Letting Go

I was sitting in Mother Terea's Orphanage and Hospital for the Sick and Dying in Haiti a couple days ago, holding a baby boy who came to me wet. The room I was in was dark due to the lack of windows and electricity, and the crying of babies and desperate-to-comfort voices was all the filled the building audibly. As I sat on the bench, wondering what exactly caused this child's clothes to feel moist, I felt love tie a rope around my heart. In the heat, unescapable smells, and dire cries, I realized I wouldn't want to be anywhere else at that moment.

I came to the realization that nothing was more important. Holding that beautiful, skeleton-shaped baby was the most crucial thing I could have been doing. That's when I began thinking about people at home, what would they think? Why aren't there more people going into the nations? What could they choose over wanting to feel this love? Money, American houses, fast cars, security, safety? Those things sounded nice. They sounded comfortable. But with that baby in my arms, I knew that those things equated to nothing because of one simple fact: this is what Jesus did His whole life, letting every worldly thing go and living to love others.

I haven't accomplished that goal. I'm embarrassed by how selfish I am actually. But I pray often that my life will always be transforming to something more like Jesus'. That's why I can confidently tell others I would sing praises if God leads me to living in Haiti one day. It will not always be fun, or easy. I most likely will feel overwhelmed, lonely, amongst many other things -- I know this fully. However, nothing would make my soul sing more to live every moment of every day doing the most important thing in life, counting all else at a loss, and trying to love as Jesus loved.

$27 < Cross

During the last six months, I have finally gotten to a place in my life where I make money. I have several freelance jobs and I was getting excited about the cash flow. Too excited, apparently. About a month ago I finished reading "Radical" by David Platt (you can count on me writing about that book in future). At the end of the book, it challenges you to do 5 life changing things, one of those things being to donate your money to a consistent cause for at least a year (in addition to tithing for the church).

Three Angels Christian Academy opened in 2005 by Three Angels Children's Relief, a non-profit organization in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Students at TACA receive an education, a meal (for most of them the only meal they get each day), and most importantly an opportunity to make a way for themselves in the heartrending world that is Haiti. It takes only $27 dollars a month to sponsor one child, giving them an education, knowledge for a lifetime -- which in their case is life-saving.

$27

I met my sponsor child today. Meet Sarah. She is four years old in the TACA pre-school program. She loves to draw, plays the race car game at recess, and she is thankful for her school because, "I love my classmates." She aspires to be a dancer when she grows up. She lives in a tent with her mom, for her home was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake.

It may seem like a sacrifice, but it's for a brother or sister who has nothing. It may seem like a sacrifice, but what is it compared to the sacrifice that was made for you 2,000 years ago? $27 begins to look a lot smaller in light of the cross.

You can improve a child's life by clicking ---> here.

"The measure of who we are is defined by what we do with what we have." (Vince Lombardi)

Wondering Where This Road Is Leading

My heart has been here lately:

With little hands and dirty cheeks. With loving babies and kids with amazing hearts. I've had a lot of dreams this week about being back in Haiti. Being home under that beautiful, beating sun.

I've also been thinking a lot about how Haiti is going to be factored in into my adult life. Honestly, I've been a bit torn...

I dream of a clean quaint house, smelling of candles and food (my doing), with a handful of kids who look and act perfect doing school work (this is a dream, of course).

However, when I don't dream, when I think, I think of a house surrounded by a cement wall, a couple big "trained" dogs walking around, beans and rice in bowls on the counter, and a hand-made broom propped next to a pile of swept up dirt. I think of roosters sounding, my neck sweating, and babies crying my name in an adorable accent. I think of Haiti. A live like this:

I'm a multi-sided person. Can I have one and not the other? Can I live my fifties-house-wife imaginary world and ignore the love I have for Haiti and its people? Can I live in Haiti and be ok with sacrificing the typical home-maker life?

Well... Last night, after feeling totally spent, I read this in my Bible: "For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability." (2 Corinthians 8:3) I read it over and over and was totally in awe more and more each time. If you don't share my excitement, read it again until you do.

I continued reading and found this:

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thought he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 6:9) . . . "Our desire is not that other might be relieved while you are hard pressed, that there might be equality. At the the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what your need. Then there will be equality." (2 Corinthians 8: 13 & 14)

I love Haiti. Living there always sounded grand to me (mostly because I already know a lot of details to how living in Haiti is anything but "grand"). Only in two places have I ever been told that I was "in my element": after leading worship, and while I was in Haiti.

A lot can argue that it's too early to be thinking about this. But as long as I am being asked what I want to do with my life, I say it's perfectly justified. I'm not really sure why I'm writing this, just that this is how I organize my heart. There is a lot to factor in, there's a lot of life to live first, and ultimately, I just want what God believes I'll be best placed. All I can really do right now is pray for that.

Leve Project is a-growin'!

So, I think, when I say "go" you should stop reading and click on the link that will be under this paragraph labeled "Leve Project's Website." It will led you on a journey through cyberspace to a website that God is using to empower the people of Haiti. Sound good? Ok. Ready? ... GO!

Leve Project's Website

(there is also a link on my right sidebar.)

How was it? Feel that stir in your soul? That pull in your heart? That's what I like to call the Holy Spirit, my friends. Follow it, embrace it. You won't regret it.

PS ~ The Leve Project blog has a new post, check it out. (;

Leve Project

lā ･ vā (v) creole word meaning to raise/to lift up/grow

Click HERE

to learn more about the Leve Project and the change they are going to make through God in the lives of the people of Haiti. I am excited to see all they will do! (: