Dateline: July 16. From over a quickly fading European shoreline

Travelling internationally does strange things to your mind. Even though everyone onboard speaks English, I have to suppress a strange inclination to answer every question in Italian, and to shake my head Albanian-style, which is just the opposite of everywhere else in the world (side-to-side means yes, and up and down means no). Something strange within me draws me to eat British airline food, a combination of two of the most sadistic culinary traditions on earth. I suppose it's the same case of temporary travel insanity that leads me to imagine the clouds below as huge fluffy mattresses to the point that I'm ready to break through the window and jump out so I can lay down on them. Anything to escape these seats which apparently were designed for the height and width of Ethiopian midgets. Not that I'm complaining.

What would compel a person to endure such a voyage? Three words: short term missions. Or maybe there's a hyphen in there and it's only two words. Regardless, the gains from even the briefest journey to see how God is working in other parts of the globe is worth every minute of having the lady in front of you lean her backrest practically into your lap.

When singing the praises of short term missions, it's difficult to know on what verse to begin. Of course, simply experiencing a different culture is wonderful. The popularity of trips abroad in the secular world attests to that fact. But when on a missions trip, there are lots of other great benefits, like connecting with Christians from that culture and knowing that the Holy Spirit is not only American.

And did you know that Cornerstone supports and has connections with some of the best missionaries in the world? Sometimes I look at our missionaries and wonder how they can maintain vision and a godly attitude so well, even in the midst of incredible frustration. Our missionaries love it when we visit them, and it's great to connect with other members of the Cornerstone family - people with the same love of worship, the same values, and even the same vocabulary, overusing words like "paradigm", "vision" and "stronghold" just as much as we do.

Short term missions can change your life by broadening your understanding of the world and giving you a greater love for God's people. Next time you get the chance, go.

ADDENDUM July 18

Our luggage stayed in London a day longer than we did. It was still worth it.