission trip. One of the kids I see for therapy goes to a daycare center. The teacher heard about our upcoming trip and donated several bags of clothes, school supplies, some toys, etc. Some of our church members in both Chicago Fil-am and Morton Grove Fil-am donated clothes and school supplies as well. I had to pace myself when I packed the boxes, coz I would end up with lymphedema every time I overused my right arm. I shouldn't have been surprised by people's generosity... but as I packed the boxes, it was as if God was reminding that He is the one orchestrating all of this. He was gently reminding me never to presume that I know what is best or to think that I know what is in someones heart. He nudged me alot and told me stop judging people's motives because I don't know what and who will be blessed by what has been given. It is a painful realization to face my own prejudices and even my pride, but as I packed those boxes, I found myself praying and asking for forgiveness for my own selfishness and my presumptions. I asked that my agenda be what God's agenda is and not my own selfish ones. I continue to find out that my faith is not nearly as strong as I thought it was. There was a huge part of me that kept wishing that we could pack up and send all the things they wished for, like playground equipment and school supplies and balls and toys..... I had to surrender it all to God and trust that He will use what has been given as gifts for Him. I know that the people who have donated, either in money or in kind, have done so to Honor God.... so, may these gifts meet the needs of the people in Mindanao. And my most ardent request to God is that the boxes will make it there by the time we get there....