#11 - Check

Number 11 on my 2012 list was to get a passport.  This was carried over from 2011 since I never got around to it last year.  Since I applied to go on my mission trip to Haiti, I knew I would have to have a passport.  I finally applied for it about a month ago and this past Monday it was in the mailbox when I got home.  I was soooooo excited to see it and know that I could travel anywhere now.  Can't wait to put it to use on June 23 when I head out of the country to Haiti!

We Meet Again

Many of you have heard me talking (for weeks now) about my team training for Haiti.  I found out about a month ago that we would have a full day of team training this past Saturday.  I was super excited about spending the day with my team until I read on and saw two words that stopped me in my tracks... "Ropes Course".  Are you kidding me???  Can I just have one summer where I don't have to do a ropes course to volunteer for something?  (See previous post here.)  I continued to be positive and thought maybe this ropes course would just consist of activiites where we have to use one rope, two boards, and a backpack to get our team from one side of a flat, open area to the other side.  No one has to pick me up, push me, pull me, etc.  But, God has a sense of humor and that was not going to be the case. 
We started out the morning by doing simple team building activities which allowed us to get to know each other.  We had a (questionable) lunch that is supposed to prepare us to eat whatever is set before us on our mission trip.  (Let me just say, if Haiti eats lots of raw plantains I am gonna have a hard time).  Then we hiked deep into the woods to begin the ropes course.
We started off by doing "the spider web".  I immediately piped up and claimed the bottome hole of the spider web (big and close to the ground).  Then we did an activity where we had to traverse a cable while pushing against a partner on a different cable across from us.  Next, we hiked up a hill where the above picture stood towering (and laughing) above me.  I (again) endured the awkward moments of having three men hoist my butt up while I had two brave souls pull (yank) me up and over the top of the wall.  I was determined not to give up on any of the activities and simply laughed my way through all of it.  We ended by doing a trust fall from a 5 foot high platform.  I. did. it. all. 
I loved it!  Yes, that is correct.  I loved every minute of the day!  Let me explain why...
1. I already knew 3 people in the group and had spent the morning forming connection with the other group members, so the setting was way more comfortable than before.
2. Most of our group is close to my age, unlike at camp where I was depending on wee college freshman girls or frat boys to pick me up.
3.  I was not as self-conscious about my weight this time because I am in the process of doing something about it (I have lost 34 pounds since January :)
4.  Our mission team is AWESOME!  Everyone was so encouraging, patient, kind, etc.  I cannot wait to go to Haiti with this amazing group of people!