Our Story
I love Missions. Not the missions we think of when living in California, those historic buildings that everyone does a report on and visits for a field trip in 4th grade. I love the concept of taking the knowledge and resources we have from living in a wealthy and privileged culture, and sharing them with those who do not have access to such things. I love the idea of taking a team of experienced workers into a village and building something in a week that would have taken years for the inhabitants to do on their own. I love to see the relief and joy that comes over a person’s face when the pain and sickness they or their children have suffered with for years is gone with simple medical treatment. I love the hope that comes from establishing a school in a community where for so long education was nothing more than a dream. I love seeing babies who were abandoned and on the verge of death, come to life with something as simple as a loving embrace, and a bottle of infant formula.
For years I watched these events from a distance, or was part of a one week team team that would come in and do what we could, give what we could, and then go home and hope for the best. Yet there was always a desire in my heart to do more. Unfortunately along with that desire came a lot of doubt. What more could I really do? I’m just one person. I don’t have a lot of money, or education, or experience. How can I do more? And so I tucked away the dream. I got a job working at a church because that seemed like the next best thing. I met an amazing girl, fell in love, and some days I still can’t believe that she loves me in return. We were married in June of 2006, and Sheena and I began our life together. We were young, 20 and 24, and couldn’t wait to travel the world and experience new cultures. Yes we wanted kids, but at least 5 years down the road because kids and traveling are not usually the best combination. Living near family was important, and we both had a desire to do “God’s work.”
Five months into our marriage we found out we were pregnant. Now I know even the best laid plans can often go awry, and ours were not the best laid plans. Our sweet and precious Ellie was born in August 2007, and as children do, she changed the dynamic of our family and the course of our future. I had just changed jobs, continuing to work in the world of church tech, making a living and doing ministry. While a little different than originally planned, our life seemed to still be going as we thought it would. But what about missions?
In 2010 we were blessed with two more additions to our family. Lilah was born in April, and Nary joined our family in October. Now many people would say that there is a great need for good parents for children who are in the foster system, and they would absolutely be right. I don’t know if Sheena and I would be classified as good parents, but our hearts are attached to Nary and we love her so much. She needed a family and we did our best to be that for her. Even though she is now grown and on her own, to us she will always be our daughter, and to our girls she will always be their sister.
In nine years we have grown from a couple, to a family of thee, then five, now four. We have been involved in our local church, reaching out to our community, feeding the homeless, supporting missionaries, and enjoying the comforts of California suburbia. But what about missions? The answer to that question is where this journey begins.
In January 2014, Sheena went on her first ever mission trip to the nation of Haiti. Our church has been connected with a ministry there called Mission of Grace for a few of years, and Pastor Bob Hasty has led several teams to Haiti over those years. This team was a little unique in that it was a hand picked team of primarily men with a construction background, who were going with the express intent of building and repairing the facilities at the mission. Pastor Bob told Sheena that he thought this would be a great team for her to join as her first missions experience. I agreed, and so the day before Sheena’s 28th birthday she boarded a plane for Haiti.
Over the course of that week a miraculous transformation happened in her that began with a hesitation to go on the trip, to being overwhelmed and wanting to come home after the first day, to being willing to tough it out for a few days, to not wanting to leave when the time came, to the first words out of her mouth when I welcomed her home being “I want to move there.”
I am familiar with the “high” that comes from going on a mission trip, especially your first one, and while I didn’t want to dampen her excitement, I did think moving there was a pretty extreme next step. However, over the next few weeks and months as we continued to dialogue her experience, the excitement and desire to move never went away. We decided the next step should be us going together on another trip to see if my heart connected in a similar way. That opportunity did not come until the following January, during which time we spent a lot of time in prayer and discussion on what a transition of this nature could or would look like.
In January of 2015 the two of us went with a team from our church, and I would have to say it was probably the best mission trip I have ever been a part of. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was our first trip together as a couple, and our purpose and passion was so united in serving the people of Haiti. Before we even left we were planning our next trip back. We agreed that a key factor in this process would be if and how our kids would adapt to life in Haiti. Our next trip would have to include them, and so we set a tentative return date for mid April.
