Planes, Trains, and Automibiles

The journey to our ministry destinations should be with as little distraction as possible. In order to plan for the best case scenario, we can prepare in advance so that we are ready to go forth in excellence. When we are aware of the mental and physical pitfalls that plague dance ministers, we can do our best to circumvent them. We may not always be able to intercept every negative occurrence, but we can minimize them as best we can.

When we travel to local events by car, it may not be a good idea not to wear our ministry garments on the way to the location. This can be crucial when attending events that may not provide dressing areas for changing. Garment wrinkling and the potential for getting stains on them increase as we get in and out of vehicles. A good suggestion would be to wear comfortable "praise garments" that can hide the required undergarments we need to wear with our ministry attire. This also makes changing clothes easier as opposed to removing jeans or buttoned shirts. If we wear a unitard or modest underclothes, we can often change our garments even in scenarios that provide little privacy. We can also be prepared to have a "makeshift" dressing room by bringing dark flat sheets with us in case of emergency.

Air travel can be fatiguing when attending national dance conferences or other special gatherings. It would be optimal to arrive the day before we have to dance, or early in the morning the day of so that we can be rested and prepared to minister without being exhausted. Planning to arrive early will also minimize anxiety in case of a missed or delayed flight. In order to avoid the inconvenience of having dance garments lost with our luggage, we should carry our must-have garments and related ministry items with us on the aircraft if possible.

Travel by train or bus often takes longer. Packing food and beverages to refresh us along the way will make us less irritable and allow us to remain focused. Drinking lots of liquids before ministry should be avoided, as well as eating right before we dance. If we practice good habits when journeying to share the gospel through movement, we will find that after we have ministered to our own needs sufficiently, we can more effectively serve others.

Genesis 42:5 (NKJV)
And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 42:25 (NKJV)
Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.

Joshua 9:12-14 (NKJV)
This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.” Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.

1 Kings 19:7-8 (NKJV)
And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.