The fact of the matter is that
the entire body of Christ is called to missions. Matthew 28:19-20, commonly
known as The Great Commission, was my favorite Scripture as a child. It says
“Therefore go, and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all I
have commanded, and I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.”
The word “go” in that Scripture is very clear. There are no ifs, ands or buts
following it. It simply says “go.” Every believer is told to go, every believer
is called. I just chose to answer. Answering the call of Christ to missions was
the best decision I have ever made.
Even though every believer is called to
missions, we are not all called to the same mission field. I’ll never forget
the moment that God called me to Haiti. It was hot July afternoon in 2010, we
were having Vacation Bible School at our church, and Mr. Donald came to talk to
the children. I was dressed in the Kooper the Kangaroo mascot costume, which is
very toasty, and the only way to see out of the costume is through the nose. I
fixed the nose on Mr. Donald, hoping that if I focused on what he was saying, I
would forget how incredibly warm I was. I look back at the moment now, and
chuckle, because God had to get me in a spot where He knew I would be quiet and
still enough to hear His voice. I wouldn’t be running around trying to make
plans for what was next, or I wouldn’t be thinking about other things I needed
to get done, I would just be listening.
Mr. Donald spoke about Haiti with
such passion. I remember listening intently to every word he said, especially
when he spoke of all the children in need. Towards the end of his presentation,
he held up what resembled a dirt cookie, and explained that dried clay in the
shape of a circle would be all that many Haitian children would have to eat
that day. At that moment, my heart broke for the children of Haiti. After VBS
was over that day, I asked him when his next trip to Haiti would be. God’s
timing is always perfect because the trip just so happened to be during one of
my school holidays. A few days, permission from my Momma, and many prayers
later, it was official – I was going to Haiti!
That trip in October 2010 did
nothing short of change my life. Each day God revealed Himself in ways that I
had never seen before. The most impacting moment of the trip was on the very
last day. Our team was loaded in a truck riding the streets of Haiti for the
final time on the way to the airport. Traffic was very bad (even by Haiti
standards), so I was snapping photos through one of the slats in the truck. I
noticed something in my camera’s view finder that caught my eye. It was two
children, knelt down by a mud puddle with tooth brushes brushing their teeth. I
couldn’t move my eyes away. Through the ear buds attached to my MP3 player
streamed a song by Israel Houghton. Part of the lyrics read, “I have a maker,
He formed my heart. Before even time began, my life was in His hands. He knows
my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and He hears
me when I call. I am not forgotten, God knows my name.” In that moment, my
heart’s desire became that the people of Haiti would know that they are not
forgotten. That God knows their name. That He sees their tears, and He hears
their call. I wanted God to use to me to be His hands and feet in Haiti. At
that moment, I gave myself away completely to His call. To do whatever He had
for me in Haiti, trusting that He would make the necessary provisions.
I have made six more trips to the
airport in Port-au-Prince since that day in late October 2010. Each time
departing Haiti with a heart full of thankfulness to God for showing Himself in
mighty ways, and also with great expectancy for what He is already lining up
for my next trip. In travelling to Haiti, I have learned that making an
itinerary is fine and well, but you always have to be prepared for unexpected
God moments. I’m not sure what God has for my future where Haiti is concerned,
but I trust in His plan and will never stop telling Him - “Here am I, send me.”
