dinner with Jesus

Thursday night, we had the priviledge to join a dear friend, we'll call him Luke, and his family in their home to celebrate his 25th birthday. He had invited us to dinner, and I promised to bring desert. At 4 o'clock, Matt and I headed off on foot with a still warm chocolate cake (thank you, Aunt Patty!). Luke always jokes about living right behind the compound wall, and he truly does. Because the wall is so big, it still took us about 25 minutes to get there.

Luke is the dean of men at our seminary, and he has quickly become a good friend. He is studying to receive his Master's degree online, he teaches at the school, translates and is a pastor. As much time as we have spent with him, it has always been in a school context, or at our home.

As we came into his yard, there was a traditional "woven-walled" hut that is their kitchen. Nailed to the side of this hut is a huge piece of plywood, once painted gray. It was filled with Math problems and French, and his brother stood stictly surveying a gathering of half-naked village children, directing them through lesson after lesson. Suddenly, we saw Luke, our scholar friend, in a different light. It was on this plywwood, standing in the dirt, that he had learned his English, his physics, his chemistry. He was born in that place, right where the hut stands today.

His home is right next to the hut, a small mud house, full of much laughter, obvious love, and very little else. On the hill right above them they have begun to build a new house...one that has 4 whole rooms. They've been working on it for three years now. Most of the walls have been started, but it is still far from completed. "Little by little," Luke told us. "When we have some money, we buy some block, and it's coming."

Dinner, however, was the highlight. We filed around a small table with his parents, brother and sister and a few neighbors. When we sat down, I was concerned about our many differences, and how we would fill the meal with conversation. However, as we prayed together, those differences truly seemed to evaporate. We finished praising the Lord for dear brothers and sisters and then sang a hearty "Happy Birthday." We ate beans and rice, beets and onions and plantain chips. We all shared a specially purchased Coca-Cola, and laughter and chatter quickly filled the dark home. We talked of snow, of women and pants, of travel and the United States, of their lives, of our families, on and on. We all teased Luke about his many admirers and about his phone, which routinely rings off the hook.

At the end of the meal, his father gravely silenced his family and announced what a blessing it was to their family that we had come (and how much he had loved the cake.) He then officially asked Matt and I if we would join them again for his birthday in April. They were so obviously blessed that we had come and we were so incredibly blessed that they had had us and fed us that the evening ended with many exchanges of true gratitude, a family photo, and talks of the next party our families will have together.

I wish we could have taken you there tonight. I wish you could have sat, in broken-off desk chairs, around that table with us and seen Jesus like we did tonight. I wish you could have felt the weight of your tenth of Coke, the honor of being given one of the only two plates, wish you could have felt the love that resides there. They have NOTHING in life to bring them joy aside from each other and the Lord, and they each carried joy abundant.

As we returned to our monstorous home, that this morning had felt too small, we praise the Lord...not for the stuff that we have, but for the HIM that we have, and the brothers and sisters that remind us that this is ALL that we need.

mattresses, eggs and more

We've been saving up a pile of photos that make us smile, and thought we would share them with you from time to time. This guy is discovering that "by bike" is not the best way to transport a mattress.

This crew is attempting to transport a refrigerator from the back of a truck to a second story apartment...with a 2x4. Several passerby's also stopped to "help".

We have every intention of hooking up this pillow lady with the following mattress man...they could have quite a business!





When we realized that this is how eggs are transported, we had an all new appreciation for the fact that our eggs are delivered whole, not scrambled.

another weekend adventure...

What a weekend! Going to church in Haiti continues to be spiritually moving, and just plain MOVING in general! This weekend, we joined another family to visit Coup-a-David again, a distant mountain church. It is the only church in it's entire vincinity, and getting to it is not easy.

The lack of vehicles on the compound put us in a huge iron blue boxy thing called a "Uni-Mog." It's the loudest truck on the compound, with two bucket seats up front, no windows and just a fabric cabin. The back of this wheezing creature is a steel cage. To add to the adventure, we threw 2 ocean kyaks in the back with us. May I say, for the record, that it is one kind of bravery to attempt going to Coup-a-David in the Uni-Mog. It is another kind of adventure to do it all in a skirt.

After climbing into this huge box using the wheel for a ladder, we were off. The kyaks quickly proved to be bent on crushing a few children, so I stood, shoving them back with my not-so-padded hip through each bump and turn. The drive is beautiful, and after about an hour, we grabbed our water, hymnals and Bibles (in Haiti, the people bring their hymnals, instead of the church providing them) and headed off, leaving our monster and kyaks sitting in the yard of a very curious family.
The hike, though difficult, is beautiful, and it is a joy to pass through many villages, many homes, many lives as you head for church.

