I’ve filled three passports with visa stamps since I got my first one. But my current travel document has been neglected of late. It’s been sitting in the top drawer of the bureau I inherited from my Oupa. The oak bureau that was already old before I was born. The one that made the journey from Holland to South Africa several lifetimes ago before it ever could have imagined traveling with me to the States.
It holds secrets and treasures.
And for more than two years now it’s held my unused passport – my green and gold ticket home. I’m bringing that passport out of retirement. But not for the reason I would have imagined. Not for the jacaranda trees and gumboot rhythms of Africa. Not for the tight, tight hugs of homecoming. Not for the smell of the veld and the sound of several languages all spoken loudly at once.
No, it’s time to get my passport back in the game because someone asked me to be a bridge.
Someone asked me to be a window. Someone asked me to be a voice. Someone asked me to tell a story. And my passport winked at me. I’ve lived in or spent time in at least 17 countries and none of them in South or Central America. I speak three (and a half) languages and none of them Spanish. But my passport thinks that’s irrelevant.
So I said, yes.
Yes to traveling with Compassion International to Guatemala in the fall. Yes, to looking at the world through someone else’s eyes. Yes, to building a bridge between two worlds – using only my words.
Will you cross it with me?
Because if travel has taught me anything, it’s that under all our differences, we are all the same. We love, we ache, we cry. We eat, we sing, we laugh. Toddlers take first steps and parents hold their hearts in their hands. Siblings fight and make up harder than friends and the seasons keep changing no matter how much we might want time to stand still.
We are all molded in the same image, no matter what language we speak. And when the Potter asks, there is only one answer.
So I said, yes. Yes and thank you.
On behalf of my passport and my heart.
Chills from head to toe. So pleased for you, for Compassion, for every set of eyes you will look into, every hand that will reach for yours, touching your heart in such a way that will leave it forever changed. So many of us go with you in spirit. Praying for you to be greatly used.
What a wonderful reason to use your passport again. A amazing opportunity. God bless Compassion. May everyone you meet touch your heart and soul. I know that I will be excited to read your words on the trip. Xxx
OH, LISA!!! CONGRATULATIONS! So, so excited to read this! I’m dancing for you now! I cannot wait to hear what God does through you and the entire team! WOW! Just wow!
wonderful, wonderful! What a great opportunity for you, and for your blog friends! I’m excited already to think about what the Lord will do!
My passport can’t wait to meet your passport and our prayers will join hands and children will run free and loved and full of the Jesus-hope!
You can’t imagine how I’m smiling.
Who knew a Canadian farmer’s wife and a South African girl living Stateside would one day travel together to serve the most important people in the world – children. Well, I know who knew. And I’m so very very glad He did.
Yes! Congratulations! Compassion is such a wonderful organization, and I’m so happy that you get to travel with them and share Jesus with the children of Guatemala. And who knows? Maybe you’ll come back with the desire to learn Spanish, too? ;) Can’t wait to read about your trip this fall!
Absolutely – sign me up for Spanish!!
oh so excited for you!!! even though it’s not africa…can’t wait to hear all of the stories, people, and things you’ll experience :)
I know – I can’t wait to step into a new culture and see the world through a whole new set of eyes!
How exciting! I hope your journey is an incredible one!
Oh my friend! I cannot wait to see this through your eyes. What a wonderful opportunity! So very happy for you. And praying, even now, for powerful words.
Oh yes please – keep ’em coming! I will need strong words for building a good bridge so that folks can cross it from both sides.
EEEEEEE!!!! How awesome and so exciting! Will be praying starting now that God uses this in great ways.
I. HAVE. CHILLS. Literally shaking right now. And crying too. Are you serious, sweet and dear and wonderful friend??
My heart will hold you (and your passport) close, so close, in deep prayer in these coming months, weeks, days. And I’m guessing I will eventually stop shaking and these tears will stop. But I kinda hope not.
I love you, and love your heart and cannot wait to live through you in the September.
Oh sweet Ashleigh, you humble me with your words. And really, this trip will be easier (and more difficult) because it will be one without my kids in tow. Thank you for your generous friendship. And I can’t wait to be roomies in October and catch up on all our travel tales in person!
So! Excited! For! You!
You’re voice on behalf of those who have none will be beautiful. Bringing their stories to life, sharing the heart of Compassion? You’re a perfect choice for this trip.
I know what’s in store for y’all (at least to a degree). Oh, how I wish I could share it with you side-by-side.
At least I’ll have your words :).
xo
Oh Robin – I can’t wait to share some of those words in person with you to compare travel stories and encouragement. Thank you for always being a voice of *joy* to me!
So very excited for you!! I would love to do this someday too ~ and can’t wait to see this through your eyes!
So thrilled for you! What a team! Can’t wait to support and follow the journey. xo
Girl, any and all tips welcome! To walk in the footsteps of so many beautiful Compassion bloggers who have traveled before us, is a privilege indeed!!
Wow, that IS exciting! I can’t wait to read about it all!
I can’t wait to either ;)
Wheeeeeeeeeeee! I am so incredibly excited for you girl! Both you and Linds get to go! You will LOVE LOVE LOVE Guatemala – the people are so amazing. We went in 2003 to build a Compassion International center there and it was like no where I’ve ever been… we ended up going back 3 months later because we couldn’t get Guatemala out of our hearts… when we returned, some of the workers came running up to me and yelled in spanish, “Jenny! My sister in Christ! My sister my sister!” and it was so incredible… I will be praying for you guys and am soooooo excited for you :) yaya!
