Traveling

You know, as much as I HATE to fly (and I mean hate...palms sweating, gripping the seat during every bit of turbulence, picturing the plane suddenly dropping out of the sky...yes, I've seen too many movies), I have a real passion for traveling. There is nothing like getting out of your comfort zone, leaving your little 'bubble' and seeing another part of the world. It is intoxicating. When you do it once, you can't wait to do it again.

I'll never forget our honeymoon in Cuba. The beautiful beaches, the trees and flowers I never seen in Canada, the gorgeous smells (sea air, tropical breezes). It's almost magical. When i was in Medellin Colombia there were so many moments when I was reminded of Cuba. Standing outside in late November drinking in the smell of orchids and cala lillies, hearing the birds sing. It made me miss Joel so bad that it hurt. It was very hard to be there without Joel, but I know I wouldn't have had the same experience, I wouldn't have felt the need to depend more on God, if I'd had my best friend and security 'blanket' along. I guess Joel's my foofi :) (those of you who know us will know what I'm talking about).

Lately I've been having the desire to travel again. Joel and I are hoping to go away for our tenth wedding anniversary in 2 years, so I know I'll be going away then. But something inside me yearns to dive into another different culture again and see how God is working in places extremely different from my own. Maybe this desire has been coming to the surface of my mind lately because of all of the LaTienda demonstrations I've been doing. Watching the DVD from the Dominican I know is only a small picture of what it's really like there. I wish that every single Canadian would have the opportunity to go to a country like Colombia, or Dominican Republic to see the way other people live. It certainly gives you perspective on our lives here in North America. We are so spoiled. We are complainers. We are so RICH. We are so bombarded with stuff. With extra-curricular activities, with meetings, with shopping. I was reading an Oprah magazine the other day and the front page says "Let's Shop". It's all about the best places to get such-and-such. It made me sick. The facial products, the handbags, the designer clothes. I just cannot fathom paying $100 for a bottle of facial cream, or $150 for a purse. I don't know how people can justify spending that kind of money on stuff. I'm not saying that I don't have too much stuff (I know that I do), but I'd like to think I'm pretty conservative with the things I buy.

I really don't want this entry to be me dissing people that do enjoy spending money on good, expensive things. I don't think that I judge other people for this (I try hard not to anyway), it's just that I can't understand it. That's why I'm so interested in helping to raise money for these women in the Dominican who can't afford to feed their children on a daily basis. A friend of mine wondered how positive it is feeding people's desires to shop by selling them products to encourage them to give money to help the women, but what I like about it is that it gives the women empowerment. To know that they are earning the money on their own, by creating beautiful things that us "rich people" want to buy! I think it's so wonderful.

Anyway, maybe I've gotten off my topic of travelling a little. Maybe not. Maybe someday I'll get to visit these amazing women from LaTienda (especially Rachel, who chooses to be there, despite her fears and daily challenges). I don't know what God has in store, but I can't wait to find out. It's all about leaving yourself open to God's guiding you. I'll share some bits from Fresh Brewed Life next week, she talks about finding out your purpose on this earth. It's pretty great.

Anyway, gotta run, later gator

Mel