Three weeks from today I will be experiencing my first day of work at the orphanage! I will be getting introduced to my kids and will be settling into what my temporary 'home' will be. It feels surreal that I am actually going to be doing this in just a few short days. I am so excited to go meet my kids and see what God has in store for me.
This morning I sent in my money to the orphanage. My flights are booked. My immunizations have been taken care of. I have purchased new shoes, new skirts and medicine in case I get sick while I am in Haiti.
The list is still long with things I need to do. Many 'little' things still need to get taken care of but they will all come together. My biggest prayer right now is that I can focus and be HERE. With school wrapping up, it is easy for me to just look straight to Haiti and wish it was the 20th already. But, I realize that God has other things he wants to teach me in the days and weeks leading up to Haiti. My prayer is that I can finish strong this semester and not get too focused on Haiti.
I also found out that when I go to teach with CrossWorld, I will be teaching the Advanced English class to the Seminary students. This was definitely a God thing. I will be arriving June 11th to teach with Mason & Lauren. They will have a Haitian teacher teaching the Advanced class but He needs to leave on the 15th for another conference. So, I will be arriving and shadowing him teaching for a few days then I get to take over and teach the class myself! Part of me is terrified but I have been speaking english for 20+ years now so, how hard could teaching it be, right?
People have asked me how I am feeling about leaving. That is a tough question to answer because my feelings about it change daily. There are two main feelings I am having. On one hand, I am stoked to go. Wishing I could leave tomorrow. Anxious for this new adventure begin and excited for what God is going to do in and through me. BUT, I have just the opposite feelings as well. When I sit down and really think about all the implications of what this 'adventure' will entail I get anxious and terrified. I have never flown by myself, anywhere, let alone out of the country. I have only been in Canada and Mexico, which are basically the same thing as America (with some differences). And I need to figure out customs and security in a new country with people that don't speak english! Ahhh...my heart beats extra fast just thinking about it right now. But, like I said it is a day-by-day thing. Whenever I am feeling super anxious about it I just remember that I am not going alone on this adventure. God is right there with me and already knows everything that is going to happen. That is my comfort. God is going to Haiti before me and with me. With God's help I can do this.
God is doing so many amazing things in my life and in the lives of those around me. I am learning that God really does put things on our hearts for a reason. Some things he wants us to learn and other things we won't know the purpose of; but God is good. God is sovereign. God is loving.
Please pray with me that I can stay focused at Multnomah and not get so caught up in Haiti mode. Please pray that all the last minute details will come together. And with that update...let the countdown begin: 20 days left! :)
