Haiti Trip (july 5th 2013)

I am thrilled to be writing to you all once again! I feel like i have so much to update you on! Nicaragua was an incredible time of growth. I go on these trips expecting to serve and document what i see going on around me. This year God put it on my heart to put my camera down and pray with Samir's mom, i had bonded with the two of them the previous year and i hadn't been able to get them out of my mind since. After praying with her she told me that she had been praying for me everyday and anticipated my return. It warmed my heart to hear that we had both been praying for each other all year. I wasn't just ministering to her, she was ministering to me as well.


I was so privileged and blessed to be able to go to Mexico this spring. God revealed himself in ways i have never seen. I prayed boldly before the trip. I was anxious wanting God to use me and take me out of my comfort zone. And let me tell you, God was faithful to those prayers. I wanted God to change my heart. I didn't want to be timid in my love for Him any longer. He is my everything and i want God to see that in my every breath. God worked on my heart and opened my eyes. I felt more passionate and willing than ever before. I wanted to hear about peoples lives, I wanted to talk about the word. My team mates said they could see a transformation and God working in and through me. That I have blossomed. I knew it was all God. I surrendered to Him completely and He was faithful.


A common thing God has been putting on my heart lately is that i belong in ministry. My heart burns for it. It just wasn't clear where He wanted to use me. One night in Mexico we were having our debrief Bible study. We split up into small groups to discuss certain topics. In these situations i would usually sit back until called upon. This time was different, I wanted to talk about the Word. And my group looked to me for my opinion. I am no Bible scholar so it was such an overwhelming situation where i could feel God teaching me about myself along the way. He put the desire in my heart to teach Bible. I thought to myself, "what in the world?! i know i am passionate about it, but i am not knowledgable." I just prayed that God would be clear on where he wanted to use me. If He wanted me to pursue teaching on the Word, i would need His support and wisdom along the way. He has made His plan hard to miss.


Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5


I kept praying that God would stir my heart and show me the way. God is so faithful and His timing is perfect. I am in such awe of this. I was just recently asked to step up and be a part of rebuilding the children's ministry at our church. I had been expressing how badly i wanted to be working in ministry, that i didn't think my restlessness could settle until i was. My friend Jenn told me there was an internship opening up in Children's ministry. I would be helping with the older elementary kids and teaching Bible classes! After talking to the director we both knew it was the perfect fit. About a week ago she decided that she felt God was calling her away from children's ministry. She felt she had completed what He had called her to do. And that is when I, and some other amazing ladies, were asked to step up and help lead. God knows my heart better than i do, He shows it time and time again. He knows what i am capable of. When I am overwhelmed with the tasks at hand, I know my God is right beside me supporting me through it all. I feel so honored and blessed that God revealed my true hearts desire.


God has called me to a life in ministry. Man oh man, nothing could make me more happy. I want to live my life for Him and i want to pour his love and grace into others. He is an amazing God. So faithful. So powerful. So sovereign. How can i not want to praise and serve him with my everything?


God has been opening some pretty amazing doors these past couple of months. He is revealing himself and i am trying to be faithful in leaping in the direction He leads without hesitation. Although i am headed in a new direction with Childrens Ministry, my passion for serving overseas has not subsided. When given the opportunity to serve, there is no question that I will say yes, as long as God has written that in His plan for me at the time. This year i am excited to announce that He is guiding my journey to Haiti! We will be leaving July 5th and staying for 10 days! I will provide links below of the different places we will be visiting. I highly encourage you to check them all out! Each are so amazing in their own way! This group is a bit more spontaneous or spirit lead. If we feel called to go somewhere instead of whats planned, thats what will happen. We don't want to put God in a box. We have the desire to see Him work, and for Him to use us in whatever plan he has up His sleeve.


There are a few ways that you can partner with me! The approximate cost for the trip is $1500. If you feel led to support me in finances that is amazing. Another way is prayer. So many things come up before the trip that make anyone start questioning whether this is right or not. I would love for you to be praying that God would be the voice directing my thoughts. I would also love you to be praying that God would take me out of my comfort zone and that He would use me in ways even i wouldn't expect. Pray boldly! And last but not least, i am a sucker for words of encouragement and scripture. One of my favorite things in the world is to get little notes from you to take with me on the trip. Helps remind me what an awesome team I have supporting Gods will for my life.


Thank you for being such a big part of my growth. I wish i could get you all together and give you big bear hugs. I am so thankful for each one of you. And i just love the way that God uses each one of us to help build another up. To support one another in our walk with Him. We are one body. One big team. What a blessing to have each other to go on this journey with.


If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. -1 Corinthians 12:17-20
organization: https://cotni.org
school and orphanage: http://respirehaiti
our leaders blog: http://turntheworldupsidedown.net
my photography and update page: https://www.facebook.com/jennadawnphoto


And of course the perks...


If you donate $25-49 you will receive a postcard with various pictures from the trip!
If you donate $50-99 you will receive a 5x7 print AND a postcard with various pictures from the trip!
If you donate $100 and up you will receive a photo book full of this trips pictures AND a postcard with various pictures from the trip!