Category: Missions

You’re the God of THIS City: Haiti (part three)…

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‘”My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’

–2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Besides our ministry in our community, we were able to do a couple of unique things that were so awesome! On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to go buy and deliver mattresses to an orphanage, as a result of a generous donation. So, we spent four hours driving around Port-au-Prince in our three vehicle caravan, finding places to get mattresses (no Wal-Mart in Haiti), and then delivering them to the Son of God Orphanage in Carrefour. We got quite a tour of Port-au-Prince as we did this…

And we got to see some beautiful people…

We got to hang out with the children at the orphanage for about 15-20 minutes after delivering the much needed mattresses…and we didn’t want to leave them behind.


Friday was a similar experience. Our team split into three groups and we went to deliver all the supplies that had been collected and donated (TONS of stuff) to three pastors and two orphanages. My group went to an orphanage in Leogane run by the Fleury Foundation that was only 10 miles from the epicenter of the quake in January. The building was decimated, but not a single child was lost! God worked a miracle, and it was through a baby boy named Charlie…

Charlie was left on the steps of the orphanage before the quake (I can’t remember how long beforehand). They normally don’t take children this young at this orphanage, but decided to keep him. The afternoon of the quake, all the children were outside with a nurse who had come in to teach the children how to take care of their new baby brother. Absolutely amazing…only one life was lost, and that was a housemother who went in to get two girls, and when the building collapsed, her body shielded the two girls and saved their lives. God is amazing…

“Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.” –Proverbs 21:13

We went to the boy’s camp first, and discovered that they were out of food…so we went to the market and bought food for them (this was not part of our “plan”, but as I said before, the trip was about the leading of the Spirit, not our plans). I really wanted to take these precious boys home!

“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” —Proverbs 22:9

Before the earthquake, there were 380,000 orphans in Haiti (the term orphan in this case doesn’t necessarily mean that their parents are dead–many are just abandoned)…

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” —James 1:27

A man came to know the Lord this week, and needed an English Bible rather than Creole, because he spent many years in the U.S. and speaks English better than Creole. So I gave him mine. No hesitation. This week I realized that I am rich…I may not have a job, I may feel poor, but I am rich…and I have 4-5 Bibles of my own, and this man had none…

Our team was able to prayerfully decide how to bless our community with a budget of $2,000, and we decided to give rice and beans to the Pastor to distribute, as well as to buy wood and other roofing supplies so that they could put a roof on their cinder-block and tarp church. The food was delivered under the cover of darkness (we felt like it was a mafia deal, LOL) for safety reasons, and the building supplies were delivered to the church to their complete surprise. It was SO awesome to be able to give to them! They only had two tarps covering their church when we came that week, and we added more to that (picture below) before deciding to give them the supplies to build a real roof.

Friday night, Pastor Theodore’s church wanted to have a “thank you” service for us…and it was so amazing. They worshiped, a choir sang for us, they prayed for us, and a few of us shared how this week had impacted us. The love between believers is astounding, and surpasses even language barriers! It was so hard to say goodbye…

My life has been changed by this week, in ways that I probably don’t even realize yet. We experienced so much, saw so much…

The song by Sara Groves, “I Saw What I Saw” has even more meaning now…

I saw what I saw and I can’t forget it
I heard what I heard and I can’t go back
I know what I know and I can’t deny it

Something on the road, cut me to the soul

Your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
(what I am made of)
and what I know of love

So, there you go. A brief glimpse into my experience in Haiti. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I write about Haiti…but for now, until I get back from Brazil, here’s a little bit about my trip.

