Numbers:

512… the number of days since the 7.0 magnitude Earthquake hit Haiti

141… the number of days since I applied to go to Haiti

65….. the number of days since I met 22 individuals (most of whom I did not know)

18….. the number of days since I began calling them family

3……. the number of days before we leave for Haiti

Infinite… the many ways God, our supporters, and our Haiti family have already changed my life

Making the decision to simply apply for a trip to Haiti was difficult enough. I spent many days speaking with people I knew had attended missions, speaking with people from Haiti, and speaking with friends and family members about what I felt God had been calling me to do. After a lot of conversations and many prayers I finally decided to apply to go to Haiti.

There are many men who work on the custodial staff at the school I work at. They are Haitian, and during the earthquake of 2010 I was in direct contact with each of them as we worked to support them, love on them, and raise funds to send to Haiti in their names. Their accents are very heavy, but that hasn’t stopped us from communicating. There were times I would talk with them about their families in Haiti, those who survived, and for a few, those who did not survive. Since having been accepted on the Haiti trip, our conversations have now turned into their joy to share their country with me. One man even said, “I go with you!!!” He was so overjoyed that he just wanted to go with us, to be back in his home country, and to share how much he loves Haiti and his family with me.

God has blessed me with this amazing, yet scary opportunity, to leave my comfort zone, meet 22 of the most amazing people I have ever met, and work with them for Him and His people. Through meeting these amazing people, raising funds, witnessing to people as they ask about the trip, and becoming a part of my mission family I have become so humbled and stand in complete awe at just how amazing our God is. Pray big, people! God answers! Our Haiti family is solid proof of that!

We have spent every opportunity we have had getting to know one another, learning about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, learning love languages (yes… we took a group quiz!), relaxing in the lake, “speed dating,”  and diving into the word to learn how we can better serve our Lord.

In 3 short days we leave to go to Haiti. Some are excited, some are scared, some are nervous, some are packed, some won’t pack until Friday morning… and some of us are feeling all of the above. What do we all have in common right now? We all are going into this knowing that we are loved. We are loved by God, by each other, and by the huge showing of support we have all received in preparing for this trip. Please continue to pray for each of us as we finish preparing for our departure. Please pray that we will remain focused on what God has called us to do during these last days. We are excited, humbled, and can’t wait to share this experience with all of you! 3… 2… 1…

God bless,

Stephanie

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20