Yesterday I found out that I am officially approved by the CRWM as a volunteer! This means that I can begin the fundraising process. I am still hoping to leave November 1, so that means I have exactly 4 weeks from tomorrow to get everything together!
My total budget came out to be around $6,500-7,000. This seems like a staggering amount of money to raise- but with God, ALL things are possible.
As for the online class, I am not going to finish that. Recently, I did work hard at it, but there is no way with the time frame I have that I would be able to complete 10 more lessons and take two exams. My mom calls it one expensive lesson I learned; not to procrastinate and just get 'er done! However, now I can focus my time fully on preparing for Haiti- learning Creole, reading up on my cultural books, fundraising, and coming up with an art program.
"Would you like to be depressed or have an upset stomach?" That was the question of the day! I have to get all my immunizations for Haiti. To start, I need the Hep A shot, along with typhoid and malaria pills. Then they have to draw my blood and test it to see if my Hep B shot is still effective; hopefully it is cause I don't want one more shot! The doctor called today and asked me what malaria pills I would prefer to take. One of the pills is taken everyday and has a side effect of an upset stomach. The other pill is taken once a week and has a side effect of slight depression. I said to the doctor, "Really??" And in my head I was thinking, "I'm going to a foreign country.....neither!" He told me not every one experiences these side effects. So, since I am already worried about getting an upset stomach, I told him to order me the ones with the side effect of depression. I figure I'm normally a happy person so I can beat the depression!!
The shots are scheduled for Tuesday- yay!
Psalm 139: 7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Saying NO...
I must say that the hardest lesson I have had to learn through all of this is saying, "No." I am a yes person- I want to do everything! And I do usually do everything... This summer I said yes to too many things and that is why I am so behind on my class work :) And now I have so much to plan for my trip that I have hardly any free time.
Now I have to say no to friends when they want to hang out, no to people at church when they ask me to do something, no babysitting, and no to many other things! I've been staying home from some of brothers football games because I don't have time to go- even though I'd much rather be there supporting them.
Slowly I am learning... but it is sooo difficult! God always finds a way to teach you everything you need to learn, even if you have to learn it the hard way.
Matthew 6: 30-34 (Message)
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
Now I have to say no to friends when they want to hang out, no to people at church when they ask me to do something, no babysitting, and no to many other things! I've been staying home from some of brothers football games because I don't have time to go- even though I'd much rather be there supporting them.
Slowly I am learning... but it is sooo difficult! God always finds a way to teach you everything you need to learn, even if you have to learn it the hard way.
Matthew 6: 30-34 (Message)
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Summer...it's not over yet!
I work three days a week- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am off the other two days to prepare for my trip and complete my classwork. Today I sat outside and read my textbook, soaking up the sun! At one point I seriously considered cutting down the daisy plants and trimming the stalks on the hostas and day lilies, instead of doing my school work.... It is so hard to focus sometimes!
10 lessons to go!!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Planning and Procrastination!
While in Haiti I will be staying by my relatives; my mom's cousin and his family are missionaries there. I will be teaching art to kids in the community and probably graphic design to the kids at the Christian School. I am very excited to teach art to these kids who are not currently involved in art classes and may have never had an art class! Art has always been and still is such a big part of my life- I cannot imagine not having the opportunity to do art!
"All around us God's creation shouts of his beauty and his goodness. The silhouette of lace on a barren tree draped with ice, the rays of sun streaming forth from a billowing cloud, the sound of a brook trickling over smooth stones, and the face of a child anticipating the arrival of the ice cream truck all speak of God's good heart if we will but have the eyes to see. The coming of spring after a hard winter is almost too glorious for a soul to bear. God's beauty is lavished on the world.
Creation itself is a great work of art, and all works after it are echoes of the original."
~Captivating by John and Staci Eldredge
I will also be working with the missionary organization, designing for them. My purpose is:
- To introduce underprivileged children and youth to use their creative energy for God’s glory.
- To assist Sous Espwa’s partners in producing attractive web pages and brochures that will enhance their ministry in Haiti.
I have the opportunity to be a youth group leader and Sunday school teacher at their church too!!
