Welcome to Haiti!

I hear this phrase a lot from Stacie! Whether it is because the power goes out when it is not expected too, or like today when she and I both experienced "stomach problems" :( I was praying not to get sick while I was down here, but at least someone else was experiencing my pain!

We were troopers! Even though we felt puny, we went to the market today. It was truly an experience. There were tons of people walking up and down the street, and motorcycles and vehicles were in abundance. There were more guys who passed by and made kissy faces...more guys to say bel to me as they passed which means beautiful!
You would think that in a country where I cannot speak their language, and I do not know anything about them, that I would be terrified. However, it is SO awesome to serve a God who "does not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, LOVE, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) Not once today did I get scared or anything when these guys were flirting, or a woman or little child walked up asking for money. Just thinking back on it gives me "God bumps" (thank you Gina for reminding me of this phrase!). The cool part is having Stacie (who has lived here for a while and knows Creole very well!) tell me that I have no fear or anything when I am out and about! These are God's people just like you and I, so WHY would I treat them any differently? They can't come to know Jesus if I don't first LOVE them!!

It is only day 4 of being here in Haiti, and already the Spirit of God is moving in my life! I cannot wait to continue writing to you all to share the many more blessings he will bestow upon me and Haiti!
Often times we go on missions thinking we are going to bless so many people, but what God does is makes us think that so we will go. Then, He does what He really intended which was to change us! SO thankful to serve and be obedient to God, who knows SO much more than I do! "For His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts higher than my thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9 NLT). He has a plan for each of us! Please do not miss out because of FEAR or anything else.

I ask that you would continue to heavily lift up Oklahoma as they go through this devastation. I could not imagine having my house destroyed or losing a loved one from a tornado. Pray for strength in the community as well as healing of hurting hearts.
Pray for complete healing for mine and Stacie's stomachs. Tomorrow is ministry day, and neither of us wants to miss that. Ask and believe in Jesus Name.

Thank you all!

Blessings and Much Love,
Ashley