Big Changes

The decision to go on this next trip was one that was many months in the making.  My involvement with Project Medishare first began when I initially volunteered to accompany some coworkers on a week long trip to provide medical care in Port Au Prince following the earthquake.  Over the past two years, I've become increasingly involved with the organization and it has taken on a greater role in my life.  The last time I was in Haiti, this past March, I wasn't ready to come home at the end of the week.  After four trips, many amazing experiences, numerous great friendships, and countless life changing moments...I knew.  Going for a week had been great, but I needed to go down for a longer period of time.

So I began praying about it.  I realized pretty quickly that this was what I was supposed to do.  But the decision still wasn't easy.  Going to Haiti would mean loosing my job here in the States.  So how committed to this was I?  I believed in what Project Medishare was doing in Haiti, but did I believe in it enough to leave a good job and the comfortable life I have in Gainesville?  So I prayed some more.  I got some great encouragement and advice from a few of my friends.  I knew what I had to do.  How often in life do you get the opportunity to really go after one of your dreams?  To live out something that you're really passionate about?  I knew this was something I'd always want to do and that this was an opportunity I'd regret passing up.  So, I decided to resign from my job and signed up for a long term volunteer assignment with Project Medishare.

Several people have also asked me what my family thought when I told them I was quitting my job to go volunteer at a hospital in Haiti.  The responses ranged from..."I'm proud of you, follow your heart" to "why don't you stay down there longer than just a few months" to "maybe we'll come down with you".  Yeah, I'd say my family has been pretty supportive.  They probably weren't that surprised when I told them either.  I think most of them saw this coming.

Some of my friends have told me they just don't get it.  To that I guess all I can say is that if you've never been there, you probably never will.  It's hard to put into words how my life has been changed through my trips to Haiti.  But one thing is for sure, it's made me reconsider what I really "need" in this life.  Coming to this decision over the past few months has taught me a lot about myself, my values, and my faith.

What's next for me after I come back from Haiti?  I'm still not sure.  But I'm ok with that.  All I know is that God is calling me to spend my time serving in Haiti later this year.  After that, I look forward to the next adventure...