The past 48 hours have been a dizzying collision of thoughts, conversations, meetings and emotions.  I’m so grateful our students are safe.  But my heart breaks for the ones they went to Percin to serve.  I’m humbled by the quiet confidence the parents of our students have shown as they wait and trust our friends at World Hope to bring their sons and daughters home.  I think we all wish there was more we could do right now, today, to alleviate the suffering of the people of Haiti.  So many  thoughts racing through all of our minds.

But one is starting to emerge prominently.  For the past two nights, our team has led college students in worship at universities here in DC; Tuesday at American and Wednesday at Georgetown.  Both of those nights were incredible.  I loved watching college students sing their hearts out.  I loved being able to talk about the absolute authority of Christ even in hard times.  I loved watching our students here in DC pray for their friends in Haiti.

What I really loved was the number of students who came up to me after each night to say one thing: “We want to go to Percin.”  Wow.  That’s why I love serving you guys.  Christ is doing something beautiful in your hearts.  Your willingness to go, to serve, to love, to share Jesus, to make a difference is so inspiring to me.  It points to the work Christ is doing in your lives.  It shows He’s real and He’s changing you.

So, yes, we will continue to serve Haiti.  Yes, God willing, our two trips scheduled for March will still go forward.  Yes, AU, you’ll go in May.  I know we all feel a commitment to serving the people of Percin.  I love the photo I got this morning – it was taken last spring in a church we doubt stands today.  Those little kids mean so much to all of us.  They are a reminder of all we are trusting God for in these days.

And, yes, hope will return to Haiti.  Hope rooted in Christ.  Hope rooted in His promises.  Hope that outlasts even the grave.

Christ is King,

John