Haiti team

My team got back from Haiti early Thursday morning. I have been trying to process everything and be able to put it into words on here. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do this trip justice.

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~G.K. Chesterton

I did not know anyone really well that was going on this trip. That said, I could not have asked for a better team.

There were 11 of us and at times throughout the trip, I thought to myself that this is probably what it felt like to be one of the 11 disciples.

Richard (the guy in charge of us throughout the trip), Tyler, Lacey, me, Lisa, Carley, Mike, Jessica, Dan, Krissy, Sam, and Carl.

It was awesome to see the strengths and weaknesses of each person. There was a sense of true community in our group as we shared experiences together and got to know each other better. A beautiful picture of who the Church is. 



We worked well as a team. No one got sick or seriously injured (though I have tons of bruises from our hikes up and down the mountain every day).

This trip was soooooooo needed... to get outside of ourselves and serve others.

Love these people. I want to work with them again... Possibly India next time around...

6 years ago

6 years ago I was in England. It was the beginning of my international adventures. Little did I know that by now I would have visited Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, the Bahamas, and Haiti. My love for the world God created is ever expanding. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel and see more of God's creation.

This is the small group of girls I got to hang out with in England. We were at a weekend conference and decided to go all emo. I am so thankful for my time in Birmingham... and that I am still in touch with people there. I have had the opportunity to go back twice -- 2007 and 2010. Love seeing the people I met in 2006.

I am still processing everything that happened in Haiti and will update on here soon.

Packing: Boys vs. Girls

Had a conversation with part of our team tonight about packing.

Boys:

Girls:

little bit of life

Five years ago I graduated from KCU magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in youth and family ministries.

Never would I have ever imagined what God had up his sleeve in the five years since I graduated. I have been to Italy twice, back to visit my friends in England twice, going to Haiti in a few days, and have had SEVERAL jobs. Every job has been a blessing and a chance to learn more about myself.

The four jobs I have right now are a huge blessing... all of them deal with children... and three are in ministry, although I consider my fourth job, subbing, as a ministry.

Here's to many more years of learning more about myself, my God, and the people around me. I look forward to it all.

**Side note: I have only $2900 left of my student loan. For those of you who need advice on how to do that in five years since you're graduating today (or this month), pay off as much as you can. Don't give in to the lie that they will "lower your monthly payment"... they just want more of your money through interest. That also means saying NO to a lot of things that you want right away. I am looking forward to being debt free to give away more money to people who need it, but I am also looking forward to buying a REALLY good camera and possibly taking classes for it.

*** Also to clarify about my comment on the last post on budgeting $14/week for food... My friend Katie did that during Lent. Apparently the average person in poverty survives on just $14/week. I'm eatting a LOT of the same foods... spaghetti without meat and PBJ.... Drinking lots of water... 

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. ~Proverbs 11.25 NLT

Thanks to those who have been praying for me, gave to me financially, or helped out on our project website.

Bottle

One of the things I am trying to do the month of May is budget for food ($14/week) and drink water... a lot.

Water is delicious.

As I am getting ready to go to Haiti, I am more aware of how precious water is.

I have a bottle collection:

Each bottle means something to me. The water bottle in the front is from my senior year of college. I was at a winter retreat with high school students (shout out to my Mahoning kids -- yes, I am still in touch with some of the students -- freshmen when I met them and now in COLLEGE!).

The speaker was talking about David's Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23.8-29 and 1 Chronicles 11.10-47). He gave everyone a water bottle and asked us to think of the most important thing in our lives right now. He challenged us to pour the water (and our problem/fear/worry/anxiety/most important thing in our lives) out before the Lord.

To get the reference, check out this section of 2 Samuel:

¹⁵ David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. ¹⁷ “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

David was super thirsty. He had great friends who risked their lives to get him a drink. But David poured it out before the Lord.

It was a sacrifice, as I am sure that David really wanted to drink the water.

My trip to Haiti is more an act of obedience than anything else.
I didn't even have to think about it.
The opportunity was presented and it didn't take long for me to say yes.
I know God has great things in store for next week!

I could be comfortable just staying at home.
Right now Haiti is a country far away from my home.
I know some people who have been there, but it is very impersonal to me.
I don't know anyone who lives in Haiti. I can't see names or faces... yet.
I can take showers whenever I want.
Water is free and safe to drink... and I have enough money to buy other drinks than  water.

So I am putting aside my comfort zone and going.
For my eyes to be open to new aspects of God, myself, and others.
For my heart to break in a new way so that God can use it.... sometimes our hearts don't NEED to heal from brokenness. We just need to act on what we know about what breaks our hearts.

Here's to a new adventure with God!

More ways to contribute to Haiti trip

**I deleted the list because it's getting done! YEA!

I go to the Medical Specialists on Monday to get my immunization shots. The trip is coming up so quickly I can hardly believe it!

Prayer:

• My teammates: Dan, Sam, Carl, Tyler, Carly, Krissy, Lacey, Jess, Lisa, Mike
• Final preparations: shots and last minute shopping
• Conversations with teammates
• Conversations with Haitians
• Physical health for all

Afghanistan

A part of the Radical Challenge is to pray for the nations.

Operation World has daily emails that send you information about one country.

I started yesterday and prayed for Afghanistan. In thinking about that country, it's easy to think it's just military. While I do think of our military over there (and knowing a few guys who have been there), I also think of Hakim and Ramat. They were two guys I met in Italy. Their story is interesting and made praying for their country yesterday personal.

Pray for Afghanistan. "A country that the world has given up on, You relentlessly pursue."

God has a heart for the nations... and I love that about my God.