Our summer in the States has ended in what has become a familiar pattern: a rush of goodbyes, thank yous and packing. All culminating with my brother Russ and his son Ethan helping our family and 14 suitcases make it to the Indianapolis airport EARLY Tuesday morning, one week ago.
We really enjoyed having another Hoosier family to travel with throughout the day – Jeff and Chris Love and their son Camden shared our flights as they moved to Haiti to begin work at Cowman School. Chris will be teaching our junior and senior high science courses and Jeff will be helping out with math and technology.
You might recognize the title of this post from a Phillip Phillips pop song that got frequent radio play a few years ago. The lyrics went like this:
Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble – it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home
I remember hearing this song as I drove alone in my car one day just over three years ago. It is one of a handful of times in my life when I have heard God’s voice almost audibly and most certainly clearly. Melissa and I were neck-deep in preparations to move our family to Haiti at that moment and as the song started, it occurred to me that I needed to make sure I wasn’t so self-focused in the process that I would forget my duties as a father to make my kids feel at home once we arrived in Haiti. Maybe you’ll understand what I mean when I say the very thought filled me with anxiety. HOW can I make Haiti a home for my kids? Where do I start? And what if I fail?God cut straight through my anxiety: “You can relax. I am the One who will do this and I will do it for your entire family. Including YOU.”In my gut I believed it and I know that I did because the fear instantly left me. And I can’t tell you all the ways my family – my entire family – has seen God work this into a reality in our lives in Haiti. We are blessed to have two homes – we enjoyed “being home” in Indiana over the summer and we are excited now to be home in Haiti.
In the midst of it all, Melissa and I are constantly grateful for all of you who support our work here through prayer and finances. God bless you!And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30
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