Expect the unexpected
I've wanted to go to Haiti ever since the earthquake. This past July I got to go and it was more incredible than I could have every imagined.
I was going to Haiti to work with the Haitian teachers, to teach them techniques on how to teach their students. I was going with 7 other (highly experienced) American teachers.
Before we even left for the airport I was feeling pretty insecure about going on this trip. I felt like I wasn't adequate enough or that I knew enough to go to Haiti and do what was expected of me. I was anxious and a mess, so I asked me friend to pray for me, which eased the anxiety. I began to feel energized and excited about the trip, relying on God to do the work not me.
When we got to Haiti the teachers went over the schedule and assigned everyone duties. I really didn't have much assigned to me and began to have insecure feelings flood over me once again, only stronger and more intense. They were shouting things like, "you're not good enough", "you're a bad teacher, that's why you aren't teaching much", "you are too dumb to teach here in Haiti", "the missionaries don't think you can be affective", and so on. I began to tear up right there and felt like I was going to loose it. In the midst of all these terrible thoughts, I felt God CLEARLY say, "BUT I don't think that". These words broke me. Freedom was found on this day. Chains fell off of me. Chains that have held me down for years. I felt true freedom. I was immediately changed and went into the teacher conference with confidence, knowing that God was going to use me and do great things despite my imperfections. And let me tell you what an amazing week it was. I got to meet and connect with people in amazing ways. God showed up, just like he promised he would. I felt that the Lord was speaking so clearly to me the whole time I was in Haiti, his Holy Spirit was truly guiding me.
Shawn was on the evangelism team and went out into the villages every day to tell people about Jesus. It was incredible. There were over 30 salvations and a healing! And many Haitian Christians were encouraged by the team, through prayer and teachings.
Whenever I sign up for a missions trip I think about all that God will do in the people I will go see. I always forget that God does a work in me too. This time it was more than I could ever imagine. It has been a gift that just keeps giving. I am blessed beyond words by the work of God in my life. I pray that I can honor him with my mind, spirit and body.
I was going to Haiti to work with the Haitian teachers, to teach them techniques on how to teach their students. I was going with 7 other (highly experienced) American teachers.
Before we even left for the airport I was feeling pretty insecure about going on this trip. I felt like I wasn't adequate enough or that I knew enough to go to Haiti and do what was expected of me. I was anxious and a mess, so I asked me friend to pray for me, which eased the anxiety. I began to feel energized and excited about the trip, relying on God to do the work not me.
When we got to Haiti the teachers went over the schedule and assigned everyone duties. I really didn't have much assigned to me and began to have insecure feelings flood over me once again, only stronger and more intense. They were shouting things like, "you're not good enough", "you're a bad teacher, that's why you aren't teaching much", "you are too dumb to teach here in Haiti", "the missionaries don't think you can be affective", and so on. I began to tear up right there and felt like I was going to loose it. In the midst of all these terrible thoughts, I felt God CLEARLY say, "BUT I don't think that". These words broke me. Freedom was found on this day. Chains fell off of me. Chains that have held me down for years. I felt true freedom. I was immediately changed and went into the teacher conference with confidence, knowing that God was going to use me and do great things despite my imperfections. And let me tell you what an amazing week it was. I got to meet and connect with people in amazing ways. God showed up, just like he promised he would. I felt that the Lord was speaking so clearly to me the whole time I was in Haiti, his Holy Spirit was truly guiding me.
Shawn was on the evangelism team and went out into the villages every day to tell people about Jesus. It was incredible. There were over 30 salvations and a healing! And many Haitian Christians were encouraged by the team, through prayer and teachings.
Whenever I sign up for a missions trip I think about all that God will do in the people I will go see. I always forget that God does a work in me too. This time it was more than I could ever imagine. It has been a gift that just keeps giving. I am blessed beyond words by the work of God in my life. I pray that I can honor him with my mind, spirit and body.
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