I'm going to stick to the song theme b/c it seems to be how God is speaking to me these days. Last week a friend sent me a video from our trip to Haiti in February and the first song on the video was For The Good, by Shane & Shane. As I was watching the video I found myself crying, but it wasn't because of the images. I already cried a lot in January when the earthquake struck and in February when I saw the damage in a country close to my heart. Nothing in Haiti that I see in a picture shocks me, because I saw it live. I'm not going to write you a novel on the song like I did with What Do I Know of Holy, because the song speaks for itself. It is truth and it is straight out of Gods Word. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." For everyone in transition that has returned from the race and doesn't know what the heck they are doing with their life, for anyone going through a hard time that can't see or hear from God, and just for those who enjoy music and words of truth...go buy this song on Itunes. It is worth a dollar and it will speak volumes to your heart.
When darkness is surrounding me
by Your Spirit, Lord help me sing
that You are working all things out
Lord, I really need to hear you speak
Remind me in the waiting
that You are working all things out
For the good of those
who are called by You
for the good of those
who are in Love with You
That's why we sing
Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified
We like to take the blessing from You
Shall we not take the trouble too
You are working all things out
We like to take prosperity
Shall we not take the suffering
You are working all things out
Holy are you Lord even in the storm
be glorified
Worthy of affection
God is good, He is worthy of affection, He is holy and He is for our good. I can't say I always believe that and walk in it, but daily I soak in that truth and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to take care of my doubts. It is a battle for our hearts daily, and it is His battle, not ours.
To answer the question I posed in the title, I must first tell you about a song that spoke to me last October when I was living in Kyiv, Ukraine. I was walking to the metro and a song came on my Ipod that tugged at something in my heart. The song is 'What Do I Know of Holy' by Addison Road. Seven months later I am still listening to that song daily and it is still speaking to the depths of my heart. Here it goes:
I made You promises a thousand times I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too
small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
First verse. I have definitely made God promises in the 15 years I've walked with Him, probably more than a thousand times. I have tried to hear from Him and many times I have talked so much, relied too much on others counsel, or taken so much control that I haven't quieted my heart to listen to the Lord. I have made Him way smaller than He is and at times taken things into my own hands. Do you ever put Him in a box? And sadly, I have often feared men more than I have feared Him. I can be so quick to lose perspective and fix my eyes on myself versus Christ that I sometimes wonder if I would really know Him were He to touch me or sit down next to me on a bench. Don't worry just this week, He touched me. Not tangibly, but I felt Him, He did something through one of His people and I know it was Him.
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? Whatdo I know? Whatdo I know of Holy?
God spoke you into motion, He spoke me into motion. I mean I believe that, but do I really live like I believe it. Do you live that way? I have stood on shores and oceans all over the world, He has allowed me to see so much of His world and His people. Everytime I stand in front of the ocean I think of the vastness and greatness of God. Where He has taken me in the last 30 years, from infancy to now is unbelievable. I've walked through the fire. I have felt His discipline and fury (I have needed it at times). I have seen His sacredness and holiness. And honestly, I'm in awe of His beauty, on so many different levels.
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You
brought me down to my knees
It's easy at times to think we've figured it out. We live in a society that pushes us to succeed, to arrive. I went to bible school, lived on the mission field and have been under great leadership and training. However, I have come to a conclusion in my personal journey with the Lord that I will NEVER figure it out and that is not what I am called to do. I am called to pursue intimacy with Christ. I am called to love God and to love others. I've caught a glimpse of who God is and I'm convinced I'll keep catching glimpses. When you truly pursue Christ and make Him your first focus, you will not only be brought to your knees, but you will be driven to tell others about this unbelievable God that you serve. You will long to be a part of something more and to make a kingdom impact with your life...or at least I will.
