travel journal a companion to your adventures in Haiti
T H I S JO U R NA L B E LO NG S TO : ______________________________________________________
T R I P DAT E : _________________________________________________________________________________
H I S H A N D S H I S F E E T H I S WO R K H I S LOV E
T h i s Jo u r na l B e lo ng s to : ______________________________________________________
T r i p Dat e : _________________________________________________________________________________
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Consumed Publishing An extension of Consumed Ministries Bloomington, MN 55420 www.consumedministries.com Consumed Ministries exists to share, both in words and actions, that Jesus Christ desires to give life to the full. We highly value our relationships with God and people, believing through the context of relationships we can provide the resources, speaking opportunities, and training to effectively lead people into the abundant life Jesus promised. Content by Vince Miller Edited by Kristy Nordeen Interior Design and Layout by Gretchen Miller Cover Design and Layout by Eric Beavers Copyright 2013 by Vince Miller All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles. Published in Bloomington, MN, by Consumed Publishing Printed by Latitude Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
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P r e fac e
It was over Halloween that I went on my Healing Haiti trip for the first time. It was an experience I will remember for a lifetime: one with memories that are burned on my mind. Here I will try to capture just one.
It was on day four a few of us headed to what some were calling The Wound Clinic. There was only room for four of us on this excursion. After leaving the Healing Haiti Guesthouse, we were dropped off at a location where we connected with three nuns from a local mission and a driver who would escort us to our next location. From here, the eight of us made our way into downtown Port Au Prince. As we drove, you could see devastation everywhere from the earthquake in 2010, which included dilapidated buildings and trash-cluttered streets populated with market people bartering noisily. The driver honked his way through the traffic and the populated streets, an 4
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experience that was definitely new and exciting to me. The incredible part of the van ride was the calming rosary the nuns prayed aloud for almost the entire trip. It was definitely a contrasting scene with the reality outside of the van. As we arrived to the Wound Clinic, my heart started to race. I was unsure about what I would experience, but I knew God would give me strength. I knew this might be a difficult experience, so I was gearing up in my mind. As we walked toward the small office within the facility, I could see lines of people waiting to be served. Most of them had serious wounds, mostly on their legs and arms, and there was a whole line of women with feminine issues and shingles aligning the walls and eager to be served. At this point, I looked down to one man’s leg and noticed a large bandage wrapping his lower leg around his shin. I could see the bandage, but it was covered in blood and soiled from the dusty roads he walked daily. At this point, I was not sure I was going to be able to stomach the experience. But as instructed by the nuns, I put on a pair of surgical gloves and an apron, and jumped right in. The time at clinic was actually easier for me than I thought it would be. Yes, some of the wounds were large and deep, but because the patients were so urgent for care, it made the difficulty of the moment fade and time flew by. But the moment that I will never forget was the last gentleman we helped. Unfortunately, I never asked him his name, which I still regret. He was in his mid 40’s and on the front of his lower leg was a large bandage that wrapped around his leg. After we removed the bandage, it exposed a wound that stretched from the bottom of his foot to his lower knee and wrapped around to his calf on the backside. Unlike many of the others, he was in extreme pain since it was obvious his nerve endings were still sensitive. As we removed the bandage carefully and slowly, we could see why he was in such terrible pain – his wound was covered in gangrene. I had never seen gangrene before, but I knew it on sight. One of the nuns confirmed the diagnosis and shared with us that, unfortunately, we were trying to clean a wound that couldn’t be cleaned.
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He would certainly lose his leg. I won’t go into the details, but I will tell you it was one of the more painful sights I have ever seen. As a couple of us put the final touches on this man’s bandage, all I could do was put my arm around him and encourage him. In my heart I was weeping for him and his pain, helplessness, and loneliness in this situation. As I stood and embraced him, I wondered why he could not get the help he needed. And the answer was simple: he could not afford the care he needed and was living in pain as a result of it. After all the patients were gone, I helped him gingerly to his feet. We were alone in the nowempty halls that were just moments before crowded with people. I helped him position his crutches under his arms and I carefully tried to help him put on his shoe. The pain was excruciating, but somehow he managed it, and then I watched him hobble into the crowded market out the front door of the facility.
