We are officially waist deep into month 7 here on the race and I have been thinking a lot about Transformation. Of course the first thing that pops into my head is the incredible transformation of the men and women of the AMAZING L Squad. Ah to see them being shaped and molded into the people that God has originally called them to be, who He designed them to be, taking on more of His likeness and image everyday. It just BLOWS ME AWAY! Its honestly been something that I can’t help but weep tears of joy over! I LOVE IT!
In all that wonderful thinking, God also put on my heart the transformation of the people I left 7 months ago. One more awesome reminder of how this race is not all about me. It is going to be more exciting to see how my family, friends and people I don’t even know who have been following me this year have been transformed through this subconscious, undercover ministry that happens back home without us even knowing it. Its beautiful and totally God. With that I would love to share a story about someone who I have already seen this transformation in.
Two days before I left for the race my dad was headed to jail. A month earlier he had been in a horrible drunk diving accident where he was the driver and thank God the tree and the truck were the unlucky victims in the accident. He blew a .58 BAC when they found him and should have been dead. For the past 2 years he had been struggling with alcoholism. Relapsing every couple of months or so. It just seemed like rehab wasn’t enough anymore. Something had to happen and something did.
In January, as we all know and saw, Haiti was struck by a devastating round of earthquakes. Bringing the capital city of Port Au Prince to ruins. The day after I got to talk to my dad over skype and he expressed to me that he wanted to go down there and help. Honestly I thought this was another typical manic swing (my dad is also bipolar) and didn’t think this desire would last more than a week or so. So I suggested he wait a month and then try and head down, knowing that he would be more help that way if he still really wanted to go. A few days later I was talking to Sean (my former squad leader) about the whole thing. He suggested that I give my dad Seth Barnes’ email address. . . sure great idea I thought. . .Seth could totally discern this and if it were right he would send my dad down in a heart beat. BUT I NEVER gave my dad Seth’s email – I totally forgot.
About 3 weeks later the squad and I were in Thailand for our Asia debrief. One morning I woke up to an email from my dad and it was a forwarded message from Seth Barnes. My dad was planning to head down to Haiti for a week long mission trip at the end of February. Ha! I honestly couldn’t believe it! My dad had made contact with Seth without me having my hand in anything – totally God! About a week before he was to leave he was contacted once more by Seth and asked to extend his stay down in Haiti to far past a week and take on more than just helping deliver medical supplies. After a quick trip to Gainesville, many meetings and lots of thought, he aggreed.
Today my dad is living in Haiti. He is wokring with AIM and wears a number of hats. On any given day he will make food runs, take food to various orphanages and churches, buy needed items such as 5,000 flip flops, pick up people from the airport who are coming down through AIM, exchange certain items in certain places, buy bibles, learn Creole and teach English, love on a number of orphaned children, help rebuild churches, the list goes on and on. He has become an amazing part of the community down there and plans on staying until at least September. . .knowing him and his heart it might be longer.
Its apparent that God has redeemed so many things for my dad. Sometimes we would wonder why? Why God kept him around for so long – I know its harsh, but its true. Now we can tangibly see the purpose behind the redemption that the Lord has placed on his life. The calling that He has purposed my dad for. Its amazing becuase thanks to my dad’s past and experiences he can relate and love on a much deeper level than just anyone who goes down there to help.
Its funny to think that when I get home from my 11 months I will probaly be back on a plane to Haiti so I can see my dad. God is always amazing me even from thousands of miles away!
