Journal entry from January 13, 2010:
Today is the morning of my 22nd birthday, and the first thing I opened my eyes to was news of a devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Mom had seen it on the news, and she was urging us to pray for them.
Before I was even out of bed, God spoke to me: "Go to them."
"Huh?" was my sleepy response. "You mean Haiti?"
"Yes. Get your passport and go to them."
I was awake now!
"God, do you mean now? At the beginning of the semester???"
"No, you will go in the summer. But I want you to prepare now. You must go!"
Now my mind is swirling far away from presents, candles, and cake.
How am I supposed to get to Haiti?
And what can I do there?
Will anyone go with me?
How long will I be gone?
I need to find some answers.
I need to get my passport.
I need to know more about Haiti.
I need James!
(end of entry)
Maybe you can tell from the above journal excerpt, but going to Haiti was not on my radar.
It was an all-of-a-sudden surprise.
God didn't even wait until I had my morning coffee.
But I was at the point in life where I'd learned not to question God's leading.
I knew His voice; it was unmistakeable.
So I wasn't questioning the call... Just the logistics.
But God rarely gives us a well-developed plan; often He just points us in the right direction.
And it's our part simply to follow.
