Coming Home

The last 10 months in Haiti have been way more then what I could have ever dreamed of. I remember being home sick my first week here and thinking it was too many days to count down but maybe I can count how many Sunday I had left, at that point it was 20. Twenty Sundays came and went and this place has become my home, the people have become my family and Mission of Hope has become part of my heart.  I feel very blessed to have lived here and experienced everything I have experience. My friends have taught me so much. They have taught me that life is not my own and each day you get is a gift. It doesn’t matter what you have to just be thankful for everything and every blessing you get.  They have taught me about relationships and love, the most important thing in your life is to have people around you to love and pray for and build relationships with. They have taught me to lean on God always, in the good, bad, happy, sad, struggles, and when things are going well! Often when you ask a Haitian “How are you?” they say “Good by the grace of God” and the statement that follows almost everything they say is “If God wants” God is always there and everything is in his control and it is only by his grace and his will we are where we are yesterday, today and forever.

As some of you already know I will be coming home on December 15^th for Christmas… the second part of that you may not know is that I will be moving home. Un-expected yes but I truly believe it is God’s plan for my life right now.

When I took this position I was aware that Haitians have been in this position previously. When meeting with Brad Johnson about a month ago. He told me they had found a Haitian that could do the Guesthouse Coordinator role. This is bitter sweet as this is what we want; we want the Haitians to be working in more roles then North Americans and we believe that it will be Haitians that will bring change to their country. Please be praying for my friend who will be moving into the role at the Guesthouse, I can’t wait to see him shine like I know he can in this position.

I will be coming home knowing I served the lord with all my heart and that I am coming home forever changed by the people of Haiti.  I also come home leaning on the lord for next steps… at this point I have nothing planned and I’m kind of excited that God knows and has wonderful plan for my life.  

Please pray for my transition home… I am excited to be home again with friends and family but I am leaving another place that also feels very much like home to me.

Pray for Haiti right now during this political unrest. Pray for safety of all the Haitians in the city. Pray for peace and justice and hope for a non-corrupt government one day. Pray that the rioting calms down and the airport open back up so me along with 6 other staff can make it home for Christmas.

Love, Blessings and home,

Leeann