Mission Trip

I came out to Tucson to help my friend Tony and his family. I just felt God’s push and I was on a plane 1 day later. I thought I would be praying with him a bit and helping him research different treatments for cancer. I’m trying to walk through life not expecting much…not giving thought to what might happen and how things are going to unfold. I want to just BE…I want to stay present and let life happen. I’ve always wanted to live this way and I have researched, read and trained myself to live like this but unfortunately not until Jessica’s passing have I been so successful. I enjoy the unexpected and gain strength and wisdom by letting life just happen…letting God handle my path…It’s a relief to be honest. So I’m on the flight back to Chicago and I’ve realized that this was my first mission trip. I walked through this very difficult experience with Tony and surprisingly with his family. I felt like a close cousin by the time I left and it felt so good to hear Tony and his mother tell me how much I did for them during this dark time. I prayed with Tony, I explained faith to him, we cried together, I consoled him, I answered questions about God when I could, I helped him release some of his burden and helped him grow as a husband, son, brother, caregiver and as a Believer. I was able to lead his family in prayer, help bring positivity & light into the situation and help them realize that everything is in God’s hands…but to walk in faith and not fear. I might have gained more out of it then they did. They took me in during one of the most personal, sacred and intense situations they’ve encountered. I was able to see the true love this family has for each other, to actually feel it…like the sun radiating on our face during a hot day. I cried with them and felt their fear. I did my best to be a positive light glowing in that little hospital room and trying to hide my difficulty at times…reliving some extremely traumatic memories in my mind. I wouldn’t have control over them and sometimes I felt like time slowed and I was swished back to a moment with Jessica in one of the several dozen hospital stays…it was a bit torturous at times. But I knew that each and every experience with her helped prepare me to better aid my friend and his family. I feel as though I have honored her well and I made a positive difference in a few peoples lives. This is why God put me here, is to help…and so I am going to do just that. Jessica and I are both going to so just that.