The last and best thing I did during my time employed at Vineyard Community Church was lead a team to Haiti. One of my amazing teammates just created a video about our trip and I wanted to share it with everyone.
My time in Haiti is what really influenced my decision to join The World Race. I know there are a lot of debates on the effectiveness of short-term mission trips, but I truly believe that they can be done well. I will probably post a lot of this in the future, but for now I just want to highlight what God showed me during this time.
For me, Haiti was about my team. I learned about all the things that go into the discipleship of a team. My goal was to continually put myself last, use everything as a teaching opportunity, and walk alongside my team during the ups and downs constantly pointing to Jesus along the way. I wanted the team to walk away with a new set of eyes. I wanted them to see what is going on around the world, but also see what God is doing in the midst of it. I wanted them to know what sacrifice was and what loving people like Jesus did looks like. I wanted their hearts to break because a broken heart is a sure sign that you loved and you loved well.
Trips like this change people. I know for me, I learned that God does truly outstanding things when we allow ourselves to become nothing. These are lessons I want to take into the field when I leave in July. The work in each country may be different, but the heart behind it must always remain the same. I must become less, and He must become more. I have to be willing to do whatever the Lord places on my heart and continually set aside my comfort, my safety, my desires, or anything else that I may want to hold on to. Besides, it’s hard to really help people when your hands are full from grasping on to something else. Life is best lived when we live it with open hands!
