Late may. The sky is heavy with coming summer. Variegated clouds that burn with brilliant sunsets. Rain and sun that alternate unpredictably.
And, we're beginning to get ready for Haiti.
We sit in our first meeting and the outreach team goes over dress code, expectations, reminders to check on passports and immunizations. Hands raise, not in questions, but to clarify. Returning team members and parents explaining the things that seem important for newcomers to know.
Skirts to the knee - even when sitting.
Sunlight tests to make sure they can't be seen through.
Collared shirts for the guys.
Closed toed shoes All.The.Time.
Silly little things that we've learned make up the pulse of the trip.
Because, we'd much rather focus on VBS than on fighting over clothes. Because coming prepared makes the rest of the trip that much easier. Because there is a list of things that we've learned the hard way. But, mostly because this is B*thel, where it is okay for high schoolers to correct the global outreach coordinator. Because this might be her job, but it is their trip.
Perhaps more so this year than it ever has been before.
For some of them, this is the third time back, more constant than friend groups or relationships or grades in classes. The freshmen who are coming have never known a youth group not defined by Haiti.
We've talked about it after the Real. Life. exhibit, while canvassing apartment complexes outside of Portland, and while standing around a fire in the parking lot. They've fundraised for water filters for a place they've never seen and washed dozens of cars before plane tickets were ever purchased.
Half the group would get on a plane now, if we handed them a passport and an appropriate set of clothes.
This is in their blood and in their hearts.
Even Sacred Road has never had this wide of an impact on the youth group. Denver or Bridgetown have never spread this far or gone this deep.
More than anything that I have ever seen, this is their trip, and, although we'll be there as leaders every step along the way, it is largely up to them what they make of it.
And, we're beginning to get ready for Haiti.
We sit in our first meeting and the outreach team goes over dress code, expectations, reminders to check on passports and immunizations. Hands raise, not in questions, but to clarify. Returning team members and parents explaining the things that seem important for newcomers to know.
Skirts to the knee - even when sitting.
Sunlight tests to make sure they can't be seen through.
Collared shirts for the guys.
Closed toed shoes All.The.Time.
Silly little things that we've learned make up the pulse of the trip.
Because, we'd much rather focus on VBS than on fighting over clothes. Because coming prepared makes the rest of the trip that much easier. Because there is a list of things that we've learned the hard way. But, mostly because this is B*thel, where it is okay for high schoolers to correct the global outreach coordinator. Because this might be her job, but it is their trip.
Perhaps more so this year than it ever has been before.
For some of them, this is the third time back, more constant than friend groups or relationships or grades in classes. The freshmen who are coming have never known a youth group not defined by Haiti.
We've talked about it after the Real. Life. exhibit, while canvassing apartment complexes outside of Portland, and while standing around a fire in the parking lot. They've fundraised for water filters for a place they've never seen and washed dozens of cars before plane tickets were ever purchased.
Half the group would get on a plane now, if we handed them a passport and an appropriate set of clothes.
This is in their blood and in their hearts.
Even Sacred Road has never had this wide of an impact on the youth group. Denver or Bridgetown have never spread this far or gone this deep.
More than anything that I have ever seen, this is their trip, and, although we'll be there as leaders every step along the way, it is largely up to them what they make of it.
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