Back in the USA

I've made it safely back to the United States. The trip back went amazingly smooth. We had no wait in Haiti to go through security and the plane left and landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule, a phenomenon I have not experienced in years. Going through customs was also a breeze. In Miami we have enjoyed a nice dinner and time of sharing the many ways we saw Christ work on this trip. I look forward to a few days of rest before my trek to Canada for the rest of the summer. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

Christ the Foundation

1 Corinthians 3:5-11
"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord ahas assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Today is the last day in Haiti and I can honestly say that I will miss my time in Haiti and the amazing people here. It has been a blessing to be a part of the project we are working on. Tonight we will be presenting the design for school/church/health clinic compound. The scripture from 1 Corinthians 3 came up for our devotions last night and perfectly sums up our work here. Interestingly the project involved uses existing foundations on the site put in place by the founding pastor who had a vision for a cathedral that could seat 2000 people. After his death the construction stopped and now the needs of the church have changed. Our design incorporates the existing foundation and builds upon it to house a health clinic, school and church sanctuary. In Corinthians Paul discusses the work we do with Christ as we build on the foundation He has built. Each of us play an important role whether we plant, or water. It was St. Hillaire who planted the church and the vision of a new facility and now it is people like Deni an elder of the church who continue to water it along with his good friend Pierre from Canada who serves the community on health missions, as well as the EMI team which I am a part of who are here to water and create the vision St. Hillaire planted. As I near the end of my trip I am excited to see the small role Jesus has allowed me to play in the work of his kingdom. It is Christ who built the foundation and his followers who work along side him to build on it.

I have internet in Haiti!

I made it to Haiti safely and so far have been well. Thanks for all your prayers. The trip has been amazing thus far. I have to say the best part of the trip are the people. For the first three nights we stayed at a cottage of one of the church elders and were constantly being served by the Haitian hosts. They are all great people and wish I could speak creole so I could talk to them more. It has been hard to see the poor conditions that all the Haitian's live in but I have been blessed by the experience and relationships I have made. There is so much to mention and will shortly have more stories to post but I need to be getting to bed soon. Tomorrow we will get to experience a hatian church service and I am very excited. I hear the music is amazing even though I won't be able to understand the language. I will write more shortly. Please keep praying for the team and the people in Haiti.

Haiti here I come!

I'm sitting at my computer as I make my final preparations to leave for Haiti. In just a few hours I will be flying to Miami Florida to meet my team for the first time and join them on the flight to Haiti which leaves early tomorrow morning. I am excited and anxious as I wait but I know Jesus is with me. As I prepare for my trip I am reminded of the verses in Isaiah 55:1-3 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." I know that the time in Haiti will not be easy and good food will not be plentiful and the heat will make me thirsty and uncomfortable, but I know that Jesus will sustain me and He is the one that will satisfy. Please pray with me that my heart would be humbled and that my focus will be on the others on my team and the people of Haiti, that I would not worry about the little details and the discomfort I may experience. I thank you all for your prayers and will update you on my travels as soon as possible.