As Alyn Shannon, co-founder of Healing Haiti, has notably asked in moments just like this, “What is God trying to teach you?” As I reflect on this question, I could probably answer it a dozen ways. But here is just one possible answer to her thought-
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ful question – don’t be so absorbed in my life that I miss helping those who are hurting all around me. And I pray I never forget this lesson I learned daily while I was in Haiti. Just like me, you, too, will have your story. It will be a story that will burn on your mind for weeks and maybe years. I pray this guide will help you to scribe that moment into your memory forever, and that the space in this guide will help you to navigate your story. It is my gift to you, and I pray you will use it to have numerous discussions with others. That you will set this guide on your coffee table when you return home and share your story with family, friends, your small group, your church, and maybe even a neighbor or two. And with this, I pray that you forever remember not what you did in Haiti but what God did through you and in you. Remembering, Vince Miller
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before you go 8
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as you spiritually prepare for this trip, you will definitely face some inner challenges that are completely normal for participant
the following devotionals will guide
you through some of the most popular feelings you might experience right before you leave
we encourage
you to spend a few days mulling over these themes and scriptures as they relate to what you are experiencing personally
and we at Healing Haiti feel this will
help you gear up for a lifechanging experience as you become the hands and feet of Jesus
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“When we handle the sick and the needy we touch the suffering body of Christ and this touch will make us heroic; it will make us forget the repugnance and the natural tendencies in us. We need the eyes of deep faith to see Christ in the broken body and dirty clothes under which the most beautiful one among the sons of men hides. We shall need the hands of Christ to touch these bodies wounded by pain and suffering. Intense love does not measure - it just gives.”
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Mother Teresa —
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inadequate thoughts
before you go
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read // 1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • How do you connect with the apostle Paul’s feelings? • How does Paul recognize his human inadequacies yet address them at the same time?
remember // “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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devotional
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We all probably remember that very first time we gave a public speech of some kind. My daughter recently had this opportunity at school and it reminded me of the feelings I experienced the first time I stood up to address a room of my peers. All the anxiety of that moment is similar to the feelings most feel right before a trip to Haiti. You will probably feel a range of emotion, from excitement to concern, but the bottom line is that our anxiety can draw out our inadequacy. In today’s reading, we see that the apostle Paul was no different as he had moments of inadequacy. In our text we can see that he had less-than-average communication ability and wisdom, and as a result he experienced the anxiety that goes with these feelings of inadequacy, like weakness, fear, and trembling. Just like my daughter felt, just like I felt, and probably just like you feel right now. In spite of these feelings of inadequacy there was something greater happening witwhin Paul. It was something below the surface. Something he calls the “Spirit’s power.” And he is simply relying on this to fill in for the places he feels inadequate. But what does this mean? Well, as we prepare for this trip, anxiety and inadequacy simply remind us of our natural side. The natural side of our life will experience this and all the emotions that go with it. But on the flip side, the Spirit in us will do great things in spite of our inadequacy, and this is the super-natural side. As we prepare, we will be stretched into a super-natural experience that supersedes the feelings of inadequacy we may feel in this moment. So simply trust God and lean into it, because God is about to do some pretty cool stuff through you.
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willing hearts
before you go
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read // 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:19-21
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • Why is there “no one else like Timothy” for the apostle Paul? • Why is Timothy’s willingness so important to the mission God wants to accomplish?
remember // “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.” Philippians 2:20
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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devotional
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Usually our hearts, prior to any trip of this significance, will feel a variety of emotion ranging from feeling strong and competent to feeling confused and inadequate. However, we discover the one attribute in this text that is the hallmark of any service opportunity - the willing servant. You see, years before Timothy was a key leader in the church, he was simply a young man serving under his spiritual mentor, the well-known apostle Paul. In his years of mentorship, his heart was shaped for service by focusing not on serving his own agenda, but serving the agenda of God. He didn’t serve because of some competing notion that his service would prove his intelligence or leadership; he simply served because it was what God called him to do. He was at his core a willing servant. As a result, Paul writes that there was no one like Timothy. Everyone else was interested in their own agendas and in what they could get out of service, rather than what God wanted from their service. But that was not the case with Timothy. He simply wanted to become whatever God wanted from him and for him. And though Timothy did not realize it, his decision to do so prepared him to be one of the great leaders of the early church. He became a willing servant, one who set aside his own agenda and picked up the agenda of another. Our goal as we prepare is to do the same. We have to set aside the agendas of our life and not set out to prove ourselves. This means moving our heart into a place of willing service. We will have to watch this closely, because even the most spiritually mature Christian will fall victim to wanting to see their own agenda accomplished. But this is not our trip, it is God’s. Just let it flow through you.