"Going to church?" an older man called as we passed.

"Yep!" Matt said.

"Will you pray for me?" he asked.

"Absolutely, what is your name?" Matt responded.

Like this, we gathered requests and friends along the way, wading through streams, around houses, over mountains.

Outside the church, we changed our boots and sandals for church shoes and slipped in, a bit sweaty and out of breath. It was a lovely service, with some awesome singing groups. One of our students preached, but not before asking Matt to share a "small reflection" with everyone. After the service, the pastors invited us into a small room for Raisin Soda (Grape) and some crackers. We headed back, the sun burning hotly overhead. Over a month has passed since we had rain, and the fields and farms were dry, dry, dry.

When we made it back to the Uni-Mog, we found the ropes we had used to tie the kyaks had "disappeared." Quickly we all changed into our swimsuits in a sugar cane field, trying to finish as a small crowd gathered to see what the "blancs" (foreigners) were doing.

We headed then for Black Beach, so named for it's black black sands. Matt and I had never been there before, and were suprised to find it to be quite the hang-out for Haitian couples :) We took the kyaks out until we could no longer see our truck, and spent the late afternoon diving and swimming and paddling with the kids. By yesterday evening, we were exhausted, but restored, as well. Getting away from "the work," and spending the day with "the people" was wonderful, and God reminded us again by the natural beauty of the land, and the natural beauty of His children that we encountered that He indeed cares for the sparrow, for the orphan, for the widow, for the poor, and for us. (Photos: 1-a prayer hut, with a fort in the background from the 1800's, 2-a cock fighting ring, 3-Black Beach)

more new experiences

Yesterday we experienced our first Haitian funeral. Over 2 weeks after his death, our gate man, Jacque, was buried. Some kind of a legal issue delayed the funeral, but yesterday about 300 people gathered at a nearby church for the service. We weren't quite sure what to expect.

The funeral was at 2:30, so it started at 3:15. Luckily, every Haitian talked to told us that it would start at 2:30, but to go at 3:00. We were also strongly warned not to wear anything red. Wearing red to a funeral signifies that you played a direct role in the death of the person, even a red pinstripe in your tie, or red toenail polish. This would have been quite an drastic error, so we're glad we asked in advance what to wear. You must wear white, black, navy or brown, and everything was very plain, except for the hats. Most of the women were wearing huge hats with wide brims or flouncy feathers or large flowers. There were three different singing groups, all dressed to match, but the main group was the church choir. They stood on the stage, and were all wearing complete graduation attire, cap and gown. I've never seen anyone wear cardboard square graduation caps for a funeral or as a choir. Even the organist and the director donned them.

The singing was beautiful, or would have been, had it not been frequently pierced by screaming and wailing coming from the first few rows of the church where Jacque's family sat. Sporadically throughout the 2 hours, they screamed, moaned and wailed.

We were further distracted by the videographer. From start to finish, a video crew walked throughout the church, taping each guest, taping the casket, the sermon, and especially taping any signs of mourning. A good Haitian American friend had told us in advance that this has become a big thing in Haiti...taping not just weddings, but funerals, and then allowing everyone that attended to buy a copy.

I don't think we'll probably do that.

A "good friend" of the family stood to say a few words about Jacque. As he was speaking about his life, he dwelled for quite a while on the fact that Jacque had 9 children, and how difficult life was for Jacque to have had 9 children. Everyone in the congregation started whispering, and as the man continued talking about the ways Jacque bravely raised 9 children in such a difficult country, someone finally shouted out, "FIVE! He has FIVE children!" The speaker continued his speech, but now with 4 less children, it wasn't quite as exciting.

After he finished, an older man stood up to preach. He preached a fiery sermon for about 20 minutes, but seemed to be increasingly frustrated and confused. Finally, he stopped altogether, and asked a young pastor sitting behind him to get up with him and read him his notes. He could not for the life of him read his own notes, and he could no longer remember what he was supposed to be saying. So, for the last 20 minutes of the sermon, the young pastor would read a line of notes into the microphone, and the older pastor would repeat the line, and then expound upon it. Line after line, it went like this for the rest of the service. No one seemed to care, and the pastor wrote it off by spouting some Haitian proverb about "when the gray comes in, the mind goes out."

