Haiti - Family and Friends

Hello Friends and Family!
Well, it’s finally official! I’ve accepted my position on the Haiti relief team for June of 2010. I’ll be packing my backpack, my tent, and my Bible and heading to Haiti with a group of 50 other individuals through Adventures in Missions. I just received notice that all of our flights have been booked, departing June 1 and returning June 30. I’m extremely excited for the days in between, how God is going to use myself and my team. When I watch Haiti on the news, it becomes so real knowing that I’ll be a part of their world in just a month and a half. I’m setting out to make a difference in their lives, but I’m fairly certain that their life won’t be the only one changed.
As all of you know, I’ve been living at home for the past year. I have had a LOT of time to pray and listen to the Lord about where He wants me to be, what He wants me to be doing, and when and how He wants me to do it. I feel incredibly blessed to have had all of you with me through the process. I can’t say that I have definitive answers for those questions in life, but what keeps ringing in my ears are words from my sister, Leslie. During one of my MANY “what do I do with my life?” talks, she said this, “love God and love others, that is His calling in all of our lives.” Whether that means being a wife or a husband, a mother or a father, an office administrator, or a missionary, it doesn’t change. This is how I feel lead to love God and love others this summer.
I found this trip through one of my many online searches for “Christian mission trips to Africa.” This same organization that was sending teams and individuals to Africa was sending a relief team to Haiti in an emergency response to the earthquake. Adventures in Missions (AIM) is a very large Christian organization that has been organizing mission trips around the world for years. Until recently, Haiti was not a main focus. Therefore our trip is essentially a “pioneering” trip. A relationship has been established with Pastor Profete who has a church and a clinic. This is most likely where we will be helping with physical needs and bringing hope to the Haitians. A community of refugees has also been adopted by AIM. We have committed to help rebuild their lives. Our team has been told that the month and our service could look many different ways. We could be serving in hospitals, orphanages, neighborhoods, or churches.
The reason I’m writing all of you is for your prayers and support. I’m beginning to think that nervousness and excitement aren’t any different! I think it is okay to trust God and still be nervous…. Right? I trusted that God would open doors if I was “supposed to go.” Of a large number of applicants interviewed for the 50 positions available, I was accepted, one hurdle down. When I requested time off of work, it was granted, two hurdles down. Now I just have to make it to the starting line! The cost of the trip is 1500 dollars (by May 1), which I am prepared to pay. But I also would like to extend the opportunity to you to help me financially if you would like. Please use the website http://relief.theworldrace.org/ where you can click on “Support me!” which will lead you to a new page where you can click on “Support a racer”, which is where you would put my name… unless there is another racer you like more  I love and appreciate you all.
Trusting Him,
Courtney Barnett
P.S. Please also feel free to occasionally check my personal blog. I am hoping to keep it updated with my progression towards my June 1 departure as well as pictures and reflections throughout my trip. The link to the website is www.court-time.blogspot.com.