Finally Going! by Donna Elyea

I have been an Advance Life Group leader for the last four years and have really enjoyed interacting with some wonderful young ladies. In the last year I watched as many of “my girls” have gone to Haiti and returned with such joy and longing to return. This stirred anew within me the desire to make a first overseas missions trip of my own. I didn’t have such an opportunity as a teen though I grew up in church and a Christian home. In college I was too cautious and practical, involving myself in internships rather than travel. As a young adult I had a demanding career and after the career there have been the demands of four children and family life and other obligations. Finally, though, I am going! A couple of my life group girls are returning and it will be a treat to travel with them. I am fully ready and willing to love on children, paint buildings, share the Gospel, or serve in whatever ways the Lord prepares. I suspect that as I am working to bless others, God will bless me in ways I do not expect or imagine. His word teaches me that I, just as was Abraham, am blessed to be a blessing so I want to be obedient and use my time and talents on this trip. His word also tells me that He will do far more than I can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and so I finally go, excited to see what God will do through our team to impact His people in Haiti and expecting that God will grow in me a greater capacity for love, compassion, global awareness, and more that I cannot yet imagine.

Back Again, by Lauren Nalevaiko

I'm so thrilled to be going back again to Haiti. To serve with Forest Hill and see what has changed since I was there last. I looked through all my old pictures from last spring break, and although the poverty is hard to witness, the joy of the Haitians remains consistent in every photo.  Most of us see ourselves as loyal Christians who may be able to recite our favorite verse on command.  But you can see the light of Christ shine through the people of Haiti. While we might throw a few dollars in the offering hoping to look like a good Christian, these Haitian people have given their whole lives to Christ and have done it willingly. They give cheerfully rather than out of obligation.  This opportunity to return to Haiti mean so much to me. Haiti was the first and only place I  have ever gone to on an overseas mission trip.  Last time I was able to build strong relationships with the people I went with as well as the Haitians.  I am so glad that this where I will spend my senior spring break and Easter. There isn't anywhere else I would rather be on Easter than at a Haitian church service.  

Joy Through the Eyes of a Child, by Amanda Blackwelder

I have always loved volunteering and serving other people. I also love working with children. This summer I worked at the Harris YMCA as a camp counselor. My favorite part was seeing the joy in their eyes when their favorite camp counselor would play with them. When I was little and went to camp, I thought that my counselors were the coolest thing on the Earth. I wanted to be like them when I grew up. I was always joyful when they would play with me because they were my role model. That is what I believe the kids today see in a counselor/ role model.  I am very excited about working in the orphanage. I want to be able to play with children and see that same joy in their eyes as well. Romans 15:32 "says so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed". I feel that if I go to Haiti with great joy and excitement I will make a difference in a child's life. I believe that they will see my joy and then become joyous because they will see that there is a God and there is hope.

My Return to Haiti, by Michael Freije

My name is Michael Freije, I am a junior, I go to South Mecklenburg High School. I met Jesus when I was in the first grade back in the old “Black Box Theater” in Kidstown at Forest Hill South Park. Ever since then I have been living my life for Christ. Of course there have been many bumps and obstacles on my journey but my faith remains strong in Christ. I went to Haiti last year on the summer trip and it was a true life changing experience. There is nothing like going to serve those less fortunate than yourself, especially when they turn out to have stronger faiths than you. It amazed me how they were so happy to know Jesus even though they deal with struggles every day that are far greater than ours. The relationships I made there are everlasting and I am so excited to further my relationships with my friends there. Also I am excited to make more memories and relationships with a new team of students and leaders. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Ephesians 2:1-10, this is the same verse that I shared on the summer trip, but I want to share it again because it means so much to me.

           

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[b] 4} But^[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

- Ephesians 2:1-10

To me this verse is the Gospel in a nutshell. The most important thing we can take with us to Haiti is the Gospel, because it is the ultimate life changer and our goal is to change the lives of those in Haiti through Jesus Christ. As I have learned, it is not good for the people of Haiti for us to just go in and do everything for them, because they need to know how to stimulate their own economy. However, what we can do is bring the most important thing of all and that is Jesus. I am sooooooo excited to go back to Haiti again. I wish the best for everyone while in preparation for the trip and I pray for our safety in travel and while we are there.