(written on 2/14/2012 – 3rdday in country)
It’s going to be too hot. I do not want to live in a tent. We may not have electricity or showers, both of which I NEED. I won’t be able to run because of the security concerns in our location. I’m never going to be alone or have any peace living with 46 people.
These were just some of the complaints going through my head in the days before we headed to Haiti. I would have hoped that given the personal growth that I had experienced so far on this trip, and my general level of maturity, that I would have had a better attitude and general outlook regarding the upcoming month in Haiti. That was not the case.
In addition to these petty complaints, I also had a negative outlook in general about the upcoming month in Haiti. This was the country that I was the least excited about on our route from the beginning. I don’t have a solid reason, even in my mind, of why this was the case. It just was. My heart was hardened towards this country . . . until I arrived.
As I was riding on an overloaded school bus, hot and tired by this point in the travel day, my perspective on Haiti was dramatically shaken and forever changed. The view out my window, as we travelled through Port au Prince toward Grand Guave, Haiti, was something that can’t be portrayed to you in words or even pictures. I had seen pictures and heard stories from this country, but nothing prepared me for the amount of level of devastation and poverty that I saw. It broke my heart and captured it at the same time.
I felt instantly drawn to DO something and to make some sort of impact on this country and its people, to an extent that I had never felt drawn to a particular place before, though I did not know what that meant. Then over the next 24 hours as we met Renee and Lex, the founders of Mission of Hope International, and learned more about their organization and their vision for Haiti I was incredibly inspired. As I began work with them today, and met more of the people involved, this feeling of inspiration and support of their vision was further reinforced. This organization is truly making a positive impact in Haiti, a country with more need than I ever imagined possible.
I count myself truly blessed to be working with Mission of Hope this month in Haiti. I will update you more on what our ministry here looks like as the month progresses. It looks as though we will all have an opportunity to be involved in multiple facets of what is happening here. The Lord is providing an awesome transformation in Haiti through this organization and I am so excited to be a part of it.
Before I came here, all I could see were my personal issues with my expectations of Haiti. Now I am consumed with a desire to be a part of the Lord’s provision for Haiti, through Mission of Hope International. I truly believe that this month is going to be amazing and that Haiti is going to forever have a special place in my heart.
***Please note that we have VERY limited access to internet this month, so blogs will likely be posted later than written and only a few times during this month. We will likely not be able to post any videos until we leave Haiti. I apologize for the lack of updates, but such is the nature of missions.
