standing on the promises

Happy Birthday, Elisa! Wish we could be there...
It is with a sigh of relief that we end this week. It was one of those weeks that when it started, we just didn't know how we were ever going to make it to today, and suddenly it's over and we realize how faithfully He carried us. It has been a hard week with some difficult things to work through. I will never understand unkindness - from wherever it comes for whatever reason. Nor will I ever understand the stubborness of the human heart to cling to what we want over what is (His) good. And I'll never understand His great concern for our small lives. However, He is bringing us to understand that He is faithful to His promises, and we are truly standing on these...oh, that our lives might be sweet offerings of praise in all times.

Dieu est fidele...

As a true testimony of His faithfullness, we were able to present our ministry in French today to the Bible and Language School here at Parole de Vie Bethel. This day, which had been a looming deadline of worry and doubt, can now be recorded as the day of our four months of language school that the Lord most obviously carried us. To share our calling is always such a stretching gift, and we are reminded all over that He is the Lord of our ministry, of our call, of our marriage, of our living. Thank you for your prayers...they were translated into peace for us today.

a dream

...If only I could so live and so serve the world that after me there should never again be birds in cages...

He who promised is faithful

We received a verse in our mailbox today that struck me in a new way: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, encouraing one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25

Literally, the grass is always greener on the other side (of the border)

When will the snow go away!??? We had a wonderful week with our friends and they are currently heading back to Asbury College. They gave us the encouragement that we need to persevere through our last month of French! We have been given the opportunity (well, required opportunity :) to share our ministry in chapel this Wednesday for the students of the Bible school and language school. This weekend is being spent preparing and practicing. We have shared in many churches and for many different people, but never in French, and we're both finding this to be quite overwhelming, especially as beginners. However, it is going to be a great opportunity to share with the Bible students (ages 17-21) a little bit about our calling and to encourage them as they seek His call on their lives. Please be praying with us for this!

sacrifices

“The call to full-time ministry will always involve some type of sacrifice,” someone once told me. Usually, the first thing people think of when we tell them that we’re going to Haiti are the sacrifices involved. The sacrifice of luxury, I believe, is what most have in mind. Inconvenient things such as shady electricity, bad plumbing, lack of drinkable water, mosquitoes, strange foods, the language barrier, unbearable heat, etc. are exchanged for some of the comforts that we have at home.

Another inconvenience we’ve encountered in getting to the mission field is a constantly pressed schedule, uncomfortably long hours spent in the car and hardly any “down time”. We spent our Spring Break visiting family and friends in different parts of the country. By the time we arrived back in Canada from Spring Break we had spent over 30 hours in the car over a seven day period. These are inconveniences, no doubt, but they do not qualify as “sacrifices”.

What is a sacrifice then? A sacrifice is not exchanging a luxury of for an uncomfortable inconvenience. A sacrifice is not giving up something that He has blessed us with, like time or money or our possessions for something or someone else. I believe that sacrifice is surrendering yourself for something or someone else. Our family and friends define who we are. Leaving family and friends for our call to is the sacrifice that burdens our hears. Our absence in the lives of those we love is not merely a worthy inconvenience. It is our act of sacrifice for the Lord. It is the hardest component of going to Haiti that we’ve dealt with and will ever deal with.

“These things I have spoken that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

…because this world is not our home…

-Matt

Happy Birthday, Barbara Ayars...

We love you...wish we could be there to celebrate! Our friends arrived safe and sound for their "Spring" Break in the snow...it is SO good to spend time with old friends!

Happy Spring!

We continue to hold you in our hearts and prayers! "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage!" Psalm 27

Most college students...

...are about to spend their spring break's in Florida. But we have two precious dear friends coming, all the way from Asbury College, Kentucky, to spend their break with us in snow! They are such an encouragement to us, and we are anticipating a fun week of showing them around our corner of Canada and catching up on valuable friend time. Perhaps next year they'll be spending the week in Haiti? :)

some things never change...

No matter how old we get, I think we will always be glad when it's Friday! We had a large written exam today, followed by an oral exam coming on Monday. We will have most of the weekend to study, for which we are thankful. Stacey's grandmother had a stroke Thursday morning, her sister is in Northern Ireland, and her brother is graduating today from boot camp in Missouri....all a reminder that the world doesn't stop spinning while you're away! It is hard to be so far from loved ones, but we are standing on His promises to be each place we can't and love in ways we aren't capable of.

If you have not received our latest newsletter, but would like to, send us an email and we'll get one out to you. Also, we have been praying for each and every person on our mailing list and prayer and support team for some time now. We would love to pray for you and your families more specifically...Please let us know how we can best be lifting you up! Thank you!

Bon Weekend!

the peace that lies within US

An exerpt from the journal of Jena Lee, a fellow sister working to bring clean water to Africa...
"As I dragged my feet along the gravel with my head down, I found myself asking, “Why, God?” He told me, “broken world, daughter. Sin is real. Know and repent of your own, and then seek justice and love for my children. Do not lose hope, my child. Be an agent of mercy.” And I slowly breathed in the stench, but allowed hope and God’s promises of mercy and healing to remain. This peace that lies within me is one of eternal pain but suprassing faith in God’s ultimate desire to shower mercy in the heaviest and most broken places."

a growing capacity for home

We were both surprised upon arriving safely in Sherbrooke, Quebec with how we truly felt like we were "home". We are realizing that in this life of frequent change that He has called us to, He has also allowed us to feel truly settled and at peace with where we are. We are so thankful for our new friends here that have become our Canada family, and for our little apartment that has become our Canada home.We were back to class today...6 more weeks of French!

...and on to Delaware

We made it to Delaware with no problems and had a wonderful few days with the Ayars' family. Matt's brother Casey is on the top left, then Pop-Pop, Aunt Candy and Uncle Ang. The next row: Laura, Casey's new wife, Grandma Kay, Matt's dad Keith, and mom Barb. It was such a joy to get to see both our families over this short break...we are going to miss them dearly when we head for Haiti!

back in ohio

We had a wonderful few days in Ohio...even though they had snow! We had so hoped to escape cold weather for a while, but it seems to follow us. The four days were spent with Stacey’s dad and our cat, who lives with him now that we are in Canada. We are so thankful to have been able to rest, work on our March newsletter, and do some fun things that we hadn’t done in a long time, like eating out and going to the movies.

We are now in Pennsylvania, visiting with Stacey’s grandparents before moving on to Delaware on Thursday.