I missed church one Sunday morning. It was the wrong one to miss! The sign up list for Haiti went public that Sunday and quickly was filled. However, I was there the next Sunday, signing up for the Ladies' Breakfast and hurriedly signed up for the trip.
Oct 26, 2010 was the day that I decided to follow the Lord's leading to go to Haiti. It's now Dec. 3, 2010. I am dying to get going on the trip... I am more excited daily.
There is a lot of hardship going on in Haiti right now. Still cleaning up from the natural disasters (earthquake, hurricane, floods), illnesses (cholera) and political strife (elections that may have been tainted). Haitians are people who are hurting right now and are in need of prayers.
A dear friend, Margot, sought me out at church one Sunday. She wanted me to know how Samartian's Purse is working down in Haiti right now and that one of her friends went down with that organization. My heart is on my sleeve, my love for Haiti is quite visible.
At my work, we are blessed with a Student Run Clinic. This is a medical clinic run by medical students of the global and public health interest group. A fabulous group of students who have a heart for the underserved, underpriviledged hurting souls. This past Nov. they held a Rich Man, Poor Man dinner, in support of the Bouly Clinic in Haiti. I wasn't asked to go.... my co-worked told me I was going. I had no clue it was about Haiti until she passed on the email the evening prior to the event. I have to admit that I wasn't into it, UNTIL the name HAITI came up.
For all who don't know- a Rich Man Poor Man's Dinner is a dinner where you may be served a rich man's dinner (three courses, served to you in person) or a poor man's dinner (communal dinner that is served 'family style' for you to seve yourself). There is a group of seven at a table, with one being the Rich Man. This is in correlation to the wealth in the world- only 1 in 7 worldwide is classified as being able to eat the way that us Canadians eat daily. Haitian food was the Poor Man's dinner- rice, beans, veggie stew and a sharp coleslaw. It looked yummy and very healthy. It was during my research afterward the dinner that I learned that it was lucky Haitians that enjoyed a meal like that... some eat 'Yellow Cookies' which is yellow dirt with animal fat and salt which is cooked together. My heart breaks when I think of that.
At the dinner there was a bit of a program- leaning about the Bouly Clinic and how the money raised that night would be used. followed by a key note speaker who was woring at the clinic and the amazing work that he does there, and the night ended with a Haitian dancer. My heart was renewed and my vision focused on Haiti after a night like that.
My twitter account is now full of reporters working in Haiti, medical teams working in Haiti and a brave soul from Haiti that tweets about what is going on. All of these tweets, once investigated by simple research for vaildity, become my prayer requests.
At the present moment, there are 83 days until I leave for Haiti.
Hurry up and wait.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Decision Made, Now What?
On the way home from the travel clinic, I had to call my parents. I am so thankful for a cellphone that has speaker phone! I first spoke to my father... a very caring man, who has a heart for his eldest daughter. He listened to me moan, groan and complain about how I got an owie getting a vaccination and how I can't handle getting needles. He chuckled, sensing my humor in the whole thing! He graciously puts my mother on the phone.... and I revereted to a little girl! Also sensing my humor, she played along.... however, she abruptly stopped and said.... WAIT! Does this mean you're going?
I was able to say YES! I am going!
After I got home and spoke to my loving fiance, I sent the email out to Pastor Les, the pastor leading the trip. We had been corresponding back and forth, as I had asked Pastor Quin for more info in order to be able to share and answer questions of those who were praying for me.
I was able to share my decision the next day with my close friends and family, and the next day with my prayer warriors at my class.
Haiti.... Serving.... Me... Who Knew???
I was able to say YES! I am going!
After I got home and spoke to my loving fiance, I sent the email out to Pastor Les, the pastor leading the trip. We had been corresponding back and forth, as I had asked Pastor Quin for more info in order to be able to share and answer questions of those who were praying for me.
I was able to share my decision the next day with my close friends and family, and the next day with my prayer warriors at my class.
Haiti.... Serving.... Me... Who Knew???
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Travel Clinic-- and big breaths
The day arrived that I was sort of looking forward to and sorta not.
A bit of background... Haiti is a poor country that shares a Caribbean Island with Dominican Republic. It had a massive earthquake in January 2010 that caused the already struggling country to crumble. In Sept. 2010, confirmed cases of Cholera were found in the residents. This spread from the outlining area to the main city after a flood caused by a hurricane in Oct. 2010. Malaria is well known in Haiti due to the high level of mosquitoes that habitate there.
After working a long day at my day job, I attended my appointment with the Travel Clinic. I had a fabulous RN there who took really good care of me. She recommended my immunizations, some shots, some not... and prepared me for what will be coming at me when in Haiti. I was recommended my MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Cholera, Hepatitis A, Flu, Typhoid Fever, Rabies, Malaria. A good recommendation was also to take Cipro (antibiotic) with me in case I am haunted by traveller's diarrhea. I got the shots... which really hurt! and took the information about when to get my rabies, and how to connect with my cholera and malaria. Thank goodness Cholera and Malaria are in liquid and pill form!!
The preparation pamplet that was given to me is priceless! What to expect, what to do and how to protect myself.
