mission

It's hard to stay focused in life, so here's my tip of the day.

Because I never want to live a day without remembering my purpose, I have (and constantly rewrite) a mission statement.  So I'd like to encourage you to write one for yourself, and put it on your mirror or somewhere else you'll see it every day!  Read it or say it out loud, until you have it memorized.  And then write a new one!

If anyone actually does this, I'd love to read yours!!  Here's mine.

I exist to know Love, to know Jesus.  A day without time with Jesus is a wasted day.  I have no other purpose in life than to delight in Him and in His work.  I work because I delight in Him, but He loved me when I did nothing.  All my love is for Jesus, and through Him, my heart is for this entire world and everyone in it.  May every day be a day I seek Him, know Him, and love Him more than yesterday.

20 random things about Haiti

1. Haitians like Celine Dion.  This is why I know how to play "My Heart Will Go On" on my uke.

2. Water trucks play music.  It reminds me of ice cream trucks when I was a kid.

3. There are motorcycles, literally everywhere.

4. Most people speak Creole, but they also know French if they went to school.  Sometime richer people are very condescending and refuse to speak Creole.

5. People eat rice and beans everyday.

6. There are hardly ever paved roads.

7.  Even though it's something crazy like 98% deforested, there are still palm trees everywhere.

8. People generally say hello to teach other when walking down the street, even though the streets are always filled with people.

9. It's sunny and humid.  Always.

10. EDH - city power - is on whenever they decide for it to be on, which could mean half the day or it could mean 20 minutes a day.  Wait and find out!

11. People don't say "swim" in the ocean.  Instead "bathe" in the ocean, which makes sense because many people will actually bring soap and even shampoo to the beach!

12.  People don't say they need to use the toilet or go to the bathroom but literally translated - Pee is holding me.

13. People build their houses one step at time, when they have the money.  So unfinished houses are everywhere.

14.  Most people go to church.  Whether or not most people know Jesus is questionable.

15. They think only crazy people have afros.

16. There are random dogs on the street, and I hate them.

17. I've never gotten sick off of anything on the street, though I believe I have been sick from (I think) washing my dishes/brushing my teeth in the water.

18. People hate drinks that aren't cold.  Maybe I'm the weird one, but I'd much rather have room temperature water than nothing!

19. Most people own a nice set of glasses/plates, even if they basically live in a shack.

20.  If you live with someone, you share everything.

I've been thinking lately that I'm so used to Haiti, that it's harder for me to recall any differences.  So I imagine going back to the states won't be shocking at all, but the truth is that I've probably forgotten a lot of things!  I hope I'm not in for a rude episode of reverse culture-shock!

That's all for now, and enjoy my 10 straight days of blogging!

amsterdam

When I left Maryland last August, a guy who I barely knew was part of a group of young adult Jesus-lovers who were praying for me.  He said that God was telling him to tell me this: "Some really hard things will happen in Haiti, but those things are not the end."

At the time, I thought this might be a clue to the fact that I would be staying in Haiti a long time, persevering through many obstacles.  After all, I had originally attended to stay for at least 5-10 years.  I had no intention to stay 9 months and then leave.  It's funny though, because the words were true.  Some really hard things happened, and they were not the end.  Then I got to this beautiful place, where every day is filled with joy in the Lord and laughter with beautiful children.  When things were easier, the end showed itself.  There are a million reasons to leave, but there are a million reasons to stay too.  Like Gregory, Maya, Sania, Fiona, Suzie, and the rest.  But none of those reasons matter.

I explain this better in this video, so watch it if you haven't yet!

July 1st, I start a 6 month contract with a hostel in Amsterdam.  WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!??!?!

I'm sure this seems a little out of left field to you.  It did to me too!  As I said in my video, I'm not leaving for any reason other than God is calling me there now.  I was so surprised, but I'm also excited!  I asked God to give me the amount of money to stay in Haiti for how long He wanted me to stay.  When I got the money I had planned for each month up to May/June, all the money coming in stopped suddenly.  Then I applied to work with www.youthhostelministry.org, and they accepted me!

The three pillars of their ministry are to:

Practice hospitality.

Pursue hearts for Jesus.

Live in community.

I am so excited about all of those things!  I'm really excited about being part of a team, since I've been somewhat on my own the past 9 months.  I'm also excited that they are committed to learning and growing together, through life as well as curriculum.  

This is an example of a schedule of some of the things I will be doing!  

Fortunately, I was able to save a lot of money on my original budget for Haiti - mostly by eating oatmeal and grilled cheese sandwiches and being frugal.  So I have about $1,000 left over from Haiti, and these 6 months in Amsterdam are only going to cost about $3,000.  So I'm raising $2,000, and I would really appreciate it if you could pitch in!  I'm also having some fun things and incentives.  Check them out at Love Amsterdam. 

Prayer Requests:

That I will make the most of my 27 days left here.

That I will have a restful, lovely, fun, and non-stressful 7 weeks in the states as I visit 7 different states and try to see lots of friends and family before I leave for Amsterdam.

That the girls will take the news well and not spend our last month together upset with me.

My Maya might be going home with her mother, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Love all of you!  Please let me know your questions!

And now, catch up on the videos from this week!