My Journey to Haiti

My physical journey to Haiti began back in September 2007, but it really began a long time before that.

In 2006, I was finishing up my bachelor's degree in general studies at Indiana/Purdue University Fort Wayne. I had been praying about what to pursue after graduation when the Spirit began to convict my heart of some inconsistencies in my life. The more I prayed in faith that God would show me my blind spots and reveal the dark areas of my heart, the more freedom and peace I found in Christ.

One bright Sunday morning in September found me chatting with a cousin in the foyer of our Bluffton Country church. My elder, Ed Schwartz, stopped by to say a friendly hello. Knowing he had just returned from Haiti, I commented that all they probably do down there is lie on the beach and drink out of coconuts. After assuring me that he did indeed work while he was there, he said, "Hey, I think there's a couple full-time positions open in Haiti. Are you interested?" Shockingly, I was. It was like the cartoon light bulb that snaps on after a particularly illuminating thought.

I had never considered that God would call me to missions. That was for those other Christians. However, as God rearranged my life and thoughts, I realized that the last ten years had been excellent prep to shape my heart in that direction. I guess God was guiding my steps before I knew exactly where I was stepping. He’s good like that!

Now, I’m attending Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, Colorado. SPLICE is an excellent program consisting of cross-cultural training and practical instruction on how to survive and thrive on the mission field.

Spiritual Personal Lifestyle Interpersonal Cultural Endure/Enjoy

MTI uses an interesting quote to describe its purpose and training goals: “Zeal without practical wisdom can lead to heartache and the squandering of Kingdom resources” (http://www.mti.org/). I found this particular ideology remarkable. Their whole goal is to equip cross-cultural missionaries with highly relevant techniques to increase effectiveness, longevity, and personal satisfaction.

I’ll be starting PILAT (Program in Language Acquisition Techniques) next week as I’ll need to learn Creole, the basic Haitian language. I’ve started with Wally Turnbull’s Creole Made Easy; I’m still waiting for the “easy” part to kick in.

Please pray for me as I study new language techniques and ask that God would gift me with a clear understanding of the Haitian culture. I hope to post some additional photos of my trip to Haiti in May and my time spent here at MTI. I certainly appreciate this opportunity to better prepare myself for an effective cross-cultural ministry in the Apostolic Christian Child Sponsorship offices.

Thanks for your love and prayers. Au revoir!