...and the countdown begins...

It can be so overwhelming to me to realize how much God loves me, and how much He longs to give me the desires of my heart!

So, the count down… God has opened doors, and confirmed many times over that I am supposed to return to Haiti this winter, during my school break! I started praying about this while I was still in Haiti this past summer…and really didn’t know if it was going to be part of God’s plan. As I prepared to return to New York in July, I had countless friends ask me when I would be back. I told them that I was praying about coming this winter, and many of them committed to praying that I would be back for Christmas. Never underestimate the power of prayer! I think there were about 80 people praying for me…and within 5 days of getting home to my parents house, God had confirmed in several ways that I was supposed to go back!

Over the next weeks and months, God used little reminders of this trip, and the real reason I was in school to get me through the challenging moments…the times when I just wanted to walk down the street and hear the horns blowing, the hours when I wished I could be out in the village at the clinic rather than cramming for exams, and mostly the days when I wished I could be at the orphanage loving on the kids instead of sitting through yet another lecture! (I admit, I put pictures of the kids in several of my books!) Remembering my trip this summer, and looking ahead to this winter have been valuable reminders of why God has brought me to the place I am, and why I need to continue to chase after the call He has place on my life, with everything that is in me!

And now, this trip is close enough that the countdown must begin! Tickets have been purchased, and the date set… December 20^th, 2008, Flight 1291 out of JFK (NY) at 5:45 am! I am so grateful that God has made a way for my Dad and sister, Meg, to travel with me. God has also provided the way for a close friend of my family (my boss!) Dr. Carr to spend a week with us in Haiti. He will be flying in on January 2^nd, and staying until Meg and I fly back to NY on January 10^th. (My dad will be flying back on January 5^th.)

And so- the count down begins…Six weeks! It can be a little overwhelming to think the in six very short weeks, I will be back in Cap Haitian, living out one more chapter in the calling God has placed on my life! How awesome it is to realize what God can do through me, when I yield complete control to Him!

I’ve found myself thinking about this trip more and more over the past few days… and then I remind myself that I can’t think about it too much, but I have to focus on what God has called me to for today…for this week. There seems to be so much that I must accomplish before I can concentrate on packing a suitcase and heading for the airport!

I will do my best to keep you all updated as we finalize plans for this trip, as well as keeping you informed of ways you can be praying for us!

· Please keep Hudson and Lucy Hess, the missionary couple we will be staying and working with, in your prayers. They are currently facing support issues, but are trusting God to raise up financial partners so they can continue the work in Haiti.

· Please keep my Dad in your prayers as he works on the Kreyol language, and seeks clear direction on future plans for the work in Haiti.

· Please pray for Meg as she searches out the place God has for her on the mission field.

·Please pray for Doc as he prepares to travel to Haiti by himself, as he begins to learn the Kreyol language, and as he seeks out his calling in Haiti

·Please keep me in your prayers as I finish out the last five weeks of the semester, and take my finales.