Haiti Journal Readings: Day Seven

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Seven (4-15-2011)

From my reading of Radical:

The key is realizing-and believing-that this world is not your home. If you and I ever hope to free our lives from worldly desires, worldly thinking, worldly pleasures, worldly dreams, worldly ideals, worldly values, worldly ambitions and worldly acclaim, then we must focus our lives on another world......If your life and my life is going to count on earth, we must start by co

ncentrating on heaven. For then, and only then, will you and I be free to take radical risk, knowing that what awaits us is radical reward.

(Lord, I pray that I keep my eyes and mind off of the things of this world, and that I focus on the eternal reward you have for me, and that my focus is to set a place for me in heaven, to worship you in your majesty for all eternity.)

My bible reading:

Philipians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I can't believe the end of our trip is finally here. What an eye opening experience this entire trip has been. God has shown me many things, and I have learned a few things from the people of Haiti, and what it truly means to want and to desire God. If I could only want and desire God the way the Haitian Christians here do, I will be blessed. I have never seen someone love and want God so much as to do what these people do to even have church to worship God. I have seen people walk miles in some of the most mountainous areas just to go to church for two hours. then turn right back around and make the 5-10 hours trek back home. It is motivating.

On the other side of things, I have never seen such poverty. It just blows my mind how such a beautiful place can be so impoverished. The Haitian people are so blessed with God's beauty, but waste it in the way some of them choose to live. My prayer is that the love of God can open their eyes to show them that they don't have to live this way, that through Him they can change their circumstances.

I believe the things I will miss the most is the children. They have to live the way they live because of the circumstances their parents have created for them. It breaks my heart. The children are so loving and look for so much affection and attention, because sadly, the don't receive it at home. I pray daily that they can grow up knowing God's love for them, and that through faith in Christ, they can change this small nation of Haiti. I pray that the love of Christ we have showed them will be a stepping stone in that direction.

Thank you Lord again for this opportunity you have given me. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to be a blessing in the lives of these people. I pray that it is possible for me to come back in the near future to see all of my friends again!!

(Lord, bless Ed and his ministry. And bless all his kids that made it a great week while we were here.)

Haiti Journal Reading: Day Six

(Sorry been so long since I posted on here. Had my gallbladder taken out on this past Thursday, that has kind of put me out of the loop)

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Six (4-14-2011)

From my reading of Radical:

Will we refuse to sit back and wait for some tingly feeling to go down or spines before we rise up and do what we have already been

commanded to do? Will we risk everything - our

comfort, our possessions, our safety, our very lives - to make the gospel known among unreached peoples?

Such rising up and such risk taking are the unavoidable, urgent results of a life that is radically abandoned to Jesus.

(Lord, I pray that you will take me out of my comfort zone. That in doing so I grow more in you. I want to want you more God. I want to desire you in such a way that giving you everything I have for you is not a second thought. I want more of you Lord.)

After I prayed this prayer, I read Philipians, and God reaffirmed my prayer by these verses.

Philipians 3:7-11

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which

is through in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in this sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

(God is Good)

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last full day in Haiti. We have accomplished so much in this past week, but it feels like we haven't done enough. God has allowed us to touch so many lives this week, and yet I feel like the one who is blessed. We went up on the mountain today to a church Rock Bridge has fully funded to rebuild. The church is so far up in the mountains that the temp dropped atleast 15-20 degrees. People who live in the mountains don't live together like in a town, they are spread out for miles across the area. We saw people who walk for miles just to come to church. And not just any walk. This is intense mountain walking.

People will carry stuff for miles down to Petit Goave to the market, and when they leave at the end of the day, they will head back up the mountain with what they did not sell.

In america we complain about going to church even if it is just raining, then people will walk in the rain, across miles of mountain roads just to worship God. Again, I pray that I want God like these people want God!

I have learned so much from these people. I pray to God that I don't forget what he has shown me in my time here. And I pray that I take what he has shown me and use it in my daily life, and use it to ultimately glorify Him! God is Good!!

