Thursday, October 23, 2014

Faithfulness...

As I look back on what the last 3 weeks has been I can only think of one word...FAITHFULNESS. 

Recently I have been thinking back to all that has happened and where I am now. I have gone from feeling so lonely in a this new place and questioning if this is really what God has for me and am I really qualified to get guardianship and go through the adoption process to now feeling so incredibly at peace. For about a week or a week and a half satan was really doing a good job at tearing me down. But today I am so thankful for GOD'S FAITHFULNESS. God has blessed me and affirmed (thats one of our vocabulary words this week ;) ) that this is where HE wants me in this new season of this journey.

In this new season and during the transition God has blessed me abundantly. I had to go back and just simply lay out some of them, although I know I missing many.
-Emails and messages of encouragement and love
-The sweetest couple took me in and invited me over for dinner one night. It was the simplest act of kindness but it filled me up and was just what I needed.
-Another girl reached out to me and we had an amazing dinner and great conversation! I wasn't the only one struggling and we were able to connect and support each other.
-Facetiming with family and friends.
-During a time of no running water another sweet girl said I could go over to her place to shower. She then invited me to stay and watch a football game they were going to be streaming. Oh to have connection filled me up!
-Someone else sending me a messaging saying there was extra food if I wanted to come have some.
-Being invited to a 9 years old birthday part and connecting with others.
-Attending a weekly bible study with amazing people who love God and not to mention a big amazing meal every Wed. night!
-Students who tell me I look pretty--even when I'm not feeling it.
-Being able to receive mail and purchase needed items online.
-Another friend shared this song with me that rocked me to the core. My strength was failing me and I felt like I had nothing more to hold onto but I was reminded I could hold onto HIM and to not lose HOPE and that I was going to break through all of this. I bought this song and listened to it daily!   Holding Onto You by Carrollton
-I was invited to a small intimate house church that I loved and filled me up.
-Comments and messages on facebook that always seemed to come at the right time.
-Letters from my 2nd grades telling me they love me and I'm a great teacher!
-The opportunity to stream TV and movies (most nights when we have power) ;)
-Being able to make phone calls and connecting with loved ones.
-Starting another bible study with two other ladies.
- Being able to take some days off of work to go home for Thanksgiving for a few days and having the funds to pay for the ticket.
-Randomly running into a girl I met probably a year ago and the encouraging words she had to share with me and that adoptions really do happen!
-Getting another step of paperwork done for the guardianship process.
-Another sweet girl I just met took the time to reach out to me with encouraging words and sent me another great song. Not for a moment did God forsake me! "Not For A Moment" by Vertical Church Band
-Watching a soccer game and cheering on our schools team and having a great time of connection with a now new friend.
-Friends who help me out when I need something--like a ride on a motorcycle--to get where I need to go and another great friend who gave me a helmet to borrow and made sure I was properly dressed!
-Going to a grocery store-regardless of the insane prices!
-Buying soft served ice cream at the grocery store--a delicious and tasty snack.
-Being apart of a school that truly cares about me--and even take care of renewing my Visa or help me to get a Haitian drives license (haven't done it yet but thinking about it!) ;)
-Meeting a new friend and being blessed by the devotion she read--of course it was about God's faithfulness! I love it when God does that!
-Spending that night at a dear friends house on the beach. Thankful for her and our time together.
-Unexpectedly receiving some early birthday presents!

I could go on and on about how God has been faithful these last couple of weeks but I think you get the picture! :) I am thankful to have a sense of peace about where I am, what I'm doing and know that I am right where God wants me--even if it took me a while to figure it all out.

Thank you all so much for your prayers! I would not be where I am at today without them!

Be blessed! 
AMEN!! 




Sunday, October 12, 2014

Mail!!!

