A changed man

Let me start by saying I think my wife does an amazing job writing these blogs and I love to read them. Lately I have been asked when I was going to write one, so here it goes...

I feel the leading to share with everyone the things that lead up to my decision to come to Haiti and what the Lord is doing with me now that he has me here. I am going to write this from my perspective rather than our perspective.

In November of 2010, 10 months after the earthquake, Jennifer and I came down to Haiti on our first trip.  It was an amazing eye-opening event. I knew my heart had been changed forever.  I remember returning home and wanting to do everything I could to assist the people of Haiti.  I wanted to become a part of Healing Haiti, find more water trucks to send down, just continue to contribute.  Well sadly that feeling lasted about 2 weeks.  I had just finished my test to become a Volunteer Firemen, plus I worked about 60 hours a week at my full-time job.  The world got in the way.

As I poured myself back into my job and continued to work as a Fireman in the evenings the thoughts of helping Haiti faded into the background.  They were not completely gone, Jennifer had become an advocate within Healing Haiti and began training the people to lead the mission trips.  She was going to Haiti about 4 times a year.  I stayed home and played Daddy daycare while she was in Haiti and I "consulted" on most of the decisions she was making for her role.  I continued to convince myself that I was too busy and the role I played as a volunteer Fireman was giving back to the community so why should I do more.  I managed to go on 1 trip a year with Jennifer.  Side-note:  Jennifer wanted to move to Haiti since our first trip.  She had asked me if I would ever want to move there, my answer was a resounding "No".

Fast forward to the beginning of  2013.  I had been at my job for almost 9 years.  I enjoyed the challenge but I began to feel that I needed a change.  I began to pray that the Lord would point me in a new direction, maybe a new company or even a career change.  At first I just continued to feel discontent.  I was praying about it, but not often.  I can still hear Pastor Bob Merritt talking about praying and spending time in the Bible. I always meant to but never made the time.  Amazingly, in April, I went to the Twins home opener and was having a discussion with my co-worker.  We were talking about work and my possible job change and that is when it came out; "I am thinking about moving to Haiti".  No I wasn't, where did that come from?  On top of that, my co-worker began to encourage me to go.  So even though I was still shocked I said it, by the end of the evening I was at home telling Jennifer that I was thinking about moving to Haiti.

Shortly there after we decided to put it in the Lord's hands.  If  he opened the doors we would move, well let me tell you, he opened doors...we needed to sell my boat, find renters for our house, and raise at least $10,000 to start.  Those things were not even a challenge for him.

So in the beginning of October 2013 we moved to Haiti.  I thought all of that was amazing but it was nothing compared to what He had in store for me...we joke that the Lord had to convince us to move to Haiti in order for us to truly turn our lives over to him, but it is pretty true.  Among the trials and tribulations we have been going through the Lord has gotten me into his word and on my knees daily.  I look to him in almost every situation and I am trying to remember to look to him in every situation.  I have never felt closer to him.  The manna he provides us daily is amazing.  Watching him answer prayers and teach me just continues to deepen my faith.  Case in point, we posted in a blog a few days back and on Facebook that Haiti needed rain, well it has rained a little every night since then, in fact it is raining now.  He continues to humble me and teach me what a christian leader really is.

James 1: 2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith it tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

So I just want to thank each of you that support us, through prayer, financially, and even just with your thoughts.  May God Bless you all.