Fierce Pride and Questions

Ok, that was a neat trip. We left friday morning and made a few stops along the way (dropping off gaffer, starbucks fill up etc) and we drove and drove and drove. Within half an hour of driving, i needed a nap. so i crashed for 30 minutes then we drove some more. almost got lost in montreal, but didn't. (why oh why do they not have clearly marked signs?) then we got to the border and met up with our team. (they left before us but we caught up to them, they got lost a lot) then we convoyed through vermont. could there be a prettier state? of course i think every state is beautiful...except for missouri, minnesota (?) i believe it's below northern ontario and i just want to say that duluth is ugly. i mean, really really ugly. you drive through thunderbay towards the border and you follow the lake and it's gorgeous, but duluth? ewww. anyways, as the mountains started to get a bit bigger, we had arrived in washington. population 1000. fabulous. very pretty. quaint. but not gorgeous.
anyways, we checked in then ran to the grocery store to stock up and i noticed to my delight a dollar store! so i ran in. i spent 12 bucks on garden ornaments. so lovely! then helped get the rest of the groceries. note to self: do not buy groceries with 6 women. it makes you a little crazy. then we got back and sat down to the first talk.
doug talked about mud-outs. which is what has to happen when someone's basement gets destroyed through flooding. and the volunteers go in and pump out the water, spray for mold, remove debris, clean, clean, clean. it looked really really hard. but during that time, you are supposed to talk to people. to sit down with them and share the love of Christ. very cool. so we heard stories and such. then we went to bed. too many women in one room. i barely slept. yes, i woke up crabby. but i did get a latte.
so we started the next morning learning about what to put in the mud-out trailer and then we talked about how to feed 1000 people. that was fun. and then we made lunch as a team. i chose to wash dishes. i even got to talk to S which was nice. met a crazy lady.
we also attended their memorial day service. only 20 people showed up. and as it began, i started to cry. i couldn't stop. they spoke about how people gave their lives for their freedom (sorry, 'our' freedom) how they were proud of them. how it was so important to fight for our freedom. for others who were in bondage and slavery. and then we prayed. and then came a few stories. and then we met a few people who had served. a man here served in vietnam. another man had just returned from iraq after serving for 4 years. another woman had lost a son over there. they read the names of the 18 from that town that had died. and i cried. i cried because i felt for them. i know nothing about the war except that it needs to happen. it doesn't mean i like it. but it has to be done. they are so proud of their kids over there. so proud. and it made me cry because they are so passionate about it. they know there is a good chance they'll die. but they do it for their country. and it made me so angry at people who are against the war. all this 'peace' stuff. yeah? who's going to fight for the women who are being abused? the kids who are left alone? the cities being destroyed because someone is greedy? and i wanted to slap everyone i know who is against the war, because they are shaming and disrespecting those who are fighting for freedom. and i cried. their pride was beautiful.

the rest of the day went well, and then we took off for our long drive home. we did stop at a ben and jerry's though and i can't believe the flavours they have! woohoo! a couple of lactaid later and i was set.

hubby and i were quiet all the way home. just thinking. just wondering. how soon will it be before we get a call to go? will we be able to go? can i do it?