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motives of greatness
before you go
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read // 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-48
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • Why is it a little intimidating that Jesus would know our thoughts? • What was Jesus’ purpose in bringing a small child over?
remember // “For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.’” Luke 9:48
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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devotional
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My first mission trip was now over 20 years ago. Even though I retain only a few memories of this experience, I do remember how my motives changed during the trip since it was one of the great lessons of my life. Here is the easiest way to describe the evolution of my motives over the trip. My initial motivation was to serve other people, and rightly so. However during the trip, my motivation became more self-focused in efforts to prove myself to my team and my leadership talent and spiritual ability. Toward the end of the trip, I discovered my motives needed to be re-centered in God’s purposes and not my own. And of all the things I did on this trip to serve other people, the greatest learning was actually what I learned about myself. It was that well-placed motives are important to God, since misplaced motives lead to sin. This is exactly what Jesus is teaching his men in Luke 9. Jesus sees deep behind the layers of their mind into the innermost motives of the human heart. What he notices in his men, who are on the greatest mission trip of all time, is that their motives are placed in a personal desire to be great. This was not the motivation they started with, so Jesus deals directly with the issue and calls out their motives. In this suspenseful moment, he brings a child close to him. And why a child? Children, in their society, were not the focus of status-seeking people, and Jesus uses this moment to bring attention to their motives. He points them to a new understanding of greatness, which begins with the purity of motives that rest deep in the human heart. And Jesus’ end point is this, we should serve from the motivation of desiring to honor God and not self. As you prepare for these last moments before your trip, take time to expose your heart and motives to God. Be in prayer daily about this, as we have to fight with our human motives on a daily basis. But be prepared to learn more about yourself than you think!
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using the guide First, I would encourage you each morning to wake quietly, grab that morning coffee, and reflect on your morning reading. Before your first conversation with others, take time to develop a healthy habit of having a first conversation with God. Really dig into the reading and move through it slowly. Grab a pen and highlight key words, phrases, metaphors, and concepts that strike you as important in the reading for that day. And while you are here, memorize that key verse from the text and commit it to memory during the day.
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Second, when you get back in the early evening after a nice cool shower, spend some time journaling about your day. There is nothing more therapeutic than fostering a journal time. Feel free to focus this time however you would like. I know some who simply write down the details of their day, others who scribe out their feelings, and still others who simply use this as a time to write prayers to God. Remember there is no right way; just try and foster the pattern.
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Third, for your evening small group, answer the questions provided. Each day will have its own questions that relate to the reading. Your trip leader may have additional questions to ask, but if you can spend a little time beforehand on the questions it will definitely add to this time. The key to this guide is developing a pattern each day of the trip. If you stick with it, you will probably notice that after the week, you and your team will have developed a new pattern of spending time with God. A pattern you should definitely carry home with you.
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living on a mission
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morning read // 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
—
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Matthew 28:19 —
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evening small group opener questions // Pick one or two to answer as a group. • What is one of your favorite childhood memories and how has it shaped your life? • At work, what is your business’ mission or mission statement and do you feel like it lives up to this?
read the text // Matthew 28:16-20
group questions // What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o Locations.
o Unique uses of language.
o Timing.
o Action words.
o Interesting comments.
o Characters in the story.
application questions // • What makes it difficult to live mission-centric in our everyday spiritual lives? • What fears hold you back from actively communicating or living the message of Christ with others? • In what ways can you live mission-centric in the context of this trip?
