LIVING AND LEARNING **The Haiti Diaries (THD) Day 1**

There I was again, standing in an airport, my bags in my hands and my heart ready to leave America. I had stressed all week about this trip, what was going to happen, who I was going to meet, what I was going to do the usual things that I stress about before each trip. This time it was different though, I didn't feel as prepared as usual and I was thinking more about myself than I was the actual trip. I soon realized that God had this under control and I could stress less.
         As I stepped off the plane in Port-au-Prince, Haiti I breathed out a sigh of relief as I was once again embarking on a journey to do something I loved. The heat, the people and the sunshine reminded me of Africa and I soon became comfortable with my surroundings. We didn't arrive in Haiti until around dinner time so it was much cooler, but yet the hour and forty-five minute drive to Arcahaie showed us no mercy with its intense heat. By the time we arrived at the Lifeline compound we were tired, sweaty, sticky and hungry. We quickly got settled in and then sat to eat before we started some work. We ate and then walked over to the warehouse. The warehouse holds many donated things as well as thousands of pounds of rice and beans. Each day the Lifeline canteens (one located at the mission and the other located in a local village) feeds hundreds of children rice and beans and so they store the shipments once they have arrived. We were to help unload each box and bag and stack them up with the others. All of us proceeded to make a line leading to the stacking area and after being prompted by some of the Haitian boys to go faster we quickly stacked some boxes of rice. That's when it hit me. The agonizing pain in my stomach that told me my dinner would not stay down much longer. I quickly went to the side and sat down with another team member of mine who had a splitting headache. After resting and drinking some water the pain eased a little bit but was still there. After talking with one of the adults we decided it would be best if my friend and I went back to the house and rested.
      Laying on my new bed with a fan blowing in my face I began to think as I drifted off to sleep. I thought about how many kids we were unloading food for, I thought about Africa and compared some things, I thought about home but mostly I thought about resting in Him. I was yet again in another country, where poverty reigns supreme and the devil pays visits often. A place where people are broken, unhappy and lacking hope. A place where my heart felt content, a place where I wanted to be. A midst the brokenness and the sadness I was there for God's purpose. I was reminded of all of those things, but mostly that the people did not show those things openly. They were a group of people stronger than anything and full of joy and love for the Lord. This is where I belonged for the week and with that last thought I breathed a sigh of comfort and drifted into a sound sleep full of healing and joy.

     " But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34