My WonderGIRL is heading to her first missions trip to Haiti tonight…..I wanted to capture some of her thoughts and feelings here so she can reflect on them after she returns and years later to fully re-live her experience. Our house has been a minefield of emotions this past week as she sorts out different feelings of excitement, nervousness, and the fear of abandonment. She put it quite brilliantly to a family friend last night saying, “I am really excited to go on the trip, but I am super nervous to leave here.” This tension is heartbreaking but what I do feel confident in when sending her off is the ability for this challenge and experience to help her grow, not only in giving back to others but in growing confident away from our house and me in particular.I am excited about:
– seeing all these kids
– hand out lollipops to kids and see smiles on their face…..I like seeing kids smile and then it makes me smile
– they get healthier because we have medicines and doctors to make them feel better

I am nervous about:
– potentially getting sick
– messing up in giving medications that I might give someone the wrong thing
– seeing things that might scare me (destruction or sick/dying people)
– wanting to give the kids everything but I can’t do that
– Mom forgetting me at home while I’m gone
– leaving the house for that long of period

I wonder about:
– How does the food taste?
– Why are some people super poor?
– Why are the stores so expensive can’t get what they need?
– How people in Haiti look at God…..is their God the same God that we worship? How is he/she different?

I predict some changes when I return:
– better behaviors at home
– respecting what I already have (sometimes when I feel like I don’t have enough or I want more…..to know I have a lot more than other kids)

Prayers for both of them and the children and families they are about to touch in Haiti greatly appreciated!!!!