When the funeral was over, everyone poured out into the street. The car with the casket went first, followed by a large band of trumpets and trombones, playing loudly, followed by everyone else. We walked part of the way with them, but then split off at our compound. They walked the mile to the burial site, and then were going to have a "final viewing". I think I am glad that we missed this.

While it was unlike any funeral we had every been to, it was meaningful for us both to experience. We are learning more and more about the people we are living with...next month, comes our first wedding.

I love to think about the way that Jacque opened the gate for Matt and I for 6 months. Before we came, he'd been opening the door for OMS missionaries and guests for twenty years. He breathed his last breath in front of that gate, and I love to think that just a moment later, heaven's gates were opened for him.

God is no stranger

Matt and his guys are truly enjoying their course on Psalms they started this week together (they actually groaned whenever the bell dismissed class today!). The Lord gave me the strength and the words to preach in chapel the other day, and it went really well. With our director and academic dean back, a lot of very good, (but still hard!) decisions were made today. And, I successfully conquered making bread (7th time's the charm!). A visitor cleaned both of our teeth today for free. Happy Birthday, Mia! Our house-guests left today, leaving us with the first apples we have had in 6 months! We had four little ones and their mother over for supper tonight, which brought joy to all of us. God continues to bless us in so many ways, and most of all, with Himself!

As a matter of fact, much of our prayer time, lately, has been spent thanking God SO MUCH for God. I'm sure there is something theologically confused about this, but we are SO grateful for ALL that He is in our lives, and so dumbfounded whenever we think about where we would be without Him. He carries us in a way I never realized He did before we moved here. The poverty, the "fish-bowl" we live in, the cultural differences, the hardships, the difficult issues at the seminary, and simply the ministry has all stretched us far beyond ourselves, and formed in us a reliance upon the Lord that is...desperate.

As far from home, comfort and the familiar as we have felt these past 6 months, God has made Himself so intimately known to us. Where would we be if we found Him a stranger? A "good feeling" that was far-off and inconsistent? Instead, we have found Him to be our Stability, our Provider, our Dear Friend. What a journey walking with the Lord is, one we wouldn't pass up for anything in the world, hardships and all!

When the Bible talks about the FULL-LIFE, the life with many rewards, we always thought it was talking about heaven. But Jesus didn't just come so that we could have a full-life in heaven, but that we might live life HERE to the fullest. It's not talking about houses or cars or romance or glory, families or job satisfaction, money or vacations. It's talking about the kind of life that comes from KNOWING HIM...and knowing Him more each day. The more we seek Him, despite how difficult things have been, the more we are experiencing that full-life, those rewards which cannot be taken away.

And our JOB here it to tell people who are lost about this full-life in Christ! Family, that's the job we each have! ...and what a blessing of a job it is.


If you don't have
even a cup of cold water,
you can say the same thing
as those who have meat.

"Thank you Jesus.
You were born on earth for me."

No one can say more.


Menm si ou pa genyen
menm yon tas dlo fret,
ou kapab di menm bagay
ak moun ki gen vyann.

"Mesi Jezi, ou te fet
sou la te pou mwen."

Yo pa ka di plis.

turning Problems into Praise

When we started this school year at the seminary, the focus for the year was "Spiritual Growth."

"What a joke!" I thought today following a positively horrific day. The last two days alone have been marred by so many negative things. By this afternoon, Matt and I both found ourselves in tears, utterly exhausted by the past 2 weeks and all of the problems we have faced. As I prayed during our Tuesday OMS meeting, the Lord reminded me of our "theme" for the year, and I felt let down and irritated: today's events felt nothing short of spiritual plummeting...spiritual sky-diving.

The moment I smirked, however, that still small voice rebuked my doubt.

"When you pray for patience," God told my thoughts, "Do I give you patience, or do I give you opportunities to learn patience? When you pray for love, do I hand you more love, or give you the chance to practice more love? When you pray for healing, do I heal you overnight, or do I give you opportunities for healing in your life?"

YES, Lord. I thought, humbled. When we have prayed for spiritual growth at our school, God wasn't going to dish out growth left and right or pass it out to each student and staff member after chapel one day. Instead, He is giving us a great many opportunities to grow spiritually. It is difficult to grow spiritually whenever everything is "hunky-dory", my mom used to say.
You grow whenever you are faced with issues too complicated for you to handle, too difficult for you to fix, too disappointing for you to persevere.

And we HAVE grown spiritually this past 6 months. We've grown more than we ever thought possible, and PRAISE THE LORD, it is because we have truly had so many intense issues at the seminary. These past two days, these heavy issues weighing down our plates and hearts have simply offered us more opportunities to look to Him and to let Him carry us, let Him stretch us.

