It’s all over the news.
The death of 5 teens.
Tragic.
Heart breaking.
I relive the night of Elijah’s death.
My heart aches for these families.
Friends. Relatives.
So much loss.
So much pain.
It feels senseless and overwhelming.
A hurricane bashes a tired nation.
Presidential candidates mock the very fabric of our nation.
The destruction wreaked by one car on an interstate.
I close the door.
I turn and walk out of my parents home.
Possibly for the last time.
I can not stop the sobs that wrack my body.
So much loss.
So much devastation.
How can you be immune?
How can you sit and not be spurred to move?
To help?
To jump right out of that chair and make a difference.
Here on the farm we’re trying.
We’re trying to survive here.
We’re trying to go where we’re needed.
My farmer gets a call to go.
Will he go with a team of 10 skilled workers to minister to the least of these?
The call that has come not once but twice so far.
Can he drop everything and go?
Can he leave the farm, chores, his wife and family
Matthew 4:20
At once they left their nets and followed him.
The disciples did.
They stopped.
They turned.
They went.
The cost of following can be everything.
Christ gave all.
The cross.
A symbol of that sacrifice.
I have rationalized all the reasons why my farmer or son should not go to Haiti.
It’s not fiscally responsible.
There is limited help here on the farm.
There are those that need help in this country.
But he was called; to Haiti.
And we have known this.
It’s been on his heart since cancer took up residence in his body.
Since he left his heart on the needy soil of that island.
When the winds began to blow, and the storm raged there was a restlessness over our home.
The tension rising as my farmer waited for word from the land that holds his heart.
Now the call has come.
Teams of 10 skilled workers are heading down each week.
To work.
To rebuild.
To provide support by being the hands and feet to a devastated nation.
Go.
Mathew 16:24-26
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[a] Is anything worth more than your soul?
I want to live so we can go.
Where he leads.
Immediately.
Are you able to go?
What holds you back?
What burdens do you carry that weighs you down?
What keeps you from doing the things required of you?
Tonight we’re letting go of the conventional.
We’re stepping into obedience.
We don’t know where tomorrow will lead us.
So we seize today.
Is God calling you to something?
Have you lacked the faith to step into the unknown?
Listen to the Ancient Word.
Be encouraged.
Psalm 31:24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Deutoronmy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,
for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
If you would like to partner with us there are a few ways.
If you would like to give to the Haiti relief effort you can donate here.
There is a drop down menu specifically for the Haiti Hurricane Matthew Project
If you would like to give to support my farmer and farm boy you can either make checks payable to:
GoServ Global
310ﾠEast Broadway
PO Box 193
Eagle Grove, IA 50533
Or Donate online
http://goservglobal.org/give/
Click on Haiti Missions, indicate in the box that there are additional instructions and include my farmer’s name.
We will also be gathering items in the next few days to send to Haiti.
Check back with us to see how you can help in that effort.
Most of all we covet your prayers.
There is much devastation in the nation of Haiti with few resources.
Prayers for here on the farm as we step in faith.
Please also keep the people of Harwood in your prayers as they continue to deal with the shock and devastating loss of 5 teens from their Community. Our family knows all too well this pain and grief. We also know the impact the prayers of many had on us, even know as we continue the journey without our Elijah.
