The God of Impossibilities
Restless, uncertain and unhappy were all feelings I experienced often in my job as a financial analyst for a large telecommunications company. I knew I had to respond; I had to investigate why I felt this way. I had originally thought of taking some time off work and travelling around Europe, finding myself I guess. However, God had a very different idea in mind. He spoke powerfully to me and I felt led to volunteer. How could I volunteer? What skills did I have? I definitely felt unprepared and unskilled. Well, as I explored this opportunity, I found I did actually have skills God could use to advance His kingdom. What a surprise! Shocking to me, ministries need finance people to help make their jobs easier and give more time to their dedicated causes. Through lots of prayer and searching on behalf of ServiceLink, Haiti was identified as a country that was in great need of a finance expert. I thought to myself, “God, Haiti? Really?” I was very uncertain about the entire experience but things miraculously began to fall into place. My employer agreed to give me an extended leave of absence along with some continued support over this period. It was more than I ever expected or imagined. I have to admit that even though all the details seemed to come together, I still doubted. I wondered if I had made the right decisions and if being separated from my family and friends was something I could really handle for 10 months. The worst moment came at the airport as I was staring back at my family and wondering if the sadness would go away. But once I arrived in Haiti, the missionaries welcomed me with open arms and I felt at home. I was reminded how God rewards those who step out in faith to meet Him. I now felt completely within God’s will and was so happy I had followed His leading. Once I had overcome the initial shock of Haiti and all its cultural richness, I began to fear my trip to the countryside to do a language study. I did not speak or understand the language, nor was I familiar with the people or the community in which I would be staying. But once again, I was reminded of God’s promise to equip those He calls and began to trust Him.  My language study in a small Haitian village proved to be my most memorable trip in Haiti. The people in the community became my family and my ability to understand and speak Creole flourished with them. God blessed me incredibly by surrounding me with people who constantly encouraged me and whose faith challenged my own. After my language study, as I began working with Sous Espwa and its partners, I reveled in the appreciation I received by helping them with things I perceived to be small. These people were so grateful to learn new skills and thanked me profusely for anything I helped them with. For the first time in my career, I felt purposeful and useful to those around me. God developed in me a love for the Haitian culture and people that will never leave me. He taught me a lot during these 10 months, and most importantly, He gave me a fulfillment I have never experienced before. I am thrilled to be returning to Haiti to work as an Associate Missionary with Christian Reformed World Missions. I could have never imagined returning to Haiti to serve as a missionary, but with God, the impossible becomes possible. To Him be the glory. In Support of Sous Espwa (CRWM and CRWRC ministries combined) and their Haitian partners Lesley Millar Back to 'Stories' |
