First Meeting

A year ago today was a night that forever changed my life…. for the first time I was going to take risk.  All I knew is that God had prepared me for this day and given me the passion that drove me to where I was.   

It was on this day that I met Troy Livesay for an interview in The Woodlands, TX after work.  I embarked on this ride with a dear friend and was nervous the whole way.  I knew at the end of this dinner he would either think I was the right fit or not, he would call his wife Tara to discuss the options and then call me to let me know the answer.  I had met Tara via Skype three weeks earlier which helped put me at ease a little but an interview just sounds and makes everything official.                         

When we arrived I was a mess… my mind flooded with emotions, questions and the unknown.  Could I really move to a third world country?  What would it look like?  What will my family and friends think?  Would I make friends in Haiti?  and the list went on and on.  However as I sat with Troy and we talked while asking questions and sharing I felt complete PEACE. It was a weird feeling and it’s hard to explain but everything I had prayed for over the last month felt right in my heart. 

As we left I didn’t know what to expect.  I got in the car and my friend said “Well, what do you think?”  I just looked at her and said I don’t know.  I am so confused and I am not sure if he liked me or if I even made sense while I was talking.  The whole way home we talked about how this door had been opened for me, how God had prepared this specific opportunity for me and how God will provide in this situation.  

Sure enough around 10:00 PM, Troy called and offered me the job.  I knew that if he called and offered me the job that he would need answer that night, to help with other planning and things.  I proudly said YES and thanked him and Tara for the opportunity.  I hung up the phone and couldn’t believe it.  It was November 2nd and in 2 months I would be moving to Haiti to live full time and teach 5 adorable children.  

Here I am one year later, sitting my apartment, we just finished a full day of school, celebrated one of those adorable children's 10th birthdays and I am still as thankful as I was a year ago.  It may not seem like a big deal to most of you but for me, this was the first time for me to move away from Texas, much less, Houston.  Everything I had ever know was going to change, my parents would be down the street, I wouldn't be able to call up a friend for dinner or run to HEB or Target real quick to grab something.  However, I knew in my heart for the last two years God was changed me but I wanted the right door to open at the right time.  Boy did he do that. I have leaned so much on this journey.  I have learned more about myself, how to take risks, how to trust, how to have faith as small as a mustard seed and much more.  Troy, Tara and their awesome kiddos have loved me, laughed with me, taken care of me and challenged me.  My heart is forever thankful for them and I feel lucky to be serving them here in Haiti.