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devotional
Can we cut 2 or 3 lines here? --->
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Sometimes living on mission is at the forefront of our thinking, but there are other times that we simply forget to live with purpose in mind. Nothing will restore our hearts and minds to living on mission more than a major life event. There are a number of life events that have the power to restore mission to our life. Usually an event like a life-threatening illness, birth of a child, family wedding, or financial crisis has the power to remind us of our mission. But probably the most significant mission-altering event is a funeral. I have never been to a funeral where I have not reflected on the brevity and the mission of my own life. Usually in the moments we face our own mortality, we see a much higher purpose for our life and seek out this mission that we are called to live. In my own trip to Haiti, I actually caught a fresh glimpse of this mission for my own life. While away from my home, I came to discover a larger opportunity on the planet for God’s people. I rediscovered God’s mission to all nations and found the wants and desires of my heart change. My absorption with American materialism became trivial and the opportunity for God became clear. It brought to my attention again the fundamental needs others have for basic things like shelter, food, water, relationships, and a God who will rescue us from a life that can often feel hopeless. As we experience this in our heart and mind, God again redirects our life back to living on mission. In today’s reading, the followers of Christ had experienced a life event that altered their mission - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just days before, Jesus walked a lonely road of pain as he choose to give his life on the cross; but as we know, he defeated death and rose back into life. Undoubtably, this life event for those followers was mission altering. I would assume seeing and experiencing a moment like that would cause anyone to pay a little more attention to the things that really matter. I pray than in the few days you are here in Haiti, your life will be redirected back to living on mission. You will for sure experience moments that will probably be emotional and even hard to comprehend. Embrace it, because God will show you things and perhaps reorient your heart and mind to his mission.
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H e Wa l k e d I n o u r S h o e s
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read //
morning
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John 1:1-18
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading? • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
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John 1:14 —
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evening small group opener questions // Pick one or two. • What is your full given name? Why did your parents select this name? • Share with the group a nickname you were given, maybe even one you did not want. Why were you given this particular nickname? • What is the most significant gift you have been given? What made it significant?
read the text // John 1:1-18
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o Repeated words.
o Unique uses of language.
o Interesting concepts.
o Characters in the text.
• What are some facts about the “Word” that you read here? • From this reading, how does someone come to know Christ?
application questions // • What makes it difficult to leave your home for another place (like this trip)? • How is the current environment strange or unusual to you? • How do you think you are a gift to Haiti and how is Haiti a gift to you?
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evening devotional
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I am always amazed by how great it feels to come home after being away. Sometimes after a week of being away, or in certain cases even a few days, the enjoyment of coming home is life giving. I think half of the enjoyment of coming home is being in the presence of others I deeply love, and the other half is being surrounded by the comforts of my home, especially my own bed. It is in moments like this I come to understand the familiar phrase, “There is no place like home.” In John 1, we see that Jesus left all the relationships and comforts of his home to make his home with us. John 1:14 reads, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We could also read this sentence, “Jesus became human and walked in our shoes.” Essentially, he moved out of his home and into ours. He moved out of the spiritual world and into the physical world. In changing his residence, he separated the Christian faith from every other religion of the world, since the God of Creation came to us and walked in our shoes. Now try to imagine that: the God of Creation moving into the homes of the people of Haiti. Not just coming to hang out, or simply just to spend a fews days, but actually making Haiti his home. Leaving all the comforts of his majestic home to move into a radically different environment. It seems almost irrational, so why would he do this? The simplest answer is love. Love motivated Jesus to walk in our shoes and because of this we can know that our Creator understands our suffering, knows our limitations, and empathizes with our weakness. We have a God who will go to the farthest limit, through any discomfort, and reach out to us in our most difficult moments. It was a love that would spare no limit or suffering for you and me.
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Living A Dependent Life
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read //
morning
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:13-21
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.” Matthew 14:20
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notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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“ And they all ate and were satisfied.”
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Matthew 14:20 —
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evening small group
opener questions // Pick one or two.
• When a mother gives birth to a child, this infant is very dependent. Describe this dependence. As they grow how does their dependence change? • We are each dependent on something from other people. Name one thing you are dependent on right now by someone at home that is freeing you to be here. • Have you ever had to care for a relative who was very dependent on your for care and resources? What was this experience like?
read the text // Matthew 14:13-21
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o The locations.
o Interesting comments.
o The timing.
o Unique uses of language.
• How do you think the disciples felt before the event? During the event? After the event?
application questions // • What are some things in your life you have been far too dependent on? Are there some things that you would be willing to sacrifice today after being in Haiti? • How are the people of Haiti dependent on others? How have you seen the people of Haiti live dependent on God? How are the people and the country of Haiti teaching you to live more dependent on God?
