A Glimpse of Life in Haiti

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!

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!