T-minus 3 days and a wake up!!!

     I'm so ready to get back to Haiti...And I have had some encouragement from others to start a blog...so here we go!

     I found this post on Facebook from November 2010 after my first trip to Haiti. I honestly had forgotten about it...but was pleasantly suprised and blessed when I re-read it and the sweet comments that came with it! I have many of the same feelings and prayers for Haiti! So here it is...

     So it’s been eighty-three days since I have been back from Haiti…and for the first time I feel like maybe I can put words to the thousands of thoughts, feelings, and emotions that I experienced. In two weeks my life changed, I became someone different. I was raised Christian, but it wasn’t until I was on a plane to Port-au-Prince that I realized for the first time in my life I was acting like one. If you know me…I am quiet, I am shy, and I don’t do the awkward airplane conversations well. I had my headphones in, my bible and journal in my lap, and prayed that I would not have to talk to the gentleman sitting next to me. I remember I was listening to a song by Kim Walker and the main verse states “I’m marked by your beauty and lost in your eyes, I want to walk in your presence like Jesus did, you glory surrounds me and I’m overwhelmed, I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY.”  (If you haven’t heard this song…oh I so recommend you taking some time and let it rock your world!) So…in that moment…I took my headphones out and opened my bible. The man sitting next to me leaned over and said, “So you are a Christian.” I couldn’t tell if he was asking me or if he was making an observation, but I simply said “with all of my heart.” We talked for a few minutes and he shared some beautiful memories about his mother and being raised a Christian in Haiti. After the conversation ended, I sat in silence for several minutes and had to focus on not crying. You see, I realized that for the first time I was living out my life for Christ. And maybe this was the first time that anyone ever saw God in me. It was one of the hardest, most humbling, beautiful moments in my life. Haiti changed me. The people are extraordinary; they overcome poverty, starvation, illness, and disasters with strength like I’ve never seen. It is still hard for me to imagine that in 2010 there are still areas in our world that are without power, that large families live in small dirt huts, and that health care is almost unheard of.  The missionary family, from the Netherlands, have taken in a sweet 13 month old girl who has TB and aids. She requires feedings through an NG tube because of her severe malnourishment. She whimpered all of the time and had the most heart stopping cough, like you weren’t sure if she was going to take her next breath.  Jessica was holding her and we just cried. I remember Jessica asking where was God’s grace for this child? After several minutes of silence, I knew the answer. Dr. Anne Marie, the missionary family, and we are the grace for this child. In this time of need for this precious angel, God has provided people to care for her, love her, pray for her, and offer her a chance at life. I fell in love with everything about Haiti. For once in my life, I have a passion, a desire, and a purpose to live (and get through nursing school). I cannot wait to study creole with marie jinette, kiss sweet jean maxon and hear his laugh, help Annemarie in the clinic, sit on the back porch to journal in the afternoon, listen to the missionaries hold a bible study, and hear Wilfet’s laugh. Haiti is more than just an impoverished country; it is my friend’s home, my friends who have names, faces, and families. My heart is so overwhelmed today. It has taken me eighty-three days to scratch the surface of my heart and share it. I am burdened by Haiti’s current situation an earthquake, a cholera-outbreak, and now… a hurricane is threatening Haiti’s existence.  I want to scream, and cry, and be mad…but I know that none of these options will protect my friends. I am asking you all to join me in my prayers for Haiti.
I am praying for:  
  *Guidance within the Haitian government as they prepare for the next natural disaster.
  *A change in the course of Hurricane Thomas.
  *That my sweet friends will be protected and God’s hands will hold them in this time of need.
  *God’s grace will heal those affected by cholera.
  *That these sweet Haitian’s will continue to find strength in our Father and overcome the many disasters.
  *To settle our hearts as we wait anxiously for news of our sweet friends and their village.
  *That planning for our upcoming trip in December will go smoothly.
  *For our families as they adapt to the continuously devastating news of Haiti. I pray that they find 
    peace and strength to continually encourage our mission.
  *That our community will find ways to help and support this mission trip. Continuous prayers are the 
    greatest gift you can give!  

    I am anxiously waiting to return to Haiti. Staying focused on school, work, and everyday life is a challenge that I am tackling daily…I hope you can find a little extra patience with me if I seem short tempered or a little overwhelmed.  

     Overwhelmed by my Haitian Revelation,
                 Mary Kate Asmussen