tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post5383567371632198596..comments2013-03-21T20:52:10.825-07:00Comments on JustAnotherFaithStory: Changeanna khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08071308553207831363noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-74744351533639117872010-07-14T13:45:12.204-07:002010-07-14T13:45:12.204-07:00Anna,
I read all of your blog entries before my re...Anna,<br />I read all of your blog entries before my recent missions trip to Haiti. I just got back from my week with the Haitian's, and while I can't begin to comprehend what you may be feeling, on a very small scale I understand your feelings of frustration. <br />Something I feel God has been teaching me with these feelings is that while I used to feel 'at home' in my comfort of the US, I now struggle as I feel that part of my heart was left behind in Haiti. My heart broke for those people and children, and I left of peice of my heart there as I traveled back to the US. But, what God has been teaching me is that it's ok to feel uncomfortable here, whether that's in the US or Haiti or anywhere. We are citizen's of heaven, and the more Christlike we become, the more this 'world' will not feel like 'home'. <br />You have been an inspiration to me, thank you for your faithfulness to God, and I pray He gives you peace and understanding in this next stage of your life. <br />d.f.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-41892058774398020822010-07-13T11:04:36.605-07:002010-07-13T11:04:36.605-07:00Anna -
Troy and I get you. We recently had a sit ...Anna -<br />Troy and I get you. We recently had a sit down meeting in which our family told us that we are not fun anymore and that Haiti has changed us so much that we are not even all that likable. It was like a punch in the gut coming from ppl we expect to love and support us ... but instead they are mad at us for changing. It is not easy straddling the two worlds and doing it with grace for others is the hardest thing of all. <br /><br />We can only tell you that we have to remember and remind ourselves that what we've experienced is unique ... we're blessed, we've grown --- and not everyone will get it but HE gets it and HE gets us ... and that is what matters most. In the meantime and in the in-between we have to do our best to love them while they do hurtful things and remember that is what Jesus does for us. <br /><br />Prayers for you.<br />TaraT and T Livesayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612227041383997608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-31468504723523069782010-07-12T07:52:49.309-07:002010-07-12T07:52:49.309-07:00Hi Anna
I understand how you are feeling. I felt ...Hi Anna<br /><br />I understand how you are feeling. I felt many of the same things when returning home after volunteering in Guyana, South America for two years. When I returned home after a few months I attened a program called misson to misson. It was for about four or five days. It helped me to be with others who had recently returned from different parts ofthe world minstering in situations unimangiable in the states. The program helped me make a still painful but more succesfful transiton to the states. You can goggle it Misson to Misson or you can eamil me if you are interested and have questions at Jwilson44260@yahoo.com<br /><br />JennyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-18833079260967964612010-07-11T10:05:00.821-07:002010-07-11T10:05:00.821-07:00You took the words right out of my mouth! I didn&#...You took the words right out of my mouth! I didn't even live longeterm in Haiti like you but a month in the last two summers and a month after the earthquake and I am still struggling here with everything you said. Trying to figure out how to reconcile life there with life here is hard...I can't seem to enjoy anything to the fullest here because I feel guilty and yet I can't seem to find the initiative or guts to figure out what I can do from here to make a difference. To me it's easier to be somewhere like Haiti and serve...because you can't escape the everyday struggles of people's lives and all you have to do is love and serve. But here it's hard to serve because the needs aren't staring me in the face from my comfortable bubble and taking the initiative is more difficult. And it's really really hard not be surrounded by like-minded people like you are in Haiti. The biggest thing I have seen a need for in my life is to become part of a community at a church that is focused on serving the least of these, the oppressed, and the fatherless. I just haven't found it yet...but I will and I think that will help me figure this out. I pray the same for you..that you are surrounded by people who get it and who can relate to you. Sending prayers your way!!<br /><br />HollyHolly Heldenfelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-41228010024145724462010-07-10T14:46:16.127-07:002010-07-10T14:46:16.127-07:00Anna, I know the exact feelings that you are descr...Anna, I know the exact feelings that you are describing! I get the trying to detach yourself from the "rich white girl" label and I get all the exact frustrations and emotions with coming back to the states. I get the resentment towards the US and I completely get the hypocritical part. <br /><br />I get it all. I don't even know how to tell you how much I can relate. <br /><br />God is using you and He will definitely continue to do so!