The preparations for this trip involve:
~Learning Creole (the language spoken there)
I am currently learning from an online program that I downloaded to my computer. It's really nice cause there are flashcards and they pronounce each word for you!
~Being approved as a volunteer with Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM)
I am finding out CRWM is very helpful :) I wasn't going to go through an organization at first but then I decided to partner with CRWM to assist me in the process. I am in the process of being approved as a volunteer; I had an interview yesterday and it went VERY well! Right now we are waiting on my approval in Haiti and for my budget to be approved.
~Fundraising
After I am approved, CRWM will assist me with the fundraising process. However, I am the one who has to make the connections with people! I'm making a list of all the people I know that would be willing to support me :)
~Putting together an art program and gathering art supplies
First of all I have to come up with an art program; this is going to be a bit of a challenge because I am not a teacher. I am trying to wrap my mind around how this will work! I know I can do it though :) Then I have to get art supplies. I will have access to a few things in Haiti. Other supplies will be cheaper to buy in the US and so I hope to get them now and ship them to Haiti before I leave.
~Preparing myself mentally and spiritually for what I will encounter
I was given a few books yesterday from the CRC to read about understanding people of other cultures and what short term missions looks like. I have also never been to a third world country and so I will be coming into contact with a poverty stricken people for the first time! I've heard this can be challenging.
And now for the procrastination... I am taking an online history class that I was supposed to have finished this summer :/ I chose instead to enjoy my summer and hang out with my friends! Now I am facing the consequences (imagine that)! I have until December to finish this class but if I leave in November I obviously have to finish it by then. I have 12 lessons to complete and two exams to take, a mid-term and a final exam. I am struggling with this class because I cannot stand history and therefore have no motivation to do the lessons!
Please pray for the rest of the plans to come together quickly so that I can continue preparing for my trip! Also for me to have the motivation to finish my class :)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Going Forth
Going Forth, the title of an article in Saturday's Press. I usually browse through the paper and look for interesting articles; I don't read many, but this one caught my eye.
"With the back-to-school season upon us, today's Religion section is sharing the stories of three young people from West Michigan who are crossing the globe and encountering life lessons that can't be taught in the classroom. Two young men have put their college careers on hold to help children in Africa. Meanwhile, a young woman from Rockford is using her newly earned Calvin College degree to teach children in Honduras, but wonders if perhaps she is the one who is learning the most."
McMillin, Zane. "Going Forth." The Grand Rapids Press 3 Sept. 2011: C1+. Print.
Click on the links below to read their stories:
Former GVSU student serving in Uganda
Moving to Honduras is not just a "Bucket List" trip
US Naval Academy football player taking hiatus to work in Africa
These stories struck a nerve with me because I will be doing the same thing this fall. Instead of returning to college I am planning on going to Haiti in November. I have relatives in Haiti that I will be living with while I volunteer in a school, in a church, and in the community.
I have wanted to do mission work for years and now the Lord has called me to serve alongside Him in Haiti. So, instead of reading blogs about college, I invite you to journey with me and read my blogs as I prepare for my trip and while I am away.
"With the back-to-school season upon us, today's Religion section is sharing the stories of three young people from West Michigan who are crossing the globe and encountering life lessons that can't be taught in the classroom. Two young men have put their college careers on hold to help children in Africa. Meanwhile, a young woman from Rockford is using her newly earned Calvin College degree to teach children in Honduras, but wonders if perhaps she is the one who is learning the most."
McMillin, Zane. "Going Forth." The Grand Rapids Press 3 Sept. 2011: C1+. Print.
Click on the links below to read their stories:
Former GVSU student serving in Uganda
Moving to Honduras is not just a "Bucket List" trip
US Naval Academy football player taking hiatus to work in Africa
These stories struck a nerve with me because I will be doing the same thing this fall. Instead of returning to college I am planning on going to Haiti in November. I have relatives in Haiti that I will be living with while I volunteer in a school, in a church, and in the community.
I have wanted to do mission work for years and now the Lord has called me to serve alongside Him in Haiti. So, instead of reading blogs about college, I invite you to journey with me and read my blogs as I prepare for my trip and while I am away.
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