Re-entry: Who we are after Haiti

It was two weeks ago that we arrived home to Worley Ave from our ten day mission to Haiti.

The view from our Haiti home in Fort Liberte.

We have been editing photos, building slide shows, reading trip journal entries, and processing. I am still struggling with how to convey our experience. 


The effects of a short-term mission trip are far reaching. They are ripples that touch areas of one's life unexpectedly. They are inexplicable cravings for chicken, beans, and rice covered in red sauce, tears of thankfulness that appear when handing a child a cold bottle of clean water, and a despondency that sets in while aimlessly pushing a cart through the local super store. 


As short-termers we have asked:
Why doesn't anyone else care about this great need?  Why were we called to go? 
We have wondered: What are we doing with or American Life? 
And stressed: How can we make  a difference?

First, I would like to say thank you to all of our supporters. Whether financially, prayerfully, or both, your continued encouragement makes coming home a hundred times easier. We don't have to wonder why other people don't care. You all show that you do. Having people who care about where we have been and how we have been serving is balm for hearts that have been broken for people in need.

This photo taken by Kris Woodrum.

As for what we are doing with our "American Life" ...this is a really plaguing  question. Reece and I are Go-ers. We love the adventure and the purpose that comes with serving the Lord full-time and out of our comfort zones. We enjoy seeing the Big things that God is doing.  

The joy of the Lord is my strength and all that kept me going.

In our missionary life, we are brave, sacrificial, and persistent. We help build feeding centers and orphanages. We evangelize the saving power of a real relationship with Jesus Christ. We give away our money, our food, and our clothes. In our missionary life, we are bold warriors for Christ. 

NERD!

In our American Life, we are Reece and Angila Karge. Reece is a software engineer. He is a devoted husband, and wonderful father. He likes comic book movies and pocket watches. Angila is a stay-at-home-mom. She cloth-diapers, home-schools, and evangelizes the evils of processed foods. In our American Life, we google how to speak with a Scottish accent. In our American Life, we are nerds.

For the Karge family, it is so much more difficult to fiercely pursue God, when we are Peter Parker. The small details are what ultimately snowball and run us down. Over the past few years, God has been teaching us to be obedient in the mundane seemingly insignificant details of daily life: what we eat, what we watch, how we parent, how we spend our money. The nerd in is us understands that time is the greatest variable. We can see that long-term obedience will yield great benefits. Every dollar we save can go toward one more brick in a wall of a feeding center. Every second we spend instructing our children in the ways of the Lord will go toward the salvation of another generation of missionary Karges. This is what we are making the purpose our American Life: To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 

I wondered why she was born into strife, while my daughter was born to me.
This photo taken by Cherra Taylor.

Finally, we have come to accept that we can not make a difference. We can only be the instruments that God uses to make a difference. This has been simultaneously humbling and uplifting. It can be tough to realize that its not all about you, but it is also freeing. I am not going to save the world, but the world isn't depending on me to save it either.

This is how Fort Liberte, Haiti has impacted the Karges.

More Packing Fun...

It's more than enough.

Well, the group packing was finished on Saturday, but the Karge family is still going strong. While trying to get everything I need for eleven days in Haiti stuffed into a carry-on is difficult, trying to anticipate the needs of three children who will also be away from home for eleven days is by far the greater of the two evils.


It has actually been a great exercise in "What do I REALLY need?" Also, it puts all that I have into better perspective: "I really own 10 solid colored t-shirts?" Being a person that enjoys the simplicity that comes from owning less stuff, I was surprised to learn that (when not looking through the American lens) Im a shopping happy, materialistic, sale-monger.

"You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."- 2 Corinthians 9:11.  This applies to so much more than just stuff, and Im excited to share every gift I have been given. These are the bits of wisdom God has been sending my way while packing. I can't wait to see what He reveals when we are actually serving.

Partying while Packing for Haiti: Part One

With somewhere around ten days till departure, it has been all about the details.

Tons of items were donated for the people of Fort Liberte.

Friday night I dropped the kids off for a trial sleepover at the Asberry residence. Then, Reece and I went to pick up a few trip necessities: Sunscreen, bug spray, and batteries. I spent most of the outing checking my phone and trying not to worry. There was planning about donations and getting them to the church, and some dinner somewhere in there too. I took my daughter's blanket to bed with me. I'm praising God that Bethan has been so patient with my neediness. She texted to ask if I was okay because apparently the kids were doing great. :/ I would never had noticed that I had such trust issues concerning my children if God hadn't required this journey. This is another praise because trust and obedience are so entirely connected.

