This video is from Jen and Ben Beachy, the couple that I will be working alongside in Haiti. They just visited Haiti last week and will be headed there in July! I thought this video gave a good, brief overview of what it will look like for me to be living in Haiti. Enjoy!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
God Provides
Since December, when I made it official that I was moving to Haiti, I have struggled with this idea of living in the "Land in Between". I don't feel fully here, yet I don't feel fully in Haiti...it has been this tension of seeing change happening around me, friends moving on, the world continuing to revolve, and me just watching it all go by...balanced with this conflicting feeling of excitement, nervousness, and expectation of just wanting to finally get started in Haiti. I felt stuck.
The Land in Between.
Like I'm living this epic movie, yet without all the greatness!
It's this waiting, waiting, waiting...
And in the waiting is where my mind can go crazy! I think all these thoughts, daydream all these plans, gather all these worries, and end up totally missing the present...the beauty of living here and now, fully alive right where God has me. And yet, I "know" (in my head) that it is in the waiting that God does His work.
Yet, I have felt and expected some of the worst outcomes...my parents won't be supportive, I will be miserable and alone in this process and journey, what in the world will I do when I get back, how will I financially do all of this, and how can I possibly handle a spring schedule of work, two grad classes, getting tenure, and planning for Haiti in a healthy way! All of these things I have been asking and thinking.
And then I finally let God break through:
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us"
Exceedingly: to a very great or unusual degree; extremely; exceptionally
Abundantly: present in great quantity; more than adequate; plentiful; in abundance
In my finite mind, I have been asking God these questions and thinking I know what is best... and then BOOM, He totally surprises me...
Exceedingly, extremely, exceptionally
Abundantly, plentifully, more than enough
He Provides...
- My parents have been MORE THAN supportive
- I have seen the goodness of friends, family, and people I didn't even know 3 months ago reaching out to support and encourage me more than I could have ever imagined
- Multiple connections have been provided for possible job opportunities in the future
- UNBELIEVABLE things have happened with my finances for Haiti and grad school (seriously, unbelievable!!!)
- And my crazy schedule that I just about had a meltdown over...it has been peaceful, possible, and enjoyable...even allowing me to have new experiences, new friendships, and lots of time to play, which is obviously high on my priority list :)
And none of this has been because of MY doing. All of these things literally have just 'happened'. It really has been according to this power that is working in me. The Spirit. No matter how hard I tried or worked to provide these things for myself, it was impossible. Impossible in my hands, but not in Gods. In His way, in His timing.
God Provides...that's all I can say. We can doubt, question, fight, and even run from God all we want. But if we truly seek Him first (even with only the faith of a mustard seed) He provides. And greater than what we can even ask or think for ourselves. EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY MORE!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Beginnings...
So what do I write for my first post of such a great adventure??? I haven't the slightest idea! But, I do know that when I was in Haiti in June, there were some people and things that touched my heart. I would like to share with you a few of those stories and pictures. To hear more about my journey in deciding to go to Haiti, check out the My Story tab above. Enjoy!
1. This is me...and Kimberly!! The Haitian version...We were playing with the kids in the tent village of Canaan and all of the sudden I see this little girl sprint over and join right in. She was so feisty and energetic. We immediately clicked. As we played, I began picking her up and doing flips with her. Well, the first flip was quite an experience...as I turned her over, her dress flew up and...NO underwear! You can imagine my face...all I could do was laugh. Here was this little girl, hair everywhere, no underwear, no shoes...yet so full of life! And she shared my name...how cool!
2. This is Jacques and Junior. They work for AwakenHaiti as translators. When teams come for trips, they travel around with them translating and just helping them learn about Haiti and the culture. Let me tell you, it is sooooo comforting to have these guys with you...they know the language, the culture, the customs, and how to get around. We went to a beach our last day there and it came up that they didn't really know how to swim that well. They said they could keep themselves up, but didn't know any strokes, etc. Well...that was an understatement. I put a life vest on the first one and we started heading out to a dock about 50 feet off the shore...not far at all. As soon as it got deep, he said "I can't do this". It took me forever to coax and comfort him and let him know I wouldn't let anything happen to him. Finally, he let me hold him and pull him through the water (picture this, a full grown man, huge orange life vest, and me holding him like a child!)...he was stiff as a board! All of a sudden he says, "My heart, it really hurts. This hurts my heart." I think he was having a panic attack! We finally made it to the dock and he was soooo proud of himself. The 'swim' back was a little less frightening and I even got him to take the vest off in shallow water and practice floating on his back. You should have seen his face when he felt how the water could hold him up! Priceless...the rest of the time there we all joked about their swimming lessons. This picture is us doing our strokes. Can't wait to get back and teach them some more!
