It's My Life - Melody Carlson [22]
“Well, I just can't go, that's all. I'm sorry. But I know you'll have a great time. And Andrea will be there for you to hang with–”
“Beanie! Andrea is not you! Now, don't you remember you promised me you'd come? We had a deal. Remember?”
Her dark eyes got really big. “Oh, Cate, I forgot all about that. Oh, I'm so sorry.”
To my huge relief, Steph walked in right then. And I turned toward her and, with a wink, said, “I can't believe her, Steph! Beanie's telling me she can't go on the Mexico missions trip now, and she promised me–”
Beanie came up from behind. “Oh, I'm so sorry, Caitlin!” I could hear a sob in her voice and I turned around to see great big tears streaming down her cheeks. And let me tell you, I felt like a total crud bucket about then.
“Hang on a minute, everyone,” called Steph as she swooped up Oliver who was watching us both with that typical toddler, wide-eyed curiosity. “Beanie,” said Steph, “I just spoke to Tony, and it's all worked out. You can go! The problem is solved. And Zach can go too.”
Beanie just seemed to melt in relief about then, and feeling like an absolute lowlife slimeball, I threw my arms around her. “Oh, I'm so glad you're coming! I really wanted you to come.”
She wiped her nose on her baggy sweatshirt sleeve. “I wanted to come too. I really did.”
“Well, you better go change then, unless you want to go to the missions meeting looking like the baby-sitter queen. And if you hurry, we'll still have time to grab a burger before it starts.”
She dashed off and I rolled my eyes at Steph. “I can't believe what an idiot I can be sometimes,” I said quietly as I poured myself a glass of water. “I was just trying to be dramatic.”
Steph laughed. “Well, maybe Beanie's had enough drama to last her a while.”
I nodded. “No doubt.”
“And good job on blessing that corporation,” she whispered as Beanie came out looking fresh and pretty in a sundress and sandals.
“Gosh,” said Beanie as she pecked little Oliver on the cheek. “I feel just like Cinderella, getting to go to the ball after I'd given up all hope.”
I laughed but wisely didn't mention that Rita at work had just been playing fairy godmother.
Sunday, August 12 (for Clay!)
After a whirlwind week of working and missions meetings and Spanish tapes and packing and repacking (we can only take one big suitcase and one small bag), we finally loaded all twenty-seven of us onto a big bus this morning (after a quick prayer meeting where half the congregation came to show their support). And now we're off! Ariba! Ariba! (which means “hurry up”). But as a consequence of this incredibly hectic week, I've missed writing in my diary, but now plan to keep careful notes (and take lots of photos) during the entire trip.
And I do want to take a moment to note here how we've dedicated this whole trip to Clay Berringer's memory. We all feel if it hadn't been for him, we wouldn't even be going now. And while Pastor Tony was praying for us this morning, it was almost as if we could feel Clay's presence with us. And all week long, while we've been going to meetings and struggling with our Spanish, or whatever challenges, we've all started this habit of raising a victorious fist and saying “For Clay!” So I guess that's the motto for our trip–For Clay! And of course, we know it's for Jesus (we're not stupid or starting some cult or anything), but it's because of the way that Jesus used Clay's life to touch ours that we think maybe our lives can be used to touch those people in the village where we're heading.
We've been praying for some of these people all week. We even have a list of names to pray for–not everyone, but quite a few. A local pastor wrote them down for us so we could pray for real names like Juanita and Miguel and Hernando and Maria. Our main mission is to help at an orphanage, to build and repair some buildings, and work with the orphan kids and stuff. And just last night, Greg (our fearless leader) gave us this little speech about how we need to be prepared for anything and everything and how this trip wasn't for