It appears that the ever destination of the human soul is to be on the paramount of a mountain. For the sight is breathtaking, the wind is refreshing, and the pride of reaching the top takes all. But how does one make it to the top without the work, sweat, and endurance of a climb? We often forget that the strength of a person is not defined due to how fast a person can reach the peak- but it’s determined based on how the person overcame the obstacles that tried to hinder them from pressing onward.
Haiti has always been a place on my heart to travel and do missions in. But when God called me to go this year- may I mention during the most difficult season of my life- I simply refused, despite the passion and desire. The thought of God’s insanity flooded my mind for asking me to go somewhere for His glory when my life had just been ripped to shreds. Months had passed and I still denied the calling. It was in my denial that God pursued my passion and tugged on my heart strings. “I have something greater in store for your life. Trust me!”, it was as if these words were an arrow and God was holding the bow aiming for my heart. “There is a little girl I want you to meet and show My love”.
My heart and pride broke.
Needless to say, I ended up signing up. And I could easily spend this time describing all the splendid joy that came across the faces of those we met and talk about the overwhelming love that Gods love poured. But I want to talk about one quest that was completed that wasn’t assigned. It wasn’t part of a man made plan nor was it even something I had realized until the aftermath.
As we completed each assignment, leaving the orphanage or school, we would walk where the jagged soil and the strenuous trails led us to our house. Before reaching our one-week home, a hill and a flight of stairs would be needed to climb. I climbed. The first couple of days, the long-natural stairway would make my body tiresome and so I would stop to recollect myself. Within my break, I would look out at the scenic view and be still. It was within my stillness that a little girl waved to me on the other side of the wall. My heart pounded at her innocent beauty. I waved back. I would say my couple words of French and then get lost within the translation, so we just looked at each other and laughed. As the days passed, I would intentionally stop and wave to her. Her smile was so contiguous. By the second day, she brought her family out to meet me; her mother, sister and two brothers, all so beautiful.
Somehow as time passed, we understood each other. Never exchanging gifts, never physically being in the same area, and honestly never really speaking of Christ- somehow through our smiles the love of God was the only thing that was exchanged through the week. They became so close to my heart and we bonded closer as the days slipped away so quickly.
One morning, the team started studying a devotion about being still in the presence of God. In preparation of studying, I went to the roof and started playing my music. The song sings, “I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open.” This is a song I would play over and over back home during my despairing cries. I remember sobbing my words to God that no matter how I felt, even if I didn’t feel His faithfulness, I would still sing of it.
On the rooftop this day, as this song plays, the little girl on the other side of the wall came out early and waved gleefully. “Bonjour Kassie!”, she yelled. “Bonjour bell”, I gladly responded. It was in the next unexpected phrase that came that pierced every nerve in my body, “I love you Kassie!”
My heart sank.
The song is still playing, her words were just spoken, and my heart was reminded of Gods voice as He spoke to me months ago. “This is the girl I wanted you to meet. This is the girl that has now felt My love because of you. This is why I wanted you to come to Haiti.”
“Oh, my Abba Father!”, my heart cries uncontrollably.
On this rooftop, I look out as far as my watering eyes allowed me. Across the panoramic view, all I can see is mountains and here I sit in the midst of them. In the midst of trials, I asked God to take me and place me back on the mountain. As He is faithful, so He did. But the mountain top was not simply for my pleasure. But it was for His glory. It was for that little girl. It was for the family on the other side of our mission.
I was able to give this family book bags for school and dolls to play with and in return they continued to pour genuine love. The little girl told me to wait, “I have a surprise for you!” and so I waited. A couple minutes later she was walked out with a paper in her hand. “I wrote this yesterday and wanted to give it to you.” It reads:
“Hello Casie,
I love you. I am praying for you. You are my heit. You are beautiful.
Have a good day!”
Going to Haiti was purposed to reach the souls of those who didn’t know Christ, yet, because of Christ’s ever-loving heart, He purposed it to revive my soul. His faithfulness was spoken in the corner of my room and His promise was fulfilled on a mountain in Haiti. It is because of this; my heart can sing of His faithfulness forevermore.
Because of His Grace,
Kassandra Mulcahey, 2016
