Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Stateside...

  Second stop Miami....next stop MN :) (actually I won't be able to post this until I get to Minnesota though. It's different entering Miami this time because I don't have a phone...I don't have access to call my friends and family and I don't have access to the Internet...it's actually kinda of nice and has given me time to reflect rather than to sit on Facebook ;) ) 

As I sit here in the Miami airport I find myself feeling like I'm in a completely different world. Upon entring the Miami airport and being greeted with glitz and glam and the opportunity to buy anything from water to fancy jewels I instantly found myself judging. Questioning people's way of life and what they were doing with their lives. Are they really 
making a difference; do they know or even care about what people are living like just 737 miles away--90 minutes away from them. I found myself getting angry at the lives these people--myself included--are living. I may be a missionary, 
but I'm still human and I still find myself falling back into ways of this world and wanting this and that...its a constant struggle. As I judge the peole around me and myself, I quickly brought myself back to the fact that its not my place to judge. People probably look at me and think the same thing. I don't know people's story, I don't know where people have come from, I don't know what their heart is or if they have a passion for the poor, the widowed, the broken, the children, the elderly...I don't know their story and I'm not here to judge. God didn't call me back from Haiti to judge, He called me back to continue to be His hands and His feet. He called me back to MN to share what I have seen, what I have witnessed, what I have touched, what I have smelled, what I have heard...to share with others about the people of a country so broken but who have touched my heart and broken my heart. 

Sitting here I find time to reflect. Taking the time to read my Jesus Calling devotion and just be. The hustle and bustle around me is just that: hustle and bustle. As I consider what this trip is about and how I am going to feel and all the 
emotions I am going to be going through, Sarah Young reminds me that I don't need to worry about the outcomes--I need to leave those up to God. All I am called to do is follow Him wherever He may lead me. I am called to live in the present. This thing we call life is an adventure, I am here to live it with Him as my guide and my constant provider and 
companion. 

I already know the ultimate destination of my life I have nothing to fear. But am I doing my part to bring others to that final destination with me? Will I live my life differently in the states and continue to be His hands and His feet or will sit back and let those opportunities pass me by. I'm not called to be His hands and His feet only in a country that is so poor and broken, but in a country that is rich and probably needs HIM even more than the people of Haiti do. 

My prayer upon retry is that I wouldnt get caught up in all the glitz and glam of this world, but I would surrender to Him and that I wouldn't be afraid to be His hands and His feet in this world of abundance.










Monday, November 19, 2012

Title 3

  It's a bittersweet day here in Haiti...
As I sit at the airport in Haiti my heart is conflicted. On one side I am so excited to go back to MN to see my family and friends and my buddy Murphy! But on the other side my heart breaks for leaving all my kiddos and everything that is my new familiar. I'm anxious about what it is going to be like to go back to what has been familiar to me for so long. 
In it all I know that God is good and I know that He has me right where I am supposed to be. 



I am excited to get back to see all my little munchkins and hug them and squeeze and cover them with kisses!! I also can't wait to do the same to this handsome fellow!! 


God knows exactly how to fill us up when we  need it most...
Boarding the plane... 

Saturday, November 3, 2012

A bag of food..

Another great day of serving our elderly!! Today the kids were the hands and feet. They went out and deliver food and prayed over each of our elderly. It's amazing the joy that one bag of food can bring and the presence our children; the elderly just light up with joy when the children come to see them!  
All packed up and ready to go!! 

Marie especially lights up!! She had all the little girls sit on her lap and wanted a photo with each one of them! Every time the little ones come to visit her she
just love to have them sit on her lap and snuggle into her!
She really is a wonderful Grandma! 





He made sure to tell us about his goats and that    they were out eating! :) 

Working on his muscles! These bags were not light!!


Laying hands and praying...such a
powerful thing! 

Serving with such joyful hearts!! :) 






It was such a joy to be able to see and hear our kids pray over each of our elderly. They were truly a blessing each elderly today! May they continue serve others with a joyful heart! 


Friday, November 2, 2012

The joy of two goats


Ofane, one of the men in our elderly program, always has a smile on his face despite suffering from leprosy. He comes up every couple of days to get some medical needs taken care of. He has a big open wound on his foot from leprosy that needs to be cleaned and bandaged. You would not know this by looking at him because he is always smiling and is able to walk and do just about anything even despite having this big open wound. Every time he comes up to Grace Village he greats us with a big old hug and he is sure to do a little dance and tell us how happy he is to see us. He also says a few other things in Creole which I have no idea what they mean but I just smile and dance and tell him I don't understand and then he just laughs and dances. Life is good! 



Ofane had been praying for asking for some goats to take care in the last month or so. He said he would really like to have some goats to take care of and to give him something to do and to be responsible for. Can you imagine everyday not having anything to do and feeling like you didn't have a purpose in this life? This is how Ofane told me he felt one day. 
After a few discussions about what it would mean to care for goats and making sure they have food and water, we decided that he would be an excellent man to bless with two goats. After all, this is something that he used to do before and he knew all about it! He even told me that it is very important that they do not get water in their ears. :) I'm not sure why or if this is true or just one of those things that happens just in Haiti but I said, 'Ok, well you better make sure they don't get water in their ears!' :)


Today this team was a blessing to Ofane and presented him with 2 goats, Adam and Eve. :) He was beyond happy and thankful for these goats. I told him he had a big job to do now and he was 100% ready to take it on.  



He had to come up to Grace Village today to get his bandages changed and when he was up there he was so excited to get back and get Adam and Eve some food and water! :) 






Please pray for Ofane and his new goats, Adam and Eve. Pray that he will be able to take good care of them and they will give him some purpose in life. Pray that the goats will be healthy and prosperous. Pray that no one will steal these goats from him but that they will be safe and sound with him for many years and have lots of little babies!