The last several months have been interesting. My intimacy with the Lord has struggled as I'm in a weird transition. I have run to outlets and wallowed in my own self pity. When my focus shifts back to Christ and I get out of the way, God has the freedom to work and the peace that surpasses all understanding returns. There are so many incredible people that love me and have a vision for my future. I don't want their vision. I want God's vision. He gave me a dream last year. I'm going to follow hard after that dream and do what it takes to be a part of something bigger than myself in the areas that know I'm gifted. I saw a comment the other day on a friends world race blog - it said, "I was 32 when I found my career, 35 when I found my husband." I confess I put God in a box all the time. So what do I know? I know that I trust God completely. I know that I tend to take control at times and God is quick to put me back in my place. I know that God is holy, just, righteous, and incredibly purposeful. I know that He loves me completely. I know He's got an unbelievable plan for my life and my current job is to be present where He has me, pursue Him with all of my heart and trust that in His timing He will make it very clear.
Today I
checked out a new church. I went for 2 reasons: the name was the same
as my home church in Charlotte, NC (Hope Community Church) and I woke
up late (it's only 5 minutes away). They were starting a new series
based of a book called, "One Month To Live".
It got me thinking about what I would do differently if I only had 30
days to live. The pastor talked about how Jesus lived passionately,
loved completely, learned humbly and left boldly. I long for those ways
to be descriptive of my life. I felt like I was living that way when I
traveled the world last year. I was living radically for Christ and my
life was full of adventure. Daily I
was loving on the poorest of the poor and I was making a difference all
the while falling more deeply in love with Jesus and learning life
lessons that will stick with me forever. It's a bit more of a challenge
to live that way here in South Jersey, working 7:30-6pm in sales and
adjusting to a new environment. Not much feels radical about sales, but
yet it's where God has me. So what will I do to be purposeful? How
will I live passionately and love completely those God puts in my path?
How will I learn, will it be humbly or arrogantly? Will I be bold and
courageous or will I hold back? I was telling someone the other day my
life didn't feel purposeful. It is only not purposeful if I choose to
make it not purposeful. If I choose to believe the lie that I can't
have an impact here, then I won't. It's a choice. All of life and how
we live it, what we worship, what we do...is a CHOICE. You have one
month to live...what is your CHOICE?
Well
folks, I did it...I officially live in NJ again. Some days I wake up
and can't believe it. I feel like I am on the show Lost and I have
returned to the Island. The Island for me is the land of everything I
knew agea 7-22 and then have visited once a year for the last 8 years.
It is surreal being back. On top of the memories and flashbacks, for
the first time since Feb 2007 all of my belongings are in one place, or
at least what is left of them. So it has a been a week of going through
CRAP, making a goodwill pile, reading old notes, looking at pictures
and being nostalgic. Pretty pathetic, huh? I'd be lying if I didn't
say I shed a few tears or wonder what the heck I was doing here. I miss
Charlotte and my friends a lot. I miss the adventures of last year and
daily interacting with people and sharing Christ. But a news flash
occurred the other day on a run. I was failing to remember that I don't
have to be in Africa to share Christ. I can share Christ right here
with every person I come in contact with in South Jersey. I'm so quick
to forget things, ALWAYS.
Despite my self-pity and the last 11
days have been pretty sweet. I have spent a tremendous amount of time
with my family. I have done work for my Granny. I have seen a show in
Atlantic City, won a little money and got to hear what
God's done in a new friend's life. I have spent time with people that I
haven't seen in over 13 years. I have sat at a table, had a drink and
laughed with someone who has known me since I was a 15 year old punk
making poor choices. One of my best friends in NJ just got engaged to a
great man. I am living with someone who has consistently pointed me
back to Christ over the last 15 years. I have an awesome house to live
in, a great landlord who cares about me,
and food on the table. And today I got a job!! Yes ladies and
gentlemen, I am officially a new Sales Rep at East Coast Business
Concepts for Verizon Business. So next time you see a good looking
blonde in a suit selling you something, think Liz Froba and give the
person a sale. It is not a forever job, but for now it is a good fit
and I think I will learn a lot about leadership and networking, 2 of my
passions. For now my territory is my mission field and the Lord is
still with me, before me and behind me as a sweet friend reminded me.
He covers me completely and He is all I need! You can change lives
anywhere, you just have to let Him use you.
