Guest Blogger: Andrew L.

I'm having a blast. I'm disconnected, somewhat tired, and have totally lost all concept of the passing of time, but it's some of the best stuff that's happened for a long time.

The first full day brought a ropes course and an opportunity to do things we originally thought to be impossible. We were there to encourage and comfort each other, setting a precedence for the rest of a tour. Hey mom- I jumped off a telephone pole.

Last night was fairly intense. The opening concert went tremendously well, and I did another thing just outside of my bubble: I practically killed myself playing soccer with the kids at Cookson Hills.

Figuring out the logistics of setting up the sound system, assigning tasks, and making sure that everything was working took a lot out of me. I got to thinking farther ahead and faster than I should have and started to snap at everyone. I had to take a break from what I was doing to think about it. I realized that I couldn't have complete control over everything. If I tried, I would freak out, and if I managed to hold myself together long enough, things would have major problems.

And then, those kids made me think about the tendency I have to make decisions about people and situations before I have the chance to experience them. We think of poverty as a distant problem, as something that affects someone else. And we're right on one thing- it does affect someone else. A lot of someone elses. And those someone elses have the same hopes and dreams that I have.

I'm learning, even if it's actually only helping me put words to it, that I can't control my situations and expect things to work out peachily. I've got to try new things, learn new things, experience new things, and meet new people, and hope and trust that God has a purpose in it.

Because when He's in control, the smoke still leaks out of equipment every once in a while. But there's always a way to recover and be all the stronger through it.