Thoughts of Haiti…

I begin my journey to Haiti tomorrow, and will arrive on Sunday morning. I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for the reality with which I will be met once I arrive…but I know that what I experience there is far beyond anything I can imagine now. I am excited, I am slightly nervous (as much of this is an “unknown” to me), but I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve and to love the people there. I have a suitcase that is 90% full of supplies for the Haitian pastors to distribute, and only 10% is my stuff. What a great feeling! I so wish that I could take more/do more…

This week, I have been pondering self-image and the effect that the media has on young girls. At my temp job this week, I encountered paperwork on a girl, age 4, who is refusing to eat because she doesn’t want to “gain weight”…FOUR YEARS OLD…I am about to encounter children who are starving, who would love to be nourished and well-fed, while there are kids here in the States (and this child is also impoverished) who are already so self-conscious that they don’t want to eat. It broke my heart! What could have caused this young child to be so afraid of what she looks like? Sigh…such a contrast to what I am about to encounter, and yet both break my heart…

I am praying the words of Hillsong’s song “Hosanna”: “Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause…” I know that this week will be challenging, but I also know that I am going to grow, and that I will not be the same when I return. 🙂 And that’s what I long for!

Please pray for safe travels, for the health of our team…but more importantly, pray that the Lord will present us with challenging opportunities, and that He will stretch us and make us uncomfortable! We are not there on vacation, we are there to work hard and to serve the precious people of Haiti.

And I can’t wait to get there. :0)

Pictures and stories when I return…