This is part 2 of a 4 part series
Part 1: Feeling the Call
If you would let me, I could talk to you for hours about Haiti – about the people, the food, the music, the language, the rooftop worship sessions… but as I sit here contemplating how all of my experiences in Haiti eventually led me to applying and going on the World Race, I feel that there are two revelations in particular that God gave me on that first trip that I absolutely have to share with you.
- God loves ALL of His creation – every tribe, tongue and nation
Now, I can probably guess what you’re thinking… Duh, Natalie. But for me, this wasn’t something I had really ever consciously considered before. Haiti was the first trip I had ever taken outside of the country, the first time I had any extended exposure to another culture, and the first time in my life where I was considered a minority. I grew up in a relatively un-diverse community in the South; a place where one might even feel the thinly concealed prejudice. While I was never witness to any overt racial discrimination growing up, you could just sense that for a lot of people – things were very much still Black and White.
It was with this frame of mind that I first stepped foot in Haiti and found myself sitting on the roof one afternoon to try to find a quiet moment away from all the activity and conversations…
‘Man, I think I really like Haiti. The people have such beautiful hearts and they really love Jesus here. They inspire me and I just find it so easy to love them.’
Natalie, I love them too.
‘Wait, what?’
I love them too. I created them just as I created you. I love them just as I love you.
Whoa. I felt the only mindset I’d ever known begin to fall away – and when I look back to this moment now, I can be appreciative of the fact that I’d had it wrong for so long. Because now, only God can get the glory for that magnificent shift in my worldview.
2. The abundant and fully-satisfying life He has promised us is within our reach – and we don’t need much to get there
There was a moment I had on that first trip to Haiti that I’ll never forget – we were coming back down the mountain from Kenscoff and the scenery was breath-taking. Lush green foliage, rich red soil and a view of Port Au Prince laid out below you. I was tucked into the back of the pick-up truck bed, wedged between my Haitian brothers – breeze whipping through my matted, dirty hair; clothes damp from the 30-second rain shower we had just driven through; my stomach turning over from the pikliz I had just eaten off a street vendor. The sun was just peaking through the clouds and I raised my face up to enjoy the sunshine…
‘This is the life. No distractions – no cell phone, no internet, no deadlines. Just overflowing love and gratitude – for His grace, for His provision, for His creation. This is true joy.’
I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.
‘Wait, what abundance? This is so simple.’
You have Me – My grace, My provision, My creation, fellowship with My children… what more do you need?
‘Oh… THAT abundance.’
It was my very own Matthew 17 mountaintop experience – like I was seeing Him clearly for the first time. And without really realizing it at the time, God was answering a question I had posed to myself early on in the trip. One of the first things I had noticed about these young men was how they were filled (to the point of overflowing!) with so much joy and gratitude and love.
‘But, this is a 3rd world country, right? I mean, relatively speaking, I have more to be joyful and grateful for… right? How is this possible?’
In my utter ignorance, I couldn’t conceivably reconcile this seemingly ironic situation. And then, in His perfect timing, He had spoken…
They have Me – My grace, My provision, My creation, fellowship with My children… that’s how.
And now that I had felt that joy, in all of its simplicity, I determined that I was never going to let it go.
