Expectations

"So you love people? Then serve the ones in front of you."

Being in Haiti thus far is nothing like what I expected. Thursday was emotional, but not for the reasons I thought they would be. Friday was planned to be a day at a refugee camp and ended up being a day at the beach. I've been helping with the big picture, but haven't seen many individual faces. 

 I came in with so many expectations. I felt like I was going in blind but trusted God to do big things. After all, He was the one who has given me this heart for Haiti! But as usual, God has humbled me and shown me, though I don't know the end result, that His plans are different and greater than mine could be. 

I came in thinking that I would get to talk to and hear stories from many people I met. That I would not be as much of an outsider looking in as I was the day I arrived, that I would experience Haiti at its rawest. 

Do I really want to serve to help the Jeanty family and anyone else who asks? Or do I want to serve for the experience itself? I want to tell of the great and awesome things God is doing in Haiti, to be able to share with those praying and reading the blog. I feel not only the expectations I have, but those of others as well.

I have to surrender all my expectations. To be faithful where I'm at. To serve the ones in front of me. 

I don't want to miss what God has in front of me because I'm straining to see what He will do tomorrow, or next week.

God has me exactly where I'm at for a reason. He didn't send me in the middle of a village or on the frontlines of serving those in need. He sent me to bless the Jeanty family and to be willing to serve wherever I'm at.

I know God is working. My prayer is that I would surrender all and to see through His eyes.


I was able to rest well Thursday night and am not nearly as exhausted as I was. I had the opportunity to go to a Haitian funeral with the Jeanty family and even though the man was elderly and I didn't know him...everything reminded me of Nick. It was an emotional day. Friday ended up being a beach day, which it's so strange relaxing in the front end, but I was able to go with a group with Campus Crusade that I will be serving with some next week. I snorkeled for the first time which was fun once I got used to it and had my first fresh coconut. I also got some sun on my face and shoulders though I re-applied twice. It was so great to get to know new people close to my age and just relax and have fun.

Today is Saturday, which meant sleeping in until 9 and having some time before youth group at the church Pastor Jeanty preaches. 

Please pray that my eyes and heart would be open and flexible and that I would be able to see how He is working wherever I am. And also that I would be able to pick up on Creole a little quicker. I'm trying, but just like when I was learning Spanish, it's taking some time.