Our first mission’s trip was to the Dominican with South Haven Christian Church, which sparked our desire to work in the mission field.   After the first trip to the Dominican we knew God had bigger things planned for us but just not totally sure yet where we were to serve.  

In 2017 John and I decided to join the mission’s team at Port Orange Christian Church which is our home church now.  Our first trip with POCC was to the American Indian Christian Mission out in Arizona.  The mission there is a Christian boarding school just off the reservation.   It was a phenomenal experience.  AICM needs volunteers and missions’ workers all the time, and when we were out there, they did have openings, however John and I just did not feel that it was the fit for us and what we had to offer.

The 2018 year started with the mission’s team planning the year and what trips were to be included.  AICM was first on the list and John and I were very excited to be returning.  However, things changed quickly!  We got word from Sandy Miller with Three Angels Children’s Relief in Haiti that she really wanted a group of us to come and do some work there. So, after a unanimous vote we decided to put Haiti on the list and the plan was to go in April which only gave a couple months’ notice.  Well of course we were on board considering we wanted to see all the missions we supported and investigate each of them.  

The trip in April began and God wasted no time directing us to what he wanted.  We soon learned that Sandy, the guesthouse manager would be retiring and there was a need for another manager.  Not too sure this was what we were supposed to do we prayed about it and decided to forego our trip later in the summer back to AICM and return to Haiti on our own to see what life was really like living there and not being there with others on a mission trip.

That trip was one of the worst experiences and the best experiences all together.  I truly feel in love with the people and the land on this visit.  I was hooked on the mission and the work that needed to be accomplished there.  However, God wanted to show us just a little bit of the trials we would face.  John and I both were sick with food poisoning by mid-week and to top things off the country was in turmoil.  Riots and manifestations were breaking out all over Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area.  John and Eric (the in-country director) were literally stuck across town and could not get through the barricades people had set up.  As I laid in bed so sick not able to even sit up, I was getting messages sent to me from John explaining his situation and asking for prayers for their safety to get back.  Well, John and Eric did finally make their way back with an escort from the haitian swat team and packed Sandy and I up and we headed to the Helgemo’s for 3 more days until we were able to get to the airport safely and get a flight out of the country.

During this time, I was really questioning what in the world was I thinking!  I thought I really didn’t like this at all, and why would I do this…. but then God reminded me that he never said things would be easy only that he would be there for me.  I started thinking why do I give up when things get a little hard?  Isn’t that why this is a Mission field?  There were many other thoughts that invaded my head through the course of the day however, I realized this was still the plan God had for John and I and now more than ever this is where we should be.

After this trip I returned two more times in 2018 to Haiti. In October with Sandy for two weeks.  During that two weeks I had a two-day class on card making teaching the women some new skills.  The second trip was two weeks in November, to host an adoptive couple.  They were there for their first bonding visit which is protocol when adopting out of Haiti.

https://www.threeangelshaiti.org