A Leap of Faith

"Faith is taking the first step even when you do
not see the whole staircase."
 -Martin Luther King-

My post today includes a personal request. Today, I reach out to all of you and ask for your thoughts and prayers for my husband Mark, as he embarks on what will most likely be the greatest leap of faith he has ever faced. On Monday of this week, he left for a mission trip to Haiti. His trip involves bringing clean water to the tent cities, spending time with the gravely ill in a wound clinic, as well as caring for orphans in some of the poorest neighborhoods. I have no doubt that he will see things that will change his view of the world forever.

I often wondered if people who go on these trips have a natural desire to get completely outside of their comfort zone... that is until my husband decided, at the last minute, to fill the final spot on the mission team. My husband is not a spur of the moment type of guy, yet he went anyway. He is not someone who looks for the next adventure, yet he went anyway. He had a hundred reasons why the timing would be bad, yet he went anyway.

I am not sure he will ever be able to explain how he knew that he was meant to go on this mission. I suppose if he had too much time to think about it, he may have decided to take a pass. Instead, he took a leap of faith.

The one thing I do know is that personal growth opportunities do not happen when we are filled with answers. They actually come when we are filled with questions; most of which will be left unanswered until a later time in which we can look back and say, "I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for this experience."

Thanks for your support!

Susan

Comments

[Cliff Cannon]

Awesome to hear Susan. I am praying not only for Haiti to be changed (be it small or great, but in a permanent incremental way), but also that your husband will be.

[Janie Linders]

Susan: Thank you for sharing this. I too have the same experience with a mission trip.... 25 years ago my husband lost his job and there was one place open on a mission trip to the interior of Mexico. Our church had a missionary stationed there and our men were to help build a church for the people to worship in. One thing was missing --- water.

The locals were hauling in water, the Mexican government had sent crews out to see if a well could be dug to provide water to the area and nothing was found. Several weeks before our men arrived the local missionary and several others gathered at the corner of the area where the building was to be constructed and prayed. Then one of them said lets dig. Not too far down they struck water -- FRESH water. They had it checked and it was good for drinking. Immediately the corner became a place for the locals to come and get water and visit and help with the church. Food was able to be prepared for the workers. The church bricks were made on site and ready to be put in place when our guys arrived. The church was built in a week.

This is not the end of the story...Eight years ago we were visiting our daughter's church in Harlingen, TX. The men and youth were planning a trip to the same area where our men had been years before. My husband stopped one of the men and asked about the church and started to ask about the well. Before he could finish his question the man said the well was still providing water and it never ran dry.

Needless to say we share this story whenever we can.

So yes your husband and the others will be changed. God is good.

[Susan]

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, Marcus!

Susan

[Susan]

Thank you for your prayers, Clay!

Susan

[Susan]

Thank you, Marlee!

Susan

[Susan]

Thank you, Cathleen! It really is amazing all that they are doing for those whose needs are so great!

Susan

[Susan]

Thank you for the note, Andy! We appreciate the support!

Susan

[Susan]

Thank you for your prayers!

Susan

[Cathleen Olson]

Susan,

So beautifully written. Keep us all posted on his endeavors.

Cathleen Olson

[Andy]

Wow! what a great decision, a perfect example of choosing love over fear. He will certainly come back with a new view of the world. Congrats and safe wishes!