Many of us have traveled at some point in our lives and with travel comes the inevitable task of packing. What do I bring? How much do I need? Will it fit? When flying, you add another question... is it too heavy?
If you have never gone on a medical mission trip before, you haven't experienced the organized chaos that takes place when packing. The first term you need to learn is action packer. No... this isn't another name for Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers. An action packer is a black tote that we fill with items needed for the trip. When filling an action packer, there are two rules to follow:
1.) Create a list of everything in that action packer to reduce the number of issues with customs.
2.) Make sure the action packer doesn't weigh more than 50 lbs.
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| Sorting medication and supplies prior to filling the action packers. |
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Throughout the day, we worked on filling our action packers. The dental group focused on their materials and supplies with medical and optical doing the same. At some point, we ran out of action packers and still had more materials we needed to pack. Thankfully, the Chincha group rolled in around 3:00pm so we were able to take their action packers, do a quick inventory, and resume packing.
The action packers are numbered and tagged with a person's name. That person is provided with a list of its contents. This list is very important since Customs officials don't like to hear, "I don't know what's in my suitcase" or "I didn't pack my own bags." Apparently this happened to one unfortunate person on the Simpango trip. I'm sure the TSA people gave him some funny looks as he was trying to carry on 30 lbs liquid (several full-sized bottles of lotion and soap).
In just four short days, we leave for Cartagena, Colombia. This is the first trip mission trip Woodlands has taken to region and we are all very excited and anxious to go. When thinking about missions, the sermon today provides excellent support for why we go on missions.
"Expect great things from God.
Attempt great things for God."
Prayer Requests:
- Safe travels to Cartagena with little to no interference with customs.
- All our luggage and action packers arrive :)
- That the hearts and minds of the Colombian people be open to receiving Christ.
- That God to be with us and guide us as we do His work in Cartegena.
