God filled adventures | Written by Shannon Kelley

I’m sitting here underneath our mosquito net.  It has just rained outside and while we were hoping for some sweet relief from the heat all we have been graced with is a little more humidity.  And the truth is that I’m stuck on what to write.  I wanted to write about faith, about following God, and how awesome it is.  In a nutshell.

But the truth is at the moment, I don’t really feel awesome.  I feel really human and in desperate need of a Savior.  I feel like I mess up way too much. I feel like God trusts me way too much…surely He knows my limits, right? Surely He remembers that I have a temper sometimes and that I’m impatient and will always be totally selfish when it comes to all things chocolate?  Surely He remembers those things when He asks me to be more, give more, have more faith, to follow Him to the ends of the earth?

Bob Goff said it best “It’s not all planned out for us either, and that’s where most people get too nervous to take the next step.  But know this: when Jesus invites us on an adventure, He shapes who we become with what happens along the way.”

A year ago we said yes to moving to Haiti, selling all we own, and giving it to God. And He was faithful, time and time again, to hold our hand and shape us who we are today. I am not the same person I was when I landed in Haiti to live long term.  I have been changed for the better through this adventure with Him.

In two weeks we start a new, almost more nerve-racking than our initial move to Haiti, adventure.  We will pack up our things and drive 8 hours; until the pavement ends, then drive another hour more and drive through a river because there is no bridge.  That will be our new home. A tiny fishing village on the southern tip of Haiti.  We will be the only Americans that live there and we will do life with them.  We want to love them, come alongside their families, hold their hand and help them in a sustainable way.  We want to make Jesus famous and fight for families.

I’m nervous.  Because the truth is we can’t do it on our own.  We need Him to walk alongside us more than ever.  We desperately need Him to line up provision for our family because we rely on support to live and do ministry here.  It’s scary, humbling, and amazing, all rolled into one.

My hope is that you read this and know that it is possible.  I’m a normal, messed up girl who decided to say yes to whatever God asked of her.  And relying on Him in faith to provide what we need to walk through this.  Whatever is on your heart, whatever God has given you as a passion, that thing that scares you because you don’t think you could do it.  YOU ARE CAPABLE.  Because God loves you more than anyone could ever love you, you are capable of extraordinary things.  He is inviting you on this amazing adventure and will use you in ways you can’t imagine.

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Shannon and her family live in Haiti as missionaries.  A former published wedding photographer, Shannon continues to photograph very limited weddings per year and focuses on humanitarian photography as she documents their life in Haiti. They are there as volunteers and, to stay in Haiti and serve, rely on support of people like you who believe in their cause of fighting for families.  If you are interested in supporting their family through prayer or monetarily, please go to http://www.shannon-kelley.com/blog/haiti/.  To give directly through their ministry, go to http://tiny.cc/harvestfield,  please mention the Kelley’s in the comment box:)

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