Haiti is a country filled with joy, hope, love, determination, and peace…despite the media’s portrayal. And I am encouraged, inspired, and ready to advocate for them! 🙂

Please pray about how you can help the people of Haiti. My prayer is that the stories/images/testimonies from my team will inspire people to action. You can SPONSOR children through World Vision, Compassion International, etc. You can GO to Haiti through several organizations (I recommend Adventures in Missions). You can DONATE to organizations that are serving down there (there are numerous, just make sure they are legitimate organizations). And you can PRAY. But please don’t ignore these images and stories…allow God to speak to your heart and change you from the inside out! 🙂

Thoughts of Haiti…

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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…

“We Speak To Nations”

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Every once in a while, a song pierces my heart and touches me so deeply that I am moved to tears. This morning, as I was driving to New York, I decided to finally listen to a CD that I’ve owned for years now. And I believe that was a God thing, because I discovered a song called “We Speak To Nations” by Israel Houghton…and the words absolutely resonated within my soul and moved me to tears because it speaks about my greatest passion: serving others and taking Christ to the nations.

Here are the lyrics…thank you, Lord, for songs like these that resonate so deeply within our souls and draw us nearer to you!

Hear the sound
The sound of the nations calling
Hear the sound
The sound of the fatherless crying
Who will go for us
Who will shout to the corners
Of the earth
That Christ is King

Chorus:

We speak to nations, "Be Open"
We speak to nations, "Fall On Your Knees"
We speak to nations,
"The Kingdom is com - ing near to you"
Oh,   we speak to strongholds, "Be Broken,"
"Powers of darkness, you have to flee"
We speak to nations,
"The Kingdom is com - ing near to you"
We speak to you, "Be free, yeah be free"

Hear the sound
The sound of the nations worshiping
Hear the sound
Of sons and daughters singing
We will go for you
We will shout to the cor - ners of   the earth
That Christ is King

What I Was Made to Do…

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I’ve really been struggling lately with what I want to do with my life…actually, what God wants me to do with my life. I’ve realized that I don’t want a career in politics–which has surprised me, and everyone who knew me in college as the crazy, politically active girl. But I wouldn’t have known that if I had never tried it out! 

I’ve been praying for guidance, for some hint from the Lord of what it is He has for me. I’ve known for years that I want to be a missionary, but until I pay off my student loans, that can’t happen. And that’s okay! 

So I’ve been trying to figure out what job would allow me to use my God-given gifts/abilities/skills, while also engaging my passions…and I finally figured it out today (with God’s help, of course).

I want to plan/lead short-term mission trips!

Where else can I use my skills of event planning, photography, music/worship leading, while also doing what I’m most passionate about–serving others, telling others about Jesus, discipling students, traveling?! I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before! Leading the team to New Orleans last year was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. To spend my life leading others onto the mission field would be absolutely fabulous! 

So, now the prayer continues, as I have to find someone to pay me to do this. 🙂 APU has a full-time missions coordinator (actually, a whole office dedicated to that), so I know the job exists… 🙂

Lord–lead me wherever you want me to go…

Passion…

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“What is it that you like doing? If you don’t like it, get out of it, because you’ll be lousy at it. You don’t have to stay with a job for the rest of your life, because if you don’t like it you’ll never be successful in it.” –Lee Iacocca

“One of the things that may get in the way of people being lifelong learners is that they’re not in touch with their passion. If you’re passionate about what it is you do, then you’re going to be looking for everything you can to get better at it.” –Jack Canfield

My top strength is “Belief” (for those familiar with Gallup’s StrengthsFinder), which means that I have to be passionate about what I do. I couldn’t agree more. It’s this strength that has made my life very interesting as of late, as I am in a job that I cannot seem to become passionate about. I’m constantly searching for things I can do to use my passions/gifts/abilities, and am finding plenty of ways outside of work…

Last night, as my roommate Laura and I were watching two of our favorite TLC shows (“Little People, Big World” and “17 Kids and Counting”), I was once again reminded that my current job isn’t what I want to do forever. Matt Roloff went to Iraq to help two dwarf children have life-changing surgeries, and the Duggar’s went to El Salvador to serve with a ministry there during Christmas-time. My heart so longs to serve others like that! That is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing! So, I’m now praying through this, asking the Lord to show me the path He’d like my life to take. My job now is helping me get back on my feet financially, as is therefore a “means to the end” if nothing else. And I’m so thankful! But my heart yearns for something greater…and I anxiously await the day when I am living my calling…

Weekend in California…

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I traveled for 18 hours (and 6,000 miles) this weekend–and am still recovering. It was strange to be in Southern California only two months after I left, but it was filled with good fellowship and amazing friends. My New Orleans team pitched in to fly me out for the APU Missions Celebration–and it was so great to be back with my team…sharing memories, catching up on each other’s lives, and talking about the “what now”…what do we do with all that we experienced in New Orleans?


