I set off on my next adventure with Manna Worldwide at 5am this morning. The
world’s best mom took Lammy and me to airport. I think it’s a thing that Mom
and Lammy have now….and yes my mom packed Lammy in the car first
thing…even before my bags!

What’s the story with Lammy? He was given to me by a 7 year old who tries to
learn new languages with me as I go and serve kids around the world. I would
say Lala Salama and he would say la la on your lama! So he gave me this
llama to take with me all over the world and make kids laugh.

Back story to my mom and Lammy: in August when my dad and I took the team
to Nicaragua, I was walking on the bus that was driving us down to O’Hare in
Chicago and my mom asked me where Lammy was? I said in my bag…the world
traveling llama has his own spot sticking out of my back pack. Mom then said
that he is not. I was devastated! I packed him in my bag but with all the
team stuff I was carrying I must have lost him along the packing and
repacking of my bag. I sat down on the bus and started crying (ok it was 4am
and I hadn’t been to bed yet). I had to make arrangements for my Lammy to go
spend the week with Uncle Mario and then I get a text from my mom. It’s a
picture of Lammy driving on the freeway! Mom said, “I found him on the floor
at your house crying beccause he was left behind!” She then drove him down
to O’Hare at 4am so he could make his flight! When she got to the airport
she called to have me run out and get him. I will never forget the look on
my dad’s face when I say, “Dad, can you run outside really fast to meet
mom?” He was like “Mom is here?” and took off running. I was helping the
team check in so I couldn’t leave to go hug my mom for being so awesome. My
dad’s face as he walk in holding Lammy was priceless! As he handed him over
he says, “I hope you know how much your mom loves you!”

It made me stop and think about why I started crying on the bus when I
didn’t have him with me. I would have to say it’s because Lammy has been as
much of a surprise as these trips. I go to serve and pour love on kids –
make them smile – but they show me more love and pour so much more into me.
I know my mom loves me, but the fact that she drove 4 hours just so I could
have Lammy with me really made me think about how blessed I am! As I walked
onto the plane I started to crying again. It’s not about the what so much
it’s about the why.

I have no idea what all I will be doing on this trip. It’s hard to pack
and plan for what you don’t know but I know that I am willing to pour out
all I have and I have amazing team of people back home that pour into me so
that Lammy and I can go be a light to some amazing kids! Thank you for the
part that you play in our story (Lammy & I). We miss you a lot when we are
gone but it’s because of you we are able to do things like this!

Lammy and I heading to the gate for the first flight!

Just chilling out side on the hammock writing the blog =)