Good morning! It seems that spring has finally arrived, and we hope that it stays. Yes, this is the midwest, so that could mean anything. And they are mentioning that "s" word for Monday. Maybe the weather will be too busy to listen. But we know that eventually it will warm up and the grass will turn green, and the past winter will be just a memory.
Memories, that is kinda what is on my mind today. Yesterday, I read a blog from a friend who first visited Haiti 18 months ago. And it got me to thinking, it has been about that length of time since I first stepped onto the soil of that land. And thinking back now, I can see how life has changed for me over that amount of time. Oh, life changes for all of us. We move, or change jobs, get married or divorced, welcome new family members or say good-bye to others. We have people come into our lives for a short length of time and we never see them again. And than there are the one who enter our lives, and are responsible for changes that they could not have imagined!
In September 2012, when I first went to Haiti, I figured it would just be a trip to a third-world country, and that would be the end of it. But it became the beginning of something so much bigger! It has become a driving force in my life, and I in turn, are pulling others into this passion. I took so many photos of that first trip, and find myself looking at them a lot. I see the faces, and I remember the people. The missionaries who made up the team. The children at Bible School. The ministers and caregivers of the community. And I so wonder what has happened to a lot of them. And if their lives have changed over the last 18 months.
We all just want to make a difference. Be it raising our children to be productive members in society, or doing well in our careers. And some want to make a difference more than others. Neither is wrong, just different. We should all strive to leave an impact on the world when we depart. To be able to sit in that rocking chair as an old man or woman and say, yep I touched someone's life for the good. We don't want to feel as if, when we were gone, that it would make no difference to anyone, and that our lives were useless. We, as a people, have a sense of being needed, and of needing someone else. It is born in us, and it is up to us to see how we can answer this call in our lives.
Standing on the soils of Haiti in 2012, I could never have imagined how my life would be changed today. Since that trip, I had the pleasure of being a part of a medical Mission Trip to Haiti in May 2013. My niece Lilias was a part of that trip as well. And I could tell she knew what her plan was as well. To see the faces of need, the children and the parents, and to know that for a time, you made a difference. And you also know that there is so much more work that is left to be done.
The last year has been a very busy one indeed. We have been striving to collect the money needed for this year's trip. We have expanded our team to include 4 more people; Tiffany, Jan, Zack, and Chaz. We have started our organization Hands 4 Hope, who's title really says it all. We have discussed ways we can make a difference both here and in Haiti. And we have learned what it is really like when you open your hearts to others. For some of us, that hasn't been too hard. But for others, this is really stepping outside the comfort zone they have had around them all their life. But when you do this, you open yourself up to some amazing things! And this is what we pray we can achieve with our organization.
As for the people I first met in 2012, well I can say that I have been able to stay in touch with several of them. And hope to see them again this year as well. As for this year's mission trip, we will be headed out in May for Haiti. To join with 2 other organizations to provide 2 clinics in 2 locations, for a total of 4 clinic days. It will be long and hard work, but the rewards just can't be measured by money, but by the love you bring back inside yourself. In knowing that the difference will be reflected in you more than anywhere else. And knowing that, with our Heavenly Father's help, there will be another clinic next year, and the year after that, for as long as He will allow.
Which means...work! And I had better get to it. Lots to do before the trip, and lots to do to get ready for the next one. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you soon!
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