Packing Day: Sunday, October 27th, 2019

There is a favorite scene of mine in Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows, where the animals prepare to assault and regain Toad Hall.  Rat is put in charge of packing for the little band:  "The Rat, on the other hand, was running round the room busily, with his arms full of weapons of every kind, distributing them in four little heaps on the floor, and saying excitedly under his breath, as he ran, "Here's-a-sword-for-the-Rat, here's-sword-for-the-Mole..."  I am reminded that we leave for French Polynesia Tuesday morning, preparing for spiritual warfare.  Before me on the footstool are in no particular order: an Ipad, binoculars, reef shoes, sun hat and bandana, headphones, vintage map of Tahiti and the Society Islands (which shows the old hiking trails and spots no longer shown on modern maps... forgive us our trespasses...) map case, Dave Dyrud's guide to reaching your neighbors for Christ, first aid kit in a zip lock, swim goggles, sun screen, different brand of sun screen, three bags of Starbucks coffee as gifts for friends new and old, outfits for a young mom who ordered them for her family photo, English Foundations from Village Ministries, 2x Foundations in French, newly revised by friends in Uganda, power converters for the strange plugs, my careworn Tahiti Journal, a CD of Bob Montgomery Jazz to demo for a possible Jazz festival in 2020, and a SURFBOARD, which we're bringing for a client of Gerard (Poi) Smith's, a dear friend and prayer partner, and former Director of Christian Surfers Tahiti.  In my carry on, my computer, phone, passport, and various wiry things for devices.  Whew!  Now for clothes: swimsuit, shorts, tropical shirts, sandals.  Ha.

How deeply we appreciate your prayers.