Category: MISSIONS

( Written By The Hubby Jason )

Recently, I received a photocopy of a document from one of my cousins on some of the heritage from my father’s side of the family, specifically his mother’s family tree.  I have started to attempt to piece together somewhat of a family tree some years ago, but had little success.  Both my mother’s side and father’s side of the family came from slaves who were brought over here to America.  So trying to obtain records and information isn’t that easy.

I started this search some years ago, because I wanted to know more of where I came from and I also wanted to know for the children that I would father in the future as well.  As this became a task to find information, I let it lapse into a pile of things I want to do. (As I am sure we all have a to do list/pile like so.)

I am grateful to my cousin for sharing this document with me.  It’s only a page long, with about 4 paragraphs explaining how my great great grandparents were brought over here and how my great grandparents made a success with farming sugar canes for syrup, and vegetables.  Within this document it explains how my great grandfather was Afro-Haitian and my great grandmother is a descendant of the Cherokee Indians.  Finally some closure to a piece of who I am is how I felt while reading this.

After reading this, it hit me of how my wife is going to do missions in Haiti!!  Wow, isn’t that something.  God is calling my wife to do mission work in a country in which my great grandfather is a descendant of.  I find this exciting and look to hear of the experience my wife will have there until we both can go there and do missions together.  Look at how God works; just when we question his work he sends back a dove with a branch to spark our interest even more.

This has put a new spark in me to find out more information of my father’s father, my mother’s father and mother family tree.  This is a great start to the journey building my family tree and having a closer look into my heritage as well.

You know that saying that “when things don’t make sense that usually means the assignment is from God” or that other one that says “if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans”.

God does things to show you his mighty work and that he is God. If everything made sense then there would be no need for our Father in heaven.

He’s been doing that a lot in our lives lately.

Local missions have always been precious to me. I have volunteered, mentored, sat in on meetings, loved on my homeless brothers and sisters etc and I always felt that that was my calling to be right here…you know in America.

We saw a video in church about 2 years ago that showed the work a missions team did in El Salvador and from then on I prayed that if God wanted me to go on a missions trip that he would reveal where he wanted me to go and when.

About three months ago, the idea of going to Haiti came up as it was around the time that the Haiti team would soon be formed. I prayed and asked if it was for me to go to Haiti and God spoke so clearly that this was it. This was the trip I was supposed to go on. He sent others to confirm it in my spirit as well so that I could not ignore that this was definitely the trip for me.

My husband is working on his trip, which will be to El Salvador…the first place that ever made us wonder, “is it for us to do a mission trip as well” ?? 🙂

God is up to something good.

He must have something he wants to teach my husband and I.

In this Christian walk, you are always a student learning life through the eyes of Jesus.

 

 

Usually when people bring up the topic of “Missions” , many will tend to think mission trips, visitations overseas, etc. That can definitely be the case but in that I think we can forget that the current place that we live, work, shop, eat can all be a mission field. Having a healthy marriage and being a representation of that is a ministry and mission. Loving those around you despite their differences can be a mission and the list can go on and on. The challenge is that we don’t leave “missions” per say to that other person but we also self reflect and see how we can make a difference in the community we live in.

 

( Picture Created from my Church , Victory Church, Lancaster PA)