3. This is a picture of all the girls that live in the Girls Home of the Good Samaritan Orphanage. This is where I will be spending a lot of my time as the Girls Home Coordinator. On this day, our team did a lesson on Eph. 2:10...that we are masterpieces in Gods eyes. We talked about the lies we so often believe about ourselves; not good enough, not pretty enough, unloved, etc. Then we talked about the truths that God tells us we are; loved, secure, cherished, worthy, good enough, etc. I got the chance to speak and Junior translated. It was neat to see the girls really seem to pay attention and listen, even the little ones. At the end we brought supplies so that each girl could make a "masterpiece". It was a thick frame with a mirror on the inside. The idea was for them to decorate and create their masterpiece, and then hang it somewhere to remind them that they are masterpiece's as well, and the truths that God says we are. It was so neat to see the girls work! They were so excited getting their materials and spreading out to work. I couldn't believe how meticulous, detailed, and focused some of them were! They were so creative. They don't get to do things like this very often, so I think it was quite a treat and they didn't want to mess up! It was amazing to see all the mirrors and smiles at the end of the day!
4. And here are just some other pictures that will help you get the feel of Haiti...
Looking out over a neighborhood that is close to where I will be living.
Playing with the children in the tent city of Canaan. The building on the left was built by AwakenHaiti!
The view from the back of our truck (looking through wire fencing) as we drive down one of the worst streets I saw in Port-au-Prince. Trash and traffic everywhere!
Brooke, my friend Liz and I. Brooke is the Denlingers daughter (from Awaken Haiti) who I will be helping home-school on occasion.
Some of the other beautiful faces of Haiti!
1. This is me...and Kimberly!! The Haitian version...We were playing with the kids in the tent village of Canaan and all of the sudden I see this little girl sprint over and join right in. She was so feisty and energetic. We immediately clicked. As we played, I began picking her up and doing flips with her. Well, the first flip was quite an experience...as I turned her over, her dress flew up and...NO underwear! You can imagine my face...all I could do was laugh. Here was this little girl, hair everywhere, no underwear, no shoes...yet so full of life! And she shared my name...how cool!
2. This is Jacques and Junior. They work for AwakenHaiti as translators. When teams come for trips, they travel around with them translating and just helping them learn about Haiti and the culture. Let me tell you, it is sooooo comforting to have these guys with you...they know the language, the culture, the customs, and how to get around. We went to a beach our last day there and it came up that they didn't really know how to swim that well. They said they could keep themselves up, but didn't know any strokes, etc. Well...that was an understatement. I put a life vest on the first one and we started heading out to a dock about 50 feet off the shore...not far at all. As soon as it got deep, he said "I can't do this". It took me forever to coax and comfort him and let him know I wouldn't let anything happen to him. Finally, he let me hold him and pull him through the water (picture this, a full grown man, huge orange life vest, and me holding him like a child!)...he was stiff as a board! All of a sudden he says, "My heart, it really hurts. This hurts my heart." I think he was having a panic attack! We finally made it to the dock and he was soooo proud of himself. The 'swim' back was a little less frightening and I even got him to take the vest off in shallow water and practice floating on his back. You should have seen his face when he felt how the water could hold him up! Priceless...the rest of the time there we all joked about their swimming lessons. This picture is us doing our strokes. Can't wait to get back and teach them some more!
3. This is a picture of all the girls that live in the Girls Home of the Good Samaritan Orphanage. This is where I will be spending a lot of my time as the Girls Home Coordinator. On this day, our team did a lesson on Eph. 2:10...that we are masterpieces in Gods eyes. We talked about the lies we so often believe about ourselves; not good enough, not pretty enough, unloved, etc. Then we talked about the truths that God tells us we are; loved, secure, cherished, worthy, good enough, etc. I got the chance to speak and Junior translated. It was neat to see the girls really seem to pay attention and listen, even the little ones. At the end we brought supplies so that each girl could make a "masterpiece". It was a thick frame with a mirror on the inside. The idea was for them to decorate and create their masterpiece, and then hang it somewhere to remind them that they are masterpiece's as well, and the truths that God says we are. It was so neat to see the girls work! They were so excited getting their materials and spreading out to work. I couldn't believe how meticulous, detailed, and focused some of them were! They were so creative. They don't get to do things like this very often, so I think it was quite a treat and they didn't want to mess up! It was amazing to see all the mirrors and smiles at the end of the day!
4. And here are just some other pictures that will help you get the feel of Haiti...
Looking out over a neighborhood that is close to where I will be living.
Playing with the children in the tent city of Canaan. The building on the left was built by AwakenHaiti!
The view from the back of our truck (looking through wire fencing) as we drive down one of the worst streets I saw in Port-au-Prince. Trash and traffic everywhere!
Brooke, my friend Liz and I. Brooke is the Denlingers daughter (from Awaken Haiti) who I will be helping home-school on occasion.
Some of the other beautiful faces of Haiti!
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