community.

"let me be clear: brokenness doesn't automatically bring us to the thin place, the sacred place where God's breath and touch are closer than our own skin. heartbreak brings us lots of places--to despair, to bitterness, to emptiness, to numbness, to isolation. but because God is just that good, if we allow the people who love us to walk with us right through the brokenness it can also lead to a deep sense of God's presence when things fall apart, the broken places allow all sorts of things to enter, and one of them is the presence of God. i believe deeply that God does his best work in our lives during times of great heartbreak and loss, and i believe that much of that rich work is done by the hands of people who love us, who dive into the wreckage with us and show us who God is over and over and over. give up for awhile your false and failing attempts at merriment, and thank God for thin places, and for Advent, for a season that understands longing, and loneliness, and long nights. let yourself fall open to Advent, to anticipation, to the belief that what is empty will be filled, what is broken will be repaired, and what is lost can always be found, no matter how many times it has been lost" (niequist, 2010).

some of the crew that went to haiti got together tonight. we laughed, we prayed, we made fun of scott, we cried, and we shared about life back here. it was a night full of joy.

emily is precious and a woman i love getting to call a friend.

we ate, talked, and found community.

Jesus & haiti brought us together as friends and family.

we find joy in Him even in the midst of brokenness for that country, for those people. He is redeeming us and He is redeeming Haiti, we wait in anticipation for all He will do.

thankful for these people and the joy of getting to be lifelong friends.