I'm not really sure what to say to do justice to the mass destruction I saw today as I drove through the streets of Port-au-Prince today. Smells wafted through the air, buildings were destroyed, people were everywhere, tent cities seemed to be every 500 feet, trash and who knows what else burning and there was nothing I could do but pray. We saw the Capital Building and even though I saw the image a million times on CNN it was different to see it live and take it in. It is amazing the amount of destruction and lives that can change in a mere 45 seconds. That isn't a real long time in the grand scheme of things, but then again, imagine shaking uncontrolably for that long. Not something I want to try anytime soon.
Haiti has always been an extremely impoverished country. This is my sixth time in Haiti and the need here has always been great. I think the question many have asked is why God? Why would you allow this to happen? I know you are sovereign and working, but what are you doing? You could've stopped this and you could clean it all up with the snap of your fingers if you wanted, so why? Why are you allowing your people that you love to suffer and starve while I live in a comfortable home in America with far more than I actually need.
We visited 2 towns on the outskirts of Port today. We went to Leogane and Petit Goave. Both were hit pretty hard. A 25 year old girl who was trapped after the earthquake in her house gave us a tour around the local refugee camp. The children ran and hugged us as we walked through the tent city; like any other kid they begged for their picture to be taken and giggled every few seconds. One thing that rings true everywhere in the world is that kids will be kids. It gave me HOPE. At both locations we were able to bless the people with bags of food and money. Every person got a bag with: rice, beans, sugar, tomato paste, oil, sardines, and oats. They also got canned food, toothbrushes, toothpaste and money. Even though it seems trivial to give out 300 food bags when so many people have needs it gave me HOPE. That is what God gave us to give out, so we obeyed. Sister Gladys is pretty unreal. To watch her give and give and give has challenged me more than anything else this week. She is a cheerful giver and loves to bless others. Every word out of that women's mouth is another ounce of wisdom and truth. I'm just trying to soak it all in while I'm here.
This blog is kind of random. I don't really have a point and I haven't processed much at all. I'm stuck on why. It is still the question I'm trying to figure out and I probably won't get an answer anytime soon, which I'm okay with. As we drove home tonight I was praying and I thought about the times in my life I've asked that same question. There have been several times actually. I remember when my father died suddenly the day before I turned 17. I was so angry and didn't understand why God would allow that to happen and especially in the manner that it did. But 14 years later even though I don't know WHY it happened I have seen God use it in my life and in others. I am a different person because of what I went through. So as I was listening to worship music, looking at stars and praying, I again felt a sense of HOPE for Haiti. HOPE that because of what they have gone through they will be different people. HOPE because God is sovereign over all things, even this earthquake. HOPE because every single person in all creation has a Father who loves them. I'm thankful to be here with my friends. Please keep praying for them and giving as you feel led. You can give at http://www.canaanorphanage.org - I can assure you your money will go to help those in need.
PS - For all you Canaan lovers, the kids are HUGE. They boys are taller, the girls are 16 going on 25. CRAZY. Even the little ones are growing up. They are still full of smiles and joy too! Come visit them, they miss you and would love to see you!
I will post an album on Facebook with a lot of pics soon...for now this will have to do!
Trips to the hospital are always unique and always seem to
produce tears and brokenness in my heart.Be it America or a third world country the picture of children in pain
and suffering will break you.You
can't look at a suffering child and not want to do something about it, or at
least I can't.We weren't allowed
to take pictures on Saturday when we visited the Children's Ward at the Church
of the Nazerene Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland, but I will try to paint a
picture for you of what we saw.
We entered the hospital easily with no problems.Unlike America there aren't a lot of
policies in third world countries.You don't have to sign in or wear a badge and you don't have to know the
person to go visit, talk with, or pray for them.When we arrived, the first room we entered had a girl in a
beautiful white dress.Unlike the
girl pictured here, she was covered in bandages with wounds all over her face
and arms.Despite her obvious pain
we were greeted with a HUGE smile as we handed her a bag full of candy and
toys.Our prayers were wanted and
received.Next we saw two little
baby boys, one whom's mother spoke English.She asked me to pray for her son who was suffering from
nausea, diarrhea, and sores in his mouth.It was heartbreaking to watch this one year old suffering.I continued down the hall and entered a
large room with many children.I
was stopped immediately by three mom's of infants all under 5 months.They were layed out on a table, 5 in a
row hooked up to IV's and oxygen tanks.The mother's spoke fairly good English so I began to converse with them
about their lives and why their children were in the hospital.It was encouraging to see the mother's
there alongside the children, although you could see the exhaustion and
desperation all over their faces.One of the mother's told me she would give me her son to take back to
America so he could get better and have a good life.It broke my heart that she thought just because I was from
America I had more to offer her son then she did.I could never love that kid the way his birth mother
could.It was sad and her
desperation hit me hard.
