Schindler's List & Expectations

If you haven't seen Schindler's List, you should probably make it a point to sit down and watch it. It's good. At the end of the film, after saving the lives of more than a thousand Jews, Oskar Schindler breaks down while he ponders aloud how he could have done more. Why didn't he sell his possesions to get enough money to save just one more person? Why didn't he do all he could?

In my travel experience I have always had expectations of my destination. And often times, I've been correct. I expected that Ireland would be cold, even in the summer. True. And I expected that people in Venezuela would speak Spanish. Duh. But just as often, I've been wrong. I expected Australia to be hot and sunny all year. It was cold and rainy when I arrived. And the seasons finally changed to hot and sunny, it brought thousands of flies with it. Wonderful. I expected that Ghana would have a town dump and garbage service. Only half true. There is a garbage service, but they just rake trash into piles and burn it on the side of the road. No dump site necessary.

But most often in travel, I find I have expectations that I didn't even know I had. I expected the people of Fiji to be extremely exotic and different. They were different from me, but I swear every woman had the exact same hair cut. Round afro. I visited Yellowstone National Park and realized you could drive right up to every point of interest; no hiking required. Almost too easy. I don't know what I thought those places would be like, but I was taken aback when confronted with reality.

So we fly to India this Sunday. Expectations have already changed a little bit. Our team has changed a few members and we've only needed to fund one extra plane ticket. In essence, we reached our fundraising goal. Supply packages are arriving every day in the mail. We're trying to figure out exactly what and how to pack. And I sit here thinking about what India will be like. What are my expectations? People say it's crowded. They says there are lots of different smells [some good, some bad]. The say don't shake with your left hand and men and women don't associate much. India may be the most culturally foreign place I've ever been. Despite my best efforts to be flexible with my expectations, I can feel them building up.

I expect to be stressed out. I expect that working with the blind will be extremely challenging. I expect to laugh and play with kids and show them a good time. I expect that this adventure will change me. But I also expect to be a little bit like Oskar Schindler at the end. I expect that my hindsight will be clearer than my foresight. I will see my mistakes and know how I could have fixed them. I will realize that I could have done more.

So I will pray for wisdom and strength and courage. And I will try to do my best in the present. Because regardless of all preparations, I really don't know what to expect.

-Nick

change adds up

When I was little, coins were treasure. I remember running around the house, jamming my hands under couch cushions and digging through desk drawers. Each penny was a precious find. Every couple of weeks I would dump all my change on the carpet, carefully placing my coins in piles. Then I would sit in wonder at my richness. My richness of $3.28.

I don't count my change any more. I don't know when I stopped, but at some point I forgot that enough pennies equal a dollar—and change adds up.

On August 7, my friends and I are embarking on a journey. We are going to India for two weeks to put on a camp program for 160 blind, orphaned children—and there are only six of us. To be honest, I’ve felt overwhelmed at the thought of a team of six running a blind camp—but each time that wave hits I remember that, yes, we are six—but we are a mighty six. Our camp experience is broad and seasoned and our hearts are big and compassion-filled. With the promise of local staff involvement, I have no doubt we will give these kids an experience that they'll never forget.

The orphanage we are going to is supported by Asian Aid. They have asked us to go because these kids deserve to have the time of their lives. They deserve for people’s time, love, energy, and attention to be poured into who they are as beloved children of God. There's so much darkness in their lives—and we get to be the ones to bring them light.

I mentioned that there are six of us going on this trip—but that isn't completely true. There is potential for six, but at this point we only have funding for four. This means we need about $4,000 for the whole team to go. This means we need your help.

We've tentatively set a goal of raising this money by June 12—and I was flat out told today that it wouldn't happen. But, you know what? I think we can. I know for most of you reading this that finances are tight. I get that, believe me. But do you have a dollar or two? Because it's your dollar, and his five dollars, and her ten dollars that are going to get us there. After all, change adds up.

Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Now, I know this isn't a world-changing trip. But what if it is for one kid? That's what gets me excited. And if you feel compelled to give, that's why you should do it—for that one kid.

If you got all the way to the bottom of this, thank you. If you have felt compelled to give, thank you. If you are willing to pray for our team, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you—from the bottom of our hearts.

Love,

Tara and team