To travel with this team – to build bridges of words together – ah.ma.zing! Thank you for your enthusiasm, Jenny, it makes me smile so BIG!
Oh wow. My heart is so full for you. Will be bathing you in prayer.
Thank you, thank you sweet friend!
That is so exciting! I love that this will be a new place for you as well! Praying.
Amazing. I am SO excited for you, my friend!!! I can’t imagine anyone who can better put what you see into heart-speaking words.
Awesome! You will love Guatemala; the people have such a sweet spirit & truly are content in all things. What part will u be going to?
I don’t know yet. But will absolutely share all details as they become available!
I am so excited for you! I love Compassion! I can’t wait to see what God does in your life through this trip. I’m thinking I should start buying Kleenex now since every Compassion Bloggers trip blog post leaves me a sniffling, mascara stained, puffy eyes & nose mess.
Love you friend. Gonna start praying for you now that God would even prepare you from this moment for those moments.
Thank you! And yes, I always make sure I am wearing waterproof mascara before reading any Compassion posts!
i’m really excited for you. for lots of reasons. and you are going with some stellar people, LJ. wow. this is gonna be one amazing trip!
Good gravy, don’t I know it! More reason to make sure I pack extra Dramamine so that I don’t puke on any of them!
Wow.
OH MY.
Blow me away.
Wow.
I’m soooooo excited for you!
This is going to be AMAZING.
Starting to pray for you NOW. Great things are in store.
xoxo
You always, always make me grin. Like x4!!
Lisa Jo!! For a moment I thought you were coming home. I got so thrilled.
That time will come. It will. I have faith and prayers to meet up with you here, or in the states, but here preferably (for both of us) at some point.
I believe that.
But, in the time being…ahhhhh!!!! You will Guatemala! I spent a summer there in 05 leading and running teams for OneHope. Oh the precious little babes there.
I can’t wait to read and travel with you there, here.
….I will continue soaking this all in. You’d be so proud. I love the colors, light to dark and everything in between talking and laughing and cheering together; Jesus has come and used the spirit to break down fear. Its lovely. So so lovely here now.
Oh Bekah – I could live in those words of yours! Yes, the shades of love in so many colors in my South Africa. Thank you thank you for loving them so well! We need more of you!
Yes…yes, call me Boo! I would LOVE that! My closest girlfriends call me that. It started out as bekah boo, but then it was B boo, and now its just Boo.
OH! WOW! So excited for you!!
Beautiful, beautiful gift you have…to paint pictures with words. I’m excited for you for the job, the opportunity, for God using you so directly and just for YOU.
Did you feel that? I just reached right through my computer screen and ((hugged)) you tight!! Thank you for saying hello in this space. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your friendship. Let’s do the hug thing for real on Sunday, ok?
P.S.
I’ve never even HAD a passport!!!!! :) Keep on filling them up for me! Keep on posting here so that I can travel around the globe with you!
I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to see it all through your eyes! Praying for you as you prepare for your trip.
Don’t know you…but saw your twitter name/blog address through Amanda Jones’s and clicked on your blog to check it out. :) What an amazing opportunity!! I went to Guatemala last year with my school and the missions organization Buckner and it was amazing. We went to Xela!! The people are so beautiful–full of love and grace that I know you will love it regardless of the language barrier. Can’t wait to follow along with all yalls blogs and see where exactly you end up. :)
Many blessings in Him!
Hey there Elizabeth – thanks for saying hi, and for the lovely encouragement. I am so very excited to be part of this team. What a privilege to go walk around in someone else’s shoes!
You know I am beyond words proud of you and awed by you and amazed by you. And this. And this beautiful life changing journey you will be taking.
I have no words for how in-my-gut emotional I am thinking about you and Ann and the rest of this team on this journey. Every one of the Compassion blogger trips, reading their stories, has molded me and challenged me and changed me forever. It’s perfection that I’ll get to read through your heart and see through your lens and walk that bridge with you and experience the love.
Love you,
Arianne
Please come over right now so I can hug you…mmm’kay?!!
That is AWESOME!!!! I can’t wait to hear all about it!!!
In person, in October, you will! It’s a date!
Oh, I am SO EXCITED (and dare I say, jealous!) of your trip! Amazing. I cannot wait to hear every word. I’ll be praying!
Oh man – I was just watching your World Vision video tonight with Mari Luz…goosebumps, smiles, chills! Thank you for already showing us what a human bridge looks like. What a joy to walk in those footsteps!
How amazing! What an adventure that will be! Would love to be able to combine writing and missions in one…
Um, hello? Girl – that’s totally what you ARE doing!! ;) Thank you, thank you for loving on my South Africa and sharing about it on your blog!!
Awesome! Your words will bless and impact and motivate so many…as they already do!
I can’t begin to tell you how jealous and happy I am for you! We adopted our son Gabriel from Guatemala three years ago and I fell in love with that country. My heart will always belong there. I wish you the very best during your travels and know that God has awesome plans for you and your group while you are there!!
WOW, what a fun thing to get to do! You’re perfect for it too, you are insightful and quietly profound, and you love people… can’t wait to read about your experiences…
Just got filled in on this – and I am so excited because I am IN Guatemala!!!! :)