The Day Before Take-Off
I honestly can't remember a whole lot about the Wednesday before I left. It's all a blur, except for that evening. I ran around like a crazy woman, trying to pack everything into one small carry-on size suitcase and one duffel bag. It was recommended that I only take one suitcase, "carry-on size", so that I could keep it with me on the plane and reduce the risk of it getting lost somewhere between Charlotte and Haiti.
Wait. Back up. Time out.
Let's think about this. Do you know ANYBODY, especially a WOMAN who could possibly pack everything she feels like she may need in a third world country (her first time overseas, no less) in a "carry-on" size piece of luggage? "Carry-on" is fancy for "small." As in, not-much-larger-than-my-son's-gym-bag small. Anyway. I hope you get my point here. I.Had.No.Room.
Ok, time-in. Sorry. I just needed to be sure I let you know that I *did* feel a little stress, but whatever. Anyway. I had a lot of help from my mom packing, from giving me a flashlight and extra batteries, to making sure I had copies of my passport and band-aids, among many other things. I was glad to be so busy though because it kept my mind off of the fact that I would miss my family terribly.
My church helped me so much prior to my trip. They gave enough money to pay for my airfare, which was such a huge blessing. They all wrote in a journal in the weeks leading to my departure. Words of encouragement, Bible verses, personal notes etc. filled page after page in a small blue journal that I carried with me on the plane. My intention was to read everything during my time away (more on that in another post), especially in case I got homesick and needed to feel some prayers and love from back home.
On Wednesday night, my pastor had planned a service about missions and announced that it would be a special service for me on the night before my trip. I invited a few of my best girlfriends, and four of them joined me and my family for service. The pastor taught us from the book of Acts:
Acts 13 (KJV): 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Ok, go back and read verse 2 again. See right there, where Barnabas & Saul were already faithful and serving the Lord before He called them out? Wow. To think that the Lord uses those who are already serving, working, being faithful? Is that me? It sure doesn't feel like that at times. I mean, HE IS FAITHFUL to me...but where the pavement meets the road...no, I'm not always faithful to Him. Whew. That's a tough one to try and swallow. But - the church nor man (or self) called these men to service. God did. And I know, without a doubt, that God called me to go to Haiti. I can't question, deny or argue that fact. Believe me, in the beginning, I kinda did argue a little bit. But not for long because I just knew....I was called to go there.
Fasting is one of the toughest weapons we have against Satan. He can only control our flesh. When we fast and become completely dependent on God to meet our needs and desires, that leaves little room for Satan to sneak in. I've learned that in order to fight back, sometimes I have to surrender to the Lord and just let Him have total control. (Can I get an amen?) I'll admit - I'm still working on the "surrender" and that "don't give in to flesh" thing, but I'm sure I'm the only one that hasn't conquered that just yet, right?
Wednesday night's service was so sweet - just a very special time for me. It was such a blessing being there with my family, my best friends, and my church family. At the end of service, everyone gathered around me and prayed. Whew. What power. What amazing, awesome power there is in prayer, especially those that you know are genuine and heartfelt. It was one of those moments in time I will never forget, but the beginning of almost two weeks that now almost seems like it was a hundred years ago, yet just yesterday.
The sunset after church was a reminder that God is still God. He IS still faithful. The same sun that set in the Garden of Eden before sin ever entered the world is the same sun that still sets over the mountains of western North Carolina. It is, by the way, the same sun that I would see rise over the Haitian mountains through the screened window in my room every morning that overlooked a dirt road that, if you looked to the right led to the village market, and to the left headed to the small Haitian church where I'd be very, very soon.
