Geesh, I haven't posted on here in ages. Just plain ridiculous! In my defense I have been more busy then ever before in my entire existance. I work then go to school then go to bed... 6 hours later (or more if Im lucky) I wake up and the cycle repeats itself. I even have class on Saturdays so Sunday is LITERALLY my only day of rest. Needless to say I'm exhausted all the time. But life is good. Work is amazing, those kiddos literally cannot get any cuter. And school is so fun. I love every part of my days right now (except for the lack of time to do anything). All in All i cant complain. :) I found myself with sometime tonight though and have been wanting to write this specific blog for a long time. As some of you who read this already know I am embarking on a huge adventure. I'm going to Haiti. Yup.. me. The girl who has never even been to Mexico. Want to hear the story? Its an amazing one..... okay. here it goes..
If you read this blog at all then I'm sure you know that I have a little love of my life named Josh. Who is adopted from Korea. In about a week josh will turn 4, which seems unreal. I can still remember standing in the airport as a woman walked down the terminal with a ball of 10 month old, black bowl-cut haired, chubby cheeks Korean love! I'm not sure if I will even love my neices and nephews as much as I love that kid. He is amazing. And watching his parents go through the adoption process was amazing. I think God spoke to my heart in more ways through that experience than in any other experience I have ever had. Since then I have had such a heart for the orphans, or for any child in need of a loving family... both literal and metaphorically speaking. The literal orphans of the world and the people who have strayed away from the heavenly father. I have thought and wanted to go on a missions trip for YEARS but was never given an opportunity really. Until this November.
I have been attending Grace Community Church of the Nazarene in Spring Hill since I moved here and I love it. Its such a great group of people. The Pastor and his family are amazing, the worship is heart-felt. I just love it. In November they announced that they would be taking a missions trip to Haiti at the end of May and IMMEDIATELY i felt like the Lord was tugging at my heart.. it was almost like he was whispering.. "this is it Brooke...." I have to admit that I hesitated... I started to immediately think of excuses... have ya ever done that?
"too much money.."
"not enough time..."
"i've never even been camping and you want me to go to Haiti??"
I decided to go to the informational meeting, which is where my hesitation turned into panic. WE got a SMALL glimpse of what life is like for the people of Haiti. The statistics are jaw-dropping. Here are just a few that stuck out to me.
* at least 1/2 of the haitian population lack access to clean water.
* 76% of all Haitians are living on less than 2 dollars a day
* 500,000 children will never attend school
* there are an estimated 80 deaths per 1000 births.
*only 1 in every 5 haitians have access to a sanitary toilet
* 1 in every 5 children wont make it to the age of 30
* the life expectancy is about 60 years old.
I left the meeting that day scared... trying to think about something else... but I couldnt. I thought about it all day... all night, all day at work the next day... then I came home and in the rush of getting ready I felt confirmation louder than ever.
"Brooke, you love Josh. There is a Josh is Haiti. Josh was blessed with a wonderful and loving family but there are kids in Haiti that dont have that. There is a little boy/girl who needs to be ministered to and Loved. I want you to go do that. You have been a nanny for 5 years.. you have wondered why... this is why. I have been equipping you for this trip. This is where you are supposed to go. This is when. I'm calling you. You have to go to Haiti."
It was so clear. More clear than anything I've ever felt in my life. So, i'm going to Haiti :)
We leave May 26th and will be there for about a week. We will be going to Linbe, Haiti where we will be doing a bunch of different projects, including showing the Jesus Film, helping with construction of churches, putting on a vbs for the kids and of course, spending time with those sweet people. Now.. this is where you guys come in..... are you ready?! :)
I need prayer people :). I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead. I feel called and am confident that this is what the Lord wants me to do. But of course there is a bit of fear. Please pray that the Lord will continue to work on my heart and prepare me for this life changing experience. That I would be a vessel. I'm so nervous that it will break my heart to see that kind of devastation so I ask that you would pray for strength. That I would be used and be open to all the things the Lord wants to do through me and speak to my heart about. Please pray for the people of Haiti and that the Lord would also be preparing their hearts for this trip. That there hearts would be open and willing to hear the message we are bringing. And pray for the kids.
I am doing all I can to support myself financially for the trip but if you feel called to help financially then I will leave some information below to help you be able to do that :) (all givings are tax deductible)
EVERYTHING prayer, donation and thought is SOOO appreciated! :) I'm so excited for this and anxious for what God is going to do :) I'm sure thought on Haiti are sure to be following all the posts from now on :)
Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
Mail all money donations by check to:
Grace Community Church of the Nazarene
19300 S. Highway 169
Spring Hill, KS 66083
*all checks made out to Grace Community Church with "Brooke Cluff Haiti Trip in the memo line*
