21st Birthday in Haiti!

Last Sunday, May 20th, I celebrated my 21st birthday here in Haiti! It was pretty tough Sunday morning, realizing that this was the first birthday that I'd ever spent away from my family (and yeah, 21 is kind of a "milestone" I guess you can say). Being away from them for a little over 4 months has been hard. However, this birthday has been one that I will NEVER forget...and not just because it's my 21st. I am so fortunate, thankful, and blessed to spend this birthday (and 6 months) with the amazing people in this country. I get to interact with some of the most loving people I've ever met, all of the Haitians and the American NVM staff. I will sleep tonight knowing that this birthday, this day, is one that I will never forget for many reasons. 

Birthday cinnamon roll with 21 candles!

Pastor Pierre's (founder of NVM) son Nathan and myself. We have became great friends over the past 4 and a half months!

These were my birthday gifts from the NVM staff. You know you are in the mission field, when you are excited about non-powdered milk and typical grocery store items being presents for your 21st birthday. I may be 21 and "of age" to legally consume alcohol...but the only type of beer I request is A&W Root Beer!

My friends in the NVM Childrens Home singing Happy Birthday to me! (Low-resolution video...recorded with my iPhone)

Changes to Our Core NVM "Family"

Our core NVM "family" started to undergo changes at the beginning of May. Brodie Herb (bottom row, white t-shirt) headed back to the States after being at NVM for 8 months. She will be getting married in august; Head nurse Aubree Dell (bottom row, Army t-shirt) headed home for a month to refresh and to raise support for her new commitment of an additional 2 years (she has already been here for 2 years); GAiN USA Staff Jim Warner (top left), Cheryl Warner (bottom row 2nd from left) & their kids Jamie (blue shirt, bottom row, left) and Janessa (orange shirt, middle row, left) headed home a couple of days ago to take some time off to refresh and raise support; Intern Maggie Younker (bottom row, orange) will be heading home in mid-June after being here for 5 months and will be heading to England in September, where she will be interning with the International Justice Mission for a year; nurse E'tienne York (top row, middle, on my right) will be heading home at the beginning of July after being here for one year; nurse Brooke Smalley (to my left) has signed up for another year; our leaders Brandon & Katie Hutchens (top row, right) have also committed to stay for at least one more year!        

As you all know, I will be heading back to the States on July 17th. It has been an absolute blessing to work alongside this amazing group of people. We all like to use the word "family" to describe us, rather than the word "team". I am so thankful to have the opportunity to get to know each and every one of these people....my time here would not be the same if it weren't for this family! I could go on and on about each person individually, and the million stories we've all had together, but I will spare you the time. I will say thank you to my "second family" for all the wonderful memories we've had together, but those words are merely understatements.This may be the last photo together as our core "family"...but I pray that God continues to use each one of us in the next chapters of our lives. I have no doubt that we will all continue to serve the Kingdom of Heaven....whether God leads us here in Haiti or back in the United States.

The Next Step in My Life...

In 2011 I was certain of one thing in particular, regarding my future: I was going to spend 6 months serving at Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Haiti. Although I knew that's where God was leading me from January 16, 2012 to July 17,2012...I didn't know where I would end up after I returned to the United States. Many people prior to me arriving here, and people who were on short-term trips here at NVM, would ask me, "So, what are you doing when you get home?". That question began to resonate more and more on my heart. I had made it one of my top priorities in my prayers, asking for God's direction and guidance in what the next step was in my life. Even though I was concerned with this, I didn't want to become TOO consumed with it, that I would miss out on where I am NOW. So, as people continued to ask me, I simply responded, "We'll see where God leads me!". I would go on to describe that I had a passion for children and youth ministry...so that could possibly be an option somewhere down the road.

I remember one week in March, very specifically. It was the busiest week we've had here at NVM, since my arrival; there were 5 or 6 teams and around 120+ people on campus. There was one team in particular that I was excited to meet and work alongside; a team of twelve middle schools kids with their two counselors/leaders from Kanakuk (Christian youth camps). I had been volunteering a lot with the PreTeen/Youth Ministry at my home church in Raleigh, and absolutely loved it. I missed all those kids from home...so I was excited to meet these middle schoolers! I must say that these kids were absolutely amazing here. They got along so well with the Haitian children...it was awesome to see their interactions with each other. Both of their leaders called me aside at different times, to tell me that they absolutely loved how much I poured into their middle school team, and that they think I would do very well in youth ministry. This was very encouraging for me to hear..and very unexpected! To make a long story short(er), I felt like God brought this Kanakuk middle school team  here for a reason: to solidify the fact that I absolutely love youth ministry and need to pursue this as my next "step" in life.

I will be studying Youth Ministry at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, starting in the Fall of 2012. I will only have about a month-and-a-half turnaround between my arrival back in the United States and the first day of class. It's hard to believe that I only have 2 months and 10 days left here in Haiti. I am excited to see what God has in store for me for these next 2 months, as well as my first semester at Liberty University in the Fall! If you feel led to support me with my ministry here in Haiti, or would just like to help out with the expenses that go along with college, then I would greatly appreciate it! IF you don't feel led to support financially, that is completely fine. I would be more than happy with you simply praying for me as I spend the remaining 2 months here in Haiti and as I transition back into life back in the States and at Liberty University! You can never have too many people praying for you :)

These are some of the guys from the Kanakuk Middle School team. They were hilarious and awesome to work with!

These are a few pictures from the VBS Day Camp I helped out with in Onaville, alongside the Kanakuk Middle School team!

Onaville Men's Bible Study

Two men from Saddleback Church (Pastor Rick Warren's church) from California, Brandon Hutchens, Clerice (NVM staff/translator) and myself started a men's Bible Study in Onaville. The study is called, "Being God's Man...In Leading a Family", by Stephen Arterburn, Kenny Luck, and Fred Stoeker. Onaville is an area that consists of roughly 500,000+ people; the majority of which were displaced into this area after the earthquake in 2010. We have a "satellite" church in Onaville (I have posted pictures on my blog of the new tent we put up earlier this year)...where about 500 or so people are attending, since the first service that was held in December 2011. I was very excited to start this Bible study...to build up the men of this community to be the leaders and righteous men we are called to be. 65 men come out to the first session; it was amazing seeing how involved these men were in the study. At the end of the session as we were packing things up, one man wanted to come up and share a little bit before we left. He told us all how thankful he was for us to start this study; they had never heard of accountability partners or been in small groups with other Christian men. He continued on to say that he had somewhat lost his faith or connection with Christ, but this study had gotten him fired up to be the man of God he knew that he should be; so that he could be a leader and positive influence for his family, friends, and community. This study is not only helping these Haitian men, but also Brandon and myself as we sit down each week doing the study ourselves, in preparation for our bi-weekly study sessions. If everyone could keep Brandon, Clerice, Pastor Jim Warner, and myself in your prayers, we would really appreciate it! Pray that God will use us as a tool for His Kingdom, to speak the words that these men need to hear in order to be leaders and positive role models amongst their families, friends, and community. I will continue to post updates about this study for the remainder of my time here in Haiti! Here are a few photos from one of our sessions:

The men split into small groups

My Bible, notes, and "Being God's Man...In Leading A Family" Bible study.

Clerice translating for me as I co-lead the Bible study with Brandon Hutchens