I got to spend my 22nd Birthday in Haiti!
It was a Birthday I will never forget.
My biggest wish for my Birthday was to be able to see my Mom and my Dad. I wasn’t sure if that was going to happen because internet in Haiti is pretty sparse. The day before my Birthday was a Wednesday, our off day. Our teams decided to head into town to look for internet.
Perfect! Perhaps there would be a chance for me to Skype my Dad!
We got to the restaurant and it didn’t take long to realize that the internet wasn’t the greatest. I couldn’t even get my Facebook page to load. My chances of actually Skypeing didn’t look promising.
It was a wonder that I got my messages to load. I sent one to Pops telling him that all I wanted for my Birthday was to see him. After 20 minutes of trying to get it sent I got a message back from my Dad. He was at work, but he could go home for lunch and Skype.
I was thrilled! Just to see him would be the best Birthday present ever. I could hardly contain my excitement.
He said that he’d be on at 1:30 my time, 12:30 his time. (There is a hour difference.) I looked down at my watch, drats, 12:30. I’d have to wait an hour. I tried to read my Bible, but I had a hard time concentrating. I was just too excited.
My thoughts went to my Mom. If anyone would be thinking of me on my Birthday, it would have been her. If only I could see her. I decided to type her an e-mail. (She is not on Skype or Facebook.) I basically told her that I wished I could see her on my Birthday. I told her that it probably wasn’t going to happen, but that was ok. I told her that God had a special day waiting for me. I just knew He was going to bless me with a good day.
I finished the e-mail and sent it. My heart ached a little because I miss her so much.
I looked at my watch again. FINALLY it was 1:30! I grabbed my tablet and sure enough my Dad was on the line! I clicked accept, my heart was racing in anticipation. The screen went black and all of a sudden my Dad’s face pops up! “DAD!” It is so good to see him. I have decided to keep my connection with home at a minimum while on the race. So seeing my Dad was a big deal to me.
We said our hellos and then my Dad said, “I have a surprise for you!” I was a little baffled and leaned in closer to the screen. “Ok, what is it?!”
My Dad’s face left the screen and I could only see an empty chair. I literally had no clue what Pops was up to. I think my face was 5 inches from the screen waiting in anticipation. Then all of a sudden another face appears. It is a little blurry, but I can tell that it is the face of a women. My heart jumps. “MOM?!” I could hardly make out her face. I couldn’t really tell who it was and my heart was afraid to allow myself to believe it was her until I knew if fact it was her. Then I heard her laugh. It was her!!!
Tears started to form in my eyes as I realized that I was looking directly at the face of my Mother. I had not looked into that face since we said our goodbyes back at the MSP airport in Minnesota. That was 10 months ago! “Mom!!”
We only got to talk for 5 minutes or so. It was the best Birthday present I could have ever received. It was so good to see my Mom.
The reason I want to tell this story is because God is so stinkin’ good!
God heard my smallest of prayers and He made a way. No prayer is ever to small and never think that anything is impossible. God will make a way. He made a way for me to get my Birthday wish. It blows my mind that God, the God who created the heavens and earth, the entire universe actually, decided to give me, one small insignificant human being, the best Birthday present ever.
He is so good.
Hey guys, I am 22 years young.
I’ll be home soon.
X
