Exciting News

It is with great excitement that I now write to tell you all about an opportunity that has arisen during my time here in Minnesota. My church is sending a team to do ministry in Haiti July 8th-20th. A team member pulled out suddenly a week ago and I felt God calling me to go. So after a little logistics work, we were able to switch some tickets around and extend my stay to accommodate the trip dates. As I embark on this adventure, I am confident this is the path God wants me on.

As many of you know, Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January of 2010 that left an estimated 316,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 newly homeless. This quake was made even more devastating by the fact that Haiti had already ranked as the poorest country in Western Hemisphere. Poor government infrastructure, corruption and foreign bureaucracy have significantly slowed relief efforts (on the one year anniversary of the quake it was estimated that only 5% of the rubble had been cleared). Needless to say, the rebuilding process has barely begun.

We hope to make a significant, if small, dent. We will be building two new homes, as well as ministering at an orphanage and an AIDS hospice. Additionally, we will be hosting a three day Pastor's Conference (lead by our own church's senior pastor) to help provide area pastors with vital theological teaching. Attendance is expected to be upwards of 300, with pastors coming from all over the country to learn how they can better teach their congregations.

For me, the decision to go was not an easy one and is requiring no small amount of faith on my part. At a time when I have been struggling to pay my rent I now need to raise $1,900 to cover the trip expenses. God is good and I have already raised $500 but there's a long way still to go. If you feel lead to contribute financially, you can send donations to: 783 Cannon Ave Shoreview MN, 55126
Checks should be made out to Calvary Church. No amount is too small and I greatly appreciate any help you can offer. Any money I raise above and beyond my obligation will be put towards purchasing further supplies to help aid the people of Haiti.

But beyond financial needs, the team will need a lot of support in prayer. Specifically for the team, please pray for health and safety for our team, for effective ministry to the sick and dying, for spiritual strength in a country where (according to the CIA) 50% of the population practices Voodoo. For me, pray for my fund raising efforts, that I will be able to integrate well into a team that has been preparing together for months already, for adaptability as my California acclimated body will now be subject to severe heat and humidity, for emotional strength to lead teenage kids in a very challenging environment.

At a Crossroads

I grew up being told to pray to God for guidance or for things we want. Sometimes He'd say "Yes", sometimes "Maybe". Sometimes He'd say "No". But what happens when God says "Choose"?

I'm sitting at a bit of crossroads right now. There are certainly risks and rewards to be had on either side; pros and cons aplenty. One road brings me back to Los Angeles during the height of hiring season, the other brings me guaranteed money (enough to make it through the rest of 2011) and no long term employment. Of course, there is no guarantee of employment on the first road. But there is certainly less chance of employment on the second one.

I now must choose if I want to work, isolated and alone in Canada, for 7 weeks of my summer or if I want to dive face first into the LA job market at the beginning of July. And the trick is I feel strongly that God is saying, choose and I will bless you either way.

Now those that know me well know that decisions are not my strong point. I'm great at seeing all sides of a problem, but that vision cripples me at decision time. I know EXACTLY what I'm missing out on with my decision.

In the past God's path for me has always been quite clear. From my decision to attend Bethel to my journey to Los Angeles, it's always been easy for me to know what to do with big decisions. And maybe that will come in time. But right now, it's like staring into a mist.

Two paths diverge. Which is the one less traveled Mr. Frost?