Wrapping Up our Trip

I’ve read from people much smarter than me that sometimes you don’t need to figure out how to share everything in your heart and mind. Some things are best kept inside between you and God. Some things just can’t be properly communicated with words. That’s a bit how I feel. This I do know–I am so thankful and humbled that God provided a way for my whole family of five to go to Haiti, the poorest country on the globe. Josh prayed numerous times that we would all see what He wanted us to see and hear what He wanted us to hear. I know I will be processing all I saw and heard for a long time. The interesting thing about the trip is that, while these people’s living conditions are awful, God is still completely trustworthy. There was a day when I may have asked God questions like, “What are you going to DO about these people?” Or “Do you see what bad shape they are in?” I may compare their outward, physical conditions up against mine and think it a crying shame. And in some ways it is…don’t get me wrong…I am soberly reminded that I’m spoiled rotten and keep too much of what The Lord has given. BUT, I’m reminded of James’ words, “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. ”
Later in his letter James says, “Come now you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!”

In Acts 17 Paul says to the people of Athens, “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might find Him, though He is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and exist,”

He sees us all. He is near us all. He is completely trustworthy. I am thankful that I was born in America and have had an abundance of material blessings—homes and cars and beds and food, to mention the “basics”…Pottery Barn bedding, name brand clothing that fills all of our closets, ridiculous amounts of shoes, vacations, computers, iPads, and more, to mention the excessive. None of those items being me any closer to God and could actually come between Him and my dependence and trust in Him. Doesn’t have to, but it’s a dangerous place. A different dangerous than I might feel walking the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but dangerous nonetheless. Spiritually dangerous, which is far more important than physical danger.

Oh, there is so much. This has been such a different kind of December and one we won’t ever forget!

(How many can say they’ve had a dance party with their pastor’s wife in Haiti??!!)
This was our last morning…had to get up at 3:30am!!
These kids were playing soccer on a field just down from a church we went to Wednesday night.

Thank You, Lord, for the way You work. Thank You, Lord, that the Dorminy Family that got off the plane in Haiti is not the same one that got back on the plane to head home. You are good and faithful and loving and generous and patient and kind and trustworthy and satisfying and merciful and gracious. We are blessed because we know You!