Processing......

This morning when I got up and checked my email, I had received a note from Shelley, asking me how I was doing with my processing and if I was experiencing "culture shock" coming back into the U. S.  I wrote her back and said no - I was fine.  But as my day has continued, I've pondered that question a lot more.  Maybe I answered her prematurely.

I don't know that I have been experiencing culture shock so much but I am still doing a lot of processing as I come back and return to my very American routine.  Haiti is a very laid back culture.  I had a lot of down time in the mornings and at night, to think, to write.  Everything here in the U.S. happens quickly.  Of course, I did not have the responsibilities of my children while in Haiti.  Those noisy little creatures that interrupt your thought process.  LOL!  I did not have meals to cook, dishes and laundry to do.  I didn't have to play Taxi Mom every day.  I just got to sit back and observe the world around me and soak it all in.

Russell worked on the service for Sunday morning today and informed me that I have 5 minutes to share.  I laughed at him!  5 minutes.  How do you put your entire week into 5 minutes?  I will give him credit in that he knows that really means 10.   But, seriously - how do I try and narrow everything down?

The things that I learned this week are seriously the final puzzle pieces to what God has been working on in my heart and life for the last year and a half.  I always feel like there must be background info to be fully understood.  I'm detailed like that. 

I have been receiving many emails, messages, phone calls - people wanted to chat, ask questions, go to lunch.  They want to know more about my trip - about ApParent Project - about what God is doing.  I'm excited to meet with everyone and I want to talk about it.  But I am finding that it needs to be done face to face or in a phone conversation.  I can't just explain things via email or even in this blog without being misunderstood or things being lost in translation. 

I do know that I have come back even more determined to support the Clays and ApParent Project.  Every expectation of them and what they are doing in Haiti was met and then exceeded.  Don't get me wrong - I know they are human - they have been very open about what they have learned.  What works, what doesn't work.  They are continually tweaking things.  But they are real.  They live their life open in front of others.  They love God and they love the Haitian people.  They are a wonderful examples of what self sacrifice for others looks like. 

I have made new friends and continue to build relationships.  One of the artisans (Peterson) has been messaging me on FB quite frequently and I am getting to know him better.  I met 8 wonderful women from Washington that I wouldn't have met otherwise.  So many things have been opened up just because of this one trip to Haiti.  God is a God of details.  Everything has a purpose.  Peterson asked me the other day what  my biggest dream in life was.  I told him that my biggest desire is to love and obey God with all of my heart.  I believe that everything comes into our lives for a purpose and I cannot ignore this trip to Haiti and what God wants to do with it in my life.  It's a life changing, stepping stone to the next thing He has for me and I am continually seeking His face on how to apply all of it.

Many friends have jokingly asked me when I am moving to Haiti.  I can tell you that at this time,  God is not calling me to Haiti permanently, although I would love to return to visit.  But, ApParent Project needs people here in the U.S. advocating for them and for the Haitians in order for it to continue to be successful.  I know that I have been called to be one of those people.  I know that I have and can continue to learn so much from the Clays. What I am processing now is how I can take their example of love and self sacrifice and apply it to our personal ministry and how else I can support and spread the word about AP here.  I'm sure you will be hearing more about all of this as God continues to reveal Himself and His plan.

Until next time......