Acclimated to a Greater Culture

This is dangerous ground for a blog, but let's trample onto dangerous ground. As I have watched my friends leave Abilene to travel around the world and live in new culture for the majority of the summer, I have been reminded of the important process of great preparation. Pam is in China, Melody and Jo Anna are in Italy, Rachel in Mbala, Mark, Phil, Lindsey and Karin are in Brisbane, my new friend, Lindsey is leaving for the Ukraine this week, and I have been watching them prepare to leave. For all of these, there has been great prayer, fundraising, training sessions, etc. For some, new luggage had to be purchased, phone cards, supplies, converters, underwear (*gasp*), you name it - it was purchased for this summer culture change.

More importantly, this is what we're doing here on earth, too. Just like it would be silly to watch Mark or Melody stand in an airport without luggage or any clue about the basic information they would need to find their gate, it would be silly for us to spend our lives standing around this "airport", drooling with nothing but an airline ticket in hand. Now, the Trainer has us in an intense culture class. He is teaching us the 'forever' language, the lifestyle, the kind of food and the water: we're learning about a Greater Culture. Once we get there, we will know where to find the water, where to buy the stamps, where the toilets are located... :) We will know the Map!

Love Love Love,
katrina*