Fighting For Things Taken For Granted...

What do you mean no indoor plumbing?

One of the first adjustments to traveling on missions is letting go of your comfort zone.  Letting go of luxuries and learning to roll with the flow.  Not my strongest trait....but God is working with me on this.   I now look at my mission trips as an adventure.  It is kind of like going camping in a very foreign world where the language barrier may be the easiest hurdle to deal with.

On each of my mission trips abroad the main need of the people has always seemed to be water.  As shocking as that seems in this day and age.... they desperately need water.  Being blessed to live in the United States I know this is something we take for granted.  How on earth could it be that people do not have water?  Not only do they not have the luxury of running water and indoor plumbing; but most have little access to water of any kind.  The water sources they do have are typically miles away and filthy with no means of cleaning the water.  This normally leads to infections, diseases and parasites.

There is HOPE

While in HAITI April 2012 our team helped in digging a well.  Before we left the well had tapped water.  A larger pump was needed; therefore, the well was finished shortly after we left.  This will supply water to many local families near Pastor Raymond's home who we partnered with in Haiti.

 In Bubanza of Burundi Africa this week Communities for Hope in partnership with several organizations dug and tapped the first well.  This is the first water well in Bubanza which serves as home to over 650 families.  This is an amazing answer to prayer.  When I visited Bubanza in 2010, I truly felt there was no hope.  How much longer can our friends survive with no water and walking miles each day for a bucket of water? Prayers have been answered thankfully to the many wonderful people who made donations to make this dream a reality.

Where I am now....Each of these missions seem to put life back in perspective for me.  We are so very blessed to live in a land with so much opportunity.  I feel so blessed to have the chance to travel abroad to help those less fortunate in the HOPE that it may change their life.  To know that something as simple as WATER can save thousands  is just amazing.  With this water our friends will be able to cultivate crops, which will give them strength.  And HOPE for a fresh attitude for a new life.

Finding a purpose

A life changing decision:

When people ask what I do I often have to think about what hat I am currently wearing.  Sounds familiar I am sure. My answer....I am a REALTOR by day, a Mom by night and SERVANT to the greatest Man ever known, Jesus Christ.

In 2008 my life changed.  For the first time as an adult I felt broken.  In fact, I was broken.  I had 2 small children, a successful career an abundance of awesome friends and family, but something was missing.   Over the next few years I dug deep and continued working to be more successful in Real Estate.  God was good and continued to bless my career.  But still there was a void. I just could not put my finger on what it was.

Matara Burundi Africa Our Batwa friend's

Video from my trip to AFRICA

In January 2010 my church announced their annual Mission Trip to Burundi Africa.  I remember this day like yesterday. It felt as if God pulled me from my seat and told me to go.  I signed up that day.  I was going across the world to Burundi with 24 people I did not know.

This trip changed my life forever. Being the ...labeled..."enabler" that I can be I initially thought I was being called to "fix" these people....to bless them.  But what happened is they blessed me.  They taught me about unfailing love, faith and trust that God is good.  I can still hear their voices signing as we entered the village.  Please take a moment and watch the video above. Their faces are forever inscribed on my heart.

LaCarpio Costa Rica & Coronado

In 2011 I was called to Costa Rica.  We first visited La Carpio.  La Carpio is one of the poorest areas with high crime rate in Costa Rica.  The people we met were all so very kind.  We spent our first few days in Medical Clinics.  Many of the people we saw were sick with parasites because of unsanitary water & open sewage.  

We then visited the orphanage Community Of Faith owns in Coronado.  It is a beautiful place where the children live in a family style homes.  There are married parents who live in the homes with the children.

  

From Coronado we went to an indigenous village.  Our van was unable to make it through the dirt road, so we hiked in about 2 miles.  Upon finding the village we set up our medical clinic; as well as, helped to build a well.  When the well was done we showed them how to filter the water.  By doing this it will cut down on the parasites and infections they have faced.  Again another very rewarding trip.

2012 in Haiti

In April of 2012 I was called to Haiti.   Upon arriving into Port Au Price it is evident that Haiti has far from recovered the Earthquakes of 2010.  It is estimated that over 230,000 persons lost their lives due to the Earthquakes of 2010.  At this time many structures have been left in their damaged state. There are still thousands of Haitians living in tent cities. Some of the biggest problems facing Haiti is the lack of food and clean water.  It is my understanding the hurricane of 2012 has set Haiti back yet again.

Of all the memories I took from my week in Haiti one thing lingers on my mind.  Pastor Raymond told us that until the people of Haiti change their hearts and minds, no amount of money will make a difference.  This was really hard to digest but after much thought I believe it to be true.  The Haitian people seem to have lost hope and faith.  They have seen so much devastation that they do not see a bright future.  With that in mind, my prayer for Haiti is that God will bless them and restore their faith.  That he will give them hope and show them that they can make a difference for their future.

Where I am today:

I have learned through my journey that my Purpose is to Serve.  I serve on global missions around the world; as well as, local missions around Houston, TX.  I have learned the more I give....even when I feel I have nothing left that God replenishes with abundance.  

This year I will be taking 2 mission trips to Honduras.  I will be taking my daughter on her first trip this summer.  I am so excited for her to witness why I do what I do.  I can say it has not always been easy for my kids to understand my travels abroad...but soon I hope it all makes perfect sense.  

Interesting that a crossroad of being broken would bring so much joy.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven