I want to tell you a story

This is a story all about how my life got twisted upside down a sweet girl named Mary, and a big, big God.

When I was in college I volunteered for a ministry called Young Life that stands to change the lives of high school students by developing meaningful relationships that ultimately point them to Jesus. I was divinely assigned to hang out with kids from Dripping Springs high school, particularly sophomore girls. Early in my time there I met a girl named Mary. I immediately loved her but I tried to play it cool so she wouldn't be totally freaked out by me. She was a girl that people wanted to be around. She was beautiful and full of personality but I sensed she always held something back, like she had more to share. I had the privilege of hanging out with her and her group of friends for a couple years. I prayed for them by name through the yearbook and prayed that God would give me chances to hang out with them. I even got to take them to summer camp where I felt like God took our friendship to a deeper level. Mary knew Jesus, and I knew she loved Him, but I prayed that God would captivate her so much that she couldn't help but chase after him daily. And I believed He would.

And then I got busy. I started nursing school and I stepped down from Young Life and I totally blew it. I failed at pursuing her and felt like the worst friend ever. Mary went off to college in Alabama and I doubted that God would ever bring fruit from that relationship because I didn't do my part.

It's a really great thing that God doesn't rely on us.

Fast forward about 4 years. I visit Haiti and my life is changed forever. I go back for awhile and I write a blog to tell about it; a few people read it.

Fast forward another year. I move to Nashville, TN and make a little life here. Summer comes around and I find out that Mary is living here and interning for a non-profit. Oh my goodness!!! Literally, I couldn't believe God's goodness. I thought, finally! God is giving me a chance to redeem this relationship that I so miserable stunk at. Mary and I connect and make plans to see each other.

On a totally separate note, I had known about dear Anna leaving Haiti for a while and had been praying really hard that God would send another teacher for Licia's boys. It was getting close to the end of summer and there were no hopeful prospects. I prayed harder. And then one Thursday afternoon I was at my desk at work and I got this email from Licia and all she said was "this gave me goosebumps! what do you think?"

Hi Enoch and Licia!

  It is SO good to finally meet you! I cannot believe that I find myself writing this to you right now, I am a twenty year old college student who currently has a lot of plans. Instead, I am throwing plans to the wind and E-mailing you about teaching your dear children. This can only be the Lord convicting me of something so out of the ordinary, my hands are still shaking. That and the fact that I absolutely fell in love with each of your boy's and their beautiful hearts in that video. 

To back up, my name is Mary Davis. I am currently majoring in International Relations and Missions at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where I will be a junior in the fall. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas but am currently living in Nashville, TN for several months as I work for a stateside World Relief office specializing in Refugee Resettlement. I have followed your blog and gotten regular updates on Real Hope For Haiti for about a year now. Your lives have indirectly touched mine and I never thought that I would have the privilege of actually writing to you. Your mission came to my attention by way of the one and only, Caroline Tigner. Caroline was a mentor of mine in high school and someone who had a strong hand in leading me back to our sweet Jesus. When I was younger, Caroline was everything that I wanted to be "when I grew up." She will forever hold that place in my heart. I also followed Caroline as she stayed and worked alongside your family continually loving sick children. Who would have thought that reading a blog would be such a testament to hope? It has certainly shook me to my core and challenged me daily.

I burst into tears. Who are we that God would not only redeem this relationship but would use it for something more than I could have ever prayed up myself? Mary grew into the most beautiful, and wise woman who cares about the lost and the lame more than she cares about herself. I want to be like that when I grow up. After a few short weeks, working out life's little details and some steadfast prayer, Mary moved down to Haiti to serve as the teacher for Carmelo, Trey and Henley. You can follow her journey here. I get to visit Mary in her new home in November and I cannot tell you what a joy it is to be able to share Haiti with my sweet friend.