Day #1 Of My Haiti Trip

We had gone to a hotel for the night. Once we arrived at the hotel,  the teenage girls went out for about an hour looking for food, since we were all hungry. We arrived back to the hotel and in bed around 11:30pm. I woke up around 4:45am.  Some of the others woke up before me and some after me. We headed downstairs for a quick breakfast and then headed out to the airport. We got all our bags weighed, our passports checked, and eventually our luggage on the plane. Then we were off to go. We had a four hour flight with a fuel stop in the Bahamas.

 We arrived in Haiti at about 11:30am. Landing there, it was absolutely beautiful. The mountains, the trees, the water, the scenery was just stunning. Once we made it through customs and headed out to the village, though, it was a culture shock. Culture shock all the way. I don't even know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. There were people, animals, and cars everywhere. Going in every direction. Just chaos. There was trash everywhere too. In heaps on the side of the road, in piles on the road, scattered through fields, just everywhere you looked. On top of that there were children everywhere. They were all so beautiful. Some were dressed decent, but others didn't have any clothes at all.

 As we drove through the land of Haiti, we waved at the people and they waved back. Some children started hollering as we drove by and waved and jumped up and down excitedly. I smiled at all the people, but deep inside my soul I was heartbroken that it had to be this way. People lived in houses the size of my room, that some children were hungry and had no clothes.  They were just living in poor conditions while Americans have everything. We have clean, fresh water, bathrooms with toilets, abundant food, we are always clothed, we can easily access any necessities, we have places that our garbage goes, we have AC when the summer comes.  We have it all. While these people here are suffering, we just sit in our homes complaining about silly things.

 When we arrived to the compound, we unloaded our stuff and then headed out to play with the children who came in. There were about three little boys to start out with when we set out to play. There was just one little girl. She was very quiet and the boys were kind of picking on her. I went and sat down next to her and she grabbed my hand. I took her hand and squeezed it and she smiled. We talked a little bit, mostly using hand motions. She knew about as much English as I did Creole, so we weren't able to have a full out conversation, which was fine. It worked out just fine. I told her that I loved her and so did Jesus. She smiled so big that that in itself was worth going to Haiti for. She told me that she loved me too and then we went off to play some games. We posed, we danced, we did some handshakes, we laughed, we had so much fun. Her name was Alexandria. Every once in a while she would wonder off to see what others were doing, but she would call out my name with the biggest smile on her face. I would holler her name back and she would smile and then come back to me.

 We played with the children until about 5:00pm and then we ate our dinner. After dinner we had a little bit of free time, so we sat out on the porch. We had free time for a couple of hours, so it gave me a lot of time to just think. I thought about how precious the people of Haiti were. The people here have only a few possessions, but the joy and excitement they all seemed to have was just eye opening for me. We Americans, have everything we could wish for, while they don't. We Americans complain about so many little things, while the people here are just so grateful for everything. It just kind of proves the things, possessions don't make a person happy. The only thing that can make a person happy is Christ.

 So when the day ended and we were in our beds, under the mosquito nets, I was just so excited to see what the week would bring. I was ready to make a little difference in the world, starting with the land of Haiti.

 This down below was the video of our first day in Haiti. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw4FdpVSlxY&t=116s

Where It All Began

 I had always wanted to go to Haiti with our church group. Each time they went and came back with pictures, I would just long to go. I wanted to snuggle with the orphans, serve those who needed to be served, and I wanted to make a little difference. Ever since I was ten years old I had a desire to go to Haiti. It was on my bucket list of things that I most definitely had to do before my time ran out. On January 29^th of this year, I was sitting in church listening to the message. The message was on living with Jesus, loving like Jesus, and leading others to do the same. Our Pastor mentioned the Haiti mission group that was going to be going to Haiti and asked for anyone who was interested in going to go and see him afterwards.

The tug the Lord was giving on my heart was so evident. Right after the service I rushed over to my dad and said, “I’m going to Haiti this year.” He kind of gave me a look that he didn’t necessarily think so. I told him that I was going to talk to our Pastor about it, he let me, but I could tell he thought I was just dreaming. I talked to the Pastor and I just got so excited. I didn’t even think about what it was going to be like in Haiti, or how I was going to get the money, or how I was going to survive being in a different country without my parents, I just knew one thing. That was that I had to go. I assured my parents that I was going to raise the money myself. I posted on FaceBook that I was going to Haiti and so many people donated for me to go. So much so that I didn’t have to raise any money at all. It was such a blessing.