I was also able to spend time with my closest friends–and that was exactly what I have needed. Moving to Pennsylvania has been quite lonely at times–which I know is completely normal, since I just moved to a brand new place. So it was wonderful to be with close friends. 

While I was on a plane, I had plenty of time to think and to reflect on life…and I’ve come to realize that I have nothing to fear with being in Pennsylvania, unemployed: the Lord clearly brought me out here, so despite the periods of loneliness and unemployment, I can fully trust Him to continue to provide for all my needs! He hasn’t let me down, ever, so why would He now? 🙂 I’ll share more of the reflections later…

It was a great weekend, but it’s great to be “home” 🙂

Isaiah 58 and other thoughts…

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It’s been an interesting week…I said my first “good-bye” yesterday, and it hit me harder than I expected. I know that I will still keep in touch with these loved ones…and it’s not the first time that I have left for an extended period of time–but it is the first time I’ve actually had to say “good-bye” not knowing when I will be back…not knowing when I will see them again. I had planned on doing some sort of temp-work while I was here, but I have realized that the most important thing I can do right now is spend time with these people I love so dearly.

Yesterday, I received a letter from myself that was written in February, at our retreat for the APU mission teams. It was interesting to read my prayers for our team at that time, and to see how God answered those prayers. At the bottom of my letter I wrote *Isaiah 58*, as that was a passage I pondered greatly during that retreat. I re-read it yesterday and was yet again struck by these powerful words:

‘For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. “Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?”…

You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high…Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fail.”

—Isaiah 58: 2-11

Wow…how beautiful and how powerful…THIS is why we were made–to serve those God places in our path and to love them like He loves them. This is how I want to spend my life, without a doubt. There’s simply no better way…much to ponder… 🙂

I Saw What I Saw…

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Holland played a video for our team during debriefing, and it was this song…and it’s been going through my mind quite often…so I thought I’d share with my readers… 🙂

I Saw What I Saw–by Sara Groves

I saw what I saw and I can’t forget it
I heard what I heard and I can’t go back
I know what I know and I can’t deny it

Something on the road, cut me to the soul

Your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
(what I am made of)
and what I know of love

we’ve done what we’ve done and we can’t erase it
we are what we are and it’s more than enough
we have what we have but it’s no substitution

Something on the road, touched my very soul

I say what I say with no hesitation
I have what I have and I’m giving it up
I do what I do with deep conviction

Something on the road, changed my world

Back in California…

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We returned safely from New Orleans on Thursday (the 19th), and are still recovering from our amazing experience…our team blog is still functioning, so check it out as we continue to process all that we have seen and experienced.

Last night I went to my own “funeral” 🙂 I was completely surprised (which is a feat, for those who know me) when I walked into a goodbye party (where everyone was wearing black, there were R.I.P. signs everywhere, etc.) that was thrown by the youth group. SO sweet! I still can’t believe that Kevin didn’t let on at all, even though I was with him the entire afternoon/evening. Now, of course, things make sense 🙂 Anyway, I felt so loved, so special…and it was really an amazing time with friends and youth group kids.

I move in a little under three weeks…and it’s absolutely surreal to me. I am looking forward to it, but am also feeling more emotional as the days pass by. I’ve lived here for nearly 7 years, and so much has happened here…so many memories…but, I am ready for the new chapter that the Lord has waiting for me.

I’ll try to blog more soon–too many moving details to take care of… 🙂 Check out the team blog, and check out the links to pictures! 🙂

Louisiana…

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If you haven’t checked out our team blog yet, you definitely should! It’s being added to each day (so far), with insights into the hearts of many of our team members. I haven’t really posted anything “deep” yet because I wanted to allow the team to share their thoughts. 🙂 But, please check out our blog and leave comments! 🙂

http://teamneworleans.wordpress.com