First off, Haiti is a beautiful country. (the little blue and white dot is the school where we stayed)
I learned a lot about Haiti in just seven days. I learned about their culture, their language, and their people (also the Haitian sensation). But I also learned a lot about myself. I put myself out there, I was uncomfortable at times, but there is nothing that I did there that I regret. There is no way for me to convey the things that I felt in Haiti. But I will say that my life has been changed. Whether you believe in Christ or not, you can't argue that Haiti will make you think. I understand that there are many people who have been to third-world countries many times, but I hope that it never stops impacting them. I am so blessed, I didn't get to choose where I was born, or the family in which I was born. There are things that I use everyday without thinking that baby Stephanie (in the picture) will probably never even see. And that breaks my heart, not that she will never have a spa day or have to clean out her mom's car (AKA spray ALL the Febreeze), but the fact that I have spent fifteen years overlooking all of the things that seemed insignificant and sometimes even inadequate. 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
I will never apologize for being American, you can label me with any stereotype, I get it, it's funny. But the bible says that in Christ we shouldn't feel guilty. When we walk in Christ we will be blessed through Christ. I want it to be very clear that I am not trying to condemn anyone with anything that I have to say about these wonderful people that I met. I do believe that there are many Christians in America who could do so much more for the world, but be thankful for what you have. We live in a country that wants and wants and wants, but we also live in a world that needs. Needs our love, passion, clothes, food, hope and prayer. Bottom line is, we are blessed beyond measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. And I can't tell you why or how we were ever put in the place that we are today. But I will tell you that until the day I die I will thank the Lord for where I am and for who I am, because no matter what anyone ever tries to tell me I saw where I could have been. There is no spiritual law (that I am aware of) that says there is no way I couldn't have been Mika or Josephine or Fifi and that is what breaks my heart.
I'm not saying that any Haitian has done something wrong, but there are things wrong in Haiti. They're approval of voodoo, has the whole country in a bind, and unfortunately (or maybe thankfully) everyone has freedom of choice, (which was given by God). What one person does, or doesn't do, can affect a whole country. There are many Christians in Haiti, who believe whole-heartedly in the Word of God, but there are still so many who turn to voodoo because they see that there is power. I believe that there will come a day when they see that although voodoo (the devil) has the same power as Christ, it is missing the authority that is found in Christ.
There is nothing easy about seeing hungry people and not being able to do much about their desires. There is nothing fun about looking at a child through a fence as he's telling you that he's hungry and not being able to feed him, because if you feed one, you have to feed them all. And there are so many. You can go anywhere in Haiti and find a little kid, or even a kind of large kid, who just wants you to love them. If you ever have something to give, please do whatever it takes to get it to someone who needs it.
I want to live my life by Philippians 2:3--Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
I have spent too much of life being entitled and wanting everything. I have yearned for attention and I have put myself above others. I foolishly have made myself out to be "the best" when I have nothing to back it up with. One day, I want someone to look back and truly believe, not just say, that I was selfless. I want to help people, and change lives, change the world. I seriously believe that through Christ I can make an incredible difference in people's lives. Until the end I will give God the glory, and the honor and all of my praise.
If you would like to give to the ministry that we helped out with go to http://acts29missions.org/get-involved/support-acts29
Peace!
