A New Normal...

For over four years things in leadership here in Haiti have pretty much remained the same. We have our core group of Haitian nationals who run the ministry full time. I come and go as does my husband- pouring into them when in country so they can be more effective when we are not in Haiti. 

We have formed a really close team and God has built up our relationships together as well as the relationships with our ministry partners and support staff (translators, cooks, etc). We truly embrace and appreciate the family God has created among us all. We consider ourselves blessed and realize more and more the uniqueness of those relationships here in this country where true relationships/friendships are often difficult to find and maintain. 

But, our God is a God who loves to stretch us!! Soooo as we become comfortable in our present situations He often beckons us to step out. Leave the familiar. Enter into that place we call "unknown", "scary", "intimidating". Trust that He is there to guide and direct us even if we can not always see Him right away. Trust that He is not only walking with us on this new path, but that HE laid it out and created it long before we ever knew it was being built. 

This week as I spent some alone time with God and explored new parts of Haiti as I love to do on my respites before returning to the USA, He gave me such a beautiful vision. As we drove along crazy dirt/dusty roads through mountain passes (sometimes only one vehicle could pass through and we were not even sure it could) I thought, "OK God, I know people pass this way every day so there is no need to fear."  But sometimes it was a bit scary. I admit I wondered what I had gotten myself into on this adventure. 

And then.... seemingly out of nowhere, we rounded a bend in the road and it was magnificent. PAVED road! Smooth and clean! Unknown to me, someone had been working on that part of the road- preparing it for the future when it all connects together to form one nice, paved road all the way across the mountains linking this part of Southern Haiti with the more populated section we had just left. For miles we enjoyed the nicer road. 

Then, guess what? It changed again and went back to dirt and dust and holes and rocks. Once again at times we needed four wheel drive and slowed to a crawl. Once again we inched along the edge of cliffs and prayed we wouldn't meet another car coming toward us. (at least I did- Redgi loved the challenge but that is for another blog: How what I see as a challenge/scary someone else sees as exciting while what I see as calm/comfortable is boring to them. Haha)

Anyway..... All this was used by God to comfort me. He was showing that this road is like our lives. Sometimes smooth and easy- sometimes rough and unknown. BUT He is there. He is working ahead of us, preparing the way. Would He want it all perfect and smooth? I am not sure because when in that place we forget quickly to rely on Him and to trust in our own strength. 

Haiti has done much over the past six years to teach and grow me. This past few months (and the next few to come) are just a part of that road. We will be restructuring some of our staffing and ministry. It is scary and I want to hang on tight to what has become comfortable/familiar. It has been rough on me. I have had to pray a lot, seek a lot of advice/council from others I trust that God has it under control but, frankly, I just want to stay on that smooth road and not continue onward. But, if I do, I know we will miss so much more that He has to teach and show us. 

So I trust. Smoother times are coming. But, I pray rough ones will too. Though I don't always like them at the time, they are needed and they are part of this process we call growth. 

(by the way.... here are some photos of what was waiting at the end of that road. A beautiful little town, some great missionaries we got to meet/fellowship with, and MUCH time with the One orchestrating all we do. I am so glad we continued forward- just as I will be later with this time in our growth as an organization.  Blessings and prayers for direction for us all. Thanks-)