Safely Home

I made it home Saturday night November 27 untouched by cholera or any other sickness that was possible for me to contract while I was there.  It was an amazing time with the Fire and Fragrance team and the Awaken DTS crew.

Before I left for Haiti, the impression I had was that it would be like India and I was right.  Although it was not as hot as India it was as dusty, dirty and had similar smells as I imagined it would have.  Haiti is a beautiful place that has been ravaged by an earthquake.  The people are very kind and full of joy even though they live in conditions that are well below what we consider poor in the West.  It's crazy to think that right off the coast of Florida that one of the world's poorest nations exists and that they need so much help rebuilding their cities as well as their own lives.

Pheobe and Una praying for
some new friends

The 200 hours of worship and prayer was not like what I imagined but it was very practical.  Everyone took a different shift through the day and in the evenings we would worship and pray together as a group.  During the day there were other ministry's available.  At one of the ministries, I was able to go to the tent cities and help minister to them through prayer, the gospel, and in very practical ways like building tents for those who lost theirs when the rain came.  Some people also needed better tents because it was torn or in very poor condition.

Presidential palace.  It used to
be two stories.

 One of the tent cities we went to was right by the Presidential palace.  The "president" of the tent city (he's like a leader/manager of the tent city) told us that no one had gone into the tent city since Jan 12 which was when the earthquake happened.  He said that other organizations and ministries are too afraid to enter in because the people in this particular tent city are prone to violence and rioting and that it means a lot that we are entering into the camp and meeting the people where they are.

There are so many stories to tell about this short trip and I guess I'll be sharing little be little in the next coming week.

Ground fees and Haiti

The countdown until Haiti is about 2 days.  The 200 hours of prayer and worship start this Saturday and I am happy to say that I will be joining the group.

I have purchased my ticket to go this Saturday and I will be there until the following Saturday.  Also I have received all of the ground fees to cover my stay in Haiti.  I think through the preparation for this trip the Lord has shown me his provision and blessing.  It's funny to me because when I was in YWAM trying to raise support to go to India and China was much harder than this time and I feel like I did much less to announce my plans or at least it was a shorter notice.  But no matter, long or short, harder or easier, the Lord is faithful to provide for his children.

The Lord has really given me favor for this trip.  I can't get over the fact that Target gave me "black Friday" off so that I could go to Haiti when the main reason that they hire is for the holiday shopping season.  It really was the hand and favor of God that I am able to go.  Even during this time at home God has been opening doors for me to share what God has been doing in my life.  Tomorrow, I will be going to a worship night where I have been invited to share a testimony of what the Lord has done in my life and just today I was invited to share when I return from Haiti about what the Lord is doing there.  Through these opportunities, I pray and hope that it will stir a passion in their hearts to run after God.

So, its off to Haiti I go.

Praise

With the Haiti trip around the corner, it's hard to think it'll happen without any money and such short notice to supporters.  But God is good and he's providing every step of the way.

A week ago or so I was praying about Haiti, going and provision for this short trip.  One night during that time I had a dream.  The details of the dream are kind of fuzzy to me and they were when I woke up but one line that was spoken to me was very clear.  I heard someone tell me that everything that I needed would be provided for.  Those were the most comforting words at the time and I from that time I was convinced that I would be provided for to go to Haiti.

Today I received a couple donations to go to Haiti from the church I attend.  It's enough for me to get a plane ticket to Haiti which is the amazing provision of God.  Thank you Jesus.  It's this kind of thing that makes my relationship with God more real and personal.  I know that he is looking out for me and that I do not need to worry because he cares for me more than the "birds of the air" or the "flowers in the field" like Jesus said in Matthew 6.  

Another praise report that I have involves work.  I was hired by Target for the seasonal position so that means the main reason I was hired was for the upcoming holiday season which is Christmas.  Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year.  I was hired to help cover different areas of the store during that time.  But because of the Lord I was able to get that whole week off of work to go do the Lord's work in Haiti.  

So it looks like I'll be heading out on November 20th and returning on the 27th.  I still need some more funds for the daily cost of living in Haiti but I'm not worried as much because Jesus was faithful with his promise and provided money to go to Haiti and he will be faithful to provide the rest of the money I need.

Please keep me in your prayers.  The financial provision is just the beginning of a major spiritual struggle for a nation to turn to Christ.