You want me to sing? .... what?

On Sunday July 21, 2013 I had the opportunity to share how I experienced God's work in Cap Haitien, Haiti with the Millcreek Community Church Haiti missions team. Below is the written transcript of what I shared. You can also listen to it, and stories from the rest of the group, from the MCC website. Here is the direct link to the sermon.

When I began to reflect on this experience, I realized again and again, our God is all powerful. Similar to others in our group, I was nervous going to a fourth world country for the first time but there was another paralyzingly fear that I hadn't realized. I was tasked with teaching songs to the children during our VBS with Ryan... But I was terrified of singing in front of people.

Saturday night, our second night in Haiti, I was sitting in my room praying. I was so overwhelmed already and anxious for Monday's VBS. The rest of the group was playing cards in the living room but I was too upset to come out. I asked God to empower me to overcome this gripping fear. Not a minute later did Amy come knocking on my door and give me a big hug.

On Sunday I spent some time talking with Katie about my fear. I realized several things... that my heart was full of pride, I didn't want people to think I sounded bad, and Satan was using this fear to pull me away from God. God wanted me to minister to these 250 children through song, and it was Satan holding me back. The theme verse for our missions team was, Luke 18:27 But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." It was impossible for me to overcome this fear of singing on my own, but it was possible with God.

Later that Sunday night we had a meeting to finalize everything for VBS and at the end, Jess looked at me and asked me to teach the memory verse song to the group. I looked at Katie, later she said the look on my face was hilarious but that she immediately started praying for me. I took a breath asked God to give me the courage. I sang the three lines and for the next ten minutes I practiced with the group! Afterwards I was elated and Katie encouraged me with a big hug.

Then throughout the week I was brought to tears multiple times as the children enjoyed the voices of Ryan, Seville who translated for us, and I. By the end of VBS the children knew the memory verse, Psalm 16:11, and could sing it strongly! Together we praised our Lord in English and Creole. Cultural barriers were broken down through song and the children learned about God's love and our Savior Jesus Christ.  

I learned that a fear can start small but grow to have a huge impact on our lives and hinder our service to our Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I learned I need to continually give myself over to God, and not be fearful in my weaknesses but joyful in that God's power is made perfect in those weaknesses!

So what did you build in Haiti?

While our team was in Haiti we stayed at the One Mission Society (OMS) compound in Cap Haitien, Haiti. OMS is a Christian organization that serves in over 70 countries world wide. In Cap Haitien they have a 20+ acre compound that serves many purposes. Over our six day stay we were able to see much that OMS does for the community. Their compound has a hospital, school, church, carpentry shop, cooperative farming and several house buildings. It was great to see local Haitian men and women working in each of the ministry areas OMS provides. There are over ten full time missionaries that live here but we only met a few as most were visiting family during the summer months.  

One of the things I learned while staying at OMS was that while it is great to give someone medical care or provide a carpentry job for them, it is far greater to use that as an opportunity to make the gospel known! 

When I returned to the States, so many people asked me, "So what did you build in Haiti?". At first I wasn't sure how to answer that question. I realized that many people living in the world just assume I went down to Haiti, built some houses, gave some money and left. Then it dawned on me that this in of itself is a way to make Christ known. I relied on God to boldly share that I was in Haiti spreading the gospel. Making Him known was my main mission, while there are many avenues to do so, such as helping at an orphanage or hosting a VBS. 

A few days ago my friend Anthony provided a great answer to the question, "So what did you build?"  That answer is, "We are building relationships on Jesus Christ!!" Amen!!

God calls us to spread His Word. If I go to a fourth world country and build a house or hug a child and think, oh I am a good person now, I've got it all wrong. I must go with a heart to serve the Lord. I have learned that If I can't use actual words, my actions can show Christ's love as long as I remember I am there to serve Him not myself. 

The world is lost and needs to know of the Savior Jesus Christ!

Romans 3:11

"No one understands; no one seeks for God."

If no one is seeking God then we must bring them His Word!

This is a photo of the entrance to the OMS compound. As with all large parcels of land in Haiti, it is surrounded by large concrete walls to prevent squatters from living on the land. 

