Dear Friends!
Sarah writing today - thank you for following
our blog all week. I am profoundly
grateful for the team God provided for me and Craig this week as leaders. We asked for them to be all in, to stretch
and to give everything they had in Haiti… and they did! As a multiple time goer to Haiti, each time I
go to Haiti I experience it afresh, and God always has something new to teach
me. This week he gently reminded me that
no matter how much I plan, coordinate, or anticipate what might go wrong, I
will never be fully in charge. (ha. And I never was in the first place…) And if
you ever need reminding of this fact, Haiti is the place to teach it to you.
This year, I was blessed by the best co-leader, my amazing
and patient husband, Craig. He was a “leader
in training” but really, he taught me so much and is probably more qualified
than me to lead a trip internationally because he has been traveling the world
for 23 years for his “real job.” His
dedication to the team, and his complementary style of leadership to mine, were
a huge asset to everyone, but especially me.
And even if I resisted his gentle care taking of me (yep, again, God
trying to teach me I’m not in charge) I am slowly learning that I can’t do it
all. (but don’t tell him that! : )
Haiti has become part of what I do, traveling there to
mission trips at least once a year, but this trip I continue to be reminded that
Haiti is becoming a bigger and bigger part of who I am. And God keeps making more and more room in my
heart for his people there, and equipping me even when I think I am unable or
unwilling to do what he’s calling me to do at that moment.
You heard straight from the heart of my team this week how
God worked in their lives. And we always try to stay focused on what God is
doing in us just as much as what God is doing in the Haitian lives we
touch.
At lunch in Atlanta today, we did a highlight reel, each
person telling me what topped their list of memorable moments during our 7 days
of serving these beautiful, humble, God-fearing, perseverant, hopeful
people. They blessed us. And they changed us. I hope they keep Haiti
in their heart, and continue to let it affect their everyday lives.
My prayer is that you will be touched by their moments,
enough to consider for yourself how you might reach into the life of another to
bless them – wherever in the world you might be – and in return reap the reward
of that moment changing who you are as well.
Haiti Team Beckman Mission
2016 Highlight Reel:
David: At our second water truck day, we turned onto
the street of a stop we call Na Boule, and the moment our tap tap rounded the
corner a cacophony of voices began chanting “Hey You, Hey You, Hey You, Hey You”
in a joyful unison as they ran after the truck trying to climb on the back and
ride along with us to the stop where we would deliver water. The well over 40 voices were some of the most
beautiful we’ve ever heard in our lives.
“Hey you” is a term of endearment for us “Americans” at the water stops
in Cite Soleil, and was their way of welcoming us with not just open arms but
also hearts filled with anticipation of the love we would share with these
kids. (This moment was definitely the number one moment for many of us on the
team)
Katie: Spending time at the Home for Sick and
Dying Adults helping the women care for themselves when they couldn’t do it
alone.
Jamie: Watching my daughter realize her true
calling and comprehend God’s plan for her life.
Craig: After a failed attempt to go the wound
clinic, we got a second bonus session with the babies at the Hospital. Caitlin, Tyler and I were the only helpers at
that time. I ended up in a room with 25 hungry
babies and one feeder – me. The first little one was not really excited to
eat so it was a battle. The second little guy wanted to eat as much as I would
give him and fast. And he watched me the
whole time. I knew I was needed in that
moment.
Tyler: Teaching and practicing English with the
kids at Dare’s.
Mo: When a cute little baby clung to me at Home
for Sick and Dying Babies.
Chris: At our very first water stop the first
boy I held stayed with me the whole stop. When we went back for a second day,
the same boy came running up to me again and grabbed onto me, and then he followed
our truck to the second stop and found me again!
Dani: At Home for Sick and Dying Babies I held a
“drama queen” of a little girl, and she reminded me of myself… which made me
smile, since I could totally relate! I
loved that little girl with a sassy attitude that would cry every time I tried
to put her down.
Bri: When
the kids saw me step in the dirty water and they took me over to their clean
water and washed off me feet. Their concern for me was so precious.
Ryan: When the tiny kids with no clothes on were
helping me lift up the water hose even though they could barely reach it!
Caitlin: For a while now I have felt the call to do
God’s work. I knew I wanted to be in the
mission field somehow. But for the first
time in Haiti I felt like I belonged, and I knew in my heart that God is
calling me to be a missionary!
Sarah:
Watching my team do things they never knew they could do, and growing in
their faith before my very eyes!
Madi: Really connecting with kids at the water
truck stops and seeing Haiti from a different vantage point the second time
around!
Thank you for faithfully following
our trip, for your donations, your prayers, your support in prayer and deed, your
sewing, and your love for our team. If
you ever want to go to Haiti, I have several people who will give it a glowing
endorsement…myself included!
All the glory goes to God! Glwa Pou Bondye.
Sarah, Craig and Team
