Getting my feet wet

There is a work team in from Florida, and today is their day to relax and go to the beach, so I decided to stay "home" and relax here. So I have some time to write!

Things here are in full swing. One of the people from Florida is a pastor, so the past couple days I have been with he, Bruce, and Pastor Creisbolm (a haitian pastor) riding around visiting churches and seeing what work needs to be done. It is overwhelming the amount of things to do. I have to remind myself that this is an endurance race and not a sprint. Still it is disheartening. It was great to see and meet a lot of Haitian people, though. I have so much respect for how happy they are despite how difficult their life is. Smiles are everywhere! I am really hoping that I can learn from them and take joy in all situations.

I have been staying in Bruce and Deb's for the past couple days, but will move down to the team house on monday. Right now they are using "my" room as an office, and it is still unclear whether that will actually become my room or stay an office. I'm fine with it either way, but it would be nice to settle in somewhere.

It is a little daunting for me to think that i will be here for 6 months, but i'm trying to take it day by day. The country is beautiful and the people are very friendly and everything has been going very well. I'm relying on God hour by hour and that has been great.

Learning the language is imperative. Please pray that God would open my ears to it and teach me how to speak. Also pray for a smooth transition into this team, that I can find my niche, contribute, and learn.

Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement. You have been awesome and I miss you all.

Safely Arrived

Hello from Haiti! I am at Bruce and Deb's in Passe Catabois. Praise God for His protection and provision in my travels over the last couple days. The trip was eventless but enjoyable. Thank you for your prayers; God answered in kind. I will write a bit more later, but for now it is time for rest :) Good night.

You can see where I got my good looks ;)

My parents came up last weekend. what an awesome blessing! If i haven't said it before, I love my family. They are constantly an amazing example of God's love in my life. Thank you Mom and Dad for all your help in getting me ready to leave. It was great to hang out with you both and to take your money in cards.

By the way, i made them do the peace sign thing.

How we get things to Haiti

The infamous crate that will be transporting the plotter to Haiti (thanks Dad for using your talents to build the crate). This bad boy will be travelling by truck freight to Miami, and then by boat from Miami to Haiti.

We could probably fit a person in there, any takers :)

Blessings from God

"Ask and it will be given to you" Matthew 7:7

Thank you all for your prayers! We had been praying that God would provide an engineering plotter (otherwise known as a really big printer), and God provides! Thank you to Dan at ESE for donating the plotter. We will definitely put it to good use. With a plotter we can put together professional plans that will help in getting different grants, making presentations, and constructing more complex projects. Haiti is going big time!

Suitcases

My suitcases. Aren't they beautiful?!? To be completely honest these suitcases are a blessing from God. I might be sounding a little weird, but to find 3 huge suitcases, 2 of which are hard-sided, and all for free or near-free is awesome! Thank you to Liz for finding them and to those who donated them. These are exactly the kind of suitcases i was looking for.

American Flight 1291

Flight is booked, and I am very excited to be leaving in less than two weeks, even though American Airlines is no longer providing pillows (some how I will make do). I have a lot to prepare over the next 12 days, but I believe it will all come together. A friend, Liz, has been helping me with some things (you rock, liz!). Also my parents will be in town this weekend, so I'm going to rope them into helping me get things together. It will be great to have some of my family here for the next 4 days. Even though I don't see my family that often (3-4 times a year), I am really going to miss them. God has blessed me with two amazing parents who are such a great example and encouragement to me and with a wonderful sister who is getting married this fall (yes I will be back for her wedding)!

God has been pressing on me lately that amidst all the craziness of work and preparing to leave, I need to focus on two things: Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself. He will do the rest. Praise be to God for the way He so graciously uses imperfect and fallen people like me to do His perfect work.

By the way, if you want to receive my prayer email list, send me an email at bennyg612@hotmail.com. Thanks!

I'm on my way to Haiti!

I received word this week that my support is at 100%! So I'll be booking a plane ticket for the last week in February (the 22nd or 23rd I think). Wow that is coming up fast! The next two and a half weeks are going to be an intense time of preparation and packing. Please pray that I will have the diligence and patience to get all the things done that I need to do. Most of all pray that I will seek God more and more, and that He will use me to show His love to others. We have such a gracious and loving God, it is really overwhelming. Despite all my laziness, my lack of focus, and all my other weaknesses, He has completely answered my prayer of being in Haiti in February. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." Thank you God for your faithfulness and strength.

As a side note, although I have received all my support to go to Haiti, there are still many needs there, including an engineering plotter, a four-wheeler, a new solar panel, and many others. If you would like to contribute to this mission, please continue to do so!

Thank you all so much for the support and the encouragement. God has used you all in a great way in my life, and I really appreciate that. Also, feel free to leave a comment or two (thanks timmy!).