after Haiti

It only took 11 days.


Here I am sitting in Sola Cafe forever impacted by the Haitians, hands down the most life-changing week and a half of my life. God taught me so much in so little time. He showed me His goodness and His sweet nature daily, whether it was through the children, the sunset, or the love of my teammates.

I fell in love with the kids. We visited a few villages and I was amazed that each time children would come running out of their homes to play with us.

Children's home in Chambrun

Kids loved the camera

Windell, cutest child I've ever met

Sweet Haitian baby who loved my eyelashes

Other than hanging out with the kids at the children's home in Chambrun, we worked on some buildings on the compound at Nehemiah Vision Ministries. They are in the process of building two new children's homes that will house 64 kids altogether.

Sanding concrete walls with my best friend

We helped out with an ESL summer camp for the kids Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday. It was an awesome way to integrate my God-given passions into the missions work we were doing. I assisted with the learning activities for a day which was super fun. I hung out with the oldest group of campers (14+ year olds) which was out of my comfort zone; I ended up loving the sassy teenaged girls. It was so cool to see that they liked the same things I did (boys, clothes, Rihanna, etc.).

Lolika, too cute

All my ladies: Poo Poo, Stania, Maritzard, and Melissa

Berline was killing this photo shoot

On our last full day abroad we helped conduct a vision clinic in Onaville. We tested near and far vision and gave out glasses to the ones who needed them. We gave out 154 pairs of eyeglasses and saw 28 people cross over from death to life by the power of Jesus. HOW INCREDIBLE.

Running the focometer with a Haitian translator

We had time every night to worship and dive into Paul's epistles one by one. The Word of God is so powerful and I was constantly reminded of how important it is to eat it up daily. I couldn't have asked for a better team to serve with. I was so encouraged by everyone's hard work and hunger for the LORD; and beyond that, they were a blast.

The world became so small the minute I set foot in Chambrun. The thought of true poverty went from head to heart as I held starving children. For so long I forgot that people outside the United States existed. For so long I pictured God as an American God. Hearing Haitians and Americans praise God simultaneously in Creole and English gave me a taste of what Heaven will be like. It was amazing to see joy in genuine worship and reckless abandon as a church body.

God's calling me back to that special place, and He has big plans ahead.

before Haiti

crafts, love, and banana blueberry muffins

work shouldn't be this fun

Its been a while since I've last posted, thus I failed to complete my June goal to blog weekly (only at the end thankfully). Perhaps the most memorable moments of the past two weeks were spent with Megan during her weekend stay in Rals. I loved being with her for a few days, showing her around the city, exploring, and catching up. I forget sometimes how much I appreciate her friendship. Other than working, I've been running, baking, and crafting. Not much has changed. As for my goal to read three books by July, yeah that one flopped too. But I did get started and almost finished with a few books.

As for God and myself, I'd be lying to say we were super close right now. I feel really distant. Relationships ebb and flow, thats natural. In these last few days, though, I've been struggling with the condition of my heart in preparation for this trip to Haiti. I feel like there is no possible way that I could have the capacity to love the Haitians more than I love myself. Donald Miller writes in his book Blue Like Jazz,

The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: life is a story about me.

How often can I possibly think about me in 24 hours. I'll give you a hint, ITS ALL THE TIME. I'm concerned. I'm scared I won't let go long enough to let God's love permeate my soul to show His love to the people I'll meet these next 11 days. My brain keeps playing through the "what ifs." I don't want to go seeking glory for myself.

If I really believe in a God who can transform lives, then I need to start living like it. I have to trust that even in a short plane ride He can mold and shape this clay heart into a vessel ready to pour out His sweet, sweet truth. Here's to showing the love of Jesus to Haiti and here's to God showing himself through our experiences.