My offering

So as I thought my trip was over, it was far from it. Kaitlin was still stuck in Atlanta, but we found out that she got a flight into Gainesville at 11:30 am. Well, that didn't work out as we planned either... we went to the airport 3 different times, and finally when she actually was landing, we were late. Ellie, Betsy, and I had bought her a bunch of goodies that would remind her of Mexico and make her feel better for having to get stuck in Atlanta. It was a glorious reunion. We went to claim her luggage, and found that it didn't quite make it to Gainesville yet. As if anything could get any worse. It would be delivered to her sometime tomorrow, so she would still have to get by with no clothing like the day before. We finally were able to leave the airport, and with a new found hatred for them we did it in a hurry. We quickly sped to the teller window, and being right on time, we didn't have to pay the parking fee. With much rejoicing, we went on our way to Ellie's apartment.

On the way there for some reason a boy walking caught my eye. I recognized him from waiting at baggage claim, and wondered if he had a far way to walk. He looked like a UF student and if he was trying to get anywhere near to campus he had at least a 6 mile walk. So I collectively we decided to turn around and see what was up. We pulled over and asked him if he needed a ride, he responded with a no, because he was just looking for a bus stop. Well, we informed him there were not any bus stops for miles and offered him a ride. With a surprised look on his face he said sure. We loaded his guitar in the back and asked him where he lived. We asked him about his studies and why he was walking, and before we knew it we were at his house. I got out to help him with his bags, and he looked at me and said "thank you, seriously, you made my week." He was supposed to hang out with his mom in Miami, but she blew him off, so he went to visit his grandma in Atlanta. Then he came home to find out that his ride could not come get him. We definitely made his week.

The kindness did not stop there as we went to Satchel's for lunch. We brought in the cake that we had bought for Kaitlin so we could eat it after pizza. We offered our waitress some and she immediately obliged. Afterwards, Kaitlin asked us if she could give her cake away to the restaurant staff. We all agreed, "Kaitlin, it's your cake, you can do whatever you want with it!" So as we left, we offered the cake to our waitress. With a surprised expression she said, "sure!"

I never thought that I could apply the lessons I learned and the wisdom I gained in Mexico to my real life. However much we wish that mission trips were our "real" life, they never are. It's so much harder to go back to the stiff and judgmental United States and try to impact someone. But God proved me wrong in this case. Clearly I had limited His power by assuming things. He can work in our lives and give us opportunity if we don't put it passed him. When we doubt ourselves it's a form of doubting God, our creator. This week has shown me that it's more than just an offering... it's a sacrifice. We can surrender half way and fake it, and try to trick God, but nothing but complete and utter surrender will suffice or will change your life. Ha... trick God? Seriously, I've tried. This world is hard on us... the US is hard on us... our families are hard on us... we are hard on ourselves. "But take heart, for I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

-k10