Haiti Journal Readings: Day Five

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Five (4-13-2011)

From my reading in Radical:

The way we use our money is an indication of our eternal destination. the mark of a Christ follower is that their hearts are in heaven and their treasures are spent there.

-We can stand with the starving or with the overfed

-We can identify with Lazarus on his way to heaven or with the rich man on his way to hell

-Or we can embrace Jesus while we give away our wealth, or walk away from Jesus while we hoard our wealth.

From my bible reading:

Phillipians 2:1-4

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interest of others.

(Lord, I pray that you make me in this manner. That I no longer look to myself as better than others. that I always take the welfare of others over my own. That I can love the way Christ loved, and continue to love.)

Today was a productive day. Me, Kris and Bruce helped build a roof over at Mano's church. We had a great time working together. Wish we had more time here to do more together as a team. We have created some awesome relationships with each other. Ed has been needing a few things done around his house. Mainly stuff made. Tonight me and Kris built a big kitchen table for him. He really like it alot!

Its amazing how we can take so many things for granted. Such as a kitchen table, beds or bookcases. We always complain about what we don't have, but usually never take the time to thank God for what we do.

(Lord, I pray that you fill my heart with joy for the many blessings I have in my life. I pray that I never lose sight of this, and that I am never afraid Lord of not having what I know you will provide.)

Haiti Journal Readings: Day Four

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Three (4-12-11)

From my bible reading this morning:

Phillipians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.

(Lord, I pray this prayer for myself. I pray for your knowledge and for my purity so that I can remain blameless in your sight and to others so that I can become a blameless instrument for you and for your glory.)

Today was another awesome day with spending time with kids. They are just so receptive to the love we show them. We gave out school supplies to a small school in LaCul. It is crazy to think that just a notebook and pens and pencils could impact a child in the way that it will. The money it would have cost for the parents to buy these supplies can now go to food or another item that the family needs.

I made two new friends today while we were out! Their names are Pierline and Sherli. I don't know if they look to me as a brother or father figure, but I can feel their love when they are around me. It is the greatest feeling in the ever. I will truly miss these two amazing little girls.

It breaks my heart though because when we left them today, I found out they live in a tent city. Made we want to cry. All I know is if I have some sort of roof over my head, I will be forever happy. The Lord will provide. It boggles me to no extent how these people live their lives, so happy and not distraught by their circumstances. I pray to have that kind of peace. The kids don't have XBOX's, Wii's or smart phones. Give them a soccer ball and a hug, and they feel like the luckiest kid in the world. I pray for that kind of peace. Thank You Lord for what you have shown me today!

Also, on a awesome side note:

Ed Lockett, the missionary we are partnered with down here, knew my mom just before she married my dad! They were like best friends. Lord, you are miraculous to bring me and Ed together in this manner. He was so excited to see that my mom was in church now and finally happy.

Haiti Journal: Day Three

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Three (4/11/11)

From my reading this morning out of the book Radical:

God has created us to accomplish a radically global, supremely God exalting purpose with our lives. The formal definition of impact is "a forcible contact between two things," and God has designed our lives for a collision course with the world!

(Lord, make me an instrument for your glory, honor and praise!)

We went and visited Yellow School today. The schools have names, but since the quake, the schools are designated by the color shirts the students are suppose to wear. Visiting the kids was amazing! It was a private school, so they

literally just let the kids visit with us while we are there. The kids accept and give love in ways I have never seen. The love of a child is amazing. They are just looking for love and affection they usually do not get from home. I just love and admire these kids!

Another thing got to me at Yellow school today. A little girl was not feeling well. She was running a fever, throwing up and had diarrhea. They thought she might have malaria. But they couldn't get her clinical health for a good 24 hours. The hospital here in Petit Goave is not real great either. All we could do was pray over her, and for God to come down and heal her frail little body. It literally brought me to tears.