Not only us, but these issues have been so widespread, that they have been offering EVERY student and EVERY staff member opportunities for growth.

Despite our emotional and physical fatigue this evening, He has planted a small seed of praise in our hearts...
Praise that He knows best,
Praise that He's in charge,
and Praise that He always has our VERY best in mind.

"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus asked the blind men in Matthew 9:28.

Yes Lord, we believe!

a prayer for this journey

We have a busy week behind us and a busy week ahead...we're sure you can relate! On top of daily work and ministry, this week Stacey is preaching in chapel, Matt is teaching a two week course in the Psalms for our fourth year class and our Director and Academic Dean are both coming back.

This past weekend, however, we were convicted by something a dear missionary friend said to us. Just in the midst of a conversation, he mentioned that from 5 until 6 am every single morning, he spends time with the Lord...reading His Bible, praying, listening. He called this time "non-negotiable", and for years he has spent this hour of the day with God, No Matter What. Good things, Important things, he has passed over for the sake of this time, and he told us that it is this consistent commitment that he has with the Lord that has offered a rock of stability in his crazy life here in Haiti.

So often, Matt and I find ourselves longing for consistency. There is always so much happening, so many unplanned-for emergencies, upset schedules and unexpected knocks at the door. Do to these constant interruptions and the ever-changing busyness in our days, our devotional times are haphazard...15 minutes of Bible reading here, a prayer thrown in there, singing praises while we do the dishes.

We pray for the Lord to be the constant in our lives, and to give us level and deep walks with Him, even if it means plowing down our mountain-top moments in order to fill in our dry valleys.

However, we haven't been constant at all with Him! How can He settle our craziness, calm our scurrying and shower us with peace if we simply won't sit still for it!? What a convicting reminder that while the Lord is always faithful and always there, we cannot expect to receive from our walk with Christ what we won't put into it.

We've been working this weekend to permanently carve out some time, set some guidelines and change some appointments in order to allow Him to put His schedule into our lives. To allow His schedule for us to BECOME our lives.

Praise the Lord that His mercies are new every morning, and for His Matchless Grace!


"O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers,
but give me powers equal to my tasks
for I want to be stretched by things too great for me.
I want to grow through the greatness of my tasks,
but I shall need your help for the growing."
E. Stanley Jones

share the love

Happy Valentine's Day!

We didn't quite know what to expect for our first "Fet Saint Valenteen", but had a really nice day. My first year English class wanted to know if it was OK for Christians to celebrate Valentine's Day. After I asked them what most people do for Valentine's Day, I assured them that wishing pretty girls a happy day and kissing your mother was acceptable behavior for Christians. We gave each of our guys a heart lolli-pop and a small box of pink NERDS, neither of which they had seen before. Immediately upon receiving their treasures, the students wrote their wives and girlfriend's names on the boxes, and tucked them away for "perfect" Valentine's presents. They were so excited we helped them impress their wives :)

Matt and I gathered up all of our unopened Valentine cards and headed off for our first solo date since moving here! It's been SUCH a busy week, and it was wonderful to sit outside and be served fish and rice and listen to a small street band. We opened our cards and were thankful for friends and family, and recounted each Valentine's Day we have had together...our first when I was in Haiti and Matt was in Kentucky: mailed cards and a package full of candy and rose petals. Our second Valentine's Day: sitting at Starbucks and exchanging gifts...both giving each other the rings that we would soon exchange at our wedding. Our third, (this is sad) we cannot remember for the life of us, and our fourth we were snowed into our tiny apartment in Canada while studying French, 30 inches of snow ruining our dinner plans.

He's brought us a long long way, and we are so grateful to have truly been best friends for 5 years.

Might a holiday that may seem silly and trite always remind us of how dear friends and family are, and that it is because GOD SO LOVED that we all have such great hope.

Love you each!

fifteen seconds at a time

Most of the tranformations and realtionships we see here seem to happen little by little. A conversation, or even a sign of respect or friendship happens, and we are so encouraged by these "little things" that make us so aware that He is working here in Haiti, here at the seminary.

But on Friday, Matt and I experienced something that may seem little, but was definetly a BIG THING.

Matt began driving the 2nd week we were in Haiti. Our first solo trip into town, we were both a little nervous. As you enter into down-town, you pass through what used to be a town gate with a huge welcome banner. Now, it it is nothing more than a few pillars, always congested with traffic, because only one car can pass through each side at a time. Because of the traffic, it has become a popular place for merchants. A rather rough and intimidating group of men in their 20's mull around these gates all day and all evening, trying to sell "raisin" soda, little bags of water, and Tampico's...a sugary Kool-Aid type concoction.