That wasn't it though.Next I strolled down to the malnutrition unit, which was all
babies.There are 2 abandoned kids
in that unit.There charts read
like this:Child One – No Name;
Child Two – Abandoned.Imagine
your name being abandoned; I can't.No one deserves that and especially not this precious child.From there I headed back towards the
exit and encountered an image that will stick with me for the rest of my
life.In my 30 years of life, I
have never seen someone dying of AIDS, let alone a 13-year-old boy.We were about to leave the ward, when 60-year-old
grandmother grabbed us in desperation.She wanted us to come see her grandson who is dying.I'm not sure why she thought we may be
able to help, but she dragged us into a room with him lying naked on the
table.She began to show us his
sores and my eyes welled up with tears.Why Lord, I asked.Why does
this young boy have to suffer like this?It is not his fault.We
began to pray and everything in my flesh was scared to touch this kid.His eyes pierced me, but I still
couldn't bring myself to do it...sad, but true.So instead I began to rub the back of the grandmother who
was sobbing.As she sobbed and we
prayed the tears came faster and more abundantly.There was nothing I could do, but cry out to God on his
behalf and return home and tell people what I saw.So I am telling you, I have no pictures to prove it, but the
image will forever be in my head.I'm sure if you are a parent the feeling would be intensified.Imagine your son or daughter laying
covered in sores and no one helping them or knowing what to do.It wrecks you.It causes you to ask questions you have
never even thought about.And it
leaves you ready to do something.I'm ready to do something and I will spread the word about what I saw in
Swaziland to everyone I know.I'm
so thankful God brought me here to see this.
If you would like to know more about how to get involved
with work in Swaziland, please contact me.I also have some sweet shoulder/messenger type bags
available that are comparable to Vera Bradley available to buy for $18 if you
are interested....or change purses for $7.The proceeds go straight to work in Swaziland.If you want to learn more about Timbali Crafts, click here. Thanks for reading my story.I head to Canaan Oprhanage in Haiti on Sunday, please pray
for our trip if you think of it.THANKS!
What is normal?I have been asking myself that question for the last 2 days since I
landed in Johannesburg, South Africa.Immediately, I was thrown into the chaos of last year, not knowing why
my ride wasn't at the airport and having to use skype to contact him.I loved it and the rush of adrenaline
that took over as I began the task of getting in touch with him felt so normal
to me.Shortly, after Sabelo
arrived we headed to my friends, the Gooch's house.We shared a meal and time of fellowship and it was great to
catch up and hear what God is doing.Amazing how it had been 6 months, but yet it felt so normal to sit
around their table, share some time together and then say goodbye until next
time.
That evening I settled in a nice bed and awoke the next
morning to board an all day van ride to Nsoko, Swaziland.Funny part was the nice hotel didn't
feel normal, but being in a van for 9 hours did.I talked, read, and caught up on sleep as we drove through
the African countryside.Why that
feels so normal and comfortable is kind of crazy to me, but it is.We arrived and spent time getting to
know each other and settling into our rooms for the next couple of nights.
Total normalcy hit this morning though when we headed to the
Nsoko Project run by Pastor Gift.It is pretty phenomenal what God is doing in this place through the
faithful service of this one obedient man and his family.This community is overrun with AIDS and
Tuberculosis, but Pastor Gift is set on instilling hope in this place and sharing
the love of Christ.They have
established 8 Carepoints in the area that are feeding and educating
children.A Carepoint that is
fully sponsored consists of 2 meals a day for the children, basic education,
health care and other activities.An unsponsored carepoint provides food when by the grace of God it
becomes available.Four of the
Eight Carepoints in this area are sponsored, but as always in Africa, there is
still so much need.If you are
interested in learning more about sponsoring children, let me know and I will
put you in touch with the right people.It is $34/month to sponsor a child at one of the Swaziland Carepoints.
