So the gospel according to Luke, chapter 5 verses 1 through
11, narrates the story of the calling of Simon Peter, James & John. I’d
encourage you to take 5 minutes and read through it. As I was reflecting on the past 10 days since I’ve been in
Haiti, this was the story that came to mind. I read through it again and it
became clear why it’s so applicable to my first few days on mission in Haiti.
Jesus gets in Simon’s
boat
I find this pretty comical. Here is Simon minding his own
business when this Jesus character invades his space. He just gets in Simon’s
boat, tells him where to take the boat and starts preaching. How did Simon
feel? Was he annoyed? Perplexed? Curious? Suspicious? Afraid? All of the above?
In a way, that’s kind of how I feel sometimes when the Lord steps into my boat
in a way I did not expect and at a time I did not plan to receive him. When the
opportunity to discern living in Haiti as a missionary came up, my life was
going pretty well. I was working full-time at a pediatric ER as nurse and I had
finally gotten the hang of the fast-paced rhythm of the unit. I was part of a
wonderful ministry called The Shepherd’s Café. I was blessed with having time
in community with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Ft. Worth. I was part
of a young adult charismatic prayer group, Upper Room. I was living with 2 of
my dearest friends with whom I shared a wonderful home. I was praying about my
vocation (marriage/family) and thought that maybe I had met the person I might
be called to be in a relationship with and I all I had to do is pray a little
harder and wait a little longer. But as life would have it, Jesus stepped into
my boat.
Jesus tells Simon (an
experienced fisherman) how to do his job
With Simon, Jesus told him to put out his nets for a catch
just a little off from the shore. Simon questioned Jesus and explained how he
had been working all night and had caught nothing. Simon could have refused
what Jesus instructed but he chose to follow His lead. Serving as a missionary
in a developing country has been a desire in my heart for a long time. Jesus
stepped into my boat and asked me to pray about an opportunity to serve him in
Haiti. What I didn’t expect was the timing of his invitation and the surrender
it would entail. Leaving people that I care for is very difficult. Leaving my
job in the ER where I had learned so much regarding pediatric nursing and where
I had grown so much as a person was surprisingly difficult. Leaving the “almost
maybe” possibility of being in a romantic relationship and what in my mind was
“delaying” entering into my vocation (I know that’s not true, it’s just how I
felt) was difficult. Having to depend on the Lord financially in everyway was a
bit daunting, even scary. Toss in my own insecurities and uncertainties;
praying through this invitation was a challenge. But deep down at the very core
of me I knew that this invitation is something I had been praying and waiting
for, and the only thing holding me back from saying yes would be fear. So now
here I am, living in Haiti as a full-time missionary and I can honestly say
that - I love it. There is a lot I
don’t know. Just like Simon didn’t know where the fish would come from, and how
he would even catch them when he knew as seasoned fishermen that the spot Jesus
was telling to let down his net was not optimal (by human reason, not by the
Lord’s wisdom/perspective). I know that the medical mission will happen. I
don’t know the logistics of it all yet but I know it’s possible and the Lord
will provide. I know I am called to marriage/family, I don’t know who/when/how
but the Lord does and even though it’s hard to wait I know God is faithful to
his promises. I don’t know my exact role within the community but I do know I
am called to live in community and to love in community – I believe my role
will flow from my trying to be faithful to those two commitments.
Jesus provides Simon
and his companions with more than what they expected or believed he could do
If you read the passage in Luke, you’ll know that Simon
caught so much fish when he followed Jesus’ instructions that the boat nearly
sank. I have been here 10 days and I have:
- · Witnessed two first communions
- · Witnessed a beautiful wedding
- · Witnessed a baptism
- · Prayed for 2 people receiving the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time
- · Walked for 2 hours (all the while singing, dancing and praying) with over 100 teenagers to a church so we could gather for a talk, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and praise & worship
- · Visited St. Therese hospital and prayed with 4 different children and their parents
- · Made an assessment alongside a wonderful cardiologist (Dr. Tim Byrne) for one of the children who has a heart defect, noticed this child also had something particular in his speech patterns and ended up finding a speech pathologist through Fr. Louis Merosne (our priest at the mission base), the speech pathologist was able to meet with the child and his father yesterday morning for an assessment and he will now start sessions to address his speech
- · Talked with several people who are interested and want to help with a medical mission in Haiti branching out of our mission base
- · Received generous financial donations from people all the way from Switzerland that I have never met
- · Learned more about communication and living in community
- · Spent time with some of the Life Teen board members and was blessed by their encouragement and fatherly care
- · Enjoyed laughing/praying/crying/talking/growing with my missionary sister Sara Vasile
- · Had the opportunity to attend daily mass
- · Had fruitful and blessed conversations with Fr. Louis
- · Learned a little more Creole (I understand more than I can speak but it’s a start)
- · Started playing guitar again (I will learn how to play for real, I won’t give up this time)
- · Got to take of someone who got hit in the forehead with a rock (I would have loved to had dermabond in hand but I used steri strips and it healed pretty nicely)
- · Got to give Joe (an elderly gentlemen that lives across the street for our base) a new mattress, sheets and a pillow and watched him cry with joy and praise God at receiving this gift (he lives in a little hut and slept on a mat on the floor)
Truly the list could be much longer, but I don’t want to
make this blog longer than it already is (thanks if you have actually read this
far, you’re a trooper J)
Simon Peter, John
& James to leave everything and follow Him
There are plenty of things that I still need to “leave”
behind in order to follow the Lord more freely & fully. For example I know
I need to embrace humility (leaving behind pride), and trust in God (not giving
in to doubt). But I know that if I try to be faithful, little by little, it’s
the Lord himself that will infuse his grace into my heart and that will allow
me to leave what needs to be left behind. As of now, I have in some ways left
fear behind. And that allowed me to say yes and embark on the journey I’m
currently in.
So, praise God for these past 11 days. And thank you so much
for your continued prayers & financial support. Until next time, Paola J
Sara & me - Chacos
Our room (Sara & me)
Beautiful girls we hang out with every week
The wedding of one of our community members, Ginald
Ginald's baby girl also got baptized
Jordan, Sara & Me
Stephen (board member), Randy (LT President), Fr. Louis (our priest at the base)
Brother (wonderful chapel director) and Fr. Louis having a jam session