I say it was tentative because we had just saved and spent $2400 for the two of us to go on the trip in January. Coming up with twice that amount in less than three months did not seem very likely on a church staff salary. But we were determined and God seemed to be for us. We cut back our spending everywhere we could, and extra income opportunities came our way. Before we knew it we were back on a red-eye flight bound for Haiti with a 7 year old and a just turned 5 year old, wondering if we were maybe just a little bit crazy. That wonder turned out to be completely unjustified as it was such an incredible trip. Our girls were amazing travelers, they loved being in Haiti, they loved everything about the mission, and just like their mother, they did not want to leave when the time came.
So what does all this mean, and where is it leading? The obvious answer is this means our family is moving to Haiti. Everything about Mission of Grace, from reason it was founded, to the vision for the future, to the heart of the team leading it, resonates with our heart for missions and is a work we want to be a part of. The doubts I had years ago have disappeared, and the questions have been answered. I am no longer just one person, I have a family. We still don’t have a lot of money, but we have grown in knowledge, experience, and education, and that growth will continue. Yes other questions have come up. The primary one is “what can you really do with a family of 4?” But it is not a question of doubt, because I know the answer. We are not just a family of 4. We are a family of hundreds, or perhaps thousands. The number depends on you.
Our current plan is to live in Haiti for a six month term starting in January 2016, return to California for a 6 month term, and then back to Haiti in January 2017. After this first year we are believing God to give us a clear vision to know if a 6 month rhythm between Haiti and the US is possible and beneficial, or if a longer term in Haiti will be more fruitful. We will be joining with Mission of Grace in reaching out to the community of Carries. Like many of the towns and villages in Haiti, Carries is plagued with poverty, lack of education, and unsanitary living conditions. Mission of Grace seeks to meet the needs of these people through love and compassion. We, along with you, have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the people and future of this community. We want to invite you to join us in one of two ways, financially or physically. Or perhaps you would like to join us in both.
While we live in Haiti we will be dependent on the financial support of our family and friends. This is not something we take great pleasure in asking, but it is a need we have because the mission cannot financially support us. You can give to support us by clicking on the Give menu at the top of this page.
The other way you can join us is by coming to Carries to work with us. Maybe for a week, maybe for longer. We are just one family of 4, but when you or your family joins us, the impact grows exponentially. Who knows, coming to Haiti could light a fire inside of you and the next thing you know you’re writing a web post like this.
Whatever you decide, we are grateful that you took the time to read this and we hope that you will continue to follow along as we experience what it’s like to be Souzas on Mission. Our greatest hope and prayer is that somewhere along the line, in some way, you will choose to Join us in The Journey.
For years I watched these events from a distance, or was part of a one week team team that would come in and do what we could, give what we could, and then go home and hope for the best. Yet there was always a desire in my heart to do more. Unfortunately along with that desire came a lot of doubt. What more could I really do? I’m just one person. I don’t have a lot of money, or education, or experience. How can I do more? And so I tucked away the dream. I got a job working at a church because that seemed like the next best thing. I met an amazing girl, fell in love, and some days I still can’t believe that she loves me in return. We were married in June of 2006, and Sheena and I began our life together. We were young, 20 and 24, and couldn’t wait to travel the world and experience new cultures. Yes we wanted kids, but at least 5 years down the road because kids and traveling are not usually the best combination. Living near family was important, and we both had a desire to do “God’s work.”
Five months into our marriage we found out we were pregnant. Now I know even the best laid plans can often go awry, and ours were not the best laid plans. Our sweet and precious Ellie was born in August 2007, and as children do, she changed the dynamic of our family and the course of our future. I had just changed jobs, continuing to work in the world of church tech, making a living and doing ministry. While a little different than originally planned, our life seemed to still be going as we thought it would. But what about missions?
In 2010 we were blessed with two more additions to our family. Lilah was born in April, and Nary joined our family in October. Now many people would say that there is a great need for good parents for children who are in the foster system, and they would absolutely be right. I don’t know if Sheena and I would be classified as good parents, but our hearts are attached to Nary and we love her so much. She needed a family and we did our best to be that for her. Even though she is now grown and on her own, to us she will always be our daughter, and to our girls she will always be their sister.
In nine years we have grown from a couple, to a family of thee, then five, now four. We have been involved in our local church, reaching out to our community, feeding the homeless, supporting missionaries, and enjoying the comforts of California suburbia. But what about missions? The answer to that question is where this journey begins.
