Nothing but Bleu

Yesterday, we all did our best to not look like a smurf. After much discussion on the paint color, a decision was finally settled on blue (bleu). The paint arrived and jumped in, we attracted quite an audience throughout the day as the color rolled on throughout the mission center. We were able to get the entire first floor complete with the first coat. We will finish up today.

Jean Renald was of the boys in our boys home around twenty years ago. He has helped with numerous construction projects over the last few years and has been hard at work with us during this trip as well. While he has some physical setbacks of his own since birth, he is a very hard worker and as a true servants heart. Yesterday, he invited us to his home and while he lives from day to day like many Haitians he is filled with joy. You can see he is loved still by those within the community. We thank God for Jean Renald. He grew up in the boys home and that in itself was a blessing given his physical limitations, because he had a family who loved him. Today, he works as a mason, helping where he can to serve his community and you can see the peace of God in his life. God did not skip over Jean Renald, he too was created in the image of God and he leans on the same promises of Bible that you and I lean on. We invite you to pray for Jean Renald, pray that God would continue to bless this community through his life. He has been a true blessing to Hope for the Hungry over the years.  

 

Paint, Play, Repeat.

Yesterday was another busy day here in Guibert, Haiti. We continued painting the mission center and have made great progress overall, there is such good teamwork. After school we had a couple of other visitors from the children's home: Rony, Gardson, Ronald, Pouchon, Desilien, Willie and Angez all came to see us. After a few minutes, each of them had a paint brush and doing a great job of painting themselves... I mean the walls. Yesterday was also the day the team really stepped out and began playing and interacting more with the children. Their were plenty smiles on the faces of the younger children and great discussions with the older kids. This week the kids are taking exams at school and after we finished painting we hung out around the children's home and observed the older boys hard at work studying. Spanish, History, Math, French the kids poured over their study notes, were reciting vocabulary words aloud or were deep in their textbook seeking to do their best. You can see it in the eyes of the boys, they want to learn and they are doing amazing. We also played plenty with the younger kids after their tutoring session was complete. Today, we repeat.

From Handwriting to Painting

Yesterday was our first work day on the mission center and our objective was to begin painting the interior. Upon arrival we had a few minutes to take the beautiful mountains that surrounded us and took a tour of the school, children's home, church and the future mission center. We also spent some time with a group of local high school kids, they have exams this week and they were eager show and read with us in English. Their journals are packed with notes and as is typically the case their handwriting is very good. Once the paint arrived we jumped and began painting. Every person from our small team of six had a task and did it well. Before too long, one by one local help began to trickle in to the mission center to simply help. One thing you cannot deny is the work ethic of this culture. And today we saw it from the handwriting to painting. Of course, school was in session so we got to see, love and speak with many of them. Since we have two kids of our own on our team they were of particular interest by the Haitian children. They were especially interested in the braces on their teeth. We will continue painting throughout the week and building relationships along the way. Last night, we had a long reflection of the day and discussion on the history of Haiti. It is important to note, that despite the setbacks and devastation that have hurt this nation over the last couple of centuries, there is Hope. You can see it in there eyes, you can see it there efforts, you can see it in the progress all around. We must continue to reflect Jesus, we must continue to make disciples, we must continue to help provide an education to the children the Lord brings to our ministry. Why? Because, Each One Matters.    

God's Steps

Winter has taken a toll on the majority of the United States over the last week and we certainly had to redirect our plans in order to arrive in Haiti today. I am reminded of the verse in Proverbs, In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9. It was a great reminder that God is in charge. The good news is we did arrive hear in Haiti today, and the eyes of our team were wide open to the sights and smells of this nation. Please pray for this trip as we rest tonight and get ready to work on the mission center tomorrow. Throughout this trip we acknowledge that God will establish our steps. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Returning Home...

We are home!  Our team arrived back in Texas late Saturday night, tired but grateful for the time we had in Haiti.  Our week ended well, with lots  of hard work.

As I have reflected over our time last week, I think the overwhelming word that keeps coming to mind is "potential".  As Stephanie met with teachers and administrators, we saw potential waiting to be unleashed; potential that when armed with the right training and tools could take our schools in Haiti to a new level.

