Nine Days ’til Haiti!

It seems like only yesterday that this trip to Haiti was just an idea.  But, here it is only nine days until departure! 

For those who have followed this blog you know I was fearful of so many things:  the frogs, the unsafe water, the mosquitos, no hot water, consuming only rice and beans with occasional chicken feet for daily food, and sleeping under mosquito netting. My biggest fear of all was of the emotional impact this would have.  Visually seeing so much pain and not being able to take it all away is still a concern of mine. 

Until…..I began looking at the photos from past trips to Haiti.  The children are smiling.  The adults are gracious and thankful.  There are beautiful children everywhere!  And, I’ve been told that God will never be more real to me than when experiencing a worship and praise service while in Haiti!  So many blessings are waiting to touch our lives when we enter that sweet land of Haiti!   

I’ll close out today’s thoughts with this.  One of our team members has never flown and she was very anxious.  Another expressed his fear of flying on a small, crowded plane.  Yet another spoke of his anxiety knowing we will be embarking on a journey with so many unknowns.  Then, a teenager on the team spoke to his mom and asked a simple question of faith.  “Do you know where you are going when you die?”  “Of course!  I’m going to heaven!”  Then, came the words we all needed to hear.

“This trip is a win-win.  If all goes as planned, countless people will be blessed by this trip.  And, if the worst fear comes true — if death should occur — you’ve reached the goal.  You’ve won the prize.  You will enter into the gates of heaven!” 

“Fear not, for I am with you.”  Isaiah 41:10 

Haiti, we are almost there….and we’re all wearing smiling faces because we know with complete assurance that “all is well.”

Love,
Clara

Frogs in the Shower!

At first glance I thought this was some sort of dog!

Today was one of those days when I felt the need for a long, hot shower.  You know the kind when the water feels so good as it pulsates against your skin.  You lather up with the best smelling body soap from Bath and Body Works and you soon look and feel so fresh and clean all over!

As I was finishing up my shower, an image came to mind and I immediately had a panic feeling.  I remembered the frogs in the shower!!  Stephanie, my daughter, told me that on her last trip to Haiti, it wasn’t unusual to see a big tree frog clinging to the wall while taking your 2 to 3 minute cold shower.  I shuddered at the thought!  A frog sharing my shower?!?  That can’t happen — not to me!  Please, Lord, if I’m going to have to shower with cold water, don’t make me share the little concrete cubicle with a frog!

Isn’t it amazing how much we cling to comfort?  We live in a land of so much bounty here in the states that we don’t ever have to concern ourselves with sharing our homes with critters of the wild.  And, now, I will learn yet another life lesson as I get to shower with the frogs.  Already I can tell you that the story of Moses and the ten plagues is coming to life for me!

Forty three more days and guess what’s on my mind?  Well, you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.  Right now I’m going to check my shower for frogs just in case….

Love,
Clara