The first day we passed through this small gang, I was a little on edge. Much to my chagrin, Matt made eye contact with one young man, rolled down his window, and chatted with him for a moment. He wore a ski-cap, despite the unwavering heat, a ratty white tank top, and filthy pants. The moment Matt smiled at him, his stony glare transformed into a beaming smile, and as we drove through that first day, we were encouraged by "a little thing"...a happy moment passed with a stranger.

We've been through town 30 times since then, and every single trip, our friend is there. Every single day, he stands there, making pennies for his bags of water. He is always wearing the same clothes, and by the dirt on his face and clothes, we believe him to be homeless. Each time we come through, he breaks out his grin, and he and Matt clasp hands and rapidly catch up on life until the car behind us honks us onward. When we haven't been to town for a while, he always asks if things have been ok, and never ever asks for anything.

Finally, this past Friday, it occured to Matt and I that we could at least bless our name-less friend by purchasing a bag of water or two from him. As we passed out of town, we chatted for a moment, and then Matt asked for a few waters. A bag of water costs 1 Haitian dollar, with 20 cents going to the seller. So he must sell 5 of these to receive 1 Haitian dollar...14 cents American.

He handed us the waters, asking if we would like more...but as Matt tried to hand him double the cost for them, our friend was appalled. "No. No way...no money. These are for you. Would you like more?"

No matter how hard we tried, he would not take the money...would not "sell" to his friends.

What we had tried to do to bless him, instead came back on us as a BIG thing. We thanked him and drove on, both touched to the point of tears that this man that had NOTHING would not let us, two Americans in a vehicle, pay the equivalent of 50 cents for our water...mere pennies for us, but an hour's worth of labor for him.

This man doesn't know the Lord, and yet somehow, he encapsulates what it IS to be a Christian in a way we continually fall short it: loving another more than himself...sacrificing what was good for him to bless another. Fifteen seconds at a time, God has given us the opportunity to build a relationship with this man that has softened and changed our hearts. Pouring into people, just a little bit, can change who they are...and who we are.

THAT is a BIG THING.

whatever, whenever, forever

(pictured: a "prayer hut" about 2 hours from our house. Haitians from the surrounding areas carry their burdens up the mountain and lift them up to the Lord in this little hut.)

It has been a long and difficult and exhausting week, but we both had individual breakthroughs, and then a huge joy together on Friday.

Matt's breakthrough came on Wednesday. A student that we as a school, and personally, have had a LOT of trouble with, came to Matt asking for a meeting. They met on Tuesday, but it did not go well. The student was angry, bitter, resentful and irrational. Matt didn't like how the meeting went, and also was beginning to suspect that while this young man has been studying to be a pastor for 3 years, he had never truly given his life, his heart, to the Lord. So, Matt scheduled to meet with him again on Wednesday. We prayed a lot together as this meeting approached. For 2 hours on Wednesday, Matt spoke with this student. Matt let him get out all of his anger and bitterness, and then gently tried to show him the Truth.

While he didn't like a lot of what Matt said about his heart, his actions and what the Lord desires of him, he truly emerged from the meeting a changed person. We are blown away by his change in attitude since then...a huge load as obviously been lifted from a man we thought impossible to change. What miracles we see the Lord work every day we are here! Matt will continue to meet with this student...please be praying for him, and for Matt, as he tries to bring this student to the Lord.

Stacey's breakthrough was on Thursday night. The seminary has had a choir who has sung here for almost 20 years. Each year, the seniors teach the songs to the new freshmen, so the same songs have been passed down since the 80's. This years choir, however, has had a lot of problems. As we present the seminary to visiting groups every week, it has been all but pulling teeth to get these guys to sing. They will commit, then back out, will refuse to sing, or will even threaten others NOT to sing in their place.

I began to feel like should dissolve the group and start fresh with new guys, new music. However, the group's actions and attitude's disturbed me. I decided that before I quit on them, I would sit down and have a heart to heart with them, and try to understand their hearts.

They have study hall every night until 8:30, so 8:45 Thursday night, I pulled them into a classroom, and for over an hour, we all shared our hearts and perspectives. If someone had told me six months ago that I would stand in front of 12 Haitian men at night and share my heart with them in Creole, I would have thought it impossible. But I truly felt the Lord speaking through me with each sentence.

I explained to them why I came to Haiti and why