World Vision Trip

Sri Lanka: Acknowledgments

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The last ten days have been inspiring and life-altering for me but none of the things I have written about would have happened without the love and help of so many people that I felt it appropriate to list a few of them here.

First of all I’d like to thank Matthew Paul Turner for considering me to go on this trip at all. We had never met in person and I know he took a risk asking me to come sight-unseen.  He may still well live to regret this decision when he finds the snake I cleverly hid in his luggage. (Just checking to see if you’re reading this, Matthew)

I also have to thank World Vision for investing in this trip by paying our traveling, lodging, and meal expenses. I only hope that the return on their investment in a lifetime of kids sponsored is an astounding success.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also thank Lindsey Minerva and Carla Gawthrop from World Vision for their leadership on this trip. Together they presented the perfect mix of cool confidence and amusing weirdness that was just what we needed to get us through the rough patches. Lindsey and Carla, I’d travel with either of you again pretty much anywhere.

From the World Vision team in Sri Lanka I have to thank our interpreter and communications specialist Hasanthi. I’ve never met a person who has been more patient and kind to a bunch of silly Americans than she is. She is a rare and beautiful shining light in Sri Lanka. Along with her I also have to mention our drivers Nixon and Manjula who (for all Matthew’s screaming) got us where we needed to be safely every time through some pretty harrowing traffic situations. They even provided an oldies soundtrack for some of it.

While mentioning the support team in country, I’d also like to thank the staffs of the Carolina Beach Hotel and Amagi Lagoon Resort for their amazing customer service and and attention to our needs during the few precious hours we had each day to write about our experiences. They made our live as easy as was physically possible. If I ever start a hotel chain I’m staffing it completely with Sri Lankans.

Many thanks to Joy, Allison, Roxy, Tony, Shawn, and Laura, my fellow bloggers on this trip who put up with my wise cracks and constant reminiscing about my childhood without (as would be understandable) leaving me stranded on the side of the road. They have the patience of Job and great shall be their reward in heaven. (Except for Tony because he doesn’t go in for that sort of thing.)

And last I need to acknowledge so many of you.  Our own RobM lent me the laptop that I’ve been using all week. Others of you sent gifts of money to help with my passport, immunizations, travel supplies, and other expenses. And most of all so many of you have offered words of encouragement, prayers for safety, and advice on dealing with charging cows. (Actually you didn’t do that last one but it would have come in handy if you had.)  You all share in the success of every child that is sponsored as a result of this trip.

I offer you all my weary, jet lagged thanks. It has been an amazing week.

Oh, and I’m taking tomorrow off.

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31 thoughts on “Sri Lanka: Acknowledgments”

        1. Yes sir! I’ve even seen (but not used) a turkish toilet. So far have been too nervous to try a bidet as well. Will prob eventually get myself in a situation that I have to use one or the other or both…

  3. Thank you, Darrell, for investing your time and leaving your family to take us on a trip so that we could learn about World Vision. I have greatly enjoyed it, even though it also hurt at times.

  5. Hey, didn’t God Himself say a day of rest was a pretty good idea? You deserve a day off. Enjoy it. 🙂

  7. Taking tomorrow off?? Wow you get back to the west and what is the first thing you do?? Take a day off… vacation’s over big guy, time to get back at the oars, beating the drum, cracking the whip.

    “You’ll want all day tomorrow, I suppose?” said Don Scrooge.

    “If quite convenient, Sir.”replied Darrell

    “It’s not convenient,” said Don Scrooge, “and it’s not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you’d think yourself ill-used, I ‘ll be bound?”

    Darrell smiled faintly.

    “And yet,” said Don Scrooge, “you don’t think me ill-used, when I a day blogging for no work.”

    Darrell observed that it was only for this special occasion.

    “A poor excuse for picking a man’s blog time!” said Don Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. “But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning!”

    BTW thanks for the reminder:

    “There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew: “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”

    In the imortal words of Marley (no… not Bob)

    “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

  8. Thank you, Darrell, for taking us along on your trip, and sharing some amazing experiences and fantastic photos. Rest up tomorrow.

  11. Really enjoyed all of your posts from Sri Lanka. Thank you for your willingness to be used By His Grace and For His Glory!

  12. That must’ve been an awesome trip Darrell! Thanks so much for all the great posts and the insight into the country and children there. Enjoy your day off…I think you’ve earned it. 😉

  14. Darrell,
    Thanks for all the posts while you were on your trip. I read them all and profited greatly. I hope God increases the fruit of your labor exponentially and many people pick up the mantle of sponsorship.

  15. Wonderful photos, priceless insights. I’ve the sneaky feeling this site is going to take a new and interesting turn. 😎

  16. Welcome Home! Enjoyed the photos and posts. Reminds us how “wealthy” Americans really are! And also how blessed to serve a risen Savior!

    My bass player is heading to Romania on the 17th for a missions trip, he went last year and it had an enormous impact on him!

  17. Hey, Darrell, it’s time I said thanks for all your reports about Sri Lanka and World Vision. I haven’t commented much because I don’t have anything snarky or satirical to say about those subjects, but be assured that I read all the stories and appreciate them!

    Welcome back!

  18. Thank you again. I continue to read and re-read these post. You have left such an indelible impression on my mind. I can’t even begin to imagine what must be on yours. Thank you!

    2. Cassie we do appreciate you.
      Especially for putting up with D and allowing him to come out and play with us here on the Cyber-playground.

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