Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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 (forgive me for not posting this while in Haiti… it was written there mostly and was never posted) I am now in Cambodia…i will post a current blog)

The God of Opposites In and Around Haiti

*Expectations

*Revealing Beauty through so much Ugliness

*Showing Love amongst so much Sin & Hate

*Shining Light in the Darkness

Let’s start with expectations. Again. Shattered. This is going to be the theme of the year. When I heard that I was gonna be going to Haiti I was freaked out. They were just hit a Hurricane, so I thought it was going to be really devastated and chaotic. I heard it was really dangerous, there was and probably still is a government advisory saying, not to travel to Haiti. I heard about a main religion (or whatever you want to call it) being voo-doo. (that’s weird) So there were some major concerns going into it.

I expected that I would definitely be doing relief work camping in a tent and really “roughing it”. We didn’t know what we were going to be doing in Haiti until maybe a week before we left. No relief work. Instead it was going to be door-to-door evangelism, and Vacation Bible Study (VBS). What this means is going out in the morning and inviting people to a service that we were later on in the afternoon were to hold. In the morning part of the inviting was to talk to people and build relationships and talk to them about Jesus and if they knew of Him and if they would like to know more about Him. Sometimes they had questions and most times they wanted prayer for something. Anywhere from headaches, health, prosperity, to no more nightmares amongst a slew of things.

Some we would see later and many we wouldn’t. But everyday we would go out and invite doing our part and allowing Him to do what He wanted to do in those we spoke to. This was very difficult. We needed a translator for everything. It was what it was.

For a week of the 3 that we were there we did VBS for children. We invited and in the afternoon we taught them bible stories, sang songs, did craft projects and played games. They really seemed to enjoy it. We worked side-by-side with a YWAM team from Guadeloupe. They were a bunch of really sweet girls with a deep love for the Lord and a desire to help others. During all of these ministry projects God managed to capture my heart like I have never experienced before.

                                                                            

  

 It’s nuts…. and wonderful.

“I am Falling Head over Heels for God in Haiti!”

Who would’ve guessed.

He is soooo full of surprises.

It is breathtakingly beautiful here. Amongst such sin and lostness… there is such beauty. Mostly in His nature. I love waking up to Him everyday and Going to sleep in His arms. He gives me little gifts throughout the day. Continuously reminding me He loves me. Gifts like the cool breeze when I am just hot enough to be annoyed, heart shaped things like rocks, leaves, and clouds. I even saw a piece of trash today that God brought to my attention when I was with Him that was shaped in a heart and He said, “here Rachel this is for you” (not the trash, just the love note that He knows I adore.)

                    

It’s a wonderful thing.

The other night we were invited to a church by two BEAUTIFUL girls, Vintana & Betina whom I felt connected to the minute they offered to chat with us during our door-to-door evangelism. Beautiful women of God, who have a longing to be loved with a pure and perfect love. The love I am getting to know.

The church was simple, white painted concrete with cut outs for windows, grated up with metal bars. We sat on thin metal mesh benches side by side. The girls were to wear shirts and have our heads covered and not cross our legs. (very legalistic) but thankfully God did not have my attention drawn to these things that hinder the love and full acceptance of God. Instead He got my attention with the bellowing notes of the music leader and the harmony of the voices that echoed in the this place that slowly dimmed with the setting of the sun. It was like He was dimming the lights to be with me. Creating the most stimulating atmosphere. Before the candles were lit. He poured the moons rays into my open hands to Him. The Holy Spirit was dancing through my body. Gently letting me know He was close. Sending sweet whispers and breezes up and down my neck, arms, and legs. As the moon poured over my hands it created a shadow of the cross on my hands. His moonlight got caught up just enough on the grated windows to create the cross on each of my open hands. This brought to remembrance the Cross and what Christ did for ME. “For you Rachel” all of it “For YOU” The candles were lit and the songs flowed through the room and were absorbed in our souls. It was Breathtaking. I was Overwhelmed with His Love for me. And that be Brought me Here to feel it. Such great lengths to pursue me and my heart. As I take great effort and make such sacrifices to pursue my Love, my God. I can’t even consider the things I have left behind as sacrifices anymore. I am gaining so much more than I left behind. (Family I love you – Friends I love you) But God I love you Most.
 
 
 

So again. I end with great peace and a heart full of love. I know that God is taking this month to show me how much He loves me and how He wants to know me intimately. I understand this with full knowledge that there are going to be times and months that I am going to be pushed to my breaking point. A point at which I have NOTHING left but my cries to God and the fellowship of my teammates to get me through. God showing me His Love now has my senses trained to recognize it so that I will never feel like He has left me. These are visual and emotional ways in which I can draw upon. His Word is also where I draw strength, guidance and an understanding of His promises. No matter how I feel.

These are the ways in which God is Light in the Darkness of Jacmel, Haiti. He is God, bigger than our biggest problems. And Brighter than the Darkest places on earth. He is good like that.


                                              Please know that I am well… God is SO good… 
                                                                                  and 
                                                                           I Love You all.