Let me tell you a little bit about what life in like here in Haiti:
We are working with Mission of Hope International and we are living on their property this month. I am living in my tent and the ocean is about 20 feet away, so I get to hear the waves at night. I am eating my weight in carbs. We have either rice and beans, spaghetti, or chicken noodle soup for our meals. There is an abundance of bread (which helps me continue to eat my weight in carbs). There is an endless supply of mangos and coconut that fall from the trees. Our ministry is with Mission of Hope helping them build a school. We are also working with Be Like Brit (an orphanage that is being built in memory of a girl who died in the earthquake). Our days start at 6:30 and we get home around 4 every day. I have internet once a week. I wash my clothes by hand. I am living with 44 other people. Church is vibrant. Everyone is your Zami (Creole for friend). The people are kind. We are blessed.
Going from last month to this month has been a culture shock in and of itself. Last month we went from house to house drinking coffee and building relationships. This month we are doing manual labor and working with our hands constantly. I thought this would be a nice change because I would get to see "results", but honestly it has been hard. I realize now how much I not only need the Lord for spiritual strength, but also for physical strength. It amazes me daily that God teaches me so much no matter what my life looks like this year.
A few Sundays ago we loaded up the bus and headed off for Sunday night church. I was pretty excited because as much as I love worshiping on Sunday mornings, I knew that Sunday night worship was going to be in English (because we were leading it). We arrived, sat down and started worshiping the Lord. Hatians and Americans. Creole and English. Worshiping the same God. I was amazed, but this wasn't even the best part. We got to the last song of the night, The Revelation Song. This is one of my favorites and I was excited to sing it. I thought we might even introduce a new song to all of the Haitians there. So we started singing:
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
I was caught up in the awesomeness of God and then came the chorus:
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
I have sung this song a hundred times at home, but you see, this time was different. When we hit the chorus I heard a loud group of beautiful Haitian girls singing behind me. In Creole. To the same God that I was singing to.
I was in awe.
All I could do was listen and smile because my God is good. Because He hears me, and he heard them. He heard all of us worshiping Him in unity, spirit, and truth.
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."—-Ephesians 4:1-6
______________________________________________________________________________
I am still $3,500 away from being fully funded! If you feel led to give just click the "Support Me" tab on the left side of this page.