So why was today so normal?It wasn't because of the warthog, ostrich, empalas, and zebras I saw roaming
out front of my thatch cabin today.It wasn't because of the South African Brie I had this evening and the
beautiful smiling waitresses. It
was because my only job today was to love and hold orphans.We laughed and played and spun around.They sung songs and did dances and we
attempted to teach other slap games.We sat under a tree and asked questions about their families through a
translator and then we prayed for them and gave them some rice and beans.We saw a simplicity of life that I long
for and have so quickly forgotten since returning from the World Race.It is so easy in America to get
distracted and forget that life is about loving God and loving others.Normal is waking up and meeting with my
Savior and then spending my day loving and getting to know the people He has
put in my path for that day.I
can't believe He loves me enough to take me halfway around the world and remind
me of that.Whatever you're doing
today, slow down, close your email, turn off your cell phone and go love the
person who is next to you.It
doesn't have to be an orphan, it can just be whoever is next to you.
(This is the sweet people we met on our Home Visit - please pray for them - the 2 women
are Zanali and Topsali - they are in need of food, work, and a solid home!)
I feel like so much has happened in the last month that I'm not sure where to start, what to share, or if I should simply sing the praises of a God who loves us and PROVIDES for our needs. My life has been a whirlwind and I have literally gone from one side of America to the other, moved all my belongings to NJ, worked a slew of odd jobs, raised awareness and money for Canaan Orphanage in Haiti, and in 48 hours will hop on a plane to Swaziland, Africa. People have joked telling me they can't keep up with where I am and honestly some days I can't either. That is why I truly believe that it is only by the grace of God that I am still going strong and that everyday I wake up full of joy and overwhelmed by His love and goodness to me.
So here is a quick update on what I've been up to and what I will be up to in the upcoming weeks. Obviously anyone that knows me or talks to me has heard about Haiti. It is pretty phenomenal what God is doing through Canaan in the midst of this tragedy. They have been able to network and connect with people, including the military, for things such as food distribution. They have been able to get medical teams in from the states every week. They have been able to have 3 children adopted, including 2 babies. (Read about the story of Joseph and my good friends Chris & Sarah Hlavacek here - http://therollingbrick.blogspot.com/2010/02/story-of-joseph.html?spref=tw ) They are connecting with, visiting and providing financial assistance to Pastors and families they knew in the Port-au-Prince area that have lost everything. And literally they have turned into a medical relief and refugee center. Many of the kids at Canaan speak English, the advantage of that is they are able to serve as translators in local hospitals for medical teams. Pretty sweet, huh? God's hand is all over this and the beauty is Canaan is connected, ready, and willing to be used by God. They are the light of Christ to a hurting nation and they are there. I can pray and raise awareness, but I am not physically there. Your support has enabled them and empowered them to help their people. THANK YOU! Please pray that commercial flights will resume in 2 weeks as planned and we will still be able to go on February 28th. If you would like to follow specific updates, please join the group on Facebook - Pray For Haiti & Canaan Orphanage. To give financially, visit http://www.canaanorphanage.org.
Timeline of my next few weeks and months and game plan for the future (yup, I actually have one):
February 15-24 - Swaziland, Africa - This is a partner trip with Adventures In Missions and Children's Hopechest. This trip was made possible through excess support from World Race. It is a vision trip to go be a part of and see what God is doing with Aids orphans in this country. If you didn't read my last blog, basically the most staggering statistic is that by 2050 the UN predicts this country will cease to exist. CRAZY. Please be in prayer for this trip in whatever way the Lord leads. Most important prayer request right now is my health as I seem to be coming down with a cold and I leave in 48 hours.
February 26 - March 5 - Montrouis, Haiti (Canaan) - If commercial flights resume, which they are saying Feb 19th, then me and a team of about 10 folks will spend 5 days in Haiti. I have no idea what that will entail after the events of the last month. I assume we will show them love, serve and be of assistance in whatever way they need. The schedule appears longer b/c a fellow world racer, a high school student, and I are driving to Fort Lauderdale to decrease our expenses. Should be fun and we are visiting some friends of mine along the way.
