Well, we are back. Adjusting to Atlanta city life is already hard. The stark contrast from the rubble covered streets of Port Au Prince to the bright white hallways of Hartsfield Jackson International is blinding and hard. Jumping back into the same old surface conversations as before is hard. Trying to explain what we witnessed and experienced is hard. God has forever changed me.

The hardest thing though throughout this entire experience was leaving our two translators and new friends, Jude and Numa, at the Haiti airport. Two God-fearing, fun-loving, and ambitious guys, just like me.

Jude was in his second year of college when the earthquake hit and leveled his school leaving him without anywhere to continue his education. His Father is unemployed so his family now depends on him to bring home income. Numa’s story is similar. He was almost finished with secondary school when the same thing happened to him. They are two of Haiti’s brightest young men (only 21 and 24), fluent in English, creole, and french, and now have joined 60% of Haiti as unemployed.

Friday was their last day as 410 Bridge translators, since we were the last 410 group to serve in Port Au Price. Leaving them knowing the uphill battle of poverty and little hope they face crushed me and as I walked away I broke into tears thinking, “Why me God? Why am I the one who was born in the U.S. with such riches and opportunities? Why me and not them?”. I would gladly switch places with them right now, I thought.

Then as I was sobbing I felt a soft whisper that said, “Earn this”.

“Earn this?”, I thought. “Yes, Earn it.”

In that moment I realized that I was in fact blessed to be who I am & where I am. Then I heard, “What are you going to do about it?”. That was the challenge before me. What am I going to do to leverage God’s huge blessing for his own glory?

In the bible we see every blessing God gives out as an opportunity to reciprocate love back to him. Moses deliverance out of egypt, Elijah calling rain down from heaven, David killing Goliath, and even Paul escaping prison, were all blessings to be returned for God’s glory and for his Kingdom. Our God is a selfish God. He wants the glory and wants us to use our blessings to bring it to him.

It’s not about salvation. We have grace that God gives to us freely, no matter what we do. This is about being stewards of the blessings God has chosen for each of us to have.

For all of us driving cars, living in air conditioned homes, with steady income, or a bed to sleep in, What are we going to do about it? How are we going to return that blessing?

I don’t know yet what I’m going to do about it, but for now will you join me in praying for Jude and Numa? Pray for connections to the right people, opportunities & scholarships for both of them here in the States, and immediate jobs.

I am very thankful of my loving heavenly Father. He is good. He is just. He is faithful.

Much love,

Blake

The Day 3 “Rock Sifting Group” and our good friend Numa.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”  Psalm 91:14-16