It's one of those little things that I have taken for granted in the past. Most of the time it was a nuisance to get the mail because all it would be was bills or junk mail! That what your thinking isn't it! ;) 

Maybe I've been in Haiti too long, but I am excited because I now have the opportunity to send and receive mail!! (It the little things people that excite me!) ;) I can even order items (like cheese) online and have it shipped to me! Yes I have to pay for the weight of the items (about $1.50 per pound), but it is going to be totally worth it! Things in Haiti are really expensive and not always the greatest. So to now have the luxury of being able to order things I need (or want) or to receive actually mail is a pretty exciting event in this girls life! :) 


If you feel like going old school and sending a card or anything in the mail you now can! The mail gets sent to Florida, then it's brought over to Haiti and delivered to us at the end of the week! How great is that! 


Now I just need to get some stamps so I can send letters! :)


If you are interested in sending anything to Haiti you can send things to the address below! 

Jessica Burmester
3170 Airmans Dr. 
      # 2029 QCS 
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946


God has been blessing me abundantly during this transitional period and I am so thankful for the people He has and continues to put in my path. I'm being reminded to continually lay it all before Him daily! 

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support! 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Change isn't easy....



I came across this picture the other day on Facebook...funny how God even uses Facebook ;) But it is exactly what I needed to be reminded of. 

There have a been a lot of changes in my life lately and regardless of how extremely difficult they have been I know that God is working it all out for my good. At least I try to remember this--it's not always easy in the moment when you feel like your life is tumbling around you. 

A couple of weeks ago I connected with a girl on Facebook talking about adoption and guardianship stuff here in Haiti. It was one of those God things. 

I've tried in the past getting guardianship of a child that God has placed so strongly on my heart only to be denied, for a few reasons, but one of them was not having a "job" in Haiti saying I wouldn't be able to support the child. 

Through this conversation with this girl on Facebook she mentioned she had been in a very similar situation to me and was now teaching. She also mentioned that they were looking for a teacher for this school year--but this would mean me moving out of Grace Village, my home for the last 2 years and starting something new and not really knowing anyone. But if this could hopefully help me to get guardianship I couldn't pass it up, could I?

I had an interview and was offered the job on the spot. I was excited, scared and overwhelmed all at once. How could I do this? But how could I not do this? 

Through lots of prayer and other circumstances taking place I knew God was opening this door and I had to keep walking through it--no matter how scared I was. So I took the job! 

The transition has been difficult as I learn a new way of living and trying to find my niche in all the newness, but I have been beyond bless with the loving support of family and friends. I've received messages and emails from so many that continue to bring me to tears. 

God is near and He is working. 

It has been hard to leave Healing Haiti and Grace Village but it was time. I am blessed that, God willing, I will be able to find transportation to be able to go see all those that I love often! 

So here I am teaching at Quisqueya Christian School in Port au Prince. I have been welcomed with open arms and though overwhelmed I am slowly finding a place in the chaos. 

Change is difficult, but I'm reminded that I don't have to go at it alone. 

A dear friend reminded me the other day...Our God can redeem our darkest days for his

purposes. 

Without this promise, your trials and mine could feel overwhelming, and our pain could

feel unbearable-- GOD IS WORKING. He is working all things out for my good.

Even though my journey is taking me down a slightly different path I know my mission is to continue to love and serve those that God puts in my path even though it looks a little different now. I pray that through this season of change God will open the doors for guardianship and He will provide me with all my needs. I have been so blessed and am so thankful to be even just a small part of what God is doing through Healing Haiti. 

Living in PAP and taking on this new role brings about a lot of financial change as well. I now have to pay monthly rent, transportation, water, internet and basically everything that goes into living--just at a little higher price. ;)

If you would like to contribute to this continued journey of following my heart where God is leading and hopefully one day, God willing, bringing a little boy into my life to stay I would be beyond blessed by your donations. 

Donate online:
Type in Jessica Burmester

Donate by check: (please write only “Acct. no. 26908” on the check memo line): 
Mail to:
RCE International
 PO Box 4528
 Wheaton, IL 60189

Above all please pray for me and this crazy journey of life that I'm on. Sometimes I think it would just be easier to leave it all behind and go back to my "easier" life in the states of providing for myself and being close to friends and family, but I know God has me here for a reason and I have to trust in that always! 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support on this journey!