In January 2014, Sheena went on her first ever mission trip to the nation of Haiti. Our church has been connected with a ministry there called Mission of Grace for a few of years, and Pastor Bob Hasty has led several teams to Haiti over those years. This team was a little unique in that it was a hand picked team of primarily men with a construction background, who were going with the express intent of building and repairing the facilities at the mission. Pastor Bob told Sheena that he thought this would be a great team for her to join as her first missions experience. I agreed, and so the day before Sheena’s 28th birthday she boarded a plane for Haiti.
Over the course of that week a miraculous transformation happened in her that began with a hesitation to go on the trip, to being overwhelmed and wanting to come home after the first day, to being willing to tough it out for a few days, to not wanting to leave when the time came, to the first words out of her mouth when I welcomed her home being “I want to move there.”
I am familiar with the “high” that comes from going on a mission trip, especially your first one, and while I didn’t want to dampen her excitement, I did think moving there was a pretty extreme next step. However, over the next few weeks and months as we continued to dialogue her experience, the excitement and desire to move never went away. We decided the next step should be us going together on another trip to see if my heart connected in a similar way. That opportunity did not come until the following January, during which time we spent a lot of time in prayer and discussion on what a transition of this nature could or would look like.
In January of 2015 the two of us went with a team from our church, and I would have to say it was probably the best mission trip I have ever been a part of. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was our first trip together as a couple, and our purpose and passion was so united in serving the people of Haiti. Before we even left we were planning our next trip back. We agreed that a key factor in this process would be if and how our kids would adapt to life in Haiti. Our next trip would have to include them, and so we set a tentative return date for mid April.
I say it was tentative because we had just saved and spent $2400 for the two of us to go on the trip in January. Coming up with twice that amount in less than three months did not seem very likely on a church staff salary. But we were determined and God seemed to be for us. We cut back our spending everywhere we could, and extra income opportunities came our way. Before we knew it we were back on a red-eye flight bound for Haiti with a 7 year old and a just turned 5 year old, wondering if we were maybe just a little bit crazy. That wonder turned out to be completely unjustified as it was such an incredible trip. Our girls were amazing travelers, they loved being in Haiti, they loved everything about the mission, and just like their mother, they did not want to leave when the time came.
So what does all this mean, and where is it leading? The obvious answer is this means our family is moving to Haiti. Everything about Mission of Grace, from reason it was founded, to the vision for the future, to the heart of the team leading it, resonates with our heart for missions and is a work we want to be a part of. The doubts I had years ago have disappeared, and the questions have been answered. I am no longer just one person, I have a family. We still don’t have a lot of money, but we have grown in knowledge, experience, and education, and that growth will continue. Yes other questions have come up. The primary one is “what can you really do with a family of 4?” But it is not a question of doubt, because I know the answer. We are not just a family of 4. We are a family of hundreds, or perhaps thousands. The number depends on you.
Our current plan is to live in Haiti for a six month term starting in January 2016, return to California for a 6 month term, and then back to Haiti in January 2017. After this first year we are believing God to give us a clear vision to know if a 6 month rhythm between Haiti and the US is possible and beneficial, or if a longer term in Haiti will be more fruitful. We will be joining with Mission of Grace in reaching out to the community of Carries. Like many of the towns and villages in Haiti, Carries is plagued with poverty, lack of education, and unsanitary living conditions. Mission of Grace seeks to meet the needs of these people through love and compassion. We, along with you, have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the people and future of this community. We want to invite you to join us in one of two ways, financially or physically. Or perhaps you would like to join us in both.
While we live in Haiti we will be dependent on the financial support of our family and friends. This is not something we take great pleasure in asking, but it is a need we have because the mission cannot financially support us. You can give to support us by clicking on the Give menu at the top of this page.
The other way you can join us is by coming to Carries to work with us. Maybe for a week, maybe for longer. We are just one family of 4, but when you or your family joins us, the impact grows exponentially. Who knows, coming to Haiti could light a fire inside of you and the next thing you know you’re writing a web post like this.
Whatever you decide, we are grateful that you took the time to read this and we hope that you will continue to follow along as we experience what it’s like to be Souzas on Mission. Our greatest hope and prayer is that somewhere along the line, in some way, you will choose to Join us in The Journey.