The first 2 hrs

     I had gotten quite comfortable on the plane, and was enjoying the quiet time.  I was thinking about the week, what we would encounter, and also thinking about seeing my wife and son again when we return.  Somebody from our team,( I can't remember who)  said they could see Haiti out the window.  I did not have a window seat, but I stretched my neck in every way possible trying to catch a glimpse, but I could not see it.  Then the plane tilted hard, and out the window I saw it.  It was beautiful.  Mountains just shooting out of the sea.  Nothing like I had imagined.  I will never forget the first glimpse I saw.  However, as the plane began to descend, and things came into better view, the beauty was from afar, and the reality was far from good.   At over 1,000 feet you could already see the poverty, and the devastation.  Not just a few neighborhoods, but a country of despair.

     We arrived at the airport, and went through security and customs.  The inside of the airport was not that different from some of the smaller airports I have visited before.  It was even more commercial than I had anticipated.  We went through a 45 minute search for some missing bags before we left the comfort of the airport, and headed for the mission house.

      The first 30 minutes outside of the airport was difficult to explain.  We were told in advance not to let anyone touch your bags.  Hold on to each other, and if someone touched your stuff, tell them No, No.  When we stepped outside their were hundreds waiting and watching.  I am not sure what they were there for, but they certainly were interested in us.  Staring at us, yelling at us (I have no idea what they were saying).  We loaded on to a large truck with a large cage on the back.  17 of us with bags in tow.  We felt like livestock.  Locked in the back of this truck, peering out at this world around us.  Our truck had some difficulty navigating through the town, and we had to back up several times because our truck would not make it up a hill.  More yelling, some honking, and some nervous laughter among our team.  The traffic was like nothing I had ever seen.  For a few moments, I questioned, (are we safe).  Have I put my daughters in a bad situation?

      Pretty soon, as I began to really look around and feel the poverty, I forgot about my nervousness.  These people had nothing.  Everyone was out on the streets.  Standing, sitting, walking, and even laying on the sidewalks.  Everyone looked to be selling something, but who were they selling to?  It looked as if nobody had anything, so I am not sure who they would make a sale to.

There was instantly a big difference between the Haitian people and us.  We set goals, we think about the future.  We make plans, and do it as if we know what will happen next.  These people were focused on today.  I say the Lord's Prayer daily, but it brought new meaning to part of it for me.  Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.   Not tomorrow or next week.  Just sustain me for today Lord, and I will let tomorrow take care of itself.  I worry chronically.  I realized how sinful that can be.  I can't control things.  We need to focus more on the moment. More on the people who are within arms reach.  I pray that I will worry less, and be more grateful for the little blessings that I receive everyday.

I am reminded of this scripture today:

James 4: 13-15

¹³How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:

¹⁴When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone.

¹⁵But the right thing to say would be, If it is the Lord's pleasure and if we are still living, we will do this and that.

Today is the day.

January 17th.  A day that we have been anticipating for months.  It was a bit strange because we headed to the church at 2am.  It was cold, and there was snow on the ground.  We knew that in less than 12 hours we would be in a land where the the temperatures would be in the mid 90's.  We would do bag checks, make sure everyone had the required documents, and then head for the airport at around 3:30am.

No trip like this goes perfect, and neither did this one.  My daughter Peyton left something at home. Living just a few blocks away, my wife headed back to retrieve the forgotten item.  When she arrived home, Tracy accidentally locked the keys in our van while it was running.  What this meant was that Tracy would not be able to ride to the airport to see us off.  I was so disappointed that she couldn't come.  Tracy said it was actually better that way, because she didn't have to  think so much about the Good Bye.

Neither of my girls had ever flown before.  We went through check in and security with ease, however our flight ended up being delayed by over an hour.  I think the girls were so tired of waiting that they weren't even nervous when we finally took off.  I was so disappointed that I didn't get to see there faces when we took off.  My seat was in the front of the plane, and they were in the back.  The adventure began when we arrived in Miami.  We landed, and our next flight was schedule to leave in 8 minutes.  We had to get the entire team to the other side of the airport in just a few minutes time.  We went through the airport like O.J. in a Hertz Rent a Car Commercial.  We made it to our gate as they were closing the doors, but they held the plane for us, and we were on our way.  Haiti here we come!

While we were on the plane flying over the ocean, I thought about what would have happened if we hadn't made that flight.  I felt sure at this point that we were where God wanted us to be.  I was fully committed to whatever God had in store for us. Had it crossed my mind that the trip could be dangerous?  Yes.  But we were prayed up.  We had so many praying for us.  Besides that, when it becomes your hearts desire to do what God is calling you to do, then you become more accepting of what could happen.  Let HIS will be done.  When you turn your thoughts to serving others, you become less interested in yourself.  Lord be with us!

24 Hours

(These entries are being posted online after our trip was completed.  The entries in the blog will be a collection of thoughts and lessons before during and after the trip.)

     So for several months now we have been preparing for this trip.  It has been awesome to watch God do his work even before we have departed for Haiti.  I was skeptical that we would be able to take this trip for financial reasons, but God has provided.  My daughter Paige, wrote letters to friends and family telling them of the trip that she has envisioned. Days later, she received letters from them with financial and prayerful support.  One of my favorite things about this trip was to find out just how much my daughters are loved by these people.  They wanted to help these young girls find out what God had in store for them.

     Every week we have gone to meetings discussing the Haitian culture, their situation, their language in preparation, yet we are just a day away, and I feel like we are venturing into the complete unknown.  I have no idea what to expect, and yet I truly am not afraid.  I am so excited I can barely sit still.  My prayers are many, but among them is that when I return, that I will share the news of God's mercy and grace with everyone.  I pray that this trip makes not only a difference for a few Haitians, but for myself, and for those I come in contact with when I return.

     I have been thinking lately about different times in my life when I have come in contact with people who have shared their faith, or let me know that I was moving in the wrong direction.  I have become more aware that these are not chance happenings, but divine appointments.  I hope that in the future, God will use me to answer the prayers of others.  I hope that I can be an instrument of my Father in Heaven.   I pray that I will feel the presence of those who are lost or hurting and show them God's Love.

     Our team decided that we should have a team motto.  We decided on, "Here I am, send me."  We took this from Isiah 6:8.
Isaiah 6:8

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

      For the week leading up to the trip, every chance I have had I have been singing a song that we used to sing at my church when I was growing up.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have born my peoples pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

Lord prepare our hearts!