3 years

Today is the third anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. It is a day of remembrance and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for life - it could of have been any or all of us who were lost. It is another birthday. We survived and life continues. We were and are sad but need to look to God. He chose to keep us here for a reason. I pray that on this day each person in Haiti take time to remember but also to look forward turn to God and see what he has in store for each of us. Its not only in Haiti but everywhere, God has a unique plan for each of us and we need to be looking to see what that is.

Last year I read 1000 gifts and a friend challenged me to list the gifts I've seen here in Haiti since the earthquake. Here are a few

- life
- a chance to serve those who were injured and hurting
- seeing and hearing the miracles of those who survived
- tears from sharing stories
-hugs from those found alive
-hugs from someone loved when other loved ones were lost
-those who came to serve
-making a home in a piece of tarp
-unbreakable bonds created among strangers
-perseverance -rubble removed a bucket at a time, a sledgehammer swing at a time and rebuilding a block at a time
-those who see that giving isn't the answer but enabling Haitians to help themselves to do for themselves and rebuild their lives anew and better because they did it themselves
-those who find a way for Haitians to employee themselves
-reuniting with those we treated many years later
-finding family who thought were lost
-new roads
-not seeing rubble and broken buildings everywhere
-knowing there is progress despite the corruption and media reports
-God's gift to me in a little one named Ronald and his mom Abolina
-deeper relationships
-new relationships
-waking up every morning
-knowing that there is a reason I was not among those lost
The list goes on and on....

Normal was changed three years ago today for the country of Haiti. I have been reading posts and blogs from those who were apart of the earthquake - Haitian and foreigner and the underlying theme of all is thankfulness for life.

Celebrate being alive, a part of this wonderful creation God made for us to participate in. We are only here for a short time and we don't know when our last day will be so be engaged and make the most of it. Be THANKFUL and make others thankful by sharing your life with theirs.

I am honored and humbled and thankful and grateful and overwhelmed and awestruck by at the way God has positioned me to participate by serving here in Haiti. Its an amazing journey and I wouldn't trade one day of it.

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