March 8 and beyond- Moorestown, NJ. I can't wait to be around my family and finally in one place. The big news is that God has birthed a vision in me and a very close friend from the World Race, Emily Hunnicutt. We are in the process of developing a detailed business plan of a non-profit that would serve other non-profits in the areas of marketing, fundraising, donor relations, and development. If the Lord continues to open doors and the counsel we receive advises us to move forward we will aim to start this organization in May. Please pray for clear direction, open or closed doors and all of the details to move into place. This is HUGE, EXCITING, and WAY BIGGER than us, so we know that is of God. We are taking some risks, trusting Him, and trying to keep up. We welcome your prayers. If you want to learn more just shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share.
Again, thank you for your prayer, support, encouragement, finances and being a part of my story. I am in awe of God and the way money continues to show up and/or He provides opportunities and energy to earn it. I will never doubt God's provision because I literally see it EVERY SINGLE DAY. It is pretty unreal...to Him be the glory. Beyond March 8th I will post all blogs to http://lizfroba.blogspot.com. My email will remain the same: eafroba@yahoo.com and my new address will be: 712 Lippincott Dr Moorestown, NJ 08057. Please keep me posted on your lives and thank you for following my journey. I believe this was just the beginning and preparation for all that God has for me in the future...one step at a time. THANK YOU!
(Billy turned 1 last weekend and I love this pic!) (Got to reunite w/ most of BLING in Atlanta!)
I'm on a plane between San Diego and San Francisco as I'm
typing this blog. (side note – everyone should fly Virgin America – they have
outlets and wifi)With all the
chaos in Haiti, I'm not sure where the month of January has gone.It feels like just yesterday I was
leaving Charlotte, NC to come spend the month with a family I love here in San
Francisco, California.Even in the
midst of tragedy in Haiti and trying to raise funds and bring awareness the
Lord has been gracious and allowed me to see this state and many people I love
and care about.California is by
far one of the most gorgeous states I have ever spent time in.I have seen everything from Tahoe down
to San Diego, it is unreal...the mountains and the beach in one and sometimes
even on the same road.In my
opinion, everyone should drive the Pacific Coastal Highway before they
die. Road trip anyone?!?
Anyways, I wanted to give a brief update on Canaan and share
some updates on my life as well.The funds continue to come in and people are literally stepping up all
over the country.Schools and
youth groups are adopting Canaan and it's awesome.PRAISE GOD.A
second medical team arrived a few days ago to relieve the first and more
medical trips are being planned.PRAISE GOD.There is still
so much need, so if you feel led, please continue to give here at http://www.canaaanorphanage.org.At this time, we are not taking teams,
however if you join Pray For Haiti & Canaan Orphanage on Facebook or email
me, we will continue to keep you in the loop.If Spirit is flying in 5 weeks, I still intend to go with
the Dental Team from February 28th-March 4th.Please continue to pray, that is the
most important way you can help, no matter where you are.God is doing great things at this place
and I know He will use it to be a light in this time. (The women pictured on the right I met in Cambodia on The World Race, while serving with Water of Life...it was a blessing to see them here in California.)
Also, I wanted to share briefly about a trip I will be
taking to Swaziland, Africa from February 15th-24th.It is a vision trip working with the
Nsoko Project, which you can read more about here.Adventures in Mission is partnering with Children's
HopeChest, also an amazing ministry.I'm very excited about this opportunity God has given me and the funds
were provided through excess from my World Race account.PRAISE GOD. Here are some stats about Swaziland to get your heart moving in prayer and compassion for the people I will be spending time with in 3 weeks: 1) Life expectancy is only 30 years. 2) 15 year olds have less than a 10% chance of living to age 35. 3) More than 50% of the population lives on about 28 cents a day. 4) Half of the country's population is under the age of 15. 5) In some parts of the country, 80% test positive for HIV. 6) According to UN statistics, the entire country will cease to exist by 2050.
