Some of you know, and many of you don’t, that the country of Haiti has been on my heart for close to 2 years now. I even prayed about going there for a year for mission work before I found out about the World Race. Even being on this trip has not kept Haiti off my mind, as one of the things I said when I decided to do this trip was that all of the countries that I have wanted to go to were a part of the trip except for Haiti. Also, it’s hard to keep it off my mind because some friends of mine are planning a trip there in August of this year and God has laid it on my heart again to pray about going.
You may be wondering where this is going…well, hold on, I’m getting there. 🙂 Everyone knows that on January 12, 2010 the country of Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake, the epicenter of which was very close to the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Here in Kenya we heard about it on the news on the 13th and have been praying for Haiti and all the victims and aid workers since then. My heart’s desire is to go and help out there, but I know that I am here in Africa for God’s work as well. He doesn’t only work in one country or on one continent at a time!
The day I posted my last blog I had an email in my in-box from my friends who have a friend in Haiti who runs an orphanage. This orphanage is receiving 100-200 displaced orphans from the Port-au-Prince area and desperately needs funds and manpower to care for them all. Click here for more information or to help out Danita’s Children. My heart nearly broke as my spirit yearned to be one of the ones going there and my poor, amazing World Race sisters had to listen to me talk to myself about it. The conversation went something like this: “I so bad wish I could go to Haiti!” “God has me here for a reason.” “God knows what He’s doing and is in control.” “But I still wish there was some way we could go to Haiti!!” Yes, it was all out loud!!
Later that same day I had a good time journaling and talking to my Father about it, as I know that there is a reason that Haiti is tugging at my heart even if I am not supposed to be there now. I’ve never done this on a blog before, but I am going to let you in on a part of what I prayed that day, because it is still true. “With all I am I wish we were going to Haiti, but, Lord I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. I feel like You put Haiti on my heart a couple years ago for a reason. You then led me to this trip instead of to Haiti and then put Haiti on my heart again a month ago…Father, if there is any way, any how, we can go to Haiti, my whole team is ready to go. As it stands, though, please help me to keep my mind and heart on the task at hand.” The conversation continued from there, but that is just a little snapshot of where I am and where I want to be. I am not missing out on God’s work by being where He wants me; in fact, if I were to leave right now and go to Haiti when God has called me to Africa then I would not be glorifying Him at all no matter what I tell myself!
Please continue in prayer with me for all the people in Haiti, and all over the world, who still need to hear about Jesus. I am doing His work where He has called me and I hope you can say the same thing about where you are. And, someday, I will get to go to Haiti – in God’s way and time. AMEN!