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evening devotional
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As people from a wealthy country, we love to be strong and independent. Most of us were raised thinking that everything depends on us and our abilities, talents, skills, and wisdom. Unfortunately, we import this independent osture into our spiritual lives assuming we can live on our own strength. However when we do, we are essentially settling for a natural life when we could be living a supernatural life with all the blessings that come from this. When we live in our own strength we naturally become selfconfident or self-reliant. Everything in life then becomes repositioned around us, and we live life relying on our resources and strength in a way that declares that we are not in need of God, because we are our own life-leader. Unfortunately, this was the first sin of creation. The first man and woman in the garden of creation thought that if they obeyed the desires of their heart and ate of the fruit that “they would become like God, knowing good and evil.”( Genesis 3:5). In the end, this independence is totally opposed to the Goddependent supernatural life God wants us to live. In contrast is the totally dependent supernatural life. This is a life lived where all the resources of life are repositioned toward God – our life being the first. A life where our resources, like loaves and fishes, become God’s resources simply because we recognize they belong to Him and not to us. A life where we live dependent on God to respond to our needs and discover supernatural outcomes simply because we know that they are outside of our strength, ability, talent, skill, and wisdom. When we live this kind of life, we declare dependence on God and bank everything on his strength, ability, talent, skill, and wisdom - not our own. We allow him to come through for us in our time of need. And in these moments of real dependence on him, he turns our stale bread and small sardines into enough to feed multiple thousands of needs. And the result - miracles. We get God-sized results, not human-sized results.
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Expectant Living
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read //
morning
31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25:31-46
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reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” Matthew 25:37
notes and journaling
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notes and journaling
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“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? “
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evening small group opener questions // Pick one or two. • When Christmas rolls, around are you more likely to be a pre-Thanksgiving shopper? A Black Friday shopper? Or a lastminute shopper? • What is it like at your house during the holidays when your family or extended family comes to visit? How do you make preparations when you are the host and what do you always expect to happen during this experience? (e.g., Share about family drama, cleaning, cooking and the like.)
read the text // Matthew 25:31-46
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o The audiences.
o How they address God.
o The five needs.
o Their individual replies to God.
o The eternal destinations.
application questions // • Share a moment that has taken you out of your comfort zone on the trip. What was your honest first human response to this discomfort? • How are you learning to embrace these unexpected moments and respond appropriately? Share one situation and how you responded.
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evening devotional
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I tend to think of sheep and goats in this story as representing very different people, and they mostly are. However, their individual addresses to God are remarkably similar. Strange, isn’t it? If we look carefully, we will see that both of them actually address the Son as “Lord,” which simply translated means honored leader or master. But even so, their actions were radically different; one modeled complacency and the other modeled expectancy. Living expectantly is a much different response to life than most live. To live expectantly is to live life in anticipation of each moment with premeditated action. It is much like the expectant living we see in a first-time mother. In expectation, a mother begins to take action and make preparations and adjustments in her life for this new young one. The expectant mother takes action that flows naturally from her expectancy. We will see her prepare a room, purchase clothes, outfit the car, and gather supplies that accompany this future child’s needs. And when we live life expectantly, we don’t have to fake our way through life because we do things with purpose, precision, and a plan. We alter our life and actions to reflect what will be required of us. When we live expectantly, we don’t address God as “Lord” with empty meaning and no resultant action, but rather we address God as “Lord” with the full weight of its meaning, realizing that we had no choice but to move into action. The expectant followers live with their values so deeply integrated into the actions of their lives that they almost don’t recognize it when it happens, just like the sheep in the story. Two very different actions based on two very different types of living - one complacent and one expectant. Each day in this small country is a new adventure, so live life in expectant action.
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Pushing Through
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morning
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:1-12
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2:4-5
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opener questions // Pick one or two. • Share about the last visit you had to the emergency room and why you were there. Or share a time you were really sick and describe the situation. • If you were in a crisis at 2:00 am, which of your friends would you call and why?
read the text // Mark 2:1-12
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o The actors in the story. o The thoughts of the people. o The details of the surroundings.
application questions // • What has been the hardest part of the trip for you? (This might be that moment of an emotional, relational, physical, mental, or spiritual tension.) • What are you learning about perseverance on this trip from the people of Haiti? Is perseverance here different from perseverance at home? If so, how?
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evening small group activity // Pray in pairs. Share a prayer request with someone else in your group about something you are pushing through on this trip and at home. Commit to sharing, but also spend a few minutes praying for each other.
