As the trip nears the end a mix of emotions begin to swell. We gather at 5:30 am to make our way to the airport. Bodies are exhausted, spent and for a majority of team members broken and ill. There is no energy left to process the events of the last two weeks. By 8:45 tonight we should arrive in Omaha. I'm excited to be home, see family and share all of the amazing things that have happened this trip. But, I'm saddened by leaving a country I've come to know as my second home and the people who have become my second family and dear friends. God has blessed me with two worlds to love and embrace. It has been wonderful sharing it all with the teams members from FCC and our “adopted” additions. The team has been amazing and each team member has been an important part of the trip team. When I look at our team I'm reminded of Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God definitely created and prepared each member for the role they would play on this team. I'm grateful for all of them.
Although tonight we will be home in our own beds (God willing) our hearts will remain in Haiti. It will take days for our minds and emotions to settle back into “normal routines”. And for most of us, if not all of us, we will never be the same. Most of us travel to Haiti with the intentions of changing a life there, but God has a way of working on our hearts in the process. That change may be the biggest of all. So, be patient with your loved one. God has rung us out, broke us down and is still working on building us back up. It may take time.
I'd like to thank our church family at FCC and our personal family and friends who have supported this trip in one fashion or another (financially, prayerfully and physically). You were all an integral part of the work that was done. May God bless you for your generosity!
Mark your calendars for our trip review presentation on Sunday, July 11th at 5:00pm. We'll be serving a Haitian dinner and presenting on the work that was done this trip as well as what God is doing in LaPlaine. More information to come.
Also, continue to watch the blog. We'll post a few more items up until the 11th.
God Bless! We hope to see you all soon! - Kristi
