Pet Peeves

Let's be honest...we all have them. However, I didn't realize how many I had until last night. We were meeting with the senior college students and were talking and some of them came out...Here are some of them.

1. I cannot stand Ice Breakers: I am not a fan of go find a person that has your matching birth month, etc...hate it. I will find myself making an excuse to leave a room if an ice breaker is being played or arriving late if I know they will play an ice breaker.

2. I do not like shower games. No, I don't want to design the brides dress out of toilet paper or guess how big the pregnant ladies belly is.

3. Slow Drivers...which pretty much means I have road rage Jan - April. I guess this is something I need to work on, but it is really necessary to drive 20 mph under the speed limit.

4. Brown and Black...Yes don't like this combination at all. It is not ok to wear brown shoes and a black belt, it just doesn't look good.

5. I hate when people spell words incorrect on purpose. Like Koin Kleaners....I mean really. Can't we just spell them correctly.

6. I do not like when people call someone on the phone while we are driving in the car together. I mean, emergencies are acceptable, but can't the phone call wait until we get out of the car together.

I know I must get over these and there are more I am sure. I would love to here your thoughts on what drives you crazy.

He is our Deliverer

Mass Grave in Titayan, It is estimated that
150,000 are buried here. 

My parents and I arrived back in the states this afternoon. This trip to Haiti was different, but challenged me even more. The last two days of our trip, we were able to travel over to Gressier, where I will be living. We were able to meet other missionaries, see some of the schools in the area and just get to know the community. We stopped at a small orphanage on one of our last stops last night. It was a Haitian husband and wife, with their three kids (one more on the way) and then 10 other kids that they have taken in. They also have school with 10 more kids. They are caring for the least of these. They hardly have enough money to eat, and can’t pay their teachers for the school, so the teachers volunteer and also have other jobs. Yet, in very poor circumstances, they were so happy and full of hope. They wife, was so proud of her children. They are living out the gospel daily.

Psalm 40:16-17 says:

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

This is the hope the family had. They are the poor and the need, but the Lord is there help and He has delivered them!!

What a challenge to me to live out my faith daily.

The trip was so helpful in getting a vision for what God can do in the area. There are sooo many schools even in walking distance of our house. Some like the little orphanage and some that are large. I am challenged by coming alongside the leaders of these schools, identifying both teachers and students that are leaders in the school, that may be potential church planters. Meeting community leaders to come up with ideas to make the schools sustainable. I am challenged and feel inadequate at times for the tasks ahead, yet I know God has a plan and through my inadequacy. It is so exciting to imagine all that God can do and will do.

My future porch

Thank you so much for your prayers this last week, God is working and there is hope. Please continue to pray…

·         Balance in my life as I work full-time, support raise, and do start our Pre-field Triaining.

·         God Continues to guide our vision and planning for His glory in Haiti.

·         God will be transforming the lives of the Haitians by the power of the Gospel.

·         God will give us (ReachGlobal) favor in the community.

Please let me know how I can be praying for you!!!

Here are some pictures...

Farming land down the roan

Kitchen at the house. 

There is Hope

25For I know that my Redeemer lives,
   and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
   yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27whom I shall see for myself,
   and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
   My heart faints within me!

I am reading these words from Haiti this morning, on the porch, with coffee, as the sun rises. As I look around I see palm trees and mountains. I am in a very comfortable setting and at this view, from the top porch, it appears I am in a tropical paradise. While, I have hope that one day Haiti will be a tropical paradise, a favorite vacation destination for many, it is not that right now. At the view right now, you can't see all the poverty, the starving children, the destroyed homes, the large tent city that is on the mountain, the sick and hurting. What amazes me about Haiti, is the resiliency and hope of the people. The have a spirit of Job. With all they have went through in the last year (earthquake, hurricane, political unrest, cholera outbreak) they have chosen to say the same words has Job, "For I know my Redeemer lives." while I can never say I have ever experienced anything as close to Job or the Haitians, I can have the same hope as they do. They eternal hope in Christ. As Christ declares that He as overcome the world, we to can overcome if we cling to Him. What a great promise to hold on to today.