It was during my first Hep A shot that I felt secure enough to say out loud and boldly: I AM GOING TO HAITI!
Now, to let my church know.....
A bit of background... Haiti is a poor country that shares a Caribbean Island with Dominican Republic. It had a massive earthquake in January 2010 that caused the already struggling country to crumble. In Sept. 2010, confirmed cases of Cholera were found in the residents. This spread from the outlining area to the main city after a flood caused by a hurricane in Oct. 2010. Malaria is well known in Haiti due to the high level of mosquitoes that habitate there.
After working a long day at my day job, I attended my appointment with the Travel Clinic. I had a fabulous RN there who took really good care of me. She recommended my immunizations, some shots, some not... and prepared me for what will be coming at me when in Haiti. I was recommended my MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Cholera, Hepatitis A, Flu, Typhoid Fever, Rabies, Malaria. A good recommendation was also to take Cipro (antibiotic) with me in case I am haunted by traveller's diarrhea. I got the shots... which really hurt! and took the information about when to get my rabies, and how to connect with my cholera and malaria. Thank goodness Cholera and Malaria are in liquid and pill form!!
The preparation pamplet that was given to me is priceless! What to expect, what to do and how to protect myself.
It was during my first Hep A shot that I felt secure enough to say out loud and boldly: I AM GOING TO HAITI!
Now, to let my church know.....
Interest Grows....
In this present journey in my life, I am learning to be bold and speak up.
It was Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend when my heart started to turn to Haiti. I looked up the country in the persecuted church website, read up on wikipedia and located it on the globe.
It was after the weekend was over when I was able to speak to my parents who live 1500 miles away from me, our weekly conversation. I learned that when they were visiting friends in Southern Ontario that they made known my request for the Lord's leading in the possibility of heading down to Haiti. I was overwhelmed to tears as they told me how my parents friends laid hands on them and prayed for me. Just knowing that people who have only met me once were praying for me caused my heart to be full of love and acceptance. My parents were being bold for me, in a different province!
It was that Tuesday that I gave in and called the travel clinic in our health region to discuss what I would have to go through in regards to immunizations and **gasp*** needles. I had to make an appointment for a consult. I did.. I was bold enough to make the appointment.
I started to share around my work of the opportunity to anyone that I felt close to. I had lots of positive comments on how I would be good done there and how it would open my worldview. I was being bold, speaking to those to whom I understood not to share the same faith as me.
Boldness... me.... who knew?
It was Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend when my heart started to turn to Haiti. I looked up the country in the persecuted church website, read up on wikipedia and located it on the globe.
It was after the weekend was over when I was able to speak to my parents who live 1500 miles away from me, our weekly conversation. I learned that when they were visiting friends in Southern Ontario that they made known my request for the Lord's leading in the possibility of heading down to Haiti. I was overwhelmed to tears as they told me how my parents friends laid hands on them and prayed for me. Just knowing that people who have only met me once were praying for me caused my heart to be full of love and acceptance. My parents were being bold for me, in a different province!
It was that Tuesday that I gave in and called the travel clinic in our health region to discuss what I would have to go through in regards to immunizations and **gasp*** needles. I had to make an appointment for a consult. I did.. I was bold enough to make the appointment.
I started to share around my work of the opportunity to anyone that I felt close to. I had lots of positive comments on how I would be good done there and how it would open my worldview. I was being bold, speaking to those to whom I understood not to share the same faith as me.
Boldness... me.... who knew?
Me? Haiti?
I started going to a new church in the early spring of 2010.
It was during a Newcomer's Lunch in Sept. 2010 that a chance meeting helped shape the change of my heart and my life
I was sitting at my table when our Associate Pastor Quinn came over and introduced himself to me and we started chatting. He asked me the direct question that I was hoping no one would ask... how are you going to serve in the church? I hummed and hawed in my thoughts and then my heart spoke that I am and have always been interested in Missions. He explained to me the opportunity that our church has to go to Haiti during the months of Jan- March for one week to serve.
I started to pray that day.
About a week later, I was able to choke out the prayer request to my parents. They of course were travelling and were happy to hear that I was asking for the Lord's guidance on the opportunity. The day after that conversation, I was able to ask my co-workers, my friends at my Home Fellowship Group and my study group at the Truth Project to pray for me as I look to the Lord for leading and guidance.
This is the start of the boldness that has become a part of me.....
It was during a Newcomer's Lunch in Sept. 2010 that a chance meeting helped shape the change of my heart and my life
I was sitting at my table when our Associate Pastor Quinn came over and introduced himself to me and we started chatting. He asked me the direct question that I was hoping no one would ask... how are you going to serve in the church? I hummed and hawed in my thoughts and then my heart spoke that I am and have always been interested in Missions. He explained to me the opportunity that our church has to go to Haiti during the months of Jan- March for one week to serve.
I started to pray that day.
About a week later, I was able to choke out the prayer request to my parents. They of course were travelling and were happy to hear that I was asking for the Lord's guidance on the opportunity. The day after that conversation, I was able to ask my co-workers, my friends at my Home Fellowship Group and my study group at the Truth Project to pray for me as I look to the Lord for leading and guidance.
This is the start of the boldness that has become a part of me.....
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