"And then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me, send me!"
Isaiah 6:8
this verse sums up so much of my life in just a few words. it's amazing the way God shows us his Word and gives meaning to each and every person in their own remarkable way. He is constantly amazing me.
this verse has been special to me for a long time now. it always reminds me of my motivation in life. i have been traveling to haiti since i was sixteen. i fell in love instantly. the sounds, the feelings, the people; i love everything about it and there is no other place like it. the most beautiful thing about haiti are the children. the kids at the children of israel orphanage are the most precious kids i've ever met. each and every one of them are unique and special in their own way and i just can't get enough. those kids are constantly in my thought and prayers. and i can't wait to get back to them again. even from my first trip to haiti, i was forever changed. i knew that God had a plan for me in haiti, i just didn't know what.
after the earthquake in january, i felt God calling me more than ever to go work in haiti. i have had the opportunity to go to haiti once in march and again in july and i am SO blessed to have had these opportunities. along with the trips to haiti and the incessant calling God had given to me, He also gave me the best friend i've ever had.
julianne sabo. we were friends in high school, but not really. we knew each other and talked at church, but other than that, we were strangers. after we graduated, we never spoke. went to different universities, had different friends. and neither of us were phased by this because we were never really good friends.
then the earthquake happened. julie was planned to travel to haiti the next week. we were both completely heartbroken, but still didn't really know each other except from friends of friends. i was so upset about the earthquake i didn't even want to talk to anyone about it because no one could understand. and then there was julie. i honestly believe God brought julie and i together to do amazing things in haiti.
we met one afternoon at starbucks to plan for the haiti lives! benefit and we just ended up crying together about the kids, the earthquake, and just wanting to be there. this one afternoon blossomed into perhaps the most beautiful friendship i have ever had.
ever since then, julie and i have been inseparable. [except for when she went to haiti without me and i went without her. hahaha.] but other than those two weeks, we spent all our time together and let's just be honest, we were basically always talking about haiti.
so soon after i returned from haiti in march, julie and i decided we needed to travel to haiti together. we planned a trip in july and it was the most amazing experience i've ever had. every moment of every day was so beautiful and perfect. God spoke to me in ways i've never experienced before. it was breathtaking.
so now here we are, november and a long way from haiti. so what's the plan you might ask? and why do we call ourselves "sisters sent"? well, let me tell you!!
obviously, julie and i are not sisters, but we are sisters in Christ!! and we call ourselves "sisters sent" because of plans for next summer!!
i will be traveling to haiti on may 14th, 2011 [I JUST BOUGHT MY TICKET ON MONDAY. !!!] and i will be staying there until august 25th, 2011. julianne will be joining me in our homeland on june 15th, 2011 and she will be staying until september 15thish.
our summers in haiti are our "testing periods". we both know God is calling us to haiti to work, but as of right now, we're not sure what His plan is. we are both EXTREMELY interested in living in haiti for a long period of time after we finish school, but we are waiting for God to share His plan with us.
so after countless prayers asking God to show us His wants and His plans for us, He has show us in many different ways that He wants us in haiti together next summer. i can't even begin to explain my excitement for my summer in haiti. i can't even begin to imagine the ways i will see God every day in my time there. and i cannot wait to know more of God's plan for my life.
so this is a place for julie and i to share our thoughts, worries, and plans with you as we prepare for our summer in haiti! but this will also be a place for us to post our experiences while we are in haiti next summer!! we want all of you to know as much about our trip and the ways God is working in us and in haiti as possible!
so i know this was just the facts and a little bit of an overview, but real posts will begin after this one. i hope you enjoyed reading this and look forward to hearing more from julie and i! we love you all and God's blessings on your week!
