Travel Day

I was experiencing technical difficulties so couldn't post yesterday as intended ;)  

     Arrival in Haiti - touchdown around 4:20p, EST.  We were blessed with uneventful travels -- no delays out of Minneapolis, despite the latest snowpocalypse looming...  I think we even took off a few minutes early. Arrived in Miami a bit ahead of schedule and had some time to unwind and start letting go of all of the worry/planning/shopping/packing/etc.  Left Miami on time and had a mostly smooth flight into Port au Prince.  

     I felt a wave of calm wash over me as we gathered our bags and loaded into the TopTops (trucks). No anxiety.  No fear.  Just calm.  And smiles.  Lots of smiles.  :)  I am SO excited to be here!!  And with such an awesome group!!  I've never felt such a strong sense of purpose and belonging in the midst of a group of almost-strangers.  A group of people from various sets of circumstances, who I had only met once or twice prior to the trip.  We have bonded so quickly that it feels like we've known each other forever.  So bonded, that on day one we gathered for devotional and prayer without prompt from our leaders (who were meeting to plan the week).  Very welcoming and tight-knit group.  

     This week is going to be amazing and life changing.  I don't know that I'm ready for what's in store, but I do know that I am prepared to walk through it all with this new family :)   

     

4 days and counting!

So why is it you can go the entire winter without a serious cold, but once you are ready to travel it hits!  I sit pampering myself with hot tea, vicks vapo-rub (my favorite cold remedy) and boxes of kleenex. It is always amazing to me what God will use to get my attention and tell me to SLOW down.  I have had entire weekends of activities cancelled, cars breakdown and way too many layovers in airports not to learn to take advantage of that time.  I find myself sitting quietly, breathing deeply and waiting  for my mind to clear.  I simply smile and think to myself "OK God, lets just be and see where we go".  Usually he uses these time to allow myself to prepare to lead my next team to Haiti. All critical tasks fall into place and all noncritical, well they just fall.  My focus changes on helping each of my fellow team members experience this journey to Haiti exactly the way God wants them to. Please be in pray for your fellow team members as we begin this jouney bright and early Monday morning!
Amy

So as of yesterday it is only 1 month before I will be back in Haiti!  I will be co-leading with Miss Lauren  who happened to be a 1st time goer along with myself in 2011.  It is amazing the people God's brings into your life when you surrender to his will.  Now is the time to encourage all your supporters to lift you up in prayer as we push toward our departure date.  I encourage you to being reading in your trip journals and bible as you prepare your hearts for our trip.  I have been praying for each of you and am so blessed to share this journey with each of you.  I am also getting a sense that we have quite a few of us that have a wonderful sense of humor which will be so important an we spend 24 hours a day together over a week!  Don't forget to reach out to your prayer partners and feel free to share on the team face book page you must be getting tired of seeing so much stuff from the two of us!
Blessings,
Amy

So begins a new journey.  A blog!