Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Haiti Excitement (6/26/08)

As I write this, I am nine days away from flying down to Haiti with Kim & Travis. What began as a cool idea in long ago January is now upon us! I'm so excited that I'm just about to the point of not being able to sleep! I'm looking forward to everything about the trip, even the parts that I know will be uncomfortable, inconvenient, & maybe even a bit unsafe.

I'm excited because I know that our coming has meant a boat load of encouragement to a lonely servant of God who sometimes wonders if the Church remembers her at all. I'm excited because I'm going to see a part of the world I've never seen before, & that can only expand my awe for the creative genius of God. I'm excited because I'm going to meet some really neat young men who have no fathers, & I, despite all of my own parenting deficiencies, will be accepted & appreciated & enjoyed in ways I've never experienced or imagined. I'm excited because I'm going to meet other servants of God who live out selflessness & dedication, & their example will challenge & inspire me even more- something I am desperate for.

I'm probably most excited because I sense God's pleasure on this trip- it just feels that this is something He has orchestrated, & will use in ways I may never know.

Our Thursday noon Bible study just looked at Rahab the prostitute's story in the book of Joshua. Come to find out she married an Israelite "invader" & ended up in the lineage of Jesus. But there was no way she could ever have known the role she was playing in the redemptive drama God was unfolding in human history. We talked about the ripple effect that all our actions have- for good, or for evil. Effects that are sometimes seen immediately, & sometimes years, even generations, later.

I hope & pray that this Haiti trip is a pebble that will have God-honoring ripples for a long time. Not just in my life, but in the lives of fatherless Haitian boys, & in the lives of some of you who are reading this. I'm passionate about missions work because of one man's stories about his mission travels; maybe my stories will spark someone who will toss in even bigger pebbles & make even larger ripples for God.

Hidden with Christ,


Jim Dewar --