First Night in Haiti - Port au Prince

So we had a full day of travel today. Started very early back in Shrevport. With only a few minor things and a bit of weather in Miami we have arrived safely in Port au Prince; even all our bags of supplies. We even made some quick friends in the airport which made our departing and getting through immigration smooth.

We are stayingnat the Methodist Guest House tonight in Port au Prince. We arrived with open arms from our new Haitian friends and fellow Methodist missionaries. They had prepared a delicious dinner and we settled into our rooms. After a brief packing of the supplies in the truck for to more wen had a orientation followed by swimming in the pool. Yes you read right, a POOL! It was so refreshing. Krysten led us in our first devotion and prayer time tonight along with bead ceremony. More on the bead ceremony later.

Our plan is to have breakfast in the morning then load up for Les Cayes. Tonight we lay our heads down with anticipation of what tomorrow will bring. We have many feelings running through our minds and hearts. We have already seen Haiti; good and bad. We have smelled, heard and experienced so much already.

May God continue to humble us and open us to Haiti. See we came to Haiti not bringing Jesus like what many people think of when you go on mission. Because Jesus was already here, working and moving in the lives of these people, church and country. We are just thankful that we get to be apart of this amazing journey.

Bonwi (goodnight)
-Scott

Not Wasting Our Time Worrying...

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself." -Luke 12:29-32 MSG

I am a planner. That is an understatement. I like to have plans for in case plans don't go the way I expect them to. I spend hours, weeks, MONTHS planing trips and details and being ready for "what-ifs". And tomorrow I leave for my third trip to Haiti...and the plan is...well....there isn't a really firm plan. It is more ideas of what the 10 days are going to look like. An inkling, really. Because I know every thing I have planned is going to change. And it is that very thing that is bringing me back to the Gospel of Luke.

I am given the gift of joining a team of 9 other believers...lovers of Jesus who are all answering a call to go and serve, or hug, or build, or sweat, or whatever God calls us to do during these 10 days in Port Au Prince, Les Cayes, and Dasmas- and wherever else we end up! :) But the real gift I have discovered so far is the way they are all SO RELAXED about the PLAN (or inkling). I was sharing with them during our pre-trip meeting/training about how our plan is changing and we aren't sure about all the details...and the entire team just shrugged their shoulders and said, "God will provide and we will all take care of each other."

So here I go- the planner- throwing my hands up, jumping into the abysmal loving arms of God, and asking for my every move to be in GOD'S PLAN, and relax in the knowledge that God will provide.

So relax. Don't worry about us. Don't be preoccupied with what we are doing and getting, but pray that we are responding to God's giving. We are steeping in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. He has given us all the Kingdom. Pray we are able to allow God to use us to grow it!!

Thank you to my August 2011 Team. You all ROCK!!

In His Love,

Sarah

4 days till we leave again

We leave on Monday for Dasmas Haiti again! This will Sarah's third trip and Scott's second. We are traveling with 8 others with a team from Grace & Trinity of Ruston LA. We are so thrilled and excited for what God has planned for us this time. We have missed our friends in Dasmas. The last time we were there was last Thanksgiving 2010.

This trip we will stay longer (10 days in country) to travel, be in community and to share God's Love with those of Haiti. We are traveling on behalf of VIM and the United Methodist Church. The team will construct pews and furniture for the church, put on VBS type activities for the children and continue to build relationship with that community.

Please pray for safety, direction, wisdom and God's providence as we are God's ambassadors to those of Haiti. May our eyes be open. May God give us big hearts of compassion and love. And may we simply be vessels for God to do amazing things through us.

Throughout the time we will try to update through this blog as well as Facebook. Follow Sarah and Scott on Facebook with the links on this site.