"...It's about the service!"

Deciding to go on this mission trip was the easy part.  Of course I want to go help people and share God's love.  Now I am faced with how I am going to get there.  First, I had to get all my paperwork together and send to the director.."no problem".  I've already booked the plane tickets...."it's getting real!"  The next part...raising the funds.  I have to raise money to pay for my housing, transportation and food while I am in Haiti.  I also am required to take a large sum of over-the-counter medications/tests and other supplies to use on our mobile clinic while we are there.  I have been brain-storming on how to raise this money.  The difference between this mission trip and the trips that my family and I have been on in the past is that we are not associated with a church or large group.  In the past, the money was raised by spaghetti dinners and silent auctions at the church.  This time it's just 3 of us and we are not going through a church group.  We will be joining a group of people in Haiti that will be coming from all different parts of America.  It's a little overwhelming.

This Thursday while I was driving to work I was brain-storming on how to raise the money.  I usually use this time alone to pray.  I thank God for all my blessings, ask for protection of my family, ask for the wisdom and patience to get through the day.....and so on.  Well, I started my prayer then some how ended up worrying about raising money.  I was trying to decide if I should send out letters to family and friends.  I HATE asking for help.  I was trying to think of another way....such as a hot chocolate stand in the neighborhood or craft sale.  Just in the midst of this conversation in my head a white truck pulled in front of me on I-540.  That was nothing new, but then something on the truck caught my attention.  In small red writing in the bottom right corner of the tailgate it said "it's all about the service."  Duh!  That was a wake-up call to me.  Why am I worrying about this....why am I trying to solve this all on my own?  God will provide.  Give it to him.  He wants me to go to Haiti to care for these people. Its about serving Him and his people.  He will take care of the details.  I need to have faith in him.  I immediately smiled and went back to praying...thanking God for the reminder and asking him to help with raising the funds.

Just 2 hours later I had a co-worker pull me aside and give me an envelope.  He said "I want to help with your trip....No, don't thank me, thank God....It belongs to Him."  About an hour after this I had another co-worker pull me aside and say that he heard about my trip and that he wants to contribute to the trip.   Just a few people at the office know about my trip.  I haven't asked for help, yet through them God is providing.  Praise Him!
Say it with me...."GOD IS GOOD!  ALL THE TIME!"

I'm going to Haiti!

For years now I have felt that God was calling me to participate in a medical mission trip.  Growing up my family was always involved in some kind of service work.  Whether it was serving Thanksgiving meals to strangers at our church, helping strangers repair their homes, Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes or providing Christmas presents and meals for a family less fortunate than us, my family has always looked for ways to show God's love to others.  My dad has been on countless mission trips to Bolivia and even managed to take my mom along on one of them. They usually spend most of their time helping build onto a medical center or building houses.   My sister-in-law spent a year in Russia sharing God's message.  She and my brother also traveled to Haiti to assist with a bible school for the orphans one year.  My husband and I attended one trip in 2004 to West Virginia with our church for the Appalachian Service Project.  We spent 3 days helping repair 2 different homes.  I spent the majority of my time painting, Cory was repairing a roof and digging a drainage ditch around a house.   I had always planned to go back but always found reasons that I couldn't , such as my pregnancy, having a baby, having a young child, having a back injury....something was always "in the way."  Honestly, I'm not good at repairing homes.  I don't know how to put up sheet rock or lay shingles and the thought of actually using a hammer and nail scares me just a bit.  I'm also very quiet and I have a hard time openly praying with others and evangelizing.  My family and friends are great at it but I just feel so uncomfortable with it.  I know....excuses!  Well, what I do know is how to hold some one's hand, rub a back  or give a hug to someone who it hurting.  I know how to take vitals, take a medical history and perform assessments on adults and children.  I know how to clean a wound.  I can care for those who are sick. I can educate people in order to promote a healthier lifestyle.  That I'm comfortable with.  This is my gift from God.  Because of this I decided years ago that once the opportunity presented itself to go on a medical mission trip I would jump on it.

Well, it finally happened.  Several months ago, the doctor that I work with mentioned that she was considering going on a medical mission trip with her daughter.  What a perfect opportunity!  If I went on the trip with her I would have the advantage of already knowing one of the physicians that I would be assisting.  I have worked with her as her personal nurse for 3 years now.  I know, for the most part, what she is thinking and can anticipate what she is going to need.   I told her immediately that if she did decide to go on a trip to let me know, that I was interested as well.
Shortly after that conversation, it was decided that we were going to Haiti and we settled on a date 2 weeks ago.  We will be leaving on April 5, 2015 to spend 7 days with the Mission of Hope group.  I am so excited for this opportunity.  I am also proud that I am finally answering God's call for me.  Through this blog I plan to keep my family and friends updated on the planning/preparation of the trip as well as keep you all posted while I am in Haiti.  I know so much is in store for me and I can't wait to share it with you all!