The ever cliche mustard seed and a plea for Haiti

Our journey towards missions has not always been smooth sailing.   There have been various potential obstacles and stumbling blocks.   When they first surface, I often find myself with a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts. “Man people already think we are crazy, and this is well… KRAZY with a capital k.”   “We have already sold almost everything and have told our jobs that we were leaving.”  “What if this prevents us from doing missions?!”  

At one point Maria share this last question with her spiritual director.   She then shared a very grace-filled insight.  She pointed out that if anything this last question further confirms that this is where God is calling us.   The desires of our hearts now included missions, otherwise we would be reacting differently and feeling a sense of relief that missions might not be working out.

And so we are left with trusting in God and praying the words of the Apostles in last Sunday’s Gospel, “Lord, increase our faith.”   Jesus responded by talking about faith the size of a mustard seed.   We were blessed to hear Archbishop Rivas preach last week.   When it comes to faith, it is not about the quantity, but the quality.  If we have much faith quantifiably, we can fall into the snares of self-righteousness.  When our faith is small but of great quality, we are forced to rely on God and to remain humble.   In our weakness, we are left crying out, “Yes, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief,” (Mark 9:24).   It is through Thomas’ doubts that he comes to declare, “My Lord and my God,” (John 20:24-29).   We when have faith the size of a mustard seed we realize that God has the strength to throw mountains into the seas.   He is the one that softens that hardness of my heart.   When I am willing to let go of my idol of ego, there is nothing that God can’t do!

Aware that there is nothing that our God can’t do, that there are no mountains too big, there is great need in Haiti.   FMC currently has two families and two single men in Haiti.   In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the people of Haiti have experienced yet another devastation.   As one our missionaries, David Quinn, put it:

We went out to a couple outer villages today. The damage is unbelievable. The people are shaken. The government did NOTHING to prepare and is doing nothing to help…. Please continue to pray and consider donating to help the people here. It will take months to rebuild.

The people of Haiti need our help.   We are called to be Christ’s hands and feet.   According to World Bank (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=HT) the GDP per capita is a hair over US $828.  The average Haitian lives on a little over $2 a day.   Can you support a child, a grandmother, an adult for a week and give at least $15?   FMC is collecting for an emergency relief fund to send to Haiti.   Please click here for more information.   We pray that our gifts, no matter how large or small be multiplied with a faith the size of a mustard seed, because there are some large mountains for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.