Taylor's Trip

Taylor - what an awesome child! Taylor has the faith of Job. For those of you that know and those of you that don't, Taylor and I talked about her going on a mission trip this summer. She was very excited about the idea. So, in passing I mentioned it to Tata (Bo's mom) and she told me that Nana Cheryl (Bo's godmother) was planning to go to Uganda. Well, me being the smart person that I am, said "wow, that would be awesome....where in the heck is Uganda?"

That was just a few short months ago. We had so much to do to get her ready and not much time AND she had to raise over $3000 cuz mom and Bo don't have that kind of pocket change. She did it! She worked so hard by cleaning houses, selling suckers, cleaning out the back yard after four dogs, having a garage sale (or trying to), washing countless loads of laundry and generally just being our slave. She did all of this and never once complained, never faultered, never questioned whether this trip would be worth all of her hard work. Taylor knew from the moment that this trip was an opportunity that she was being called to go.

Now don't you think for a minute that planning for this trip didn't have ups and downs. There has been a LOT of conflict about whether to send my beautiful, young daughter to Africa for two weeks without a parent. We have had people close to us questioning our decision along with friends who think we are crazy. But the ultimate decision was based on faith. Faith that God will protect her and her teammates, faith that God's light will shine through her smile to every person she comes in contact with and faith that this will only strengthen her own faith and love for herself and the world.

Taylor and I, at least from my perspective, have become very close during these last few months. We have spent much time together preparing her supplies, going to meetings, raising money and finally packing. What I have learned about her in the days preceeding her departure, is what I already knew...I love this child beyond belief and prayers need to be with anyone who may harm her (her Bo would take care of that but he would have to beat me there) and that for as much as I love this child, God loves her even more and I have been entrusted with her care for this time that we are here.

As I write this, it has been two days into the 14 that she will be gone. We patiently await any email that comes from the leaders of the mission trip but know that she is with a group that has experience, she is with Nana Cheryl but more importantly, GOD and MOM are with her!

Thank you for all the prayers, keep them coming!

Much love,
Lori