moving mountains

i recently picked up the book, "mountains beyond mountains" at the urging of my new friend jill smith. this is the story of dr. paul farmer, a harvard school of medicine graduate and staff member who has dedicated his life to bring medical help to haiti and other areas of the world that are impoverished and often overlooked. this is one of the those books that tell the story of ordinary people doing extrodinary things much like greg mortenson and his work in northern pakistan and afghanistan and his book, "three cups of tea". these are people that inspire, teach and bring hope to the world. these are people that are just like you and me. the difference is they do where most don't. i am hoping that this trip to haiti in a few weeks will be my stepping off from the don'ts to the do's.
i booked my flights last night and i am getting ready. i am a little scared but that seems to subside moment by moment. if i trust in God, He will see me through.

haiti

haiti is difficult to comprehend and i haven't even been there yet. all that will change the week after easter when i make my first overseas, short-term missions trip. if you have read rick warren's "purpose driven life", he encourages you to take on a missions experience and i am finally going for it. for over a year now, my wife and i have sponsored a young girl in haiti through compassion international and i have the desire to go visit her and her family. yesterday i received an email from compassion that the meeting date and time had been confirmed. i am going to haiti in just four weeks! if you don't know anything about haiti, it is no surprise. this little portion of an island shared with the dominican republic is pretty obscure. seems like not much attention is paid to it. you only hear about it when the government is in turmoil. but it is right here in our own backyard and i have not seen a place more in need this close to the united states. poverty and hopelessness seem to encompass it. i have been thinking, talking and praying about this and God has spoken. i think He is saying, "time to step up, chuck"! i am hoping to bring some words and photos to this blog that might open people to this little big need. people need hope and while i don't presume to be any savior, it is my hope that this is what God is calling me to. to maybe bring a glimmer of hope, first to this little girl, then her family and from there only God knows. i don't ask this very often, but pray for me, for our compassion child edwide and that the love and hope of our Lord Jesus Christ will shine through me.