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evening devotional
Sometimes, it is just hard to push through difficulty. We have all had moments, or even prolonged periods of time, that are like this and they are never fun. Pushing through any difficulty can have points where you want to turn back rather than turn into it. A very small example of this is illustrated in my morning run. I have no problem motivating myself to run during the summer when the weather is nice and I can run outside, but when I have to run on a treadmill in the gym I can quickly hit boredom even after a couple of minutes. It’s rather humorous actually, but some days I get anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes into my run, am dead bored, and I have this impulse to simply quit. Some days I do quit, but other days I push through, and on those days I feel amazing when 10 minutes turns to 30 or 60 minutes of running. After pushing through the more difficult part, I usually discover that on the other side is an amazing reward. I think this example, in a tiny way, captures the endurance and perseverance of the paralyzed man. What we see here is a man who, for his entire life, pushed through. Day after day, he probably sat begging on his mat in full view of everyone who lived in the small town of Capernaum. There was no one in the small home who was not
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aware of his lifelong paralysis. But when his friends saw what Jesus was doing, they were compelled to intervene. So they went and grabbed this man, each carrying a corner of his mat and bringing him to the house. But when they arrived to the home, it was so crowded that there was no way in, except through the roof. So they began pulling the thatch from the roof and awkwardly lowered the man to the feet of Jesus. The amazement of this moment is in the next words Jesus spoke. “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 Why these words? Why not just heal him? Well, some of this has to do with the religious beliefs of ancient Jews. It was their belief, correct or not, that if you suffered any disease or physical handicap, that this was caused by a generational sin in your family. So the people of the town who knew this man who was born in this condition probably always wondered, “What sin did his parents commit to deserve that punishment?” Of course, this is a harsh assumption, but this is exactly how people thought in their day. So when Jesus says the words, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” it was probably one of the most powerful statements this man would ever hear. This is not captured in the story, but I would assume after the paralyzed man heard this pronouncement, he was brought to tears. Jesus goes right for the jugular here, healing his heart and not his body. As the story continues, we see physical healing, but first the root issue was addressed and the rest was simply icing on the cake. As a result, the paralyzed man would be completely changed. He was no longer “the paralyzed man,” but a man with a new identity all because he had a few friends who had the faith to push through. I think our life has similar challenges that we are called to push through. It could be a situation at home, work, school, or on a team. It could be with family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues. It could be a life-long sin issue or a problem that is simply a momentary challenge. Regardless, God wants us to have the faith to push through. In fact, we are called to push through, usually because God wants to deal with something in us and the reward on the other side is significant. t ravel jou rna l | hea lin gha iti .org
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Take Nothing
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morning
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matthew 10:1-15
reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” Matthew 10:9-10
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evening small group
opener questions // Pick one or two.
• What is the most challenging thing you have ever been asked to do? Explain why it was hard. • Did you over-pack or under-pack for this trip? Did it matter? • If you have been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, share what this experience is like. For those who have gone, what was the experience like when you have packed too much or too little?
read the text // Matthew 10:1-15
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o The people.
o The items.
o The task.
o The actions.
• What lessons do you think Jesus was hoping the disciples would learn by taking nothing, or so little, with them?
application questions // • What are the best resources we can bring to the country of Haiti? And what are the best resources we can take with us when we leave? • What do you really need to share the Christ with others in Haiti?
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evening devotional
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Before I left on this trip, I checked every detail. I made sure I had packed my Bible, charged the iPod, read the trip manual, and checked the packing list one more time while making one of my many trips to the local shopping center to grab that one last thing. But these are only details. Details that could be interpreted as very self-absorbed when you read this next text. “Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” Matthew 10:9-10 Wow, that will rock your perspective. Take nothing, really? Can I really not take my iPod, trip manual, rain jacket, and Bible? I mean, what is Jesus getting at here? I think what Jesus was trying to teach was trust. Trust in God and other people of God for everything they would need. And by teaching them to take nothing, they would become less trusting of their own resources and become more trusting upon God’s resources. As you have been serving in Haiti, I think you come to the realization that not much is really needed to serve others with the gospel. We enter into the most unique and uncomfortable circumstances, often concerned about what we bring and how we can help. In moments like this we come to discover that trust in God is really all that is needed. We find that ministry is more often being present and communicating Christ in relevant ways. Whether you are serving water, holding children, building relationships, rubbing a person’s feet, feeding small children, praying for the hurting, changing a bandage, or playing a game of soccer, you have the ability to be present and communicate the love of Christ to others. In these moments, we learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God for the strength we need in each moment. And when we experience that awful discomfort found in trust, we discover a God who empowers us for each and every moment and who said, “take nothing.”
