Friends,
This week I'm spending almost all of my time on final preparations for our Advance Mission Team to head down to Haiti and begin a partnership with a Lutheran Christian orphanage in Les Cayes and a newly formed school we are working with other churches/partners to build on the island of Ile la Vache.
As I prayed about it this morning, I could sense all sorts of emotions roll over me: nervousness, excitement, energy, questioning and more.
I'm a planner when it comes to things like this. I like to maximize time. I like to accomplish the goals we have set before us. I like to look back when we're done and say "We did that! together for God's children." For this trip, we have our agenda. We have supplies for a medical mission at the orphanage and the school. We have paint supplies to spend some time painting in the school. We have sports stuff to play with the kids. We have toothbrushes to do some instruction on "how not to brush your teeth like Steve usually does."
But I keep reading articles and online segments...keep talking to people in Haiti...keep hearing from others who have been down there and are now back. And the theme is this: it's a mess down there. It was before the earthquake...and it still is now.
So maybe God's plan is bigger than paint and meds for us on this trip. Maybe part of our purpose in going will be just to show up...to be.
"The snares of death encompassed me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'O Lord, I pray, save my life!' Psalm 116:3-4
Have you ever called out that same thing to the Lord? I have. And I'm guessing our brothers and sisters in Haiti have as well. I know that in the times of my life when I was in the depths, I would yell and God would respond...not in the wind...or some magic...but in the presence...of someone. Maybe this mission trip is about that presence?
Who do you hear yelling today? Are you listening for it? Where can you allow God to send you today? To simply be?
They might be closer than you think!
If you want to join us on this trip, we are still looking for financial sponsorships to deliver 100% of that money down to the Children of Israel orphanage to purchase the prescription drugs we are not allowed to carry with us over the borders. Please contact me soon if you'd like to be a part of that!
Lord, help me today to hear the voices of those calling out in pain. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
