Expectations and the like

I leave for my trip to Sudan in 2 days! I can’t believe its finally here. I’ve been waiting to go for months now. Of course the difficulty with that long of a wait is the expectations begin to grow…. and if you have a daydreaming mind such as me the idea of a trip like the one I am about to embark on beings to grow to unrealistic proportions. Good news is I recognize this and am attempting to keep an open mind about the trip and not have pre-set ideas on what will happen, what I will do, and who I will meet. This is difficult of course but doable I believe.

Another item I have been thinking about is the selfishness that can grab a hold of me while I am on this trip. I truly desire to have the heart of a servant but I also know myself well enough to know that I will struggle with wanting to have everything I can, the window seat on the plane, the perfect pictures, the Sudanese kid that loves me, the chance to buy great souvenirs. God alone can give me the heart of a servant and I pray as I prepare to embark on this trip that Christ alone will be my focus, and that in comparison to him all other things (including adventures in Africa) pale in comparison.

But, let me be perfectly clear, in addition to my “deep thoughts” about the trip I am ridiculously excited and there is no harm in that!!!!!! Africa, here I come…

 

“Best Friend of All-Time”

   To everyone I know in Austin, my friend, Tina Hunter is known as my “best friend of all time”. Its true though, most people want to know how you know a person you are talking about, your relationship to them. And although I have had many many dear friends during my time here on earth Tina had undoubtedly been the rock in my “friendship life.” Really I don’t even know if its right to call her a friend, she truely is more of a sister than anything else.

Anyway, the point of this journal entry is that currently I am about to pee my pants because Tina (who lives in Michigan) is coming to visit me in Austin this weekend! Every time I see her its as if no time has passed at all, we pick up right where we left off, even if the last time I saw her was several months ago. Not sure what all we are going to do yet but on the agenda will defiently be watching “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” at the old Paramount Theater in downtown Austin.  Two more days….