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remember
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read //
morning
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:1-17
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reflect // • Circle or underline words or concepts that jump out at you in this reading. • What questions do you have about this reading? • What is the ultimate point of this reading?
remember // “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
notes and journaling
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evening small group opener questions // Pick one or two. • Share one moment from your life you will never forget. • Share one moment from this trip you will always remember.
read the text // John 13:1-17
group questions // • What key observations jump out to you most from the reading, and why? Make at least 10 observations. Especially notice: o The celebration.
o The elements of the meal.
o The people.
o How people respond.
application questions // • How will you live differently, remembering the impact of this trip?
activity // Take the Lord’s Supper together and remember.
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evening devotional
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Here the disciples are, sharing one of the most significant meals that Jews celebrate. The Passover. It was a meal that was an annual call to remembrance of Jewish departure from Egyptian slavery: a drama that appears in the Old Testament book of Exodus. This meal was an opportunity to remember what God had done for them, so they never forgot that it was God who brought them out of Egypt and into the city of Jerusalem where they now sat. In this meal, we see that the disciples were clearly remembering, which was the point of the meal. They were simply looking back to the past; but Jesus, with perspective, was really looking forward in this moment. In doing so, he redefined the Passover into what we now call the Lord’s Supper. The meal consisted of three basic food items, which were unleavened bread, wine, and a bowl of bitter herbs for the bread. All of these details are important, but it is actually the arrangement of the room itself that is key to what Jesus was about to do. The room for a Passover meal of this size was typically set up in a “U” shape. Three tables were positioned together in the form of a “U,” with the tables sitting close to the ground. During the meal, the men in this room would have reclined at the table, literally lying on the ground, and not sitting in chairs like we do today. They would have reclined on their left arm, using a pillow for comfort, and would have extended their feet behind them with their heads close to the table. If you can imagine this, they would have used their right arm to reach for food at the table and each person would be facing the back of the person’s head behind them. The open section in the middle of the “U” arrangement was typically left open for servers to replenish the table, and no one usually sat in that area.
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The detail that is critical for the object lesson was actually the position of the people in the room. Now this is all speculation, since I was not there, but numerous historians would agree with the proposed seating of at least a few of the disciples. First was the host seat. This was of course Jesus, who would have most definitely been sitting in position 2, moving clockwise around the “U”-shaped table. The guests of honor would sit both on the right and the left of the host, which were positions 1 and 3. Our best guess, based on the verses that follow in John’s gospel, is that position 1 was the place where “the loved disciple,” or John, sat, who leaned back into the chest of Jesus to speak to him during the meal. And the other probable option is that position 3 might have been the seat of Judas “the betrayer,” to whom Jesus passed the bread and bitter herbs. Now I do not want to spend too much time on this detail, but we have to mention that fact that people wore sandals in their day. Since the roads were dusty in dry seasons and muddy in wet seasons, homes held a basin of water by the door for people would clean their feet. This was a standard welcome in their day, much like many of us remove our shoes on entry to a home. Most ancient homes had servants that primarily bore this responsibility when a guest entered their home; if there were no servants then one of the guests would take responsibility for this duty. Like an actor, they would play the part of the servant. The interesting thing about the possible seating arrangement was that this was the role of the person who sat in position 13 at this particular meal. This was often referred to as the “servant’s seat” or “the seat of least significance.” And who do we assume sat in this seat? Well, potentially Peter.
