This last week of my life has been an unbelievable whirlwind of emotions and it’s going to take a long time for me to process everything that I have witnessed.
It was only two and half weeks ago that I received a phone call giving me 12 hours to see if I would be interested in joining an Adventures in Missions team going to Haiti from Februarly 11th—17th. So with the encouragement of my wife, family and friends, I have come full-circle. And what began as as a time filled with anxiety and worry was transformed into a time of God’s presence to help see me (see us) through what was an exhausting, but life changing experience – and we hope a transformation that will continue to guide our lives.
I will continue to blog about this trip for a great time to come, but I want to leave you with a few key things.
Why did we come?
In hindsight I really look at our trip as fulfilling four basic purposes.
1. To go out as a scout team and lay out the logistics for what we hope are lots and lots of youth ministry teams that will be heading this direction over the next year and for many years to come.
2. To use social media to tell stories that could be communicated in real time to people back home — and through the stories hopefully help others to not only give of their financial resources, but to make a heart connection with the people of Haiti.
3. To serve the people in Haiti, as we had great opportunity to do in tent camps, destroyed homes and crumbled churches.
4. To be a resource and encourage others to come to Haiti to be God’s hands and feet, both spiritually and physically.
I can look at those four things and say that we were able to accomplish them, but our journey is only the beginning of the many journies we hope you and others take to Haiti.
The Team
I’m so thankful to have been part of an amazing team of servants, and I know that we will all continue to tell our stories, encourage you to come, and we all hope to return here soon as well.
Thanks to….
Anne Jackson, Lars Rood, Adam McLane, Ian Robertson, Jeremy Zach, Tim Schmoyer, Mark Oestreicher, Seth Barnes and Clint Bokelman.
You all were a great source of strength of encouragement, not only to me, but to the people you served in Haiti. And it was beautiful to watch God work through you and touch so many live.
What You Can Do
If you have connected with the plight of the Haitian people, and you feel that God may be leading you to serve, then I want to encourage you to take action in one of many ways.
There are many things you can do (be creative), but here are a few that come to mind.
1. You can pray. Not just every once in a while but unceasingly. The people of Haiti, and those down there helping need your prayers.
2. You can support the work of organizations (prayerfully, financially, etc.) there on the ground who are making a difference. A group like Adventures in Mission who we came down with. Or people like Water Missions who we had the opportunity of connecting with. Or YWAM has been serving the Haitian people since. Or check out the work of Shaun King’s, A Home in Haiti. Shaun was a great resource while we were in Haiti. There are many good organizations, but make sure that the resources you provide are getting to the people.
3. You can encourage someone you may know to come down here and serve by providing a scholarship for them. What more amazing gift than to send someone down who can act as a servant of Christ, and as an advocate for the people — and return to share the stories and encourage you.
4. You could come down and serve. You could be that advocate.
We have been told time and time again by people living in Haiti that what we are witnessing is of huge historical scale – like nothing ever seen before in their country. Never has there been this much devastation, followed by such a hopeful revival of faith in God. Haitians who had never stepped foot in church before are now coming in by the 1000’s and there are amazing things happening that could forever change the foundation of Haiti.
You can be a part of that.
Whatever you do…do something.
For stories of our experiences you can continue to check out our blogs and our YMATH Facebook Page.
And if you have any questions or would like to talk to me personally about my experience and about what it would look like for you go down there, please contact me via this post and we can chat.
