Off The Beaten Path

I want to live different.

We live in a society where we are not people, we are consumers to sell products to. I don't want the American Dream of a nice job, a nice car, and a nice family. It seems that the more people try to live for that the more stressed out and disappointed they are with life.

Where do I start? I am not sure what I am good at. I am not sure what my passion(s) are.

I want to do more with my life. I want to make a difference. I want to do something that will leave an impact. I want to hear God say "well done my good and faithful servant" when I get up there.


I watched a sermon done by Pastor Perry Noble and he gave 3 words that would help us live a blessed life; misery, motivation and realization.

Misery- when you look at the world what breaks your heart. When you discover your misery you will discover your ministry.

Motivation- God is going to call you to something that you do well and enjoy.

Realization- If you don't let your past die, it won't let you live.

If we constantly look at ourselves, we will miss what God brought us here for. We are here for one another. God gave us all at least one gift and it's our job through Him that we use it and not waste it. Will we fail, yes. Will we screw up and make mistakes, yes. Will we do things that are extremely hard and want to give up, yes. All of this WILL happen but when these happen we should learn from them and let them be in the past. We shouldn't dwell on them, EVERYONE makes mistakes and bad choices, we are human. We should work hard now in our passion so TOGETHER we can have a brighter future. A future filled with joy and happiness.

People Helping People

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to go to Haiti to help build a home for 30+ kids at the orphanage that our church sponsors. It was a huge success!! We were able to get these wonderful kids into permanent shelter, build relationships and most of all show the kids that all you need is hope, love and faith. 


I was awakened to what joy is. I had never seen so much joy as I did in those kids. Especially since they lived through a massive earthquake and lost their parents. After spending 6 days with them, I understood how they "got there".  


They live in the present, full of contentment. They didn't worry about yesterday or tomorrow. They seemed at peace with every decision they made and everything they did. 


I wanted that. No matter how bad or hard the circumstances were they almost seemed to shrug it off. I want to be able to feel at peace with everything I do. As much as the surroundings broke my heart, I don't think I've ever learned so much about myself and people as I did when I was a visitor in Haiti.


This coming February I have an opportunity to go to Guatemala for a construction/medical/evangelism project. I will be going with a group from Emmanuel Christian Center. My uncle Jim is leading it.

This is a great opportunity for me to do a different kind of mission trip. We will be helping build a church, a pastor's house and also help in a medical clinic.

I've been praying about going. I really understand that this is the Lord's will for me.

It will be a dream come true if I can come up with the money to participate.

Many people have said to me that I am lucky to be going down there. I couldn't agree more.  Not just to help people in need, but also to help find peace, hope and contentment.

God Bless and thank you for your support.

If you do find it in your heart to help with donations you can check out this link http://goo.gl/UUuUy or email me for other arrangements.
 richardnberry@gmail.com

Fear not

The dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Yet we have it in so many things we do or are. 



Many fear loneliness, their spouse, not having enough money, and many other things. 


I have always thought I had a fear of failure. Turns out it may be more of success. I have been good at a few things in my life but quit because I thought I was bored and not challenged. Which may be true but the harder I looked at it, I quit because I was becoming successful and was in fear that I would not be able to keep up with that success or would get really wrapped into it and that would be all I would do.


But I think the biggest part of my fear is that I don't end up like my Dad. I love him dearly but I know he just isn't happy with his job. He has an upper administration job that he is very good at and the money is really good, but I can tell when he talks about it he is not happy. 


That's where my fear comes in. I don't want to get wrapped up in a career that the only thing I am happy about is Friday and my paycheck. I want more. I want to use what God gave me to help others that need it. Money does not move me, happy outcomes move me.


Our fear mostly comes from the "unexpected". We have our plans that are selfish. The reason we have fear is because we are living out our own plans that don't mesh with what he sees for us. The Lord has bigger and better plans for us. Just pray and ask him.


When we have fear in things like not enough money or being lonely, I believe they will never come.


I have come to believe that if we put our heart, mind and soul into God, he will lead us where we are to be. If we truly work hard, love others before ourselves and most important put God first and trust him we will not have fear again. 


I would rather try and fail, than not try at all because I fear I may fail. 


The Lord will provide what ever we need. It might not be the way or the order, but he will provide if we truly believe in God with our hearts.


The Lord will love us and forgive us despite our failures.


Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."


When I first read this verse I don't think I fully comprehended it. The more I read it and say it, the more I truly believe it. 

Satisfaction.....um no

I read the newest In Touch magazine, I love this magazine, and a couple of questions have really stuck with me, What are you pursuing in life? and, Have you found the satisfaction you seek, or is there always a vague sense of discontent in your soul? Wow for both, these both describe me.

