I haven't really talked about it much, but I leave for Africa in less than three weeks on a missions trip- and to stay that I'm stressed would be an understatement. Don't get me wrong, traveling overseas doesn't bother me. I'm fine with travel immunizations. And I'm not even worried about what to pack. To be honest, this will be my fourth trip to Tanzania in as many years- so I've worked through all that.
My issue is with the leadership on this team.
Our team is comprised of 11 adults- of which some have traveled to Africa before. Some have only been on a one week mission trip to Mexico. And some have never been on a missions trip at all. Quite a few of our team members had to get their very first passport for this trip. Some of our team members paid for their trip upfront, no problem. But some of our team members are still raising the needed funds. Our team members range in age from young 20's to mid 70's.
And don't even get me started on the team leader. Our team leader is opinionated and can be bossy. And while our team leader is organized, our team leader also tends to be a control freak. Oh and to cap it all off- this team leader has NEVER led a team before. Let alone a team traveling overseas to work in a developing country. But there is one thing about this team leader that stresses me out more than any other detail...
The team leader is ME!
Yup, it all seemed like a good plan 8 months ago when I talked to our pastor about leading a team to Tanzania. After getting the green light, we started to work out the trip details and came up with this cool idea of having two teams travel back to back. Anyone interested (including me) could stay through both trips for a total of one month- flying over with the first team and returning with the second.
So, however crazy it might all seem- I am leaving July 9th and will return home August 7th. $24,000 worth of non-refundable plane tickets have been purchased for the team and it's too late to back out now...
So if you think of me- say a prayer. Pray that I will be an effective planner and leader. Pray for wisdom. Pray for patience. Pray that no details will fall through the cracks.
And pray for my team- after all they have me for a leader- Yikes!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Take me to your leader...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I will definitely pray for you, but you are going to do great! I'd go on a team with you :)
I can see how you would be stressed, but you will do great. I can't believe you are going for a whole month!
Wow. A whole month??? Wow. I can't even seem to go a week without the internet...
What a wonderful thing that you are going! I'm sure it will be an amazing experience.
Post a Comment