 This is a blurry phone pic, but still proof of my packing prowess

Saturday morning was a group packing day at Clarksburg Baptist Church.  We battled a group of bikers to get downtown.... and by bikers I mean racers on bicycles. It was an excellent time of fellowship and team-building. We were very blessed by the generosity of all the people that donated items to be taken to the Haitians. It was incredible. People were beyond generous; the items were thoughtful, and it was awesome. We loaded these gifts into 50 lb. army duffel bags that will be nearly impossible to carry.  :D Excitement is starting to edge its way past the terror. There is no better remedy for selfishness than serving others.  

Mission Haiti: Short-term with the Friends of Fort Liberte

We are three weeks from our date of departure, and in hindsight, I should have started this blog much sooner.

This has been a new challenge in the Karge family's walk with the Lord, and I really want to include our supporters in the amazing and exciting (sometimes difficult and painful) thing that God is doing. So here is a recap:

I wasn't quite up to caring for this crew on a plane.

May 2010: Alyssa Lillian Karge was born. A short-term trip to Batey Cuchillo was scheduled for that June. For the first time, the Karge family stayed state side while a group from Morgantown went to minister to dominican haitians living in bateys. 

October 2010: We were challenged to get more involved with our new church family at Fellowship Bible Church in Bridgeport. We joined a great small group and were really starting to feel connected here in Clarksburg.

Reece II in Batey Cuchillo

November 2010: We received the sad news that any further short-term mission trips to Batey Cuchillo have been put on hold, as our former church  endured a season of change and growth.

At this point, Reece and I were distressed because of passion for overseas missions and the deep love we have for  Batey Cuchillo in the Dominican Republic. It was during this time that we were challenged to break with the comfort zone that was our previous experience in Morgantown, and embrace fully the new family  God had given us in Clarksburg.

December 2010: It was during the December 26th church service at FBC that a trip to Haiti was announced. We were told that there were 8 spots available for people who wanted to go and serve there.

This meant that our children would be unable to accompany us for the first time ever.

 I thought, "No way." 

God said to both Reece and I, "Go."

We spoke with the pastor in charge, and I was secretly relieved to learn that there was an application process. "This is a very large body of believers," I reassured my self. " We are relatively new here and just getting settled. What are they odds that they will actually accept us?"  Obviously, God doesn't ask for something and, then not provide the way. They warmly accepted us, and the war within my heart began.

January 2011: The Karge family made serious overhauls in budget and lifestyle in order to better steward the blessings we have received. We prayed for God to send like-minded believers to partner with us in prayer and financial support. We asked that He provide someone to care for our three small children while we were away for ten days. Although joyous at the prospect of serving in Haiti, I secretly hoped that no one would come forward so that I would not have to trust the Lord with the care of my children.

February 2011: As we worked with the other members of Team Mission Haiti, it became more and more apparent that the Lord had left no escape hatch. This team is a group of God-loving, sacrificial, servants that will leave no one behind. They will help us find a way to get to where God has commanded us to go. I stopped secretly thinking anything because it was completely useless. God had somehow found me out anyway. I full out panicked. 

The Lord lovingly reassured me in every moment of doubt:

He made His presence known at the Valentine's Dinner fundraiser. The body at FBC came together to support the team in full force. I was humbled and very blessed.

God provided  dear friends to care for our kids. An amazing lady of the Lord volunteered to to take the entire ten days off of work to make it as easy as possible on the children. She and her husband expressed great excitement over serving in this way. 

Caden in the midst of madness.

I surrendered and am continually surrendering. 

March 2011: The Lord opened up the floodgates and blessed us in abundance. FBC got behind its team again with an amazing turn out at the March Madness for Missions rummage sale. Other members of our family in Christ stepped forward to partner with us. 

Reece and I are absolutely staggered by the awesomeness of God. Our faith and trust has grown exponentially in the light of His mercy and patience during this time. This is the God we are honored to serve. This is the beginning of Mission Haiti. Thank you for your prayer and practical support. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for when we are actually there.