We are entering a time of change. We knew this it was coming. Last August when we were asked to serve at COTP we thought June was forever away and Haiti was just something we talked about and dreamed about. We knew we were going but it seemed so far off. Life seemed normal. We went about daily life, doing the "normal" things we always do and nothing was really changing.
Well, dear friends its March and before we know it we will be boarding an airplane and on our way to Haiti. Let me tell you, nothing about our life seems normal anymore. I feel as though we are living in 2 worlds. Part of our life is right here in Michigan but part is in Haiti and all the preparations that are involved in moving our family. Change is not easy and can be a very unsettling feeling. Our heart is in two place. We love our family and friends dearly. We love our "normal comfortable" life here in Michigan, but our heart is also in Haiti with our friends and the kids there. Haiti, a place that we clearly feel God calling us too and has been making a way for us to go and serve.
I have been learning that I have a choice. When we have what seems like mountains of things to do, when we have to clean the house for a showing, when we have to say "goodbye," when I have to figure out what to take with us and how to get it with us, when I am trying to decide what is a need and a want, when I am trying to make the best of the time we have left in Michigan, when I am dealing with the ever changing emotions of 5 kids that are very aware of what is coming. I have a choice to rely on my own strength and selfishness or am I going to completely surrender everything over to God? Yes, it's going to be stressful and hard, but God is teaching me that He is in those hard moments and it's not going to do me any good to sit around and get stressed out and frustrated. My faith is getting stretched in more ways that I ever thought imaginable and I am sure its just the beginning. My prayer is that our family will walk daily knowing ALL areas are held in His hands, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I pray that we will be rooted in His word. I pray that we will rest in His strength and not our own. I pray that His name will be glorified through this transition time that we are facing. I pray that in those hard moments that I will get on my knees and cry out to God in complete dependence on Him.
I love these words from Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Will you pray for us too? Will you pray that we will embrace these next months with joy and peace and complete surrender. Will you pray for our family? Pray a for Kevin and I as parents. Pray that we will have wisdom as we make our kids feel safe and loved during this time of transition. Pray for our marriage that our communication remains strong and that in the stressful times we are able to stand firm in God and His promises. Pray for our hearts as we prepare to care and love 5 more kids. We talk daily about our little Haitian kids and our prayer is that God will equip us to meet all their needs! Pray for our families. It is going to be hard to let us go. They are so supportive and such an encouragement to us but its hard to watch us go. Many tears will be shed over the next months.
Well, dear friends its March and before we know it we will be boarding an airplane and on our way to Haiti. Let me tell you, nothing about our life seems normal anymore. I feel as though we are living in 2 worlds. Part of our life is right here in Michigan but part is in Haiti and all the preparations that are involved in moving our family. Change is not easy and can be a very unsettling feeling. Our heart is in two place. We love our family and friends dearly. We love our "normal comfortable" life here in Michigan, but our heart is also in Haiti with our friends and the kids there. Haiti, a place that we clearly feel God calling us too and has been making a way for us to go and serve.
I have been learning that I have a choice. When we have what seems like mountains of things to do, when we have to clean the house for a showing, when we have to say "goodbye," when I have to figure out what to take with us and how to get it with us, when I am trying to decide what is a need and a want, when I am trying to make the best of the time we have left in Michigan, when I am dealing with the ever changing emotions of 5 kids that are very aware of what is coming. I have a choice to rely on my own strength and selfishness or am I going to completely surrender everything over to God? Yes, it's going to be stressful and hard, but God is teaching me that He is in those hard moments and it's not going to do me any good to sit around and get stressed out and frustrated. My faith is getting stretched in more ways that I ever thought imaginable and I am sure its just the beginning. My prayer is that our family will walk daily knowing ALL areas are held in His hands, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I pray that we will be rooted in His word. I pray that we will rest in His strength and not our own. I pray that His name will be glorified through this transition time that we are facing. I pray that in those hard moments that I will get on my knees and cry out to God in complete dependence on Him.
I love these words from Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Will you pray for us too? Will you pray that we will embrace these next months with joy and peace and complete surrender. Will you pray for our family? Pray a for Kevin and I as parents. Pray that we will have wisdom as we make our kids feel safe and loved during this time of transition. Pray for our marriage that our communication remains strong and that in the stressful times we are able to stand firm in God and His promises. Pray for our hearts as we prepare to care and love 5 more kids. We talk daily about our little Haitian kids and our prayer is that God will equip us to meet all their needs! Pray for our families. It is going to be hard to let us go. They are so supportive and such an encouragement to us but its hard to watch us go. Many tears will be shed over the next months.
I love these ladies, how I will miss them!
I think I might frame this picture and take it with us so when we are sweating and wishing it to be cooler we can remember beautiful Michigan winters! It is crazy to think that we won't see snow for at least 2 years!