When I read this I realized that I was an opportunist. It doesn't take much for me to go after something. I see something that looks fun and dive into it. Or for a job I see something that looks interesting and I give up on what I am doing whether I am good at it or not or even like it. I think I might be on to job number 40 or so.

I am and always will be a recovering alcoholic, 8 years strong. For most of those 8 years I truly believed that I had quit myself. Wow was that selfish of me. It was Jesus!!!! Jesus!!! Jesus!!

I also recently quit chewing tobacco after 10 long years, and that took me roughly 10 tries to do. Oddly enough, I know, it wasn't until I asked Jesus and gave him my full trust on it that I quit.

I have struggled my entire adult life with this thought that I am here to do something big, really big. I keep telling myself that's why I keep changing jobs so much, that I keep inching my way closer to what He brought me here for.

These two questions have made it even harder for me. There is nothing, I mean nothing that really fulfills me and has kept my pursuit long term.

On the next page of In Touch there is more thoughts that gave me realization about this matter. It asks whether I am taking matters into my own hands or releasing the circumstance to almighty God? My whole life has been me doing what ever I WANT to do, instead of what HE WANTS me to do.

So how do I change the constant circle of discontent and failure, give in. Give in to Him with everything.

Seek His way and His timing. Anything else will be destructive.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

Faith and Sweat

Final Thoughts

This had to be the best team put together, especially for a mission trip. I have heard many stories about how after about the third day everyone is ready to choke hold each other. Not on this one. It almost seemed as though the longer we were there the more fun we had and the more we connected on our common goal.....LIFE CHANGE. Yes we all missed our families and homes, but we were there to help this orphanage with these kids.

I learned a few things from Siguinde in the many conversations that I had with him. Surprising to me but they are very well dressed. Siguinde said it's because that is all they can control.

He said that drugs and alcohol aren't a problem. This definitely surprised me because where I come from when bad things happen you find drugs or the liquor store. He said they can't afford it and it's really looked down on in their culture. Go to the Lord he said “you will find all you need in Him”. I was blown away to hear this. He taught me a lot. I am thankful for meeting him.

Haiti does not produce it's own power. They share or borrow it from Dominican Republic. Power outages are almost daily because of it. No one seems to mind though. They know it will come back on so they don't worry about it.

The kids desperately want to go to school. They want to have a better life. They want to learn, play games, and see other kids. They don't want to end up on the street in poverty or stuck in a prostitution ring or worse.

I look around and I see devastation and destruction but you would never tell by looking at the faces of the people. You see joy, hope and contentment. The Haitian people are incredibly gracious and thankful. I have a lot to learn from them. To me it seems they have nothing but when you talk to them they have all they need. They also don't expect anything. They seem to know that if they need it, it will become available to them.

In driving through town I also saw a lot of the “tap taps”, (taxis), they were painted beautiful colors with pictures of stories from the Bible. They also had verses painted on them. I saw a lot of “merci Jesus”, which is beautiful anyway but to see it amongst the rubble was pretty powerful to me.

A couple other things that caught my eye were on a wall was painted WE NEED HELP, but in the background was a wooden cross.....wow. The other was in the middle of a turnabout there was this like 20 foot diameter globe with three hands holding it up, that really spoke volumes to me of why we were there. Someone else needed our help and the Lord put it in our hearts to go and help them but also to see so many different countries from around the world descend on Haiti to assist in the recovery of the poorest nation....Thank You Jesus.

As we arrived the words that came to mind were sadness, destruction, horror and heartbreak. As we leave those words have been transformed to love, peace, content and joy.

In the end there are only two kinds of people: those who are lost, and those who have been found.

Everyone asks me “would you go back”? In a heartbeat!!

This experience was incredible and will change my view of people, life and God. Thank you Crossing Church for setting up our orphanage. Thank you to the team for welcoming me into your hearts. Most of all thank you Jesus for allowing me to see and treat people the way You do.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.  Acts 20:24

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.  Romans 13:8

Faith and Sweat

Day 4

Very mixed emotions day.  Today will be our last day at the orphanage.  I am missing the sounds and smiles of my own family but it will be tough to leave.  Kind of odd, but I don't miss the comforts of home much.  I am really surprised how quickly we grew closer to these kids.

On the way to the orphanage Mike talks gives a good sermon and prayer that really fires me up and gives me extra (not that I needed any) motivation.

Renee and Kevin have a good talk with Didie this morning to find out where the most need is.  Some of the biggest needs are beds.  They also could use a stove and a fridge.  Didie explained that most girls become prostitutes or are sex slaves.  That was really hard to hear.

There is still plenty to do today so different ways we go.  Christy, Chad and I dig out the well where it has pretty much been filled in by the dirt dug up from the new septic.  The rest of the team is helping with the cement work.  It's another hot one today but we are all really working our hardest today since we know this is it.