Today we visited Grace Emmanuel School. It is so exciting to watch the progress of the school, of the students and the teachers. I have enjoyed getting to know them and developing relationships. It was interesting talking to the school director and his assistant about the anniversary of the earthquake. They were so thankful for God's provision and mentioned hope that God will continue to bless them, and next year will be a great year, because God is with them.

I do have to say that in the last two months there has been a lot of progress, new houses, new businesses, new bakery. It is so exciting to see. Again, there is hope.


Today's update... We arrived in Gressier, where I will be living. The land here is much more full of trees but the community is very poor. Excited to learn more tomorrow. Will post pictures later.

Pray without Ceasing

One area (there are many) that I know is lacking in my Christian walk is prayer. The Lord has really been pressing this on my heart the last few weeks. The importance of prayer, my need for it, especially has I enter into a new country, new place, where I don't know many. During those lonely times, I will need prayer. This morning as I was studying. I was lead to 1 Thess 5:17...A simply verse in writing, but so hard to do...Pray without Ceasing...
In the last few months I have been challenged to not just read what the Bible says and then say yes that is good, but to actually DO what it commands. This command is to pray without stopping. Be in constant prayer. I wonder what peace I would have if I prayed without ceasing, how many people I could "fight" for if I never stopped praying. It reminds me of the picture given in Rev 4 where the angels are worshiping ALL day and night. This short little verse, sounds so easy, but is so challenging to me. In response, how can I pray for you?

Final Product!!!

Here are the ereader holders I made. The blue is for my iPad and the gray is for a kindle!

Preparation

One particular area that we have learned about in preparing to move to Haiti, is to start living how you will be living on the field. Now, that is really difficult to do here, so I have been trying to cook more at home and not eat out. I also have been crocheting at night, with the TV off. My task this week was to figure out how to make coffee cozies. Here is my latest.

This week I started working on a new project...ereader cases. I'll post a picture when I have it finished!!!

Anyone have any other ideas of things I can start doing to prepare for my move!!

As I reflect over 2010, I am so thankful for all God has done in my life and all He is continuing to do. Here is some of what I learned and experienced.

* The year started out with great sorrow, as I watched the television and saw devastation on a land and a country that I love. Then traveling to Haiti two weeks after the quake and God opening my eyes to so many things, but not being able to share what I had experience. It was as if I was on the mountain top with the disciples, knowing I had to come done, but knowing I couldn't explain it all.
* Through the experience after the earthquake I realized I was being disobedient to God and not really giving all of myself. I knew that I needed to answer the call to move and serve in Haiti.
* God is a great orchestrator. The way he put everything together, is far better than I could ever dream.
* God walks on holy ground. Everywhere He is it is Holy. Even in the poor and desolate communities. He walks there, so it is holy.
* I learned God is a romancer. One of the areas that I struggled to give up, when being obedient, was my singlehood. While yes, God is big, way bigger than that, I just don't really expect Him to ship and husband to Haiti just for me (I realize some of you out there will say yes he can, and he might, but just go with me for a little bit). I struggled giving up the idea of marriage. While I am content in my singlehood, just the idea that it wouldn't be a possibility was kind of strange. However, after studying his word, realizing He is a romancer, we are to fall in love with him. While, he may not fulfill those desires with a husband at this time, He will FILL them!!
* God is a redeemer. I am a sinner in constant need of his redeeming powers. I am so thankful that he Redeems me.
* God continues to pursue us.
* The road is narrow and that narrow road has lots of mountains, valleys, bumps, the path is not easy on the narrow road. However, God has called us to be different. He has called us to give up everything and follow him. Literally, everything. Anything less, is disobedience.

Our God is a great God. I am so thankful he is full of grace and continues to extend his grace to me everyday.

In 2011, I am asking God to...

* Help prepare me to move to a new culture and to adjust.
* Financially provide for my move to Haiti.
* Be my constant redeemer, romancer, and friend.
* I would make His name great.
* Show me Haitian woman to mentor and disciple.


I am also trying something new in 2011...reading through the Bible chronologically and praying for different unreached people groups.

While there is more I could write, I know God is going to do great things this year and I am excited to see what he does!!