Final Thoughts Before Departing for Haiti

Well, we are down to 10 hours before departing for Haiti.  So, what goes through your mind before one departs for their first international mission trip?   A lot of things!!

1.  I'm really excited!  So excited that I hope I can sleep tonight!!
2.  Allyson had to help me pack - she said I was struggling.   She was right.  I was trying to pack "perfectly".
3.  I really want to be used and hope that I can get out of the way of myself so that God can use me as He wants to.
4.  My american, wealthy self is worried about "looking bad" with no hairdryer to "fix" my hair, and minimal make-up.  I'm sure I'll get over that really quickly - - at least I hope so.  I don't want my vanity to get in the way either. 
5.  Even though I've seen Allyson's pictures and heard her stories, etc., I'm wondering what it is going to be like. 
6.  I'm a little scared of being pulled out of my comfort zone - - but then that is really when I'll depend on God and He can really do His work - - so it is exciting at the same time!!
7.  Be prepared to share my testimony . . . hmmmm.  I'd been wondering how to share my testimony to people that live in so much poverty - at least compared to what I live in.  So I asked God what part of my testimony I needed to share.  He impressed upon me that He created us to have a relationship with us.  A personal relationship.  He wants to walk with us in every aspect of our lives - like he did with Adam in the Garden in the beginning.  So my testimony goes like this:

I was fortunate to grow up in a place where there are churches everywhere and we have our pick of which one to attend.  Because of this I cannot remember a time when I did not know who God was.  I knew His Son, Jesus, came to earth and died on the cross.  I'm not sure I really understood the significance of what He did or why He did it.  I knew there was a Heaven and a Hell, but my little brain thought you went to Heaven if you were a good person and Hell if you were a bad person.  I was OK with that because I was a good person.  I just didn't understand at the time what the measuring stick was Perfection!  No one is perfect.  I learned that when I was in my early 20s.  That's when I realized I was not good enough for Heaven and that I needed a Savior.  That's when I asked Jesus to be my Savior and my Lord.   THEN, , , it got really good because it was then that I began to learn that not only did God want to save me, He wanted a relationship with me.  He, God Almighty Himself, wanted to know me and wanted me to know Him - like a friend.   This was another life changing moment for me.  Right now in my life I am working to cultivate that relationship.  Some days I do really well at it, and others - - well, not so well.  Just like with my human relationships - some days they are great, and other days - - - well, not so well.  Thankfully, my God is patient with me and He is always right there when I come back to work on that relationship again.   He knows you!  He knows your name, He knows how many hairs are on your head.  And He wants you to know Him and to have a relationship with Him.

Please pray that this testimony is one that someone needs to hear and that I can get out of the way for God to use it.

Christmas Eve

Hello, Christmas Eve!  You have arrived!!!  (It's currently 12:20am on 12/24)

I was finished wrapping presents BEFORE you arrived!! (barely, but I was)

Earlier in the year, I felt like you were coming way too soon; but, now that you are here, it's not too soon at all!

I'm looking forward to what you have to bring this year:
     - time with family
     - good food
     - gifts, of course, make the day fun
     - games
     - but this year, I've been challenged to really take a look at how well I know the person that we are really celebrating - - Jesus!

You see, as we begin to really celebrate Jesus' birth, I have been reminded twice already - in one day no less -  that we are wise when we seek Him.  I've also been reading a book that has challenged me to determine if I really depend on Him.  In this country, we are really very wealthy people, even if we think we are not.  And I've been challenged to look deep to determine if I rely and depend on God to provide for me - in ALL ways.  I think because we are a wealthy people that we don't tend to really rely on God as we should.

I'm about to embark on a mission trip to Haiti.  I began planning to go on this trip because my daughter's heart is in Haiti.  I thought it was time to go see this place and these people that she loves so much, and I thought it would be great to experience it with her.  And I am REALLY excited to be able to do that.  I have already begun to be challenged; however, by another missionary (the book I mentioned above is written by a Ugandan missionary).  We will only be in Haiti for basically 7 days, but I want to show and share Christ's love to whomever I am supposed to.   LOVE - that's really all mission work is.  Love on those God has put in your path in order to show His love - which is the ultimate love.  I hope I can do that.  I'm beginning to think that God has way more in store for me than just experiencing this land and people with my daughter.   I don't know what will happen, but I am really getting excited about it!!

More to come . . .