Finishing touches are being put on the exterior and interior so the kids can move in soon.  One little pickup brings three big loads of concrete block that will be used as the walls for the septic and a couple other projects.  The men here do really good work.  Especially considering it's all by hand.

The rest of the day is spent with the kids.  We just play!!!  It's a lot of fun.  There are kids everywhere just laughing and running around.  Some of the girls are doing Bri and Renee's hair.  Of course many pictures being taken especially by the kids themselves.

The time has come for us to go and Elizabeth gathers us all with the interpreter to give us a few parting words.  She tells us she and the kids are thankful and grateful for all the hard work done.  She is more thankful for the interaction with the kids.  She says the kids say they had a lot of fun with us and they want us to stay.   The kids won't stop giving hugs and fives.  Quite a few or the kids are in tears which makes it extra hard to leave.

The ride back to the hotel is a mix of smiles, tears and stories.

Tonight Didie takes us out for a nice seafood dinner to thank us for our hard work.  This trip for me was about new experiences and food is definitely one of them.  I am not real big on seafood but here goes.  The appetizers are fried shrimp wantons, fried tuna roll ups and some kind of veggie seafood hush puppie thing.  WOW are they all good!!!!  Now dinner.  Grilled Sarde.  The whole fish.  Bone, head and tail.  This is delicious!!! So juicy and tender and the flavor yummy!!!  The restaurant is a beautiful and outdoors.  A nice warm evening with good food and people is a nice way to end our amazing trip.

Faith and Sweat

Day 3

Today we leave a little early.  Jennifer had asked if we would like to grab a couple of souvenirs.  This will be an experience.  Pulled over on the side of the road, we get out and start walking over to the stands.  But, since we are the only white people it's pretty obvious that we are tourists.  The people are very polite just trying to make a few bucks but we are surrounded by many people trying to sell us stuff.  Jennifer says to not buy anything until she haggles with them.  She says they really raise the prices when they see tourists.  After some heated negotiating I ended up getting a necklace (for me) with matching bracelet (for Becky) and some little trinket boxes for the kids.

Excitement is setting in as we arrive at the orphanage.  Today we are really pumped to get all this garbage out of here.  We go right after all the garbage and just as we start going the dump truck pulls up.  We end up just about filling the dump truck.  This is the only way to get rid of garbage down here.  They have to pay $100 US to get rid of garbage.  We fill it with a lot of stuff including a broken down fridge.  We try to get rid of a stove too, but Elizabeth says no.  I think we are doing so much so fast that it's to much for her.

The truck leaves and comes back.  Little did we know there was another big pile she wanted us to get rid of.  See over the prior week there was two guys hand digging out the new septic for the new house.  This thing was about 8 feet wide, 12 feet long and about 16 feet deep.  So it was now our job to get rid of all that dirt.  For the next 3 hours about 6-8 of us take turns with about 12, 5 gallon buckets filling up the truck.

Today is the hottest day at about 97.  We are getting pretty wiped out pretty fast and running out of water quick.  Jennifer leaves to get us some more water.  She comes back with 4 cases of water and 2 cases of Gatorade.

Elizabeth wanted to make us a meal while we were there.  She spent the morning and most of the of the afternoon preparing it for us.  We take turns eating so that we can get all this dirt out of here.  She made a wonderful lunch with chicken, rice, re fried beans and fried plantains.  It was really good.  They use some pretty amazing spices and some pretty delicious flavors down here.

At this point we are all running low on energy, especially Tyler.  We all notice he is not looking good and he is heading for the bus.  So me being the EMT, I have been put in charge of watching over him.  I go and check on him and he is definitely overheated.  He seems to be with it though when I ask him a bunch of questions.  But I go and make up a few ice bags for under his neck and legs.  It takes a little while but he slowly comes back.  But I am still a little nervous because he is a little slower and really wiped out.  I ask him to take it easy the rest of the day and no more labor work.

The kids are returning from school.  We get the added bonus today of seeing all of the kids all 50 plus of them.  Since they are all here we get out all of our gifts.  We have balls, yoyos, soap and wash clothes, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  Elizabeth seems very thankful and grateful as she starts to tear up.  It's just amazing to me how grateful one can be with soap and a washcloth.  It's amazing to see how fast we get our energy back when the kids get home!!!

Mike, Chad, Tyler and I take all of the boys to an open field about a half a block away to play some soccer.  I am not really sure who had more fun us or the kids.  But if I had to guess I would say it was us.  It was cool to step back and just watch the kids.  I have never seen all the kids playing anything with so much joy.  I never thought I would enjoy playing soccer but I have to admit.....I did.

Mother Renee comes and says its time to go.  We really wanted to get a picture of all of us with ALL the kids.  That was tougher than I thought it would be.  We really thought it would be easy to get all the kids in, but there was quite a few that were being really shy.  It took about nine tries but I think we finally got a good one.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in it's various forms.  1 Peter 4:10