back to "reality"

The trip was...

Outstanding.

Awesome.

Life changing.

I'm not even sure where to start, so while I'm gathering my thoughts over the next few days (or weeks) and processing it all out, here are some pictures.  I'm actually thinking of a "what I learned" series here regarding the culture and how different it was...and how it has affected my outlook on life.

Let me start with this:  If you ever have an opportunity to go on a trip like this, take it.  

Don't hesitate.  Go.

Don't let fear hold you back.  You'll never regret it.

On to the photos....

This is the amazing and wonderful view we were treated to while driving to one of the local villages. Breathtaking.

A photo with the family we visited on one of our first days there. We were walking through the neighborhood and one of the older women said hello. We started chatting and, next thing you know, we were invited into their home where we talked like we were old friends. One of the ladies' son (at right) spoke English and was a great help. They gave us water, tea, cookies, and fruit...and even shared the photo album from a recent wedding. Before too long, the entire family had shown up to visit us, including a less-than one month old baby. So wonderful.

This is me on the edge of the neighborhood where the women lived, with the rest of the town in the background (and the mountains in the distance). I think the building near me is a shepherds' hut, but I'm not sure. Not a house, but a place for them to rest during the day. There were several shepherds in the area.

As you probably guessed from the terrain and people's appearances, I was in the Middle East. It was amazing. Though fleeting thoughts of danger (worry, I guess) had occurred before the trip, not once did they occur while on the trip. We never felt afraid or threatened. I continue to be astonished at the warmth and hospitality we were shown...even by complete strangers.

More pictures will slowly trickle through as I post more. It's strange to not know what to say - there is just so much!

Oh, there is one more thing...

While I was there, I finished and gave away three mug rugs, including one I gave to the women pictured above (we went back later in the week). They didn't have anything like them over there, so who knows how it will be used.

I didn't get pictures of all of them before giving them away, only one. I really hate that I didn't get all of them - or, what would have been even better - a picture with the recipients. Oh well. Life is about living, not photographing, right? Besides, I have the images in my heart. 

Here is the one that I did manage to snap a photo of...

Very simple, just a four-patch with a border. Still, I think it turned out very pretty.  Reversible, too...what did you expect?  Simple stripes on the back (no pic).

I also picked up some fabric while I was there to make a quilt for myself. I'll have to use stabilizer, but I think it will still work. There was no cotton to be found. Hope to have pics of that up soon.

take a little trip....

I mentioned a few posts ago that I'm preparing for an overseas trip.  Well, the trip is almost here - I leave on Friday.  Destination Far-Far-Away. 

Yeah, yeah - I know that's anti- climactic and all, but the truth is I've been asked not to tell.  And in this particular situation, I'm going out on a limb and doing what I'm told...so please forgive my secrecy.

So - even though I can't give you all the details, there is one thing I can tell you.  Here's a hint...

I will be handing out Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes!  [insert squeal here!]

If you aren't familiar with Operation Christmas Child, they are an awesome ministry of Samaritan's Purse - headed by Franklin Graham - that delivers gift-filled shoe boxes to children around the world.  People in nine countries, including the US, take empty shoe boxes and fill them with small gifts, toys, clothing, school supplies... you name it... and they are collected, processed and shipped all over the world.  Last year over 8 million children received a shoe box and, for many, it was the first gift they have ever received. 

Check out this short (only a minute or so) video... 

Did you see the smiles??  I get to do that!!  [**breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out**]

I'm still amazed that I have been given this opportunity.  It's a dream come true, for sure.  My family has participated for years, filling a shoe box or two, but this year I really got to jump in.   A few years ago, we began attending our current church, which has been a Collection Center since the mid-90s.  This past November, I helped out in the collection process and we handled over 34,000 shoe boxes from our region.  Then, I had two opportunities to travel to Charlotte, NC, to help at the Processing Center, which handles millions of boxes.  I can't tell you how many shoe boxes I have touched - either collecting or processing - boxes from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, and who knows where else. 

Now I get to give them away.

The collection and processing experience was almost overwhelming for me.  To think that every shoe box I touched was a gift destined for a child in need frequently brought me to tears.  A seed of hope.  A spark of love.  A reminder that they are not forgotten.

Now I get to deliver that hope.

Wow. 

(It's getting hard to breathe again.)

So, back home - wherever your home may be - pray for my team.  Pray for OCC.  But most of all, pray for the kids.   Pray that they will know they are loved.

Please forgive my silence for the next couple of weeks.  In return, I promise to share lots of pictures when I get back.