Home

I have been thinking about the word "home" for a while now.  It seems that the more I live life, the more confused I am about where "home" is.  For many years  after I moved away from Minnesota I would call that home.  Even though my parents moved out of the house I grew up in 15 years ago, going to Prinsburg still felt like going home in a way.  I have lived in Michigan longer than I lived in Minnesota now, so Michigan really feels like home too.  Grand Rapids was home to us for our first few years that we were married and we love to visit there and have many family members there.  We lived in Lake City for over 10 years and grew to love so many people there.  We never owned that home because we lived in a parsonage, but it was home to us for that time.  

Now we are in Haiti.  In many ways this doesn't feel like home.  It is so different than what we are used to.  There are people in and out of our house each day because the aunts come to and from work, and every day someone different comes to eat at our table or chat with us on the porch.  But it is home in a way, also.  It feels right, like we are supposed to be here.  

In a discussion with Jadyn the other night she said that Haiti feels like home now. Where is our home?  People often ask us that when they come to volunteer.  How do we answer?  When people say "are you coming home sometime soon?" they are usually asking if we are coming to the States.  Haiti is now our home.  That might change, but for now, it is home.  

Many of you have lived in the same area for most of your lives.  You are settled, you plan to stay, you have roots.  Others of you know what I am talking about.  You have moved many times, you know that God might call you to move again, you feel restless at times.  

I do not like the restlessness.  I have dreamed of feeling "settled" for many years.  I feel like in a way I have been waiting for that my entire adult life.  Desiring marriage and a family....waiting for that.  Getting married but having a husband in seminary....waiting for graduation and then our first church.  Feeling so grateful to be in Lake City, but then after several years, feeling God's preparation to move on to something different but not knowing what that was and praying for several years.  Now we are in Haiti....for how long?  Is this home?  Is God preparing us again?  

I think God uses this to keep me close to Him.  To keep me praying and seeking.  To keep Dan and I talking about God's plan and to keep praying together.  To focus more on Him than being satisfied in a "home" here on earth.  To think about heaven and all of the people we have met and how awesome it will be to be reunited someday.  Hebrews 11:10 "For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

I have not lost hope that someday we will buy a home and settle down....and then go around and visit all of the people we love!  I am not saying in any way this is wrong.  I just think I need to learn that it is not the most important thing.  The most important thing is to honor God and worship Him wherever I am at the moment.

One of the songs we used to hear on the radio in our home in Lake City was Building 429: "Where I Belong".  The chorus goes like this:

All I know is I'm not home yet 

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong

Or you can listen to the whole song here.youtu.be/he32vwlKQPY

Someday we will truly be HOME.  And if you know Christ as your Savior you will be there also.  So much joy, celebration, singing, and praising The Lord.  I am looking forward to that, but at this time I will focus on The Grace House in Lagossette, Haiti, where He has placed me for now.  

An Opportunity For You

People love seeing the children from Children of the Promise.  They love seeing the children in our house and the Joy House and the baby house.  I know many people who check out the photos on the website on a weekly basis.  The children here at COTP are precious.  God placed them here for a season and we are here to be a part of their story.

We love to hear about people praying for the children at COTP.  How you become invested in their lives and pray for their parents and families, whether they be in Haiti or in another country waiting for their adoptions to be completed.  

I have another way you can invest in the children.  You can become a sponsor for a child!  It is not difficult, and it helps pay for their stay here at Children of the Promise.  You would like to consider it?  Check out this link and contact us!   http://childrenofthepromise.org/child-sponsorship/

And while you are thinking and praying about it, check out their cute faces on the COTP website!