Today we begin our journey back to the States.
Because the airport in Port-au-Prince is closed for commercial flights, we are driving the five (read: nine) hour drive back through the Dominican Republic to Santo Domingo, where we will be staying tonight. We fly back to Miami, and then to our respective homes on Wednesday.
However, this story does not end.
When I went to Uganda, it took me a month or two to process what I experienced and how it changed me in the context of my life in America. We quit our jobs and moved to Nashville.
When I went to India, it was a little bit different. I connected on a deeper level with my Compassion child and his father, and that has changed my heart.
However, Haiti has been more like Uganda because it has changed me in a completely different way. It has motivated me to become more active in our political systems to ensure aid is delivered when people need it.
How this looks like in my life? I have no idea.
I’m also thinking about how to engage this “blog family” into Haiti. For some reason, it seems like so many of you connected with the stories we were telling maybe even a bit more than other trips I have taken.
As I said before, what we need is real people on the ground who are courageous, compassionate, and willing to pray for people and help distribute supplies. Maybe help rebuild and clean up.
So, the story will continue. The end of our trip is not the end of our mission.
While we are traveling, I may not be able to post again until I’m home on Wednesday or Thursday. I can’t express how grateful I am for your prayers and support as you have shared the story of such a hopeful and messy and redemptive story.
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I encourage you to check out my trip mates — my brothers — that have been with me since the beginning. We bonded so well and supported each other and sacrificed for each other.
Yes, I was the only girl.
But they treated me just like one of the guys.
And that too will take some processing.
And quite possibly therapy.
Read their blogs, and hear their stories from the trip.
Rhett “The Only One I Knew” Smith (Twitter)
Lars “Has a 39 year old body” Rood (Twitter)
Jeremy “Abercrombie” Zach (You pronounce it ZOCK!) (Twitter)
THE “Walking Evangecube” Marko
Adam “Does Not Live in a Basement” McLane (Twitter)
Chef & Chief Seth Barnes (Twitter)
Ian “The Boy in the Hole” Robertson (Twitter)
Tim “Are You Like Hitler?” Schmoyer (Twitter)
A variety of media, videos, pictures, and thoughts can also be found on the Facebook Page.
Thank you again.
Love you guys.
Comments
18 responses to “The Story Doesn’t End”
Anne, thanks for having the courage to go to Haiti, for serving the people there, and for sharing your experience with the rest of us through your blog and Twitter.
.-= Paul Steinbrueck?s last blog ..6 Ways Formulas Fail Us =-.
Anne, I’m excited to hear more post-processing. Thank you for using your blog to give folks a different look and feel of Haiti than what we’ve seen so far. I’m sure you’ll remember the hope above all else.
Safe travels…
.-= Josh?s last blog ..What?s Your Story? =-.
I am glad that you took us along with you.
To be honest I have kind of steered clear of your blog for the last week, had a hard time reading the stuff and sitting in my home safe and comfortable. But I do feel like you took us along with you, and though I think that this trip has impacted you way more then we the readers, I still feel like that impact spreads to us through your experience.
Thanks for being an advocate of Haiti.
Anne,
Thankyou for giving me a glimpse into the “real” Haiti through you blogs and pictures this week. Having been to Haiti twice in the past, the effects of the earthquake and the slowness of the arrival of aid to desparate people has had my heart aching. Seeing the pics/videos and hearing the stories of how God is moving there is doing wonders for my heart and my faith! I live in Nashville as well, and would love to be able to connect with you before I leave to be part of an AIM relief team next month. Blessings on you and the rest of the group as you travel home!
Anne, I am praying for you today, for safe travels, processing, to see God’s heart as you leave people with gifts they have given you which you are now to bring home and share with others through your stories. I pray for the remaining time with your team and how God will send you all from here to a new place.
