Finally back. Finally here.

Since my last blog, I have finished my first semester at Moody Bible Institute, prepared for my summer in Haiti, embarked on a cross country road trip with some of my best friends, and on May 25^th, I headed to Haiti with my fellow interns. It has been a challenging few months since my last post. But being back in Haiti, serving and loving on these people in the name of Jesus has been worth all of those challenges. When I first got back it was so overwhelming to actually set foot in a place I’ve only dreamt about for 10 months. It was so surreal but seeing all of my friends from last summer and beginning intern training quickly jolted me into reality. I was finally back where my heart feels full, back where God reveals Himself to me over and over again. That’s what makes this place so amazing: to glimpse the glory, power, and sovereignty of Christ, while serving Him daily.

It has already been a crazy week. We have been all across the Northwest zone of Haiti, I have realized how much Creole I forgot, I have hugged and held so many beautiful children, and I have of course eaten some amazing Haitian food. I have reunited with my Haitian friends all over town. One of the Bracelet Bandits, a group of teenage boys who sell custom bracelets to the Americans, was walking with me and he told me that I know too many people and that I was the most popular person in Haiti. But it was so amazing to reunite with people who I have longed to see for so many months.

But truthfully the best reunion I have had was my reunion with the promises of God. Once I stepped into Haiti, I suddenly felt disconnected. I can’t explain why or understand it but I felt like my mind was still in America and my body was in Haiti. I wasn’t present. I was distant. It wasn’t working. But through each experience and each adventure, daily I could begin to see God’s promises come to life. Every day as I would wake up feeling disconnected, God would remind me of Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This verse would encourage me because I knew that last summer God began an incredible work in me and I had to continually remind myself that God would not begin this work and then let me get lost along the way. I kept being reminded that He will carry it on to completion in me. And for the first few weeks I honestly felt like I was lying to myself. I felt lost and couldn't really understand why God brought me back to Haiti.

A few days ago, we put a basketball hoop up in the Nutrition Program. We went down and played, actually played, with some of the older orphan boys. Something as simple as that truly brought my mind and heart to Haiti. Basketball has been my passion for so long and going to play revived me. It sounds silly but it really did. We played for an hour, three days in a row. And I felt so refreshed. And then today… We began today by going to the brothel in town. I had to lead the Bible study we had. I spoke on Hebrews 2:14-15. It was so encouraging to see prostitutes saying “Amen” and singing praise to Jesus. We just sang, danced, and prayed together. Loving on those beautiful ladies and their children was such a blessing. I realized when I was standing in the brothel in St. Louis du Nord, Haiti that my ministry is not useless. God is using me. I am still overwhelmed by the feeling. It gives me chills when I think about it. I am doing ministry and I finally feel present.

We had such an amazing time and then went back to the mission for lunch. After lunch all the girls set out for an adventure to the waterfall at the edge of town. We hopped on motorcycle taxis and began our adventure. We had such a blast at the waterfall we just played with all the local kids and got to love on them and bond together. It was so beautiful. Not just the scenery, not just the people but the purity of the love that we were all experiencing. I truly felt like we were loving in the name of Jesus with the purest love I have experienced as a human.

God has been blessing my time here in Haiti. I cannot wait to see where this summer leads. I am so excited for the next few weeks. My mom, brother, and sister arrive in less than a week and in two weeks the team from my church is heading down here and my best friend will be here for 10 days to experience this place that I love so much. Continue to pray for me and pray for continued guidance and reliance upon Christ. His power is perfected in my weakness. I praise Him for my weakness. I praise Him for His faithfulness.

Here are some pictures of my first few weeks here.