 As the date drew nearer and nearer, I was just overjoyed that I was going to be able to make a little mark on the world. It took a total of probably two months for me to get my passport, my shots, and my medications. As months turned to weeks before we left, my heart was about to explode.

Our church went to camp about a week before we left and there was a song played there called, “Send Us Out” and I feel like God speaks to me in songs. The bridge goes, “And we will be the hands and feet to the lost and the least of these. Send us out! Send us!” The entire time we were at camp the song rang through my head. I was ready for God to send me out. I was ready to be sent to Haiti. There was also another song called “No Longer Slaves”. That song also spoke to me. The lyrics go “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.” That one spoke to me as I sat down in the car that drove us to the airport. I was so excited to go, but at the last minute when we were in the parking lot, a little bit of fear sparked in my mind. It was fear of the unknown. Fear of not knowing what Haiti was going to be like, fear of not knowing if I would get homesick or not, fear of leaving my comfortable home to go to a third world country. It was only for a moment, though. I thought to myself that I was no longer a slave to the fear, I am a child of God. And because I’m a child of God, He’ll care for me. So no matter how far I am from my parents, my country, my home, my comfort. God’s always going to be there right beside me because I’m His child. When I stepped into the car, packed my bags, and headed out, that was just the beginning of it all. The beginning of an experience that I will never forget…

Thanksgiving

I'm sorry I didn't post last week! We were busy and I wasn't able to get on!

 This week is going to be a short post, but it's a good one.

 Right in this moment I want you to think of five things that your thankful for right now. It can be anything.

This Thanksgiving I was sick and it was only my aunt and uncle, my grandparents and us this Thanksgiving. My nose was clogged, my throat was sore, and I just felt horrible. We normally have a huge Thanksgiving with all of my relatives, but this time, not all of them could make it.  But I still chose to be thankful. Sure, I wasn't completely healthy and in the condition I would've hoped I'd be in, but I could still be thankful. I was thankful for the medicine that I was taking to cure me. I was thankful for the food on Thanksgiving. I was thankful for my family that was with us. There was so much to be thankful for even though it wasn't the best Thanksgiving we could've had.

 If you can't think of anything and you think that your life is horrendus and nothing's going right, here's something you can be thankful for...

1. You're alive.
2. Your heart is beating.
3. You're moving around.
4. You have food to eat and water to drink.
5. You have a wonderful God that will never leave you nor forsake you.

Just Be Held

This is another amazing song I want to share with you guys!


Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on
And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will
And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won't let go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
(Stop holding on and just be held)
Just be held, just be held
Just be held, just be held

https://youtu.be/yutmTFtalKs

You Are Worth It

 The world is so full of lies and deceit that it is blinding. It grabs a hold of your mind so easily and keeps you captive of all the lies. The world says if you’re not skinny enough, you’re not worth it, if you’re not athletic enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or cute enough, you’re simply not worth it. And you believe it. Maybe the world is telling you that since you don’t have the latest and greatest you don’t deserve to be with them. Maybe you don’t have the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy s7, the iPad mini 4, a hoverboard, or whatever it may be.

 Maybe you don’t have the name brand clothes, shoes, or maybe even purses. Maybe the people around you are the ones blinded. Maybe you’re left alone because no one sees the important things, they only see the worldly things. Maybe they don’t want to hang out with you because you’re not filthy rich. Maybe people just bully you and are cruel because they have hurting, hard hearts and are completely and totally blinded. Maybe you’re on the brink of ending your life because you feel so useless and worthless. Maybe you feel so alone every corner you turn. Maybe you have an older sibling who is in the spotlight and everyone loves to hang out with, or maybe you have a younger sibling that gets all the attention and you’re just left in the dust.

 Maybe you think your parents could care less about what you’re doing and your friends claim to be your friends, but in the end they aren’t. Your so-called-friends leave you when you need someone the most. Maybe your family members could care less about you, maybe you feel completely and utterly alone.

 Maybe you don’t think you’re worth anything and that if you ended your life no one would care. I will tell you something…

 You ARE worth it.

 You are completely and totally worth it. Want to know why?

