… following my heart

Two times in my lifetime, I have had the privilege of serving overseas in third-world countries. These experiences have changed my life forever. . . not only in being there, but also in coming home. For when I came home. . . the culture shock of how extremely wealthy we are (even in times of economic struggles) - compared to the countries I visited really hit me.


So as I watch the situations in Haiti. . . my heart breaks. . . & there's a part of me that wants to go volunteer & help. . . but I know that because of the situations that exist  - it would not as much help as what I can do here. . . To send what I have & pray.


I wasn't sure if I would share this. . . but I have been shown in the past few days. . . to follow my heart & so I have decided to go ahead & share.  . . . When I heard about the devastation in Haiti, I remembered what I knew about the country from when I was working within a hunger & relief agency & I knew that the conditions were already desperate. I am on the emailing list with several of the relief agencies that I support & immediately the call went out for help. . . & for prayers. So immediately I began to pray. . . but part of my prayers were my conversation with God - that I wanted to do more. I wanted to give money. . . but, because of a snafu with the IRS - taking what has seemed like forever to send a much needed needed letter - so that I can be paid some royalty payments. . . finances here have been really. . . really tight.  (. . . As it has been for many . . ) But. . . as I was making a prayer list of the needs that was hearing on the tv & reading about - some Bible verses & stories kept popping into my mind. . . especially some of Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6: 25-34). . . & I knew although it might seem that I couldn't do anything financially to help. . . I also knew that I was much better off & couldn't not give something.
So my prayer changed a little, & because I knew that World Vision was already active & set up in Haiti (& has been for years. . .) I made a donation . . . of the amount that kept popping up in my heart. I'll be honest. . . my head questioned it. . . but I decided to follow my heart.
I finally went to bed (I had not been able to sleep. . .) & when I woke up the next morning. . . & checked my email. . . two of the emails were from my website host, notifying me that two of the quilts that I have for sale on my website had sold overnight. Then. . . (& I have to smile at this. .  because it was almost as if God was putting a little exclamation mark on it. . .) as I was still looking though my emails. . . the little "ping" sounded - alerting me that another email had come through . . & as I checked it . . . yep.
Another quilt had sold.
More than enough . . . I saw that He had provided more than enough for what I gave the night before.
I was so humbled & so thankful.
Why do I write all this . . .? Mostly just to share. . . but honestly, I want to encourage you to give. . . give what ever you can. . . & maybe give even more then what you think you can. We live in such a blessed nation & the need is so great in Haiti. . . more than what we can even imagine. I know that God knows. . . & I believe that our gifts will be blessed & multiplied.
We just need to be willing.
It's humbling. . . but it's what loving each other is really all about.
Below is a short little video from Rich Sterns from World Vision. I have been a supported of World Vision for years - as they are one of the relief & development agencies that I really respect. World Vision is already there in Haiti. . . they have been there - helping, assisting, caring for many years.

Help Haiti, a message from Rich Stearns to the church from World Vision Video Dept. on Vimeo.

Thanks for letting me share. . . (if you have read this far!)
And . . . in advance. . . thanks for praying & for giving.

♥ Bren