This is a photo of inside the OMS compound. This is the house that I stayed at with 5 other people from our group.

And I thought finals were overwhelming ...

Saturday was our first full day in Haiti. Throughout the day we were preparing our supplies for the Vacation Bible School (VBS) we would be doing Monday - Wednesday. The day went in a bit of a haze. I was still struggling with feeling overwhelmed.

That night our whole group was hanging out but I just felt like I was going to burst into tears, so I retreated to my room. I began to write my prayers to God. I talked to God through the words I was writing on the pages of my journal. I was struggling with what I had witnessed so far in the Dominican and Haiti. I couldn't believe I was seeing such poverty in person. I felt like I couldn't make a difference. As I was praying I wrote, "I feel alone. I want someone to notice I'm not out there with the group." Not a second later did Amy walk into my room, ask me to play cards, and give me a hug! God doesn't always answer us immediately like this but after two days of this completely overwhelming sensation, it was the encouragement I desperately needed.

Satan was polluting my mind with the thoughts that Haiti was unreachable and that I was unqualified to spread God's Word. God reminded me through Amy's hug and His Word, that it is not me that brings people to Christ but the Holy Spirit working through me. God can do the impossible.

Luke 18:27

But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

Leaving my comfort zone - Entering Haiti

When we arrived in Santiago, Dominican Republic (DR) I thought to myself, "Oh this isn't too bad, it kind of feels like Florida." There were palm trees, it was warm but not too bad and people were speaking Spanish. Then as we drove around to get to our hotel I noticed the city felt more run down and less and less like Florida. I was coming to realize I was beginning to leave my comfort zone.

Fast forward 24 hours to the border crossing.

It felt surreal when we approached the border. There were thousands of people, Haiti and Dominican, all around. People were purchasing goods and bringing them back across the border. On the Dominican side we had to wait on the bus outside the immigration office while the bus attendant took our passports inside to get stamped. I was definitely trusting in the Lord when I had to hand over my passport at the beginning of the trip - but I did get it back! Our skilled bus driver then maneuvered the large bus across the border. In the picture below, the DR is on the left and Haiti is on the right. Also in the photo is one of the many armed UN officials at the border and throughout Haiti.

Once we got to the Haitian side, we had to get off the bus and go into the immigration office to get our passports stamped and get our green cards. We had eaten lunch while on the bus but many of us had not finished our rice. We saved the food and as we got off the bus we planned to give it to the children. I was in shock as I got to the door of the bus. The children were almost climbing inside shouting in Creole. I handed over my food and quickly followed the group inside. I had never seen a person so desperately excited to get food. It broke my heart and I realized I was completely outside my comfort zone. 

That evening when we arrived at our home for the week in Haiti, I was completely overwhelmed. Our team gathered together after dinner to talk about our experiences thus far. I didn't say anything at first but I finally admitted I was so overwhelmed. Pastor Rob smiled and said that was good. He reminded me that God is in control and He is all powerful. Afterwards Melissa (Pastor Rob's wife) came and gave me a big reassuring hug. I was still feeling overwhelmed and nervous. I wasn't exactly sure my purpose was on the trip. I prayed that night that God would empower me to overcome the nervousness and fears, that I may serve Him and bring Him glory. I was confident God would prevail. 

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

The Great Commission - Haiti

God has commanded all His followers to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the nations. This includes your local neighborhood but also going outside your comfort zone - which may include traveling abroad.

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God blessed me with the opportunity to make Him known in Cap Haitien, Haiti. I joined 12 of my Millcreek Community Church brothers and sisters to be God's hands and feet, making disciples in Haiti. Our 48 hours of travel began Thursday June 27, 2013 at 4am when we met at the church to board a bus to the Buffalo airport. From there, we flew to JFK in NY then off to Santiago, Dominican Republic. We spent the night in Santiago and Friday we took a bus to Cap Haitien.

Over the next few weeks I plan on writing several blog posts describing the great works of God that happened during our trip. A friend of mine told me before I left, that it isn't a missions trip until you break down and cry - giving it all up to the Lord, for nothing is impossible for Him.

The mission team's verse for the week:

Luke 18:27

But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

View of the mountains around Cap Haitien, Haiti