Casting out Fear, By Liz High

Hey Ya’ll! My name is Liz High and currently I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, but I am originally from Greenville, South Carolina. I am 17 years old and a rising senior at Ardrey Kell High School. I love playing sports. I have been playing soccer since I was 5 and it is by far the best. sport. ever.

      I am very excited to go to Haiti because it will be a whole new experience for me. I have been on a mission trip before, but I went when I was 7 and it was to France (I don’t remember much). I know going to Haiti will be challenging for me, especially when it comes to stepping out of my comfort zone. I know that this will be something that God will be challenging me with on this mission trip, but I know that if I give all my fears to Him, I wont have to be afraid.

Romans 15:13 says: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is a verse that will help me through my challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone during my trip to Haiti. Whether getting to know my other team members or working with the children I know that if I give it all to God, he will discard any fear I may have.  

Confidence in the Lord, by April Purvis

       My name is April Purvis and I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm sixteen and this coming fall I'll be a junior at Charlotte Catholic High School. I love playing tennis, guitar, acting, and cooking. I'm really excited about spending time with the Haitian children, like everyone else, because I have a heart for kids, but one of the things I find really exciting is being prepared to do whatever asked. Typically, in America, when someone asks, "Can you do me a favor?", most people's immediate response would be somewhere along the lines of asking what the favor was. It'll be different when we get to respond, "Sure, how can I serve you?".

My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in him." It had always been my favorite verse (this is going to sound bad) simply because it was the first verse I had ever memorized that stuck with me. Up until recently, I didn't really understand how it could be applied to my life. As we embark on our sojourn to Haiti, we must put all our trust in the Lord, just as Jeremiah states. We have to trust him to prepare our hearts, to open our eyes, to keep us safe, and to make our work mean something.

Hi by Andrew Purvis

My name is Andrew and I live in Charlotte. I am 16 and run track and cross country at Charlotte Catholic High School. My twin sister April is also going on the trip. I enjoy going to the mountains and hanging out there. I enjoy fishing, hiking, running, and kayaking in mountains. Also I like going to Appalachian State football games.

I am very excited about the Haiti. I’m excited about building relationships with the people I’m going with and also the Haitians. I can’t wait to serve the Haitians as well. My only fear of going to Haiti is getting sick from the water.

A reason I am going on this trip is to share the Gospel with the Haitians.  Psalms 96:3 says, “Declare his glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people”. Matthew 19:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. I am excited about going to Haiti

Jesus Loves all Children, by Cassandra Tarr

    Hi! My name is Cassandra Tarr, and I am 14 years old. I am currently homeschooled and have been since first grade, but I will be attending Rock Hill High School next fall. I volunteer every other week at the Children's Attention Home. It gives me a great opportunity to be able to serve, and share how much God loves them. 

    This will be my first mission trip to Haiti, and I am so excited! I am most excited about being with the children and I can't wait to serve at the orphanage! I am also excited about creating new friendships while on this trip. Here are a few of the many verses that talks about God's love for the orphans:

Deuteronomy 10:18 

He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.

Matthew 18:5

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this ( an orphan) on my behalf is welcoming me.

James 1:27

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Hey Everyone! by Jackson Marshall

Hey everyone! My name is Jackson and I'm 14. I am a freshman at Fort Mill High School and I run cross country and track. I was born in Georgia and lived in North Augusta 18 months of my life, then I moved up here. I am a very social person and am very funny and energetic (that will be good since we are going to play with children!). This will be my first time ever going to Haiti and I'm really excited about going! I have been to many hot places but I'm pretty sure this is going to be the hottest place yet. Some things that I am looking forward to about Haiti are that I get to play with the children. I have loved children ever since I was one myself. I am also excited to meet all of the people on the trip and get to pray and worship with the people in Haiti. I do have some worries though. I am worried that I might get sick or get sick from the mosquitoes that are there. But I think all of my excitement will overcome those fears.

These are some of the Bible verses that have encouraged me:

1 Chronicles 28:20 
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 

Joshua 1:3-9 
I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you ... No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.h

Let the Little Children Come, by Emily Bernard

Hi! My name is Emily Bernard, I am thirteen years old, and I live in Fort Mill, South Carolina. I am presently an eighth grader at Fort Mill Middle School and will be going to Nation Ford High School next fall! I love theatre, singing, and being with my friends. I’ve been taking piano for four years and I have been in two plays at Nation Ford High School. What I love most is babies and little kids! I volunteer every week with the babies and toddlers at the Forest Hill campus in Rock Hill. I just can’t get enough of the little cuties!

    This trip to Haiti is going to be my first mission trip, and I’m thrilled to be going. What boosted me the most in deciding to take part in this trip to Haiti was the fact that we would be visiting an orphanage! I’m really looking forward to helping out there and teaching them more about God! Another thing I’m excited about is building relationships with the group that’s going and the Haitians. I’m sure I’ll make a lot of friends, and meet a lot of awesome people! I am nervous about a few things that I will be encountering, but excitement definitely overpowers those worries!

    The Bible mentions MANY times that we should serve God by helping the weak and poor. One example of this is:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.`” Going on this mission trip will be a great way for me to help the weak, and I’m very excited about it! J

Is it Safe? by Brisa Sander

Hi my name is Brisa Sander and I live in Charlotte, NC. I am currently homeschooled and LOVE IT! I am such a people person (which sounds weird because im homeschooled).  I am homeschooled so i have more opportunities to pursue singing and guitar. I also have more time to volunteer and serve God!

I am super excited to be going on my first mission trip. My parents keep asking me if im going to be safe and what not. My response was "Guys, I keep seeing pictures on facebook with haitians and guns. I will be fine." Who cares about safety anyways? I am really looking forward to building relationships with the kids there. My ideal goal is to get close with a few of the kids and go back and visit whenever advance goes. I think it would be really awesome to impact kids lives and share the gospel. 

In Acts chapter 2, the Bible talks about the fellowship of the believers. The believers "sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had a need." (verse 45) The people in Haiti needs our love and spiritual guidance. They need people to point them towards the light since they are in a dark place. We have the power to change and impact their lives forever. I can't wait to go to Haiti and impact some lives!!!