Last year (my 1st time to be "in charge" of this mission team), I struggled with having everything perfectly planned out. Then I learned that things in Haiti don't always work as you plan... like preparing VBS for 125 children - & having 360 show up; like not always having the tools / supplies available when you need them to complete a job; like going to serve a group of people who have so little & being served by THEM in return. I knew then that it was God's gentle way of telling me that HE (not I) was in control. Despite these almost daily unplanned happenings, we completed so much more than we could ever have imagined (or planned)! Praise God!
This year's planning has again been put into perspective for me, in a very different way. Almost 1 month ago, I lost my sweet Daddy. Helping my mom, siblings, children & myself deal with this tremendous loss has again reminded me that I will NEVER be able to do enough planning. I just need to let God take care of everything... because HE will! So, when it took 2 days to book our airline tickets (& about 14 hours on the phone & computer), I truly didn't stress... (ok - maybe I stressed just a little!) ;) But I knew that God would take care of it, if I just let Him. And He did! We now have 17 roundtrip airline tickets purchased. We are another step closer to Haiti! Praise God!
Pastor Guercy (our friend, "Haitian liaison" & brother of Pastor Wilfred at Tabernacle Church) has been traveling to Haiti to help prepare the way for our return trip. He told me that everyone in Gonaïves knows we are coming back to visit & that they are as excited as we are! I am so thankful for all his guidance & assistance. Praise God!
I had lunch this week with a dear friend, who is a Mission Team Leader at another church. We shared what we each do to prepare our teams for our respective trips. We both gained so much valuable information. I'm thankful that I don't have to do this all by myself - God has put people in my life that are so willing to help me. Praise God!
Our fundraising efforts are also well underway... We each have to raise $1,700 for this trip. I continue to pray that God will lift up partners that will support us financially & through prayer. And He seems to be doing just that. I was incredibly touched recently when I went to get my hair cut... I love my hairdresser! Jenny just oozes love - for others & for God. I love her bold spirit - she's not afraid to ask in His name. (Lord, help me be more like Jenny!) When she heard that I was returning to Haiti, she immediately made a Facebook event asking for clothing donations (that we could take to give to the people of Tabernacle). She sent this event out to almost 500 people! And in just a few hours, she had so many positive responses that I began to fear we might need another plane to get all these collections to Haiti! Praise God!
Each day now we are another step closer... Please be in prayer for our team as we get ready to return to Gonaïves, Haiti. Pray that we will be able to do all that God would have us do while we are there - all for HIS glory!
Philippians 4:19 ~ "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Praise God!
