~He is Hope~

I have been trying to get to Haiti for eight days. Following a lunch last Thursday with a Med Student friend of mine, I came home, turned on CNN and spend at least an hour on the internet trying to find someone who would take me there.

I rarely make the statement that God has called me to do something, usually because I always fear that it is, in fact, myself that's created the calling. But in this case, I'm not sure what else my motivation would be.

I spent close to an hour on a conference call last week with over 900 RN's from all over the nation who want to travel to Haiti and help. I hung up even more frustrated that I couldn't just fly myself there. I even, in my ignorance at the time, checked the web to see if there were any commercial flights going out...only to see Delta's "no flights match your search" come across my screen.

For the last week or so I have had to limit my CNN watching as images anger me and leave me screaming at the television, myself, and God...WHY AM I NOT THERE!?!?

Today tears ran down my cheeks as I watched two men bleed to death in the middle of the street after being shot for "stealing rice." They claimed the rice had been a gift, but whatever the case, no Good Samaritan stopped. A news crew just headlined the story.

I am anxious to go, and know, like my pastor said the me tonight, "It's going to be hell down there." I don't think I can even imagine what I will encounter, even two weeks from the quake.

Joel 2 blew my mind last night as I read it with CNN reporters in the background.

Yet even now, declares the Lord
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning,
and rend your hearts and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord you God?

...then the Lord became jealous for His land
and had pity on his people.
The Lord answered and said to his people,

Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among nations...

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten...
you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God who has dealt wondrously with you.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the LORD YOUR GOD and there is none else.

AND MY PEOPLE SHALL NEVER AGAIN BE PUT TO SHAME."


He was the Hope for Israel, He is the Hope for Haiti.