Prayers Answered - Clear Signs Pointing the Way

I've been home from Haiti for almost three weeks.  Time sure does fly by.  I came home and immediately plugged back into my normal routine and in less than 24 hours was sick.  I thought that I had escaped it this trip.  Seems I get a touch of something every time I go.  I will admit that it's much nicer being sick at home then there.  I'm always so afraid I will miss something if I'm sick in Haiti.

I recovered quickly and got back into our craziness.  Running kids to school, dance, guitar.  It is wedding season, so I've been writing a lot.  Trying to keep up with our regular schedule.  It has not left me a whole lot of time to process.  Although I will admit that the processing is different than it used to be.  I have learned so very much in the last three years.  About Haiti.  About aid.  About job creation.  About myself.

I look at the world so differently now.  And yet, I know I still have so far to go.

I think the thing that excites me the most is how I can look back over the past three years and see how each and everything thing that I have done concerning Apparent Project has been a stepping stone to the next thing.  If I would have known then what I know now about how much I would be involved and all that I was responsible for, I wouldn't have believed it.  I may have even ran.

It's gotten to where every time something new comes up, I just say, "Okay Lord, I'm yours - teach me what I need to know because I'm excited to see what this is going to lead to."  And then,  as time goes on and something new comes up again, I can look back and see how it all fits.

The question I ask is 'Why would anyone NOT want to be doing exactly what God has for them?'  This has been such an amazingly exciting journey for me.  To KNOW that I'm exactly where God wants me and to literally SEE the how and the why.  Oh, don't get me wrong, at times it has been overwhelming and I have felt very unqualified.  But, I'm not supposed to be qualified.  I am just supposed to be obedient.  I am just supposed to trust.  And it's those times that I see God work the most.

Apart from being mom, wife, pastor's wife, calligrapher - God has given me another important job.  He has been pouring into me for the last three years and I've known that I am supposed to share what I've been learning.  And I do that - in my blog and when I speak at churches and community groups.  But some new platforms are emerging and I'm so excited about them.

Remember how I asked you to pray about clear signs? Well, I've had a few answers to those prayers and I wanted to share them with you.

First of all, I am now the "Social Media Specialist" for both Market Haiti and Apparent Project.  Fancy title, huh? 

Market Haiti is the online 'store' for Apparent Project and other artisan goods from Haiti.  You can go online and purchase directly from them if you are not able to host a jewelry party.  It is operated out of Apparent Project's warehouse by Shelley's mom, Marilyn.  You can get several things through this website that won't come in an Apparent Project party box.  She purchases from other artisan groups in Haiti so there are several unique items not made by Apparent Project as well.  I encourage you to check it out.

Basically, I manage the Market Haiti Facebook page, the blog and any other social media stuff that helps get the word out there.

The other opportunity that I have is contributing to the Apparent Project Facebook page.  While Shelley still posts pictures and daily happenings from Haiti, I get to post from the U.S. talking about party boxes, shipping cereal boxes, fundraiser items, etc.  I will also be able to contribute to the blog from time to time and do some other marketing via email, twitter, etc.

I'm especially excited about these things because it gives me a regular platform to share about Apparent Project.  I hope to do some blog posts about the artisans as well. 

Besides being the "Social Media Specialist," there is another huge project in the works.  I cannot share all the details just yet but I am excited to say that it will mean traveling to Haiti more often and being able to regularly share all that God has taught me in the last three years.  Again - I am amazed at God's grace and provision.  I've known that the things that I have been learning are huge and they are not for me to keep to myself.  God has been pouring into my life and now I get to continue to pour into others.  It's overwhelming, scary and exciting all at the same time.  But that's the way this whole journey has been.

As soon as I can, I will give you all the details.  Who knows - maybe you will even get to be involved. 

For now, continue to pray for me as God organizes my time to make all these things work.  Continue to pray for the Board as we move forward into 2014.  We have some really exciting opportunities unfolding.  God is so good.  This ministry was born in His heart and it continues to grow and change for the better.  We have only just begun - I CANNOT wait to see what this will look like in the future and how lives will be changed.  The cool thing is - it's not just about the Haitians.  He's changing us too.  This is kingdom work and it's HUGE!

Until next time......