The landscape is crazy as well. Beautiful mountains, beautiful ocean water and ocean views, but the poverty is so unreal. It just puzzles me to the core how such a beautiful island can be in such turmoil. I just pray for the Haitian people that they open their eyes to what God has blessed them with, and in the end, praise Him for it, and use it for His glory.

(Lord, please use the people of Haiti to be a sign of hope in a sinful world. And let me be an instrument for you, so that you can use me to make this a reality.)

Haiti Journal: Day Two

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Two (4-10-11)

From my reading this morning out of the book Radical:

Our great need is to fall before an almighty Father day and night and to plead for him to show his radical power in and through us, enabling us to accomplish for his glory what we could never imagine in our own strength. And when we do this, we will discover that we were created for a purpose much greater than ourselves, the kind of purpose that can only be accomplished in the power of his Spirit.

Church this morning was amazing! We sometime, well pretty much all the time, take for granted what we have in America. The church I went to this morning was in a tent. A stick framed hut, with tarps over it. And they still praised and worshipped God. Unlike us, when we can sometimes not go to church just because of typical nonsense stuff. Did I mention it was super hot in there.

Then we went to church tonight at Mano's church. That was an amazing expierence. His church was actually in a building. But the power in Haiti only comes on at a certain time. So it was very hot and dark in the church. All the light we had was two oil lamps. Even with those conditions, people still praised and worshipped God. It really makes you realize what it truly takes to praise God. Not a building, not stained glass windows, or even electiricity! Just a group of believers gathering for one sole purpose, to praise God! Thank you Lord for showing me this today.

Haiti Journal

No picture or words can describe what I experienced while I was in Haiti. Never before have I seen such poverty and such a way of living. As I was preparing to go on this mission trip, I started to think of journaling while I was there. I wanted to do this so when I got back I could be able to share my experiences there so maybe people could get a glimpse of what I saw and experienced while I was there. That is what the next seven blogs are going to be about. These blogs will be about my seven days in Haiti. It will talk about what I experienced and also about what God has showed me and some excerpts from my bible reading and the reading of the book Radical. My prayer is that this will give you insight.

I also want to ask that you pray for me and continue to pray for the people of Haiti. For me, that I never forget what I saw and experienced, and that God will open my heart and mind up to things that he has in store for me. The people of Haiti, that God will show them that they can make a better lives for themselves and that they can truly lean on God for guidance and strentgh to do so. That no matter what they feel, they are not second class to anyone. That they realize we are all the same in the eyes of God.

I have changed my blog title to 3verse8. Later on in my week there I came across Phillipians 3:8, which says;

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Think about it, we can have all the most amazing items, the nicest car, the nicest house and even the most money. But aside from knowing Christ, this stuff is all garbage. The people of Haiti don't have all these things. Some of them live in tents and have nothing! But, one thing they do have is Jesus! And, THEY. ARE. HAPPY!! What have they gained from losing everything, Christ.

After my time in Haiti, this is my prayer. I pray that God would take the things in my life that I put before him, and just take them away. That I lose all things, that in knowing that, I may gain Christ.

My first blog post is short, but trust me, they get longer.......here is day one.

Hait Missions Trip: Day 1 (4-9-11)

What an eye opener today was. I thought I had and idea of poverty, but I was so wrong. I guess I am still blinded by the way we live in America. Even poverty stricken people in the states have it 100X better the the Haitian people.

Just an idea of how nasty it is down here: take all the trash from the landfill in Dalton, fly over with a plane, and then just drop it from the sky. Then just leave it there. That is how I could best describe it.

The kids are going to make this whole trip for me. They are so loving, friendly and definetly clingy. All they want to do is be around you, and pretty much have your undivided attention. I LOVE THIS!! I am already thinking of how much I will miss them.

They are just so curious about you, just as much as you are about them. The love of a child is truly extraordinary. And these children prove that, 110%. If I could only love a stranger (even a person I know) as much as these kids love us, then I will see myself as OK.

Thank You Lord for this opportunity!