Preparations

If you were to get a glimpse into the 10 households where the Dominican Republic Mission Team members live, I'll bet you could identify with most of the activity as we get ready to leave for our trip.

In at least one house you'd actually see a couple of bags ready to be loaded up for the 4 a.m. rendezvous at Dulles Airport on Saturday. In another house or two you'd find a pile of clothes recently bought to match the requirements on the packing list. In yet another house, the traveler is trying to remember just which safe place holds that precious passport. I can tell you that in my house there are lists made and items sorted... none of it is actually packed. But, hey, we don't leave for another 54 hours!!

As the DR 2008 team prepares to leave, we are bundles of excitement and anxiety. But there are other emotions, too. We know behind each of us are the faces of the St. Anne's community we represent. During our evening meetings, we will express our thanks for the congregation we've temporarily left behind. And when we return, I hope that we'll be able to find the words to tell you just how much we appreciate the opportunity to be part of St. Anne's family out in God's wondrous, wide world.