Work hard, pray harder.

"Work hard, pray harder, and if you have any worries, take them to God--and leave them there." -Growing in Grace

First of all, wow! I can not believe I've been living in Haiti for over two months now! Routines are forming, I'm starting to retain Creole, and finally starting to be healthy! It's really hard to go through all of the happenings lately. Just this week, we were able to send twins home to there mama & papa after receiving assistance at GLA... Dixie just posted a blog about their story here Twins go home. I can not even describe the pure love and joy on that mama's face when she saw her two boys! Some other new things as of recently... Rebecca and I have started spending more time during the week at the toddler house, creole lessons have begun, and I was able to drive for the first time in two months (just up and down from the toddler house)!!! All very exciting things!

Some of the routines forming are "outside" of work too... Back in the states I never had a daily "routine". Working night shift, my world was kind of backwards. Never knowing when to be awake, sleep, eat, etc. But literally for the first time in years, I eat a "normal" breakfast, lunch, & dinner,  I go to bed at night and wake up in the morning... Rebecca, Susie & I start the morning with devotions, and then I am able to end the night with devotions. Seriously, I know/knew how important it is to spend time in the Word, but I didn't realize how much it can change your perspective on the  day. I've been a Christian for as long as I can remember, but the act of "pursuing God" has been kind of in the background of my mind. I've spent so much time worrying about school, family, finances, health. To be honest, for a while, sleep was more important to me than time with God. Just as relationships with people have peaks and valleys, so does a relationship with Jesus Christ. I just feel like I have been stuck in a valley of no quality time with God very long time. Recently in my devotions from the book "Growing in Grace" (a gift from Rebecca), a quote stood out to me. 

"God asks that we worship Him with our concentrated minds as well as with our wills and emotions. A divided ans scattered mind is not effective." -Catherine Marshall

For a long time, I've had a divided and scattered mind. Life is busy, people are mean, prayers go unanswered, bills pile up... There are so many ways the devil uses to get your mind off of God and focus on things of this world. I have been studying Romans and tonight Romans 12:21 said it best "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Worry takes time from God, as each day progresses whether you live in the states, Haiti, Europe, or wherever in the world live, your worries up to God and leave them there. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayers and petitions, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

I know this is a lot of verses/quotes tonight... but they've been so crucial lately in my daily walk with God and in trusting God's will and plan for my life, I can't change the past but I can change my attitude, perspective, and life by trying to continually work on a deeper relationship with Christ. Again, peaks and valleys will always occur as in any relationship, but I pray the peaks outweigh the valleys. 

...to be continued...

-B

Romans 12 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So there it is, take it as you will.

Well, today marks 3 weeks until I am in Haiti! At this exact time in 3 weeks I will be on a south bound flight from Miami to Port Au Prince and will land in Haiti at noon Sunday, November 11th. Crazy?!? Isn't it! Sometimes my life seems so surreal. I'm still amazed by the opportunity God has given me. As I pack and sell/give away the majority of my personal belongings, I hang on to those things that have the most meaning... like my diploma's from Gwynedd & Drexel, a night stand that I painted when I was in high school, a dish my mom got me when I first moved into a place by myself, stuffed animals  (two of which are my sister's & one from when I was born)... Silly things but meaningful none the less. Each item has a particular meaning and represent a different phase of my life.

For me, moving around has always been pretty easy. I know God will take care of me as long as I follow His lead. This move is no different in knowing God will take care of me, but as any twenty-five year old would, I have my insecurities about the unknown... Every move I've had the same insecurities. Insecurities arise whether it's a change in job, moving to a different city (or country), choosing a new church, trying to pay off debt, meeting new people, trying ANYTHING new. They're just silly thoughts the devil puts in your head to make you think that you're not adequate enough, smart enough, pretty enough, cool enough... These insecurities make you think about old friendships & relationships; why they lasted or didn't last and the new friendships that are sure to arise. Yet, still there is a calmness inside knowing that God's got it covered. No matter what. He's got it. 

