Pre-Departure

     So, I have 0 days before I leave for Haiti left. And I wanted to write a post while I was still in the USA for a few reasons.
     Firstly, I wanted to thank everyone who has supported me, financially or emotionally. At first, when I realized I was going to be traveling to Haiti I did some quick calculations and discovered that I didn't have enough money. So, obviously, I got a job and tried to raise money that way. Still, I kept coming up short. Then I came to terms with one of my fears: fundraising. I started writing my support letters, the fear of being a burden on others always present in the forefront of my mind. But then the unexpected happened: money started to trickle in. As I found a flow of money coming in, either from work or support, I found more and more joy in tithing. And as I tithed, I found my heart lifted and God pouring more resources into life. Here's an example of how God was meeting my needs: I hadn't even thought of it but I realized I would need to get a shot for Haiti that would cost me less than one hundred. So, that night at work I was bartending and I had an incredible night--I made $200 and that's literally all the cash I had in my name. The next morning I go to the Knox County Health Dept. and I get my shot--except it turned out I had to get more than one. As I walk up the counter to pay, I prayed that I had enough cash. And I did. The shots cost me about $200. I don't think that was a coincidence. I had a need and God met it through His provision and graciousness.
     Now, let us move onto my second thought because you are all here to listen to my thoughts anyway, right? People have said to me "oh, you're doing such a good thing/you're brave". Alright, let's be real here. I'm not really doing such a 'good thing'. I honestly think it would be more difficult to work a desk job in the US and be a witness to my co-workers. Sometimes, I think I'm taking the easy way out by going to an impoverished country. Okay, onto the second thing of me being 'brave'. Ha. That's a funny thought because I cry in my shower quite often when I think of leaving. I mean really. I'm leaving my friends and family, my comfortable bed and delicious food for what? For strangers, food that I'm not accustomed to (rice/beans for everything), poverty like I can't even imagine right now (ex: Haiti's cities are built to house 40,000 people but on average 10 million live in them--and that's a good case). So, as I'm crying in the shower or laying in bed scared to my bones, I start to worry. But then something happens. I feel a calm rush over me. The calm doesn't take away my fears but rather it whispers that I will be miserable a lot but that it doesn't matter. The physical doesn't matter because I'm not going there for fun but to serve and work. The calming presence tells me to rely on Christ when I feel lonely, inadequate, sad, etc.
     Alright, thirdly: I'm excited to go. I don't know what I'm getting into. I don't know who I will meet or what I will be doing. But I'm ready (as ready as possible). So, thank you to everyone who is supporting me in some way, shape, or form. I won't be gone for long--only two months but I hope that I will be an able vessel. I'll update my blog as much as possible but I've been told I won't have internet  too often.
Well, I leave in less than 12 hours so I guess until next time!
xx Leah