Gifts, by Brisa Sander

Last summer, I had the opportunity to go to Haiti with Advance. I am so grateful for that trip because my life has been forever changed. I saw God's love more on that trip than ever before. It blows my mind how loving and giving the people of Haiti are. We rode through towns that didn't have houses. They lived under sticks and a tarp. It was really humbling to work beside a team of Haitians that shared the same love for Jesus that I have. I am really excited to return and see the friends that I made there. I also can't wait to work beside some of my best friends and grow a deeper relationship with them, and God. 

I came across a verse in 1 Peter that says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." Each one of us has a different gift that we can use to impact Haiti. I love kids and I can't wait to spend time with them. I believe that every single person on this team is going for a reason and God is using each and every one of us. It is our duty to use the gifts He gave us to serve him. 

Reciprocal Giving, by Michele Dudley

God has allowed me the opportunity to travel to many developing nations, particularly over the past 5 years.  Most recently I was in Ecuador in South America starting a jewelry project with former street boys and underage girls who have been sexually exploited (trafficked).  While I was there, the organization that hosted me talked about the difference between mutual using and reciprocal giving. Mutual using in the context of a mission trip is when both the short-term trip team member and the "recipient" use each other for their own benefit.  The team member may be going to serve for the travel experience, to be part of a team, to learn about another culture and of course the desire to serve others and be blessing. While all of these things are good reasons, our motives sometimes have more to do with ourselves than they do with those we are going to serve. The "recipients" in country sometimes use team members to see what they can get from them to meet their own needs and wants.

The better alternative is reciprocal giving.  This is where both the team members and the people we are working with focus on graciously receiving gifts from each other. The people we we will be visiting in Haiti have little, yet they will make sacrifices to serve us the best food and service they have available – we need to graciously receive what they give us regardless of whether we like it or not.  Our gift will be a smile, a warm hug and serving in whatever way Mission of Hope asks us to – even when it is something we don't want to do.

I don't expect this trip to be easy… We'll be there during the hottest time of the year, likely doing manual labor, in the poorest country in the western hemisphere where the people have little opportunity to overcome their circumstances – but God. If we go filled with the Holy Spirit and the right attitude, our smiles, hugs, encouragement and labor alongside the Haitians will share the hope of Christ which is the ultimate hope for all of our hearts regardless of whether we live in plenty or in want. And usually it is the hardest things that prove the most worthwhile.

Out of the Bubble, by Emily Brady

I decided to go to Haiti because I wanted to get out of the bubble I'm living in, and I want to expose myself to new culture. After the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti I knew it caused the country a lot of pain and suffering, I think I will grasp the actual devastation when I visit this country. I have been to a third world country before, but never with a purpose to serve others. I felt like this was the

perfect opportunity to serve through God. I think this mission trip is going to strengthen my faith in various ways.

My favorite Bible verse is Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you," because it can be applied to almost everything in life. If you treat others with kindness and compassion then you will also be treated with kindness and compassion. But it can also work the other way around; being cruel to someone can cause them to be equally cruel back to you. This verse also represents equality in my mind. You should be treated the same way that you treat your neighbor; no better and no less.

I'm nervous about traveling to Haiti because it's a third world country, and I will be living in completely different conditions than I ever have before. When I traveled to a third world country before it was for vacation and I never saw the areas that were really struggling. I'm able to overcome my fear by the amount of excitement I have towards this trip. Serving the Haitian people, growing in faith, and sharing God's word surpass any nerves I have about this trip. I cannot stress enough

how excited I am to go on this mission trip to Haiti.

Transformation, by Charlie Bowman

Throughout my life, my relationship with God has kept me on the right path and kept me focused despite adverse circumstances. I have been able to keep myself surrounded by the right people and have experienced success in many areas of my life. My favorite Bible verse keeps me motivated and focused to reach my goals. I know that I can do "greater" things through God and only through God. It calls me to step up and use my success to bring glory to God.  

God is now teaching me to humble myself. I have always been the first to brag, and I used to become jealous of others very easily. Slowly but surely, God is helping me to listen to others and to be happy for others more. I am also trying to involve God in my decision making in all areas in my life. I want to be able to set an example for Christ in my school and to the people in my life through my words and actions.

I have never been on any mission trips before. I haven't even left the country or the eastern United States. I think it is time to change that. There are people in the world who have so much less than me, and God calls us to serve them. Going to Haiti is my opportunity to do so. I am slightly nervous, but at this point it feels so far away it's hard to get nervous. I know that will change soon though!

Exciting Trip, by Hannah Dudley

Forest Hill has been my church home for my entire life. I have been out of the country a couple of times with my family for mission trips and vacations to Africa and South America.

In the past few months at Advance, I heard about a trip going to Haiti this summer and was interested. So I asked my mom to see of she would let me go. (Not knowing that later on she would be asked to come because they needed another experienced leader.) My mom has been to Africa countless of times. After I signed up I wasn’t sure I would know anyone, but sure enough 2 people in my life group and my life group leader had signed up to come too! I was very excited! I started hearing more info about the trip and am getting more and more excited. I know God will do great works through our team when we are there in Haiti.

My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 which says: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”. This verse reminds me that God has a hope and a future for you even when you don’t know what’s going to happen in your future, God always does and always will. He knows your every thought, decision and hope going through your head every moment of every day. He allows us to find hope in him not to be lost but to grow close to him when we need him.

I can’t wait for the exciting things to take place on the Haiti trip and the things our team will accomplish through God, our strength and our redeemer.