An interesting start to our Easter weekend...

OK...so it's Good Friday night. I had looked forward all week to going to the service at church. Actually Kaylee and I had talked about going together - kinda a mom/daughter thing. Then...I thought about it and double checked to see what the content of the service was, wanting my girl to experience what Easter is all about, yet protect her from something that might not yet be best for her. Anyway - mid-afternoon Kaylee decided she didn't really want to go, and wanted to just hang out - or be with friends. Flash forward a little to when Steve and I are reviewing the day and we remember that Barack Obama had been to visit Salem...and I match in my brain that he is driving south, and that our high school missions team is driving south as well. SO...I put a call into Brian to see how the trip is going, and if they are traveling with the Obama caravan. (dramatic pause)

Brian proceeds to tell me they just pulled off the interstate and that the bus has a busted fuel line - gas poured out on the freeway, and is puddled unter the bus. We quickly get off the phone so he can start to figure this thing out. A little while later we're all in the know that the enemy of this trip will do anything to disconnect the "fuel source" --- but GOD IS BIGGER. About a half hour later the phone rings and it's Jeff asking if Steve & I might be able to help drive vans down to where they are (about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away). I'm up for it (I'm the night owl you know). Steve's up for it - asking for a grande Starbucks. We figured out that the 4 drivers would be Erik, Jeanne-Ann, Steve & I and got ready to head out. Then the phone rings again, and a connection has the part the bus needs and says that with 100% certainty he can fix it. So...the calvary is coming with the part...not with the church vans. Honestly - I didn't believe it and told Steve we should have "proactive faith" (which he immediately called "doubt" - which I called "proactive doubt") and go ahead over to the Williams' house, put the kids down for bed, and be ready, just in case we get a call in an hour. So...off we go to hang out with our friends and enjoy some time together. We just get the kids to sleep...and the phone rings...and the trip is back on. A quick stop @ Starbucks and Plaid Pantry, and off we go.

It was a hysterical trip. I had my laptop sitting on the floor of the van so I could be playing iTunes, which was competing with Erik singing 80's favorites over the walkie-talkies (which Jeanne-Ann quickly had turned off - she's such a smart girl). I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud. We got down to the church at about midnight - and this team of 49 piled into 3 15-passenger vans and an Excursion...for an excursion designed by God to eternally impact the lives of others.

Will you pray for them, please? They arrived safely at their destination last night, although it was a bit later than they had originally expected. They'll be building 2 houses this week for families that live under tarps. Perspective on momentary troubles is always a good thing. I can't wait to hear how He works in and thru this team this week...