Big Changes Ahead

It's been a journey.  One step at a time.  But one step at a time eventually gets you to your destination.  Poetic, right?? :)  But really, we have been on a journey almost a year now.  Well, really, ever since we've been married I suppose is when it all started.  But purposeful steps toward a specific destination started last June.  Where to?  To Haiti.  After getting married, we never really felt like what we were doing was really "it".  We didn't know if there would be a small, simple change or a big one, but we really felt like change was coming.  Over the years there were several different things that came up that we talked about, but nothing was ever right for one reason or another.  So we just kept praying "God, where do you want us?".  You know what wasn't really on our radar?  Haiti.  We figured if we ever did foreign missions it would be Mexico because we both had really prayed about going there when we were single, we both like Mexico, and, well, we both speak some Spanish.  But that would just be too easy and make too much sense, wouldn't it?  

One day, almost a year ago, I was reading an email from Harvest Call about the Child Sponsorship program and I just had this fleeting thought of what if we would go to Haiti?  I was quick to dismiss it because obviously that's not what was in store for us!  Well.  Just a few weeks later I was reading my trusty Silver Lining when I saw a non medical need advertised by Hospital Lumiere that seemed like it could be a good fit for us.  I brought it up to Danny but he didn't seem too phased by it.  But then a few weeks after that, the need came through another Harvest Call email and he came home saying it really might be worth looking into.  We prayed about it, but both of us pretty much felt peaceful about getting more information right away.  It just felt different than everything else we had talked and prayed about the past 4 1/2 years.

So that's where the one step at a time comes in.  That's just what we did.  The whole way through we prayed that God would close the doors if he didn't want us to go.  But the doors kept swinging open and we remained so peaceful through it all.  Well, except for right after Tucker was born.  My post partum hormones kicked into high gear and for about a month I couldn't even think about it without crying.  So we put everything on hold until I settled down a little and soon enough I was ready to move forward again.

We knew we couldn't make a final decision without visiting the hospital.  We had both been to Haiti a couple of times but not to the hospital.  So this past January, Danny and I took Tucker and went down for a week.

We were able to see how most aspects of life operate down there for the missionaries.  From housing to church to grocery shopping.  Plus we had a lot of time to talk to the people who are down there now, firing all sorts of questions at them.  Some that might have been uncomfortable to talk about, but important things that are good to know when considering a move.

Once we got back we didn't even talk about it for almost a week.  Just processed in our own heads until one day we realized that both of us were thinking we were ready to keep going with the process.  We were officially approved in March and made our commitment public soon after!

I'll answer some FAQs in a little bit, but first here's just a few pictures from our trip.

We were able to visit the Redemption Campus that was founded by Danny's brother Zach.  I had never been there, and it had been a few years since Danny last visited so that was a neat afternoon for us.

There is a humanitarian organization based out of Port au Prince that I cannot remember the name of that offers Life Flight services.  While we were there, there was a little baby that needed more than what Hospital Lumiere could provide and was transferred to a hospital in PAP.  We got to watch the helicopter land and see this tiny sweet baby get taken care of.  Kind of a unique experience for us!

Well, it's no taco from the streets of Mexico, but we did enjoy the Haitian food.  Sure hope our kids do too!

Quite possibly my favorite picture of the whole week:  Tucker vs. the city market.  He really wasn't as mad as he looks.  Maybe just a little confused.  But he was a big hit with all the Haitian ladies selling their goods!

Now for the questions.

When are you moving?

We don't have a date set, but we are planning on early to mid August.

What will you be doing?

Well????  We don't even know for sure.  There is actually another family that is moving down in July who had initially applied for the same position we did.  We do know there are a lot of different needs to be filled and we maybe have an idea of what we'll be doing.  One of those things where if you ask me in person I am glad to share but I don't feel quite comfortable saying it in such a public place!

How are you feeling?

Overall we are excited.  We definitely have our days when we wonder what in the world are we thinking?!?!?!  And it just sounds easier to scrap the whole thing.  But to do so would be all wrong on several different levels!  But really though, we are excited.  Maybe mostly because we are finally not wondering where God is going to send us.  Nervous too, because we know there will be hard things and we don't know what they are or how we will respond.  But we have continued to remain peaceful and know that God is in it.

How long will you be there?

We have committed to four years for now.  We know it might end up being longer and we know that in the small chance we would have something happen where we felt we could not stay, that would be okay too.  So for now, four(ish) years.

There's more, I'm sure, but those are some of the most common ones.  We really don't mind talking about it though so feel free to ask us!  And we do appreciate prayers!

So?  That's our life right now.  If you're still reading, thanks for hanging in there!