And So It Begins

We are leaving for Haiti in 9 days! WOAH! 

In the mean time...I'm trying to balance out my excitement and my 'fear of forgetting something'... it's been a while since I've done this! It's been seven years since my last overseas mission 

- - - 

and MAN have I missed it! 

Mom and I with Katiya in 2002, orphanage in Bryansk RU

Puppets for the kids at The Church of the Ascention, Bryansk RU

Zhenya Rozhkov, Me, Kim and Pasha Rozhkov, 2003, Bryansk RU

I love the people of Russia. I love the language, the kindness, the beauty of their history and redemption, and the strength and reverence of the church. I miss the hunger, the need for Jesus and His love, and I miss being inspired and humbled by our Russian brothers and sisters and their fervor for spreading the gospel and living it out each and every day.

I cannot wait to fall in love with more people, and further in love with my God. Haiti is a beautiful place with such tragedy, with such a need for love, for help, for the Word of God, and for His hope. I can only imagine that these people will be as special to me as the brothers and sisters in Russia. That, as we travel to do our best to lend a hand and a heart, we will steadily be changed and humbled by the Spirit through these beautiful people. Through their smiles amidst their adversity, through their joy and through their stories of sorrow, I pray that God will change our hearts. I pray that we will not come home unaffected by His grace and His mercy. That we will not allow our hearts to return to selfish indulgence when we know that there are people across the planet in dire need of salvation - of love - and of water, food, and shelter.

We are so excited to be traveling to Haiti with family and friends. It's the only way I've done missions up until now, and I'm grateful for the chance to do it again. God has blessed us greatly by surrounding us with people who are willing to go, willing to help, and even those who cannot go but are willing to donate and pray. You are also the hands and feet of Christ. Thank you for ministering to Brandon and I and to the rest of the team.

We will have a commissioning service for the Haiti team this Sunday at 10:45 (normal worship time) at Vineville Baptitst Church, Macon. If you are able to come and pray with us, please do so! We will be leaving June 2nd (before the crack of dawn) and will return June 8th.

The first big step in our journey is so close I can taste the sweat already... :)  

BRING IT ON! We are ready, Lord! 

a video about the organization we will be traveling

with and their ministry in Haiti.