A New Chapter of Life

If life is a journey, God seems to take us down little paths and then turn us onto a different road at some point. Sometimes we don’t understand at the time, but He sees the big picture.

I have entered into a new chapter of my life. I am now a sophomore in college and an International Studies major. God has continued to give me new experiences on the mission field. I have spent a week in Mexico, a week in Haiti, and 4.5 weeks in Guatemala City. In early 2015, I hope to travel to Ecuador for 10 days. In late 2015, I hope to return to Haiti.

I have been thinking a lot about the Hope Hill project. God used that initiative to teach me SO many things! And since returning from Haiti, I have raised over $25,000 for La Montagne. But lately I’ve been sensing that God is calling me personally in another direction. I believe He has wired me to work in different cultures, in different seasons of my life.

I also believe that right now He is calling me to focus on my studies and the mission opportunities He’s given me. With that, I have decided to close this fundraiser and website for now. All the funds that have been raised for Hope Hill will be entrusted to A Child’s Hope—the organization I have partnered with in Houston, which is preparing to build the orphanage and academy that is so needed in La Montagne. I may still post updates from Haiti on this blog, but it will be about what A Child’s Hope is doing down there.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has prayed for and financially contributed to this project! God is working in Haiti, and I can’t wait to see what He does in the next few years. You can learn more about A Child’s Hope here: http://www.achildshope.org/

God bless y’all! Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. J

God's Plan > Mine

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.

‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Isaiah 55:8-9

I was supposed to go back to Haiti this summer. It was the second year in a row I had planned to return. But God closed the door again. I don’t understand why He hasn’t allowed me to return to one of the countries I love so dearly. But I have peace knowing my God does nothing without reason. I trust that one day, in His perfect timing, I will return to my beloved Haiti.

Waiting Room

Here in this waiting room

Yearning for You to say go

And though I'm convinced that a yes would be best

This time You're telling me no

 

It's not that I don't have an answer

It's just not the one that I'd like

But through this time Lord I must keep in mind

You're always wiser than I

 

'Cause You have a much better purpose

And You have a far greater plan

And You have a bigger perspective

'Cause You hold this world in Your hands

 

The things that I seek are from You

Like the strong healing touch of Your hand

But when You say no, help me trust even though

There's a reason I can't understand

 

'Cause You have a much better purpose

And You have a far greater plan

And You have a bigger perspective

'Cause You hold this world in Your hands

 

When that miracle comes 'cause Your answer is yes

I will praise You for all of my days

But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best

I will praise You just the same

 

You have a much better purpose

And You have a far greater plan

And You have a bigger perspective

'Cause You hold this world in Your hands

You hold this world in Your hands

 

--“Waiting Room” by Jonny Diaz

Waiting Here for You

If faith can move the mountains

Let the mountains move

We come with expectation

Waiting here for You, waiting here for You

You're the Lord of all creation

And still you know my heart

The Author of salvation

You've loved us from the start

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted high in praise

And it's You we adore

Singing Alleluia

You are everything you've promised

Your faithfulness is true

And we're desperate for your presence

All we need is You

Waiting here for You, Lord

With our hands lifted high in praise

And it's you, Lord, we adore

Singing Alleluia

We will wait for You, Lord, we'll stand with You

We will sing alleluia

Singing Alleluia, alleluia

Singing Alleluia, alleluia

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted high in praise

And it's You we adore, we adore

Singing Alleluia

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted high in praise

And it's You we adore

Singing Alleluia, singing Alleluia

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted high in praise

And it's You we adore, with our lives

Singing Alleluia, singing Alleluia

--“Waiting Here for You” by Christy Nockles

Childlike

"Becoming a child again is exactly what God wants. This is the point of abandoning. He wants us to look at the world through new eyes, eyes that see beauty and joy and excitement in all things, even the most ordinary of circumstances. He wants us to give up our control and to trust Him. Abandoning reminds us to be childlike in the middle of life at a time when we've long forgotten what it's like to be a child. This is why we leave; it's why we go on a journey in the first place."

--"Kingdom Journeys" by Seth Barnes