I’m writing to update you on my 11-month, 11-country mission trip! I’m currently living in Draganesti, Romania in a house designated by the Hope Church for missionaries helping them. This is the start of my third month on the World Race and I’m loving life! The last two months have been amazing absolutely amazing!
The World Race is all about change and stepping into all that God has for you. For me personally, it means looking beyond myself and seeing the great need of the Dominicans; the Haitians; the Romanians, etc…; realizing that these countries need help. Lord, help me help just one person! If I can forget my own selfish wants and look to the needs of those we visit then I’ll be able to fully realize what abandonment truly means.
We spent the month traveling to numerous villages deep in the mountains; villages where white people were uncommon and disease was not, where children begged for water and all we had was enough for cooking. I’ll never forget the translator we were blessed with and his infinite heart – how great his personal need to bring the Dominicans to life! With him we visited the locals; paying special attention to their needs, chatting with them about life, struggles, deep pain, and how to heal that pain. It was an honor to end the visits praying for each person individually.
Our second country was Haiti. I’ll never forget the drive from Port au Prince to our ministry location, Grand Goave. It was a ride spent in silence as we drove through poverty unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. Haiti was already a broken and empty country and in 2010 it was struck with a deadly earthquake that left it in pieces. The rank smell of waste permeated the air and lingered in the nostrils. Shacks and tents plagued the city, and markets had unending masses of people fighting for the cheapest and best they can find.
We spent the month in Haiti constructing an orphanage to house and provide for 66 boys and girls. Between that and laying concrete for a school/church, we were kept busy. In the States my work ethic was far from satisfactory. Here in Haiti, I’m working for a greater purpose and my drive to complete these projects is completely different.
For me, growth comes from experience and I’m getting all the eye-opening experience I could ever want. I’m learning so much about myself and the needs of others that I am become a different person daily. No longer can I be the selfish person that left America in January. The last two months have been outstanding for me and I pray the next nine will be just as great.
I’ve received so much support from everyone but my greatest need right now is to be able to stay on this trip. I absolutely feel called to missions and this is just the start of that journey. Through donations and fundraisers I’ve raised $9,200 of the $15,500 I needed for this trip. By April 1st I must reach $11,000 and by July 1st I must be fully funded otherwise I will have to return to the States. Before each deadline I’ve wound up on my knees praying to God that those donations would come in. Each time I have seen the faithfulness of God and those deadlines have been met, and then some.
Please consider making a donation to help me meet my next deadline so I can continue on this journey. Thanks for everything you all have to done to get me this far! I will continue to share the experiences you support on my blog: http://tylerhamilton.theworldrace.org
God is LOVE, Tyler H. 
Train Station in Romania!!!