<br /><br />Praying for you!jessica annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15240550954930982004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-1678816136639119442010-07-10T09:51:28.469-07:002010-07-10T09:51:28.469-07:00After being in Haiti for 12 days, I have a better ...After being in Haiti for 12 days, I have a better understanding of the internal struggles you face on a much smaller level; I can't imagine how difficult this move is going to be for you. I will keep you in my prayers as you transition from your life in Haiti back to the states. May God's peace be with you as you navigate through your new normal.Ronnie B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00503036214543703448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-78972427666006874542010-07-10T09:31:40.980-07:002010-07-10T09:31:40.980-07:00Anna, you said "I just hate myself for not ye...Anna, you said "I just hate myself for not yet figuring out how to use my privileged life to help others" You ARE using your life to help others in ways you don't realize. For one thing, I don't know many people that are willing to sacrifice their time like you have. I know there are many who do serve as you, but there are more who don't. I have not experienced what you have, but I do understand when you get frustrated with people who don't want to talk about Haiti. I am an emotional person and when we started researching adoption and GLA, it just broke my heart and I could hardly talk about it to anyone because it was so devastating to me that children were dying from lack of food and clean water. Even though I would get emotional and feel silly because I would start crying when I talked to people about these horrible conditions, I felt compelled to do it. I felt like yelling at them and saying “Don’t you get it? Why don’t you seem to care?” I get so frustrated with people that I love and know to be compassionate followers of Christ, who just don't want to listen. How can they not be drawn as I was? How can they not care? They don't know what to do, so they do nothing. Pray that God will open their hearts and give them strength do something. Then there are those like you who take things head on and deal with reality and uses their gifts and abilities and strengths to help those in need. I understand your frustration but don't stop telling people about your experiences and God will change some hearts and attitudes along the way. He is using you Anna and someday you will see how much of an impact you had on this world. Our adoption of Stanley was a huge financial burden but I knew God was leading me to do it. We had a married daughter, a 15 year old daughter and a 9 year old son when we started the adoption process. We thought our family was complete. We were content with the way things were in our lives. God had a different plan and he led us to Stanley in GLA. Our family thought we were crazy and didn't understand why we were doing this. They knew we couldn't afford another child let alone the expense of the adoption. God knew otherwise and he provided each step of the way for us and He continues to provide for this family. It wasn't my dream to save a child from Haiti, it was God's plan to use us to do so. Going through the adoption was one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with and people didn't understand that this was like a mission to me. I couldn't change Haiti or fix all the problems or heal and feed ALL the children, but, I could change the life of one child. My dad asked me why we wanted to adopt and I remember telling him that I wanted to help and I couldn't change everything but I could help one child. Don't be so hard on yourself, it's not our job to change the world, that is God's job and He has given you so many blessings by using you for His service. As a wife and mom of 4 struggling to get by in this world, I envy your opportunities and abilities to do what you have done. I can't be in Haiti serving like you have been but I can read your stories and tell others about what is going on in Haiti. I can pray for situations in Haiti and God can change lives through all of this. Maybe someone will hear your stories and tell someone and they will tell someone and so on. Your work has affected many, so much more than you know. I pray someday you will return to Haiti for your sake, for the people who follow your blog's sake and for the people of Haiti's sake. Wherever you are, God will use you Anna because you choose to follow Him and you seek His will. God Bless Bobbi HansonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635107054060832260.post-42022622874303675742010-07-10T06:44:45.781-07:002010-07-10T06:44:45.781-07:00So well said and understood. Love you Anna and wil...So well said and understood. Love you Anna and will be praying for you!!!!Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15339907414896090491noreply@blogger.com