I’ve never been there.
But I’m going with friends from church who have been there. I’ve heard them talk about how Haiti is not like what we’ve seen on the news. The people are not helpless victims who need rescued. They’re smart people, and they know what to do – they just need lots of coworkers to help do it.
My friends say the earthquake has changed a lot of people; it’s given many a new spiritual perspective. They say there’s a spiritual revival going on. They say even the President of Haiti has made a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.
They say churches are filling up. And that the people will challenge you spiritually.
Uh, almost sounds like they don’t need me – so why would I go? Maybe because I need them. Maybe because while watching a video from Haiti – seeing the people and the poverty and the wreckage and the joy – I felt God say, “for once would you just say yes without making plans and knowing all the details?” So I said yes, and now I’m going.
I want you to go with me. You’ll have your own reasons, but like me, you’ll still have to say ‘yes’ without knowing all the answers. But you’ll have enough answers to decide; here are some of them…
WHO’S GOING, AND WHO'S AND LEADING THIS TRIP? I’m going with my church, Southbrook Church, and they love that we’re inviting you to come, too. There might be about twenty of us – ten from my church and maybe ten friends who listen to New Life 91.9. Southbrook is leading and I’m glad because they’ve done this trip several times already this year and they know all the secret handshakes and stuff.
WHERE WILL WE STAY? In the home of a Haitian pastor – women upstairs, men down. They say there’s plenty of room. Yes there are showers (sometimes it needs to be quick!) and toilets. We’ll drive every day from the home to wherever we’re doing what we’ll do, and then back in late afternoon.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? Depends on who goes and what’s needed. Maybe some kind of light construction, maybe working with kids, maybe some kind of Bible teaching. The Haitian pastor is building a village where the people can live in a safe, healthy, encouraging community. We’ll be contributing to that somehow, making a difference that will last.
WHAT WILL WE EAT? IS IT SAFE? They say the food’s great. My friends have actually bragged on how great they ate. We eat breakfast and dinner at the house, with a snack while we’re out in the village.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Right now, $1650, which includes airfare, lodging, and meals. The cost could change some depending on airfare. Yes, you raise the money. PEOPLE WILL GIVE you money to go – you will be surprised. We will help you know how to raise the money. They say no one yet has not gone because of lack of money.
WHEN’S THE TRIP? Saturday, October 22 thru Saturday, October 29. Yes, THIS year. We’ll fly from Charlotte to Miami, and then to Haiti.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO DECIDE? By Friday, August 19 (yes, we pushed it back a week).
WILL WE BE TRAINED? Absolutely. After the team is finalized, we’ll team up to train with Southbrook Church once per week for seven weeks, starting in September. We’ll get to know each other and get to know Haiti, and we’ll hear first-hand from people who have been on this same trip recently. By the time October comes, you will be pumped to get going.
ONCE I DECIDE I WANT TO GO, WHAT’S NEXT? You complete an application. Put in a $100 deposit – that’s when you know you mean it! Then you get shots and immunizations and stuff. Well email you all the stuff you need to kno, including checklists to help you prepare.
I STILL GOT QUESTIONS! Sure you do. Email me or call me. We can talk several times if you need to. But if you think you hear that little voice telling you to go, take it serious – that’s the big part. Everything else is details.
My phone number – 704-821-9293 x 224 – if I don’t answer leave a message, I’ll call you back.
My email – [email protected]
Southbrook Church’s website: http://southbrookchurch.com/
If you don’t know me, learn a little bit HERE – or just call or email me.
C’mon! Let’s go!
And if you’re still reading, here’s a little bonus perspective from Oswald Chambers:
DON'T THINK NOW, TAKE THE ROAD
"And Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid." Matthew 14:29-30
The wind was actually boisterous, the waves were actually high, but Peter did not see them at first. He did not reckon with them, he simply recognized his Lord and stepped out in recognition of Him, and walked on the water. Then he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went instantly. Why could not our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves as well as on the top of them? Neither could be done saving by recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out on God over some things, then self-consideration enters in and down we go. If you are recognizing your Lord, you have no business with where He engineers your circumstances. The actual things are, but immediately you look at them you are overwhelmed, you cannot recognize Jesus, and the rebuke comes: "Wherefore didst thou doubt?" Let actual circumstances be what they may, keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him.
If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up. Never begin to say - "Well, I wonder if He did speak?" Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him. You do not know when His voice will come, but whenever the realization of God comes in the faintest way imaginable, recklessly abandon. It is only by abandon that you recognize Him. You will only realize His voice more clearly by recklessness.
