Homesick for Haiti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jade Showing The Children Their Pictures

Jade Ripp, one of our participants on our last Haiti trip, wrote about her experience with homesickness. Haiti was her first mission trip. Her viewpoint has changed because of one week in Haiti. Read below to hear what happened in her own words:

God works in the craziest ways. Every trial, testimony and heartbreak was clearly shaped to form each and every one of us. Although life doesn't make sense most of the time, if you follow your heart and listen to God's desires, the direction in His voice and His soft demands, you will have a completely new understanding of life. Everything, absolutely everything, happens for a reason.

Sometimes it is hard to throw away the life you used to lead and hand the pen to the Lord, to write the rest of your story. Trust me, I know. It is not easy but in the end it is worth it.

When God directed me to go on a mission trip, I began looking for opportunities. When God helped me find Adventures In Missions, I began getting a little nervous to leave the country. When God pointed me to choose Haiti, I almost didn't listen to Him. When God got me through the first day in Haiti, I questioned His existence.

Never in my life had I ever seen poverty. Never in my life had I ever seen hungry people. Never in my life had I ever seen people fighting for their lives on a daily basis. Never in my life had I ever bashed out in anger towards God, wondering how He could ever allow anyone to live like that. Never in my life had I ever felt pure and utter darkness of the world.

Upon throwing a hundred questions at God, demanding He answer them all, I felt lost. I didn't understand this world. Coming from a nice home, wonderful family, great job and terrific school, going to Haiti put me in a cultural shock.

When I woke up the second day in Haiti, I felt different. God began answering my questions. The feeling of darkness was exchanged for light. The feeling of bitterness was exchanged for complete joy. The feelings of sadness and confusion were exchanged for realization.

God began to open my eyes to witness the pure beauty of Haiti. For the first time in my entire life, I had finally felt at home. For the first time in my entire life, I had finally felt like I belonged. For the first time in my entire life, I had finally seen where my future was headed. For the first time in my life, I felt love in every single possible way.

I can honestly say with all of my heart, Haiti has changed my life. I am not the same person I was a week ago, before I scrambled out of my hectic life just looking for somewhere I could disappear to for a week. My entire aspect on life has changed. I feel God with me, everywhere I go. That is definitely not something I could have said a week ago.

My faith has grown to the extreme, in just a matter of one week. In Haiti, I saw God do His work in every single one of my teammates. I saw people run up to us, begging us for prayer. I saw Haitians faces glow as we talked about Jesus. I saw the love they have for their county and people (something not even Americans have). I saw broken people who had absolutely nothing, praise the Lord and thank Him for their life. For the first time in my life, I saw the need for Jesus Christ.

 

Jade Having Her Hair Braided By The Church Ladies

Following the Lords direction by going to Haiti was the best decision I could have ever made. The experience changed me in every way possible. Every single piece of my heart was left there.

The day I got back, I went for a walk. There were so many emotions running through my head. As I listened to my ipod, a song that I had never heard came on- "Homesick" by Mercy Me. When the lyrics, "Lord, won't you give me the strength to make it through somehow, I've never been more homesick than now" came on, I broke down. One of the reasons why I went to Haiti was to see if I would become homesick. I still live with my parents and have never left my family, in fear of becoming homesick. Haiti was my chance to experiment. Strangely, while I was in Haiti I had never once felt homesick. Even more strangely, the lyrics fit me. Coming home, I have never felt MORE homesick then now. I miss Haiti with every piece of my heart.

The lyrics also say, "If home is where your heart is, than I'm out of place." HELLO, there was my sign. I'm going back to the most beautiful, love filled, heart-warming place in the world. Soon enough, I will be following my heart and returning!