Well, 2010 has been very busy. Working with the Gathering (college ministry), my life seems to function on a semester-based schedule, since that is when our ministry is most active.  I have learned so many things over the course of the year that it would be probably next to impossible to write them all down and still hold people’s attention. However, there are some things that I am wanting to share that have been most impactful in my life this year.

As part of my position with the Gathering, I was designated the staff leader on a trip to Haiti with students from George Mason. For me, this meant another mission trip that I would be able to learn a lot from and that God would be able to use me to help further his kingdom around the world. God has blessed me with many opportunities in the past to go on mission trips – including trips to Ecuador and Kenya in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Nine George Mason students and myself left on January 9, 2010 for Port Au Prince, Haiti. If you have a good memory, you’ll remember January 12, 2010 was the massive earthquake in Haiti, with an epicenter about 25 miles from where we were. Yes, we felt it. And we did not just feel it a little bit, but we felt the full force of its power. If you have never experienced an earthquake, I can’t say it is something I recommend trying to experience, however it was a huge testament of the power of God that is exhibited in nature. The earth beneath you shaking and throwing you up and down is something that I have found quite difficult to explain to many over the past 5 months since being down there. However, I would much rather talk of Haiti and the amazing people I met while there. There’s so much more than the news in the states lets us see. You may or may not be surprised to hear me say that the earthquake brought together a group of people, a group of God’s people, not just a group of Americans down in Haiti for a trip – a group of Haitians and Americans and even a Canadian who all relied on our one and only, omnipotent, omniscient, and holy GOD. Wow! We had only one thing to stand on, and it was not the shaking ground beneath us.

God blessed me with being able to go down to Haiti for another week in March, in which I was able to see my friends and continue building the relationships that seemed to have 5 years of relationship building enveloped in just the 7 days that I knew these people.

Tekodi Mikelme is my “little buddy” who glued himself to me and was a very loyal little friend for both trips to Haiti. Definitely love this guy a lot.

Thony Querette, the country director for World Hope International, was a guy I heard so many great things about prior to the trip from Allan McCullough and John McGowan – and he was all those great things and more. I developed a friendship with this guy that will last a lifetime – and I would do anything for him. I had the pleasure of meeting his beautiful wife, Sarah, on my second trip.

Blanc, our translator, is a guy that I will never forget. The connection that we made is another that will surely last a lifetime. I cannot wait to see this guy again and spend more time with him. We spent hours with each other just talking, getting to know one another, and I helped him learn some more English and refine his speaking skills.

There are so many other people I could talk about and so many things God taught me, but it seems I would type forever! All in all, Haiti now has a very special place in my heart. God may have me heading down there for a longer stay, but I am waiting on God’s timing. Since I only have so much room to explain and tell you stories on this blog, if you are interested in reading more of my story from my trips to Haiti and seeing some photos of the people and place I love so much, check out my personal blog.

In the meantime, God knows where to keep me or place me – right now that is the Gathering at George Mason University. Summer is almost upon us – the last service is May 5^th. We will have a short break and then start our summer bible studies on June 1^st. I am excited to have a little break in there, but I know that I will miss my busy days of hanging out with students and being on campus.

One of the biggest things God has been teaching me is about church – what it should look like, how we should treat one another, how to spend our time and resources, and so much more. God also provided a chance for me to preach this past Wednesday, April 28^th at the Gathering at Mason. I spoke on Ephesians 5:8-14 and how we as Christians should live in the light. If you want to give it a listen, it should be going up on the Gathering sermons website – I would love some feedback (yes, both positive and negative please).