As we interacted and played with hundreds of school children in Guibert and Marotherie, we saw the potential of Haiti's futue  in each smiling face and curious gaze.   The education they are receiving will be life changing.  The love of God that they are taught about and shown will change their eternity.

The Mission Center is ever closer to completion.  It is closer to fulfilling it's potential for relationship and community development in a new and fresh way.  We still need $50,000 to complete the final stage, but it is exciting to be so close.

The boys in the Boy's Home are shining examples of unbelievable potential. Their stories and circumstances are often heartbreaking, but they are being given a chance at a life that few in Haiti even have the opportunity to consider.  Theses boys have an opportuniity at an  eduction and a life that few in Haiti dare to dream about.  By next fall we will have 7 children from our homes (4 boys and 3 girls) that will be elidgible for university studies.   Most importantly, these boys are being  taught about  the importance of their relationship with Jesus. They are surrounded by godly men and connected to a dynamic, local church.    I had the opportunity to visit with the older boys (ages 15+) in the home last Friday.  I shared with them of the characteristics we are praying they developed, I encouraged them in the things they must be focused on now, and I reminded them that their relationship with Christ must be the most important part of thei lives.  It was a true priviledge to share with them.  As I  looked in their eyes, it was in awe of the young men I saw staring back at me.  These young men are overcoming so many obstacles and have such bright futures.

Finally, I am waiting an anticpation of the new church start in Petionville.  This new church represents such enormous potential for the future of our church  partners in Haiti.  God is already using this church to reach people for Christ.  Their small leadership team has already shared the Gospel with hundreds of people in the community and seen over 50 profess faith in Jesus. They have ministered to over 700 children in the commmunity, many who have never heard about the love of Jesus. All this and they will not officially open their doors until January.

People always ask me how things are going in Haiti.  Politically and economically, the country is a mess.  But spiritually, there is a revival coming.   God is moving, the church is active and passionate, and lives are being changed.  I praise the Lord that I am able to bear witness to His mighty power moving in this tiny, island nation.  Like many others, I have seen God at work in Haiti. Like a few others, I have joined God at work in Haiti.  Like a small number, my experiences with God because of Haiti, have radically changed the  course of my life and I am all the better for it.   Join us.  Visit www.hopeforthehungry.org and learn what God is doing.  I promise that you will be better for having joined God at work.

God is doing a new thing...

Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.   See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.   The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,   the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise."

Today was such a blessing!  For the past couple of years, our Haitian partner, Pastor JeanAlix Paul, has been praying about God's leading to plant a new church somewhere in Haiti.  Over the last 20 years, JeanAlix has planted 9 churches in 9 villages throughout Haiti.  At the beginning of this year, The Lord began leading JeanAlix to a new location in a suburb of Port-au-Prince called Petionville.  Over the last 10 months, God has brought together a dynamic, passionate leadership team, including 30 families that will be a part of the launch team.  The Lord has also provided meeting space that will allow for tremendous growth and be a strategic point of ministry in Petionville.  Today we were able to visit the new space and hear the vision God has given JeanAlix for this new work.  It was our priviledge to pray over the new building, to pray over JeanAlix, and to pray over some of the church leadership. It was a powerful time and a true blessing.

Comfortable being uncomfortable...

"I think to really be able to enjoy missions you have to set aside your self and learn to comfortable being uncomfortable" - Wayne Zeh

Wayne made this very profound statement after he, Danny, and David spent the morning carrying buckets of concrete and buckets of rocks.  It made us laugh, but is also so very true.  Often God asks us to do things that move us outside of our comfort zone.  Whether it is sharing our faith with a stranger, giving sacrificially, traveling to another country, or showing kindness in  all circumstances.  We must make the choice to obey even at the expense of our comfort.

Stephanie is enjoying working with the teachers.  We are excited about the way the possibilty of providing training for the teachers is coming together.  Please continue praying for wisdom and insight into how best proceed in the ongoing evaluation.  We will be heading to the village of Marotherie on Thursdayto met with the teachers and administrators there.

The primary focus for the ministry here in Haiti is the launch of a new church start in Petionville.  Petionville is a large suburb of Port-au-Prince, with a population of several hundred thousand.   The launch team and leadership are in place and have begun holding special events for local children and evangelizing in the community.  Many have professed faith in Jesu.  Be in prayer for this new church start that will hold its first public service on January 5,2014.

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 NASB

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."