Decision: Haiti

In 2008, I visited the Dominican Republic, and met up with some locals. When I thought of paying a visit to Haiti in 2008, it was more a curiosity about seeing the place I’d read about: one of the most dangerous and desparate places on earth. I thought to do this from a safe distance and with a sort-of tour guide.

Today, we depart for Titanyen with our hearts aimed in the service of God and love of others in support of an organization called Mission of Hope, based Haiti, and operating out of Florida. No doubt, this opportunity would have passed me by had it not been for Her, and I feel so grateful to embark on this journey together.

We discovered the opportunity while attending a contemporary christian church service in Virginia. We attended a young adult service, which is very different from the traditional Presbyterian services available to me while growing up in small town Pennsylvania. As the service concluded, the pastor announced that in the previous year his church had sent many congregation to perform mission work locally, and in more than twenty countries.

The pastor continued that this year the church aimed to focus its efforts more finely and upon fewer countries that were of greatest need so that the most resources could be committed toward the areas where they could cause the most impact, to the greatest effect.

Included with a couple of other countries was Haiti, and the organization called Mission of Hope. The pastor’s announcement aroused interest in both myself and Her, and we made further inquiry after the service concluded, as well as at home on the mission’s website. We quickly analyzed that the best way to ensure that we would be able to make the trip together and quickly was to contact and make arrangements directly with Mission of Hope, and we did.

And so we commited to make the trip together on March 17, booked with American Airlines, with Mission of Hope, and began to move forward in the process of preparation for the journey.