Cease to exist by 2050...that is ABSOLUTELY mind boggling to me. If the world hasn't ceased to exist by then I will be 70 and still alive and Swaziland will be gone. CRAZY. Please cover this trip in prayer as well as my remaining time in CA, my move to NJ and my precious friends in Haiti at Canaan Orphanage. Thank you to all of you that have given above and beyond in the last 2 weeks to me personally and to Canaan. Your money will be used wisely, with discernment and will bring healing to a hurting nation. I'm thankful for you all.
(Pictures - One of my favorite people, Jerah, in Coronado, Skiing at Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe and sunset on Laguna Beach after our drive down the PCH)
Hey everyone, I threw this video together tonight to show a group of middle schoolers and it had a tremendous impact. I will be sharing it next week with a group at a public HS here in Danville, CA where I am currently living. This is DEFINITELY worth 3 minutes of your time. Please be praying for Canaan and that Samaritan's Purse would adopt them or we would find someone who has access to a plane. THIS COUNTRY IS IN GREAT NEED...WATCH THIS VIDEO AND CHOOSE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! For donations, please visit: http://www.canaanorphanage.org - for immediate questions and ways to get involved, please contact me or join our group on facebook - Pray for Haiti & Canaan Orphanage. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN. WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! WE HAVE RAISED CLOSE TO $50,000!!!!
& Shane. As I was watching the video I found myself crying, but it wasn't because of the images. I already cried a lot in January when the earthquake struck and in February when I saw the damage in a country close to my heart. Nothing in Haiti that I see in a picture shocks me, because I saw it live. I'm not going to write you a novel on the song like I did with What Do I Know of Holy, because the song speaks for itself. It is truth and it is straight out of Gods Word. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." For everyone in transition that has returned from the race and doesn't know what the heck they are doing with their life, for anyone going through a hard time that can't see or hear from God, and just for those who enjoy music and words of truth...go buy this song on Itunes. It is worth a dollar and it will speak volumes to your heart. 
have talked so much, relied too much on others counsel, or taken so much control that I haven't quieted my heart to listen to the Lord. I have made Him way smaller than He is and at times taken things into my own hands. Do you ever put Him in a box? And sadly, I have often feared men more than I have feared Him. I can be so quick to lose perspective and fix my eyes on myself versus Christ that I sometimes wonder if I would really know Him were He to touch me or sit down next to me on a bench. Don't worry just this week, He touched me. Not tangibly, but I felt Him, He did something through one of His people and I know it was Him. 
God spoke you into motion, He spoke me into motion. 
ue intimacy with Christ. I am called to love God and to love others. I've caught a glimpse of who God is and I'm convinced I'll keep catching glimpses. When you truly pursue Christ and make Him your first focus, you will not only be brought to your knees, but you will be driven to tell others about this unbelievable God that you serve. You will long to be a part of something more and to make a kingdom impact with your life...or at least I will.
I'm not really sure what to say to do justice to the mass destruction I saw today as I drove through the streets of Port-au-Prince today. Smells wafted through the air, buildings were destroyed, people were everywhere, tent cities seemed to be every 500 feet, trash and who knows what else burning and there was nothing I could do but pray. We saw the Capital Building and even though I saw the image a million times on CNN it was different to see it live and take it in. It is amazing the amount of destruction and lives that can change in a mere 45 seconds. That isn't a real long time in the grand scheme of things, but then again, imagine shaking uncontrolably for that long. Not something I want to try anytime soon.
great. I think the question many have asked is why God? Why would you allow this to happen? I know you are sovereign and working, but what are you doing? You could've stopped this and you could clean it all up with the snap of your fingers if you wanted, so why? Why are you allowing your people that you love to suffer and starve while I live in a comfortable home in America with far more than I actually need. 
This blog is kind of random. I don't really have a point and I haven't processed much at all. I'm stuck on why. It is still the question I'm trying to figure out and I probably won't get an answer anytime soon, which I'm okay with. As we drove home tonight I was praying and I thought about the times in my life I've asked that same question. There have been several times actually. I remember when my father died suddenly the day before I turned 17. I was so angry and didn't understand why God would allow that to happen and especially in the manner that it did. But 14 years later even though I don't know WHY it happened I have seen God use it in my life and in others. I am a different person because of what I went through. So as I was listening to worship music, looking at stars and praying, I again felt a sense of HOPE for Haiti. HOPE that because of what they have gone through they will be different people. HOPE because God is sovereign over all things, even this earthquake. HOPE because every single person in all creation has a Father who loves them. I'm thankful to be here with my friends. Please keep praying for them and giving as you feel led. You can give at 
Trips to the hospital are always unique and always seem to
produce tears and brokenness in my heart.
with, or pray for them.
the ward, when 60-year-old
grandmother grabbed us in desperation.
What is normal?
the nice hotel didn't
feel normal, but being in a van for 9 hours did.
Pastor Gift is set on instilling hope in this place and sharing
the love of Christ.
cabin today.
I feel like so much has happened in the last month that I'm not sure where to start, what to share, or if I should simply sing the praises of a God who loves us and PROVIDES for our needs. My life has been a whirlwind and I have literally gone from one side of America to the other, moved all my belongings to NJ, worked a slew of odd jobs, raised awareness and money for Canaan Orphanage in Haiti, and in 48 hours will hop on a plane to Swaziland, Africa. People have joked telling me they can't keep up with where I am and honestly some days I can't either. That is why I truly believe that it is only by the grace of God that I am still going strong and that everyday I wake up full of joy and overwhelmed by His love and goodness to me. 
n in the midst of this tragedy. They have been able to network and connect with people, including the military, for things such as food distribution. They have been able to get medical teams in from the states every week. They have been able to have 3 children adopted, including 2 babies. (Read about the story of Joseph and my good friends Chris & Sarah Hlavacek here - 
turned into a medical relief and refugee center. Many of the kids at Canaan speak English, the advantage of that is they are able to serve as translators in local hospitals for medical teams. Pretty sweet, huh? God's hand is all over this and the beauty is Canaan is connected, ready, and willing to be used by God. They are the light of Christ to a hurting nation and they are there. I can pray and raise awareness, but I am not physically there. Your support has enabled them and empowered them to help their people. THANK YOU! Please pray that commercial flights will resume in 2 weeks as planned and we will still be able to go on February 28th. If you would like to follow specific updates, please join the group on Facebook - Pray For Haiti & Canaan Orphanage. To give financially, visit 
February 15-24 - Swaziland, Africa - This is a partner trip with Adventures In Missions and Children's Hopechest. This trip was made possible through excess support from World Race. It is a vision trip to go be a part of and see what God is doing with Aids orphans in this country. If you didn't read my last blog, basically the most staggering statistic is that by 2050 the UN predicts this country will cease to exist. CRAZY. Please be in prayer for this trip in whatever way the Lord leads. Most important prayer request right now is my health as I seem to be coming down with a cold and I leave in 48 hours. 
February 26 - March 5 - Montrouis, Haiti (Canaan) - If commercial flights resume, which they are saying Feb 19th, then me and a team of about 10 folks will spend 5 days in Haiti. I have no idea what that will entail after the events of the last month. I assume we will show them love, serve and be of assistance in whatever way they need. The schedule appears longer b/c a fellow world racer, a high school student, and I are driving to Fort Lauderdale to decrease our expenses. Should be fun and we are visiting some friends of mine along the way.
March 8 and beyond - Moorestown, NJ. I can't wait to be around my family and finally in one place. The big news is that God has birthed a vision in me and a very close friend from the World Race, Emily Hunnicutt. We are in the process of developing a detailed business plan of a non-profit that would serve other non-profits in the areas of marketing, fundraising, donor relations, and development. If the Lord continues to open doors and the counsel we receive advises us to move forward we will aim to start this organization in May. Please pray for clear direction, open or closed doors and all of the details to move into place. This is HUGE, EXCITING, and WAY BIGGER than us, so we know that is of God. We are taking some risks, trusting Him, and trying to keep up. We welcome your prayers. If you want to learn more just shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share. 
I'm on a plane between San Diego and San Francisco as I'm
typing this blog. (side note – everyone should fly Virgin America – they have
outlets and wifi)
even on the same road.
statistics, the entire country will cease to exist by 2050.
