Of Mice and Men (and Teachers and Social Workers)

Teachers are planners. I've seen lesson plans that seem to have more detail than the blueprints for the Space Shuttle. Although Kelly and I (Marsha) are doing different work and won't be in the classroom, both of us have enough experience in educational settings where the "planning virus" has taken quite the hold. We have spent hours individually and as a team thinking about how to best use our precious days in Samfya.

Of course, we've already had a few moments of "Well, now THAT won't work..." after finding out more about the needs of the teachers and child advocates. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard or thought, "You can plan and plan and plan, and you KNOW things will change once you get there and those plans are pretty much worthless." I thought I could at LEAST wait until I "got there" before the tables were turned.

The best laid plans. The best laid plans take up room in your suitcase, and in your heart, and in your mind. It's not that we're going completely unprepared, but there is this weird mixture (for me, anyway) of relief and apprehension realizing I don't really know what I'm walking into. Setting plans aside, or holding onto them loosely, leaves much more room for God to move, and work, and whisper, "Here's what I have for you to do. There's a teacher who needs encouragement. There's a child who needs a word of hope. There's an advocate who needs to know that the work she does MATTERS." If nothing else, I have already been reminded that the best work of God comes out of who we ARE, not what we DO. I know I need to be reminded to get out of my own way.

I'm about to finish packing. Less papers, more prayers.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding..." (Proverbs 3:5)



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