1145 mile move, to a new place?! This wasn't the plan.

          This past year we realized we needed to settle down somewhere.  We have Elijah now and kids are supposed to have stability, plus Raphael and I have been feeling we need some stability in our lives too.  It is hard always being in transition....even if in some ways we love it, or at least I do.   So we made plans, we thought we had the perfect job locked in and so our future in Haiti would just be on our vacation days.  However, I guess plans change...the job didn't work out and we felt lost.  We had not been pushing as hard to raise money for our return to Haiti.  We still did a few craft shows and talked with a few churches, knowing we would maybe just be going to Haiti for a month at best.   
         What would we do now, we didn't have the money saved up to go back to Haiti.  We were praying and searching and praying.  Then I received an email from the camping office about an Internship position for 9 months.  It involved doing all the things I already loved doing at camp plus learning more about what I don't know about camp.  Plus Raphael could work part time as maintenance, plus we could still take off for a month in the winter to go to Haiti!  

It was God sent, perfect!

         Perfect, but I was somewhat scared and wondered what we were getting ourselves into.  But then I remembered I moved to a different country, under similar circumstances, just trusting God and having faith that everything would work out as the universe planned.  Sometimes we make our own plans but God has something else better planned out for our lives.

Judson Collins Center is a United Methodist Camp nestled in the Irish Hills of Michigan.  It is down south in the palm of the mitten about an hour from Detriot.  It really is a beautiful area. It has been interesting learning at a new camp and also sharing our knowledge with the camp.  We can always grow and learn new things.  Raphael has been busy working part time maintenance, cutting trees and grass and all things that need to be done.  I have been working on marketing and cooking up a storm in the kitchen each weekend we have retreat groups.  We have also loved taking care of the barnyard animals.  Especially Elijah.

Sometimes God makes plans we didn't even know possible.  This sacred place has given us a place to relax and regroup and refocus.  We have been making plans to return to Haiti in September 2017 for a longer period of time.  Next summer we will do more fundraising so that we will be able to stay in Haiti for a year or more.  The time frame will depend on the funds raised.  We are looking for churches to come and share about Haiti and to sell the artists goods from Haiti.  Also craft fairs and other events we can bring the beautiful artwork of Haiti to share with more people.

Life is an adventure God leads us on.  Enjoy the journey you never know what will be around the next turn.  God likes to keep things interesting.  Some days we feel like we are on a roller coaster.  Ready for the next adventure, taking leaps of Faith with GOD.  
Thanks for being on the journey with us.

"Faint-heart, What got into you?"

Until opening by blog this morning, I didn't realize it had been so long since I had wrote a blog!  I am sorry for that.  I somehow lost my voice, writers block, busyness of life, having a 2 year old, starting a new job, I am sure there are more excuses.  But this past weekend we had a Fall Retreat for the youth in Michigan at Judson Collins Center (which I will write more about in the next blog.)  The retreat was titled Dream Big!  I did a talk on Trusting God.  Spending time with the youth talking about following their dreams, made me realize that I have not been doing all I can to follow my dreams.  I have been in a rut and dragging my feet.  

And so, I started reflecting on achieving the impossible. I shared the scripture with the youth about Jesus calling Peter out of the boat. 

"Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to  come to you on the water.” He said, “Come!” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” 

I was once bold about my dream, God's dream.  On good days I felt like I could walk on water or accomplish the impossible.  Lately I have been feeling less inspired, this weekend I heard God saying to me, in that gentle loving way ..."Faint-heart, What got into you?"  And between the retreat weekend and taking some of the Haitian Crafts to a Craft Sale with my encouraging Aunts and others; I heard Jesus again softly saying to me. "Come!"

Focusing, thinking and reflecting on Haiti made me think of one of my greatest accomplishments last year when we went to Haiti for those 5 months.  Two years ago the artist Nicole who makes the baskets with a group of ladies came to show me her beautiful work..  I am always overwhelmed when I see these gems.  I talked with her about coming to visit her house where all these ladies work.  I would love to meet everyone.  Her response, "Oh you can't get there.  It is too difficult to travel."  I felt dismayed and discouraged.  The next year I said I would do it, but her words echoed in my head.  "You can't." And so that was one of my biggest regrets of that year, not going!  Not getting out of the boat.  So last year. I was determined, no matter what that was my top priority! 

So Raphael, my husband and I set out on motorcycle up the mountain to see the ladies.  

This is the view we had from the top

And this is where we left the motorcycle as far as
we could travel by motorcycle time to walk.

You can see how rough the terrain is on the rocky path and the steepness of the mountain.  There were times I had to have Raphael walk ahead of me so I could hold on to him as not to fall.  It seemed impossible!  

At times I thought Nicole was right, I can't get there.  But other people lived here.  Nicole traveled this road every time she carried all those baskets.  And the views were incredible and encouraging.

A very old cystern for water.

Nicole's sister our guide down the mountain.

“No one gets very far unless he accomplishes the impossible at least once a day.” – Elbert Hubbard

I almost fell a couple of times.  My knees and back were hurting.  I wondered if we would ever get there and what I had gotten myself into? ...and oh dear God I am going to have to climb back up this steep hill.  And then we rounded a corner and this was our view.

Oh my Goodness!  

Picture perfect - It was better than I could have dreamed!  Dream Big!

Dream Big that was our theme from this weekend.  God is calling you out of the boat.  The journey might be long, it might seem impossible, but you are being called, Come!  Don't wait 2 years like I did.  Take courage because with God walking down the steep mountain with you, you will get there and be surprised at what God and you can accomplish.

 

DREAM BIG ~ TRUST GOD!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5