Part 1: Mountain Reminders

Dripping sweat.

Cold army showers.

No knowledge of time.

One hundred individual smiles.

Loud voices singing to Jesus.

Kids wrapped around our necks.

15 girls put together Perfectly.

3 leaders with incredible impact.

A staff of missionaries dying to themselves, sacrificing such a large bundle of comfort to advocate for a bunch of precious kids. Kids who belong to Jesus.

Beautiful team time full of raw conversation.

Painted hands.

Strong finishes.

God's obvious Presence at every moment.

Sweat was my constant companion while I was in Haiti. Outdoors and indoors, it's presence was apparent, dripping down my back and face. Each drip was a constant reminder of the reason I was in Haiti for a week this summer; to sweat for Christ. 

Driving through Port Au Prince on that first day was mind blowing. People were everywhere. Traffic rules were close to nonexistent.  Neighborhoods of shacks lined the streets. Our 51 mile drive to the orphanage took nearly 4 hours because of the billions of cars and the winding roads through the mountain.

My entire life I've had this goal of never being first or last. I don't want to lead in the very front and be in control, but I don't like to be left in the very back either, struggling to catch up with the possibility of being or feeling forgotten. I like to be close enough to the front where I can at least see where I'm going. And I always prefer to be with someone rather than alone.
The day after our arrival in Jacmel, we hiked up a mountain with the kids. When I heard there was going to be a hike I thought, "Oh yes! I'm in shape! I hope there's a kid who wants to jog with me!" 
God decided to take that thought and teach me something. Something He's told me before. One of His simple truths. One of His beautiful metaphors. 

This is the mountain we climbed. God's creation is so beautiful! This was our view every single day! Haiti is such a beautiful country!

Within the first ten steps outside the orphanage, I was walking side by side with a girl named Sabrina.  She had a drawstring backpack on her back filled with water bottles. I noticed her messing with it, struggling with it's heaviness. 

I said, "Hey, do you want me to carry that?"

With no hesitancy, Sabrina handed me the backpack and immediately placed her hand in mine. As we walked, we talked some. I asked her how old she was...she said she was ten. I asked her how to say certain things in Creole. When she asked me how old I was, I told her, "Ven," which is 20 in Creole and her eyes got really big and she shook her head and told me that I was old! That made me laugh. 

As we hiked, we got further and further behind the group. Sabrina would get distracted by the nature around her or she would stop and ask for her water. She walked slowly on the ledges as she gripped my hand. She was in no hurry. After a while, that part of me that likes to not be last and the other part of me that really likes to run, came together and created a bit of an impatient attitude inside of me. I wanted Sabrina to walk faster with me so we could catch up with the group. As those thoughts ran through my mind and my attitude kept leaning toward hurriedness, Jesus came up behind me and whispered a few reminders into my ear.


"Jennie. Remember all the times you've given me your backpack of heavy water bottles? And I willingly took the load for you? Like last summer. You had a heavy load and you asked me to carry it...so I did. Remember last fall when you chose to grab my hand and hike the mountain of life with Me? You had to step up on some ledges...some really narrow ones...but You chose to keep holding onto my hand because you knew I wouldn't let you fall off. And remember this spring, when you got so distracted that you stopped and left me waiting for you to come back. And I waited. Patiently. You are my child and I have an abundant amount of patience for you...because I love you. I want to walk with you, hand in hand, even when you get distracted...even when you need to stop for a drink. You've been given such a gift today, Jennie. I have put you here to physically and spiritually walk with another one of my children. Don't let yourself be distracted from this opportunity...this opportunity to be My Hands and Feet. Be patient. Be present. Soak Me up here in this place, in this time, with these people.  Now go, be My Hands and Feet."

And in that moment, God began changing my heart and preparing it for the days (and weeks) to come...

Sabrina and me :)