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Now, imagine this: right in the middle of the meal, Jesus, the host, gets up and interrupts the meal. He abdicates his position of status, as the host. He then walks over to get a basin, fills it with water, and begins to wash his disciples’ feet. He begins to serve, taking on the lowest position of status in society. One by one, he kneels down and serves each and every one of his disciples. Beginning with John, whose legs are extended behind him, Jesus slowly washes his tired and callous feet with water and gently cleans his feet with the servant cloth around his waist. And who is next? Judas the betrayer. Jesus again looks right into Judas’ eyes, knowing that he has premeditated an act of violence toward him, and proceeds to wash his feet. He works his way clockwise around the table, serving each one of the disciples, until he comes finally to Peter. Then Jesus comes to Peter and Peter protests, which is typical of Peter’s impulsive personality, but yet an important highlight in the story. I can see Peter saying, “No, you’re not going to wash my feet. This is the role of my position. I am supposed to wash your feet. You’re the host.” But Jesus insists. You really need to let this set on you for minute, because the one with the highest status in the entire universe takes on the activity and also the identity of the lowest status known to man. Basically he came over to Peter and said, “Bud, you are in my seat.” And this is our servant God. There is so much to learn in Haiti, but this one detail cannot be missed. It is so simple we could pass it by and allow all the incredible things we have learned to complicate our understanding of this one thing. The spiritual life is all about service. Taking on both the activity and the identity of a servant. It is Jesus’ last teaching on this planet, save the lesson he teaches us on the cross.. However, I think it is one of the most profound moments of his life. Which is exactly why I think Jesus asks them the question, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”
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things you can do 1
First, consider being an advocate for what God is doing through Healing Haiti. As people who have witnessed God’s work in Haiti, we each have an opportunity to share with those we know at home. Our family, friends, and working relationships will be looking forward to hearing about the experiences we have had. Be prepared to share that one moment that captures the beauty of what God did. I have shared my moment in the preface of this guide. Allow your story to capture the essence of your time and share it often. But never forget, it is not just about your story, but His story and how they connect.
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2
Second, consider coming again and inviting others. We always welcome those who want to repeat a trip and are looking for others to attend future trips. Encourage those you know to attend one of the many trips we send weekly.
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Third, become a financial partner. We welcome those who will join with us financially in this mission, and these partners are an important backbone to the growth of the mission in the field. Our monthly, quarterly, and annual partners are those who continue to invest regularly; we would be honored to have you become a part of this team. Visit our website below and click on the “donate now� button to support Healing Haiti or our Missionaries. We also host numerous funding events throughout the year like our Sweetheart Ball and our Kids Freedom Run.
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Fourth, stay connected. We would love to stay in communication with you, and there are many ways to make this happen. You can sign up for our newsletters that we send out a few times a year or keep in touch with teams through our Blogs or Facebook Page, which can all be found at our main website.
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Permanent Transformation
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read //
morning
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. John 21:1-8
reflect // Isn’t it interesting how after three intense years with Jesus, Peter is right back to the place where he began – fishing from a boat? This is because one of the essential keys to living a transformed life is to intentionally embrace new actions that solidify the inspired moments. While we tasted of inspiration in Haiti, it is only solidified by intentional actions that will turn this inspiration into permanent transformation. So to guide you through this process, here are two questions that could forever change you: • What do you want to start doing, and why? • What do you want to stop doing, and why?
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H o ly D i s c o n t e n t
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12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:12-17
reflect // This is one of those places where we see a deep holy discontent in the life of Jesus. Of course his passion is seen in numerous places all over the gospels, but here we have a special occurrence. In this short moment we see a deep and justifiable anger in him that simply pours out, where we not only see anger but we see what Jesus Christ deeply values. A friend of mine from my past once asked me in a conversation about the things I value in life and said, “There is no better question to discover our values, passions, gifts and talents than the question, ‘What makes you really angry?’” So here are a few questions to reflect on: • What makes you angry? • What injustice in Haiti is showing you something new about you? • How will you put this into practice now that you are back home?
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Knowing God
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34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40
reflect // There is a clear difference between knowing about someone and then really knowing someone completely. In Hebrew, the word “yada” captures the deepest knowing in the Bible. It is a complete knowing that understands the deepest and most intimate parts of another person. We find the word “yada” first used in a relationship in the book of Genesis between the first man and woman, captured in the text “Adam knew Eve.” Genesis 4:1 In the verses above, Jesus is describing a deep knowing using the greatest commandment that the expert in the law simply missed. You see, the expert knows a lot about the law and can even manipulate it to attempt to trap Jesus, but unfortunately he understands little about really knowing God at an intimate level. Jesus, on the other hand, reads the great commandment differently, not as a tool to trap other people, but as one of the greatest descriptions of knowing God in the Bible – loving him with every ounce of our life. Here are a couple of questions to consider: • How did you know God before the trip? • How do you know God now?
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Closing statement? Website?
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T R I P DAT E : _________________________________________________________________________________ H I S H A N D S H I S F E E T H I S WO R K H I S LOV E
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