Jade Ripp, a participant on our most recent Adventures Encounter trip to Haiti, wrote about her experience with homesickness. Haiti was her first mission trip, and it changed her life.
Sometimes it's hard to throw away the life you used to lead and hand the pen to the Lord to write the rest of your story. Trust me, I know. It is not easy, but in the end it is worth it.
When God directed me to go on a mission trip, I began looking for opportunities. When God helped me find Adventures In Missions, I began getting a little nervous to leave the country. When God pointed me to choose Haiti, I almost didn't listen to him. When God got me through the first day in Haiti, I questioned his existence.
Never in my life had I seen poverty. Never in my life had I seen hungry people. Never in my life had I seen people fighting for their lives on a daily basis. Never in my life had I lashed out in anger towards God, wondering how he could ever allow anyone to live like that. Never in my life had I ever felt the pure and utter darkness of the world.
Upon throwing a hundred questions at God, demanding he answer them all, I felt lost.
I didn't understand this world. Coming from a nice home, wonderful family, great job, and terrific school, going to Haiti shocked me.
When I woke up the second day in Haiti, I felt different. God began answering my questions. The feeling of darkness was exchanged for light. The feeling of bitterness was exchanged for complete joy. The feelings of sadness and confusion were exchanged for realization.
God began to open my eyes to witness the pure beauty of Haiti. For the first time in my entire life, I finally felt at home. For the first time in my entire life, I finally felt like I belonged. For the first time in my entire life, I finally saw where my future was heading. For the first time in my life, I felt love in every possible way.
I can honestly say with all of my heart, Haiti has changed my life.
I am not the same person I was a week ago, before I scrambled out of my hectic life just looking for somewhere I could disappear to for a week. My entire outlook on life has changed. I feel God with me, everywhere I go. That is definitely not something I could have said a week ago.
My faith has grown to the extreme in just a matter of one week. In Haiti, I saw God do his work in every one of my teammates. I saw people run up to us, begging us for prayer. I saw Haitians' faces glow as we talked about Jesus. I saw the love they have for their country. I saw broken people who had absolutely nothing praise the Lord and thank him for their lives.
For the first time in my life, I saw the need for Jesus Christ.
Following the Lord's direction by going to Haiti was the best decision I could have ever made.
The day I got back, I heard a song by Mercy Me: "Lord, won't you give me the strength to make it through somehow, I've never been more homesick than now."
One of the reasons I went to Haiti was to see if I would become homesick. I still live with my parents and have never left my family, for fear of becoming homesick. Haiti was my chance to experiment. Strangely, while I was in Haiti I never once felt homesick. Even more strangely, the lyrics fit me.
Coming home, I have never felt more homesick than now. I miss Haiti with every piece of my heart.
Have you dreamed of going on a mission trip, but are afraid to make the jump? We have trips anywhere from three days to 11 months, so no matter what kind of commitment you're looking for, there's something for you.
Check out our available trip postings to see if one is right for you.
