Smacked with Reality!

Have you ever just gone through the motions, day after day, doing what needs to get done, and then all of the sudden you were smacked in the face with the reality of what you have been doing all of that time????

Well I was smacked yesterday- right in the face!    Let me explain...

We have been running around these last few months... doing what has become quite familiar and normal for us-  speaking in churches, sending out newsletters updating family and friends on the events of life, sorting through belongings, collecting items that we need, writing thank you notes and lifting up prayers of praise and thanks to God for His provision.....

and then yesterday, it hit me.   We are moving to HAITI!

Now I know what you are thinking.... DUH, Emily!  You have known this for quite some time now... and its just now hitting you!?!?!?!

So much of this journey has been looking forward to and prepare for something in the distant future...  when we started down the road to Emmaus, we knew what God was calling us to do, and so we started the process of sharing our hearts with others, and inviting people to join us in God's work... knowing that in God's timing, we would get to Haiti...

but somewhere along this road, we just sort of got "caught up" in the preparation and in the moments (which is NOT a bad thing at all!).... it's just that the conversations and the day-to-day activities have become commonplace...

Let me take another shot at explaining this...

Have you ever been driving down the road, headed to your destination, and been distracted by thoughts or a song, and the next thing you know- you have arrived?  I can't tell you how many times this happens to me... 

(Disclaimer: When I say I'm distracted, I don't mean that my eyes are not on the road!)  

What I mean is that I get caught up in my thoughts, or in a prayer, or in a really good song, and I am not really thinking about where I'm heading, just what I am experiencing in that moment!

This is the best way, that I can think of, to equate this journey...

We have been enjoying every moment, riding along the road to Emmaus- taking in the sights, the conversations, the experiences... 

and now that we are setting dates for flights,
packing up our house,
doing a final push for our last 13% of funding (YES- you read that right- we are 87% funded!!!!!)
scheduling commissioning services and family picnics...

it has hit us!

Yesterday, Phil and I were standing in our house, discussing all of the upcoming events, talking about how we are going to box up our stuff and where it is going, etc. etc... and all of the sudden Phil stopped and looked at me and said, "This is really happening!  We are doing this!"  with sheer excitement in his voice!

I responded, "Yes we are!  Can you believe it?!"  

And then we just stood there... smiling from ear to ear... letting reality smack us in the face!

Even though the finish line is now in sight...  and the calling God has laid on our hearts to go to Haiti is becoming a reality...  I have to say that we are so thankful for the day-to-day focus that God has given us! 

If we had been so focused on just getting to Haiti, and if our eyes had only been on the end result, we would have missed SO much!

These last few months have been so sweet for us...  we have had the blessing of friends and family and the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people who have given us support, prayers, affirmation, encouragement, wisdom...God has stretched us and challenged us and taught us new things about Himself... we have learned patience and endurance, we have experienced provision and guidance...

We have tasted and seen that the Lord is GOOD!

To be honest... I am SO thankful that reality is just now sinking in!  I am beyond grateful for the day-to-day moments that have overwhelmed our thoughts and prayers...

I have learned on this journey that God doesn't want us to focus our energy on tomorrow... He wants us to take advantage of each day He gives us. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34, "...do not be anxious about tomorrow"...

Psalm 118:24 reminds us that "THIS is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"...

Joshua 24:15 tells us that each day we have a choice...  "Choose THIS day whom you will serve"...

There is nothing wrong with keeping your eye on the finish line (in fact we are told to do so!)...  but not at the expense of missing out on what God has for you (and others around you) along the road each day...

Even though we can see God's call becoming a reality and we are SO excited to get to Haiti- my prayer is that I won't miss the moments, each day, that God wants to use... that I don't get so caught up in tomorrow that I miss out on THIS day!  And that is my prayer for you too!

Each day we thank God for the support He has provided us through you!  As I said above, we are still in need of 13% of our funding- and we are trusting that God will continue to provide the faith promise support we need by the time we feel He wants us to leave.  If you can lift our family up in prayer daily- not just for provision, but for protection and strength as we run this final lap- we would greatly appreciate it! 

Below is our upcoming schedule.  We would LOVE for you to join us at any of our commissioning services and at our OPEN HOUSE in August!

May 5th-  Speaking at Friendship United Methodist Church- 
Monroeville, NJ

June 9th-  Final Sunday as Director of Youth Ministries at Sharptown Church- sharing at 8:30am and 11:15am services, Pilesgrove, NJ

July 8th-July 26th- CROSS Training at OMS World Headquarters in
Greenwood, Indiana

July 28th- Commissioning Service at West Park United Methodist Church- 8:30am and 11am services- Bridgeton, NJ

August 4th- Commissioning Service at First Wesleyan Church- 10:30am
Bridgeton, NJ

August 4th-10th- Serving at Delanco Jr High 2 Camp- Tabernacle, NJ

August 11th- Commissioning Service at Sharptown Church- 8:30am and 11:15am services-Pilesgrove, NJ
OPEN HOUSE- First Wesleyan Church Fellowship Hall 2-5pm Bridgeton, NJ

August 24th-  2 Haiti 4 Him!