I returned home from a powerful retreat with youth where I was able to spend 3+ days interceding on behalf of others. It is so amazing to see people and their stories through the eyes of God and to be able to step outside ourselves to serve them, love them well, and uplift them to our Lord. Thank you for doing that for Haiti. Thank you for how you do that for others and how I know you will find ways to connect the two in the future.
Blessings,
Sherie
.-= Sherie?s last blog ..Quest for Humility =-.
Yes, Anne, you need to process all that you’ve seen, heard, smelled, tasted. It will take lots of solitude and silence and quiet … and the discipline to go there. It will be painful. Enlightening. Soul-changing.
But out of that meeting place with God, where He walks you through everything you’ve experienced, will come a huge treasure trove that will either change or sharpen what you believe and who you are.
What a ride still awaits you!
.-= Linda Stoll?s last blog ..Got Margins? =-.
Ann
Praying for you and your group…your blogs have told so much more than we would have ever know from our government. I pray Our Lord grants you all mercies with what you have seen,heard,felt and wondered. I will continue to pray for Haiti and its people, those missionaries that are still there trying to put lifes back together. Thank you for doing what the Lord has placed in your heart, doing what I could not have.
Praying for a safe trip home and the awaiting hug from your Mother.
In His Name,
Mary
The story doesn?t end?but we get cut in on the Kingdom being near.
.-= eddie broussard?s last blog ..vintage?Rich Mullins =-.
You are in for many rewards serving, loving, participating and going to Haiti. We are praying your trip home will be extraordinary! And thank you for sharing your heart rendering days, Anne.
.-= Carol?s last blog ..Power =-.
Anne,
I can help with the therapy if you need it :-) Unless of course you need the therapy specifically because of all of us. Ha.
It was great hanging this week.
What a trip!!
.-= Rhett Smith?s last blog ..Haiti Day #4: Displaced People-Displaced God-Displaced Disciples =-.
Anne, I would love to hear more about the transformation after your Uganda trip and what beckoned you in Nashville. Is there a previous blog post where you’ve written about it?
I look forward to hearing more about the eternal impact of this trip.
Thank you for showing us the hope & faith in Haiti.
Anne,
I know little movies of this trip will be playing in your head for a long time. All you say is true. The challenge is to come back and maintain that engagement with those you met and helped. Jesus calls us to be witnesses to share what we have seen and as our friend Don Miller says “to write a better story”. Your story is about to get much better…
.-= ironmike?s last blog ..we were soldiers… =-.
Travel safe…love your work. God bless!
Anne, thanks so much for putting this up, it?s so good to hear of help coming to people who need it so badly. My friends and I have been set up to go on two different trips to haiti and both have fallen through. We are now looking for another opportunity to help there. I was wondering who you are there with, and if they need anymore help. Also if they don?t if you know anyone who does. Three of my friends already have tickets to get to haiti from being so close to going on the last trip that fell through and three more of have already gotten time off and started preparations to go. So in short, if you have any information on how we can get down to haiti and help please let us know. Thanks so much again. I hope you?re doing well and appreciate your work there.
Ha. I gotta hear the story behind some of these nicknames. Tim – Hitler? Funny. Glad you are back. I prayed for you & the team while you were away.
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
We are all the sum total of our experiences. As I’m getting older I see more and more how each of the encounters with people and experiences I’ve had in my life continues to shape who I am and my ministry. I have those moments in time that are burned into my memory like snapshots. I’m sure 40 years from now those images of the people you met and the things you saw in Haiti will still be vivid in your mind. I know for me too, the intense ministry opportunities I’ve had have changed me. Some of them have made my heart more tender towards others. Some have broken my heart and compelled me to wade into humanity more and get involved. My prayers are with you as you have a chance to process everything you’ve exprienced while you are gone. Sometimes that process is painful for me, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Thank you for taking us along with you. :)
.-= Linda B.´s last blog ..The Life Creative… =-.
I am doing some work with Uganda and would love to hear more about your experience there. Did you go over with Compassion?
I did. If you click on the “Uganda Stories” category you can read all about it!