Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Mission Emanuel - Part 3 - Parenting


So Lia and I have been dreaming about one day taking our children on a mission trip. Well, at Mission Emanuel, that dream became reality. And as often happens with dreams, reality wasn't exactly what we imagined it to be. 


We weren't the only gluttons for punishment. Our sweet friends the Robinsons brought their two children, and our stellar friends the Geers brought their four! It certainly made things easier having other families to share the load…and commiserate. 

All in all, it was a great decision. There were moments like this one below.


To hear my daughter say that her favorite part of the trip was meeting Dariel makes it all worthwhile. Because that's the dream - to make connections and build relationships. And truth be told these kids were WAY better at it than us adults. 

Alejandro, our sponsor child, was grumpy, having been awoken from a nap. He was hiding behind his father's legs until Anna Rose pulled out the bubbles...


which brought on an Alejandro sized smile…



Next thing, Alejandro is joining in the fun. 


And we're having this total family moment with Alejandro's family. Because being a father and wanting so much for your son is universal as is being a mother and wanting your son to have a shirt on for the picture...


Like Noah Geer taught me…Noah is Andy and Lora's youngest. He's the same age as David. He was fighting with another boy his age over a ball. Andy for a moment wanted to step in. Noah didn't understand. This boy had nothing. Noah could have a hundred balls if he wanted. But Andy stopped himself. He let them tangle. Because all of a sudden and in a moment Andy saw what all the books and classes and lectures that he has read, attended and heard about cross-cultural ministry failed to teach him. Noah didn't see someone different than himself. He saw a boy just like him. In the tangle, Noah and this Dominican were acknowledging their common humanity. It was dignifying, affirming. It was the incarnation. 

Thanks Noah.





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