 It’s because there is a Creator of the universe. He created the cosmos, our solar system, the sun, the earth, the trees, the water, animals, and people. The Lord wouldn’t send you onto this earth if you were a nobody or if you were worthless.

 You may look at yourself and think that you are ugly, fat, pathetic, dumb, worthless, useless, or whatever it may be. You are NOT those things. You are beautiful, treasured, perfect, amazing, worth it, loved, and lastly, you are His Child, and that is the only thing that matters.

 If that is the only thing that matters, then why listen to the world? They’ll only whisper ugly things into your ears, but that isn’t of the Lord. It’s only Satan trying to trip you up in this world, trying to make you fall into the pit of lies. It’s a lie. All of it is a lie. It’s blinding to the truth.

 Whatever you may be going through in this moment, you must remember that YOU ARE WORTH IT.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.’” Jeremiah 29:11

I'd Rather Be Hurt

I’d rather be hurt

 People started to reveal themselves in not-so-nice ways a while ago. They would spread rumors of us, pick at us, and just be downright nasty to us.  Even to this day, there are moments when people pick and pick at me. Most of the time I just stay silent and let everything be said that they want to say and that’s that.

 There was this one time that there was someone in particular who was consistently in my face telling me nasty things. Picking out all the things I thought were cool and calling them stupid, telling me I was wrong after I said anything. And I lost it. I don’t even know if the person realized I lost it, and if they did, they didn’t care. But I did. I knew what my intentions were and they were to hurt the person back and I hated that I had tried to hurt their feelings.

 The night that followed that day, I sat in bed playing what I had said over and over again. Then I decided that I don’t want to hurt people. I really don’t. It’s just so tempting sometimes, because they pick and pick until they get to me.

 I sat there staring at the ceiling thinking hard. Then a random saying popped into my mind. “I’d rather be hurt than the one who hurts.”

 I’d rather be the person to be picked on than the one who picks on others. I’d rather be the one who’s bullied than the one who bullies. I’d rather be the one broken than the one who breaks. I’d rather be the scratching post than the one who scratches.

 I will tell you over and over that it is so hard to control your temper when someone is just trying to get a reaction out of you. I keep reminding myself when those situations show up, that the Lord is the only thing that matters. If someone wants to criticize my beliefs, my interests, my intentions, then so be it. It doesn’t matter. If they want to criticize me for loving my Jesus, then I’ll take it. After all, he took a lot of criticism for me. If someone wants to criticize my interests, then so be it. Whatever you have to say about what I like isn’t going to stop me from liking it. If someone wants to insult my intentions, so be it. I know my intentions were good and talking about them won’t change them.

 After all, they’ve already been said and done.

 I’d rather be broken, hurt, torn, destroyed than be the one who breaks, hurts, tears, and destroys. I don’t want to because I know it doesn’t feel good and nobody should have to feel that way. So from this day on I’ve told myself that I’d rather be hurt than be the one who hurts.

 You with me?

If you need some encouragement

If any of you need encouragement, this is a song I listened to over and over again in my darkest times. It tells you that yesterday isn’t here anymore and it doesn’t matter where you’ve been. It tells you that you need to tell your heart to beat again. You can’t go on living a depressed life. If you’ve gone through some horrible times, lift your head up and tell your heart to beat again.

"Tell Your Heart To Beat Again"

You're shattered
Like you've never been before
The life you knew
In a thousand pieces on the floor
And words fall short in times like these
When this world drives you to your knees
You think you're never gonna get back
To the you that used to be

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you've been
And tell your heart to beat again

Beginning
Just let that word wash over you
It's alright now
Love's healing hands have pulled you through
So get back up, take step one
Leave the darkness, feel the sun
Cause your story's far from over
And your journey's just begun

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you've been
And tell your heart to beat again

Let every heartbreak
And every scar
Be a picture that reminds you
Who has carried you this far
'Cause love sees farther than you ever could
In this moment heaven's working
Everything for your good

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you've been
And tell your heart to beat again
Your heart to beat again
Beat again

Oh, so tell your heart to beat again

 Isn’t it wonderful? When you think your life is over, that is only when your journey is beginning. So hang in there and tell your heart to beat again! 

Click below to listen to the video:

 https://youtu.be/F77v41jbOYs?list=PLMrapG_dMtX6KLxPjyECgDTDuHhn2n_vo