Tuesday, May 10, 2011

'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end'

Greenday lyrics...not the greatest song in the world I'm sure, but this line is suitable for me in this moment. Here's why...

For the past 15 months I have been living here in Haiti. While visiting the Mission of Hope last February and helping out after the earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area, I felt God leading me to move here for a longer period of time, not really knowing at that point how long that would be. So, here I am 15 months later, and still not really sure about what the future looks like! One thing I do know for sure, is that a break is definitely necessary! With that, I'm a comin' home in June! My plans at this point are to take a much needed break, to unwind and reflect on my time here in Haiti, and also to pray and ask for direction for the fall and what the next year or so looks like.

At this point I honestly have no idea what the future looks like for me...the past year has looked nothing like what I would have planned out if I had actually had a "5 year plan", but I wouldn't have traded it for the world! My time here has taught me so much about myself, about what the church is and should be, about Jesus and so much more, and I have grown in ways I never thought I would. I signed up for a year in Haiti, working with teams, playing with kids, loving life, a simple year really, and I got way more out of it than I ever imagined. I have built friendships with both Haitians and North Americans here that I will have for life (I hope they feel the same way!), and I'm sad to be leaving this great place, but I know it's all for a reason, and that the next season is only waiting with more lessons to be learned and truths to be unfolded! The next season might even be back here again, but all I know at this point is that I really want to embrace whatever is in front of me...wherever that may be, doing whatever that may be. I just want to have my hands open, empty and ready in front of me so that I can pick up whatever it is that God is calling me to in this next season.

So, when you think of me...pray for me! Jesus knows my end from my beginning, and knows my heart better than I ever will, so I'm just looking to Him, "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2)