Going to Haiti Jan 2

Dear Friends and Family,
Some of you followed my blogs from my last trip to Haiti and some of you this may be the first time. So a little background: My first trip to Haiti was in March 2010 with a Christian medical group called Medical Mercy, (Mission of Mercy). It was a total God thing that I made it there with only 2 weeks advance notice. I knew nothing about Haiti nor the people or the group I was going with, all I knew is that I saw a need and wanted to help. God directed my every move and thought, HE knew the burdens that were on my heart. I felt God more than ever in that desolate place. God has grown my faith immensely since then and I've been challenged to know and understand Him more. More specifically, I've been challenged in prayer.
This past Sunday, I attended a sermon at Calvary Petaluma on prayer. Romans 15:30 says "I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf..." I learned what it is to Strive in prayer. Pastor Zach talked about Striving with God, knowing that He is our only hope, and refusing to let go until He hears us and blesses us. That is the kind of prayer I want to have for Haiti. I want to strive together with God in prayer and ask Him to open the eyes of my heart and to humble me before the lowly and the needy. Paul believed in God's grace to accomplish the impossible; He pleas with the church for prayer by sole motivation of our Lord Jesus and by the love of the Spirit. My ministry prayer is for protection from my enemies (or spiritual warfare) and that I would be received by the saints (or received in ministry). God's timing is always perfect. He was speaking to me, calling on me to strive in prayer and believe the impossible. Haiti has been in a state of poverty and tragedy for many many years but was hit extremely hard in 2010 with Earthquakes, hurricanes and now cholera epidemic. There is so much need there and its never-ending, exhausting and sometimes feels hopeless. But God does not want us to give up. He calls on me to strive and believe that He sees that need. My heart was burdened as God revealed these things to me, but it was all in preparation for this coming week. I'm so thankful for His promises and the joy that comes from trusting Him. My prayer requests this week before I depart are:
-that I would put my Trust completely in Him and let go of anything I'm trying to control or hold onto
-to cast all anxieties and fears on Him and be at peace
-for my team dynamic
-rest/SLEEP, energy
-health--shake off this cough

Thank you for reading my blog and I appreciate all your support and prayers! If you can help support me financially, I would be very appreciative. Any amount helps. This trip is significantly more than the last, so I'm hoping to at least get some of the cost covered. You can write a check to Mission of Mercy for a tax deduction and send it to my address. Thank you and Happy Holidays.
Michelle Bertrand
7010 Glenflora ave
San Diego, CA, 92119

In Christ,
Michelle