So, things to do in the next 3 weeks (Lord Willing):

**Find Boo a new forever home**

Empty out my apartment

**Find Boo a new forever home**

Spend time with friends and finish up my last 5 shifts at Duke

**Find Boo a new forever home**

Drive through VA to see Kevin, Susanna, Karaline, Audrey (& hopefully my newest nephew)

Drive to PA to see the rest of the family

Catch a 0615 flight to Miami & then a 1000 flight to Haiti on Sunday, November 11th.

Continue this great adventure that God has blessed me with at God's Littlest Angels in Haiti

So there it is  take it as you will... insecurities and all. 

I'll leave you with my life verse:

Philippians 4: 6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

...to be continued...

-B

Who is this girl?

This is Boo. Isn't he handsome!

Ok, so I know I dropped a big announcement in the last post, but there is so much that is way out of my control still. I'd have to say I'm not the most patient person and God's timing doesn't always coincide with my timing... or should I say my timing isn't His! So anyway, I know the desire God has placed on my heart and I know what will eventually happen, but when, how, with who? Pretty important questions to answer before selling all your stuff, finding a good home for your amazing dog (cough, cough) and moving to Haiti. Still God has completely calmed my heart. My heart aches to be in Haiti though. I watch slide shows from other organizations missions teams in my search to find who I will go with and I cry... or should I say ball. Seriously, I just want to be there. I want to some how find my little girl, Kalinda, back at Matthew 28 Orphanage in Bohoc, Haiti and hug her. I suppose it may seem silly to miss a place you've only been to for a week, but I guess I can only describe it as Love at first sight".

So, recently I've been thinking about the church I grew up in. How thankful I am to have had some amazing friends and strong christian woman surrounding me, a lot of my friends mom's took care of me in more ways than they could ever imagine.... I've been doing a little facebook stalking/reminiscing and I'm seeing that a lot of the friends I grew up with in church and in youth group are "all grown up", accomplishing great things, and pursuing their dreams and following God in the process, it's refreshing and inspiring to see. I'm proud of us all and thankful for a firm foundation which was instilled in me through my family and my church family. Ironically, as I was browsing through facebook today I saw a quote from who was then the youth pastor and is now the head pastor of Cornerstone; "Before God will use you as a leader, he'll train you as a servant, and without exception, that training includes learning to wait on God"-Tim Ackley. This hit me to my core. I need a lot of training, a lot of devotion, a lot of prayer, and a lot of patience. Staying on track with God's plan also means following God's timing and not your own. This is hard to do and I still pray that I'm in Haiti sooner than later, but only God knows! I'm leaving it all in God's hands and that is the best thing I know to do.

My mantra or life-verse is Philippians 4:6-7, Many of you are probably familiar with the verses but those who are not... Here are some words to live by: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".

Now, some of you reading this are probably like "Who is this girl?", "Where is Brit?"... I promise I'm right here... but my spirit has been so renewed and so lifted by God's will on my life and His favor upon my life, I am overwhelmed with emotion and love for the Lord when I think of the things He has brought me through in my short 25 years and all that He has provided. A few months ago, newhope's sermon's series was about finding God's favor on your life and I have a few quotes that I have sticky noted up on my wall... "When the favor of God is over your life, great things will happen" -Pastor Ryan & "Favor goes beyond your life" -Pastor Benji. I see these quotes every single day and pray that God's favor remains over my life and I choose each day to "Love God more!"... Disclaimer** As, I have said in previous posts these things are all a work in progress... I am a work in progress!

Hey, maybe I'm crazy. I'm not sure... I just know I dreaming a God sized dream and I don't want to wake up. Here is a glimpse of how this dream came to be. Newhope's Haiti April 2012 slide show. It's amazing. P.S. let me know if you're up for a mission trip to Haiti or Kenya with newhope. I can hook you up with the right people :)

...to be continued...

-B