I have always heard it said you cannot do everything, so choose carefully what you want to do. This is so true at the holidays. I am known as someone who goes on a lot of mission trips, so it has become the second question after "how are you." that most people ask me "Where are you going on a trip next?" This is the standard sort of question. And the truth is I am in fact it seems always planning a trip somewhere. Today, I will leave for Texas for 5 days four nights and it will be a pretty quick trip down to Bay City Texas to work in the First Baptist Church hanging and finishing sheetrock.
I am delighted to be going and will have pictures in a few days. A team is going from Burnt Hickory so I have worked with before. Driving the bus, hanging sheet rock and preaching on Sunday will be my opportunities. The only difficulty is the fact I will miss thanksgiving at my Mother in Law's house on Sunday. This is one of the hazards of Mission work at the holidays. Folks who go on mission teams regularly know that you must sacrifice and there is never a time when you can schedule a Short Term Trip and not an inconvenience for someone.
I have spent several of my birthdays on the mission field. I also have to admit several of mine and Kathy's anniversaries have been a phone call only as I was on the field. Many others I know have experienced similar circumstances and have a long list of events and things that have happened while they were away. None is more notable than David Meriwether MTI Board member and Friend being away when Drew Meriwether came into the world and David ended up getting his first glimpse of Drew in a little board house on the edge of Rosita Nicaragua in an internet Cafe. (See the photo) It was a neat moment. but I know Grandpa David wanted to be with family..
Jesus told us to count the cost before a man tries to build a tower. We are also told that we must sacrifice. When I consider all the good times I have missed by being gone on a mission trip when great things are happening at home I know two things. First I have missed a great many things that I would have loved to been a part of, but I can only hear how it went. But second that God has blessed me in the mission efforts and I have hundreds of experiences that make my life so blessed that I cannot ever feel like I have missed anything. I will miss Mom's Thanksgiving dinner and I hate that, But I know that there will be moments in TX over this next few days that will be blessed of God. Thank you Lord for a life so full and blessed I have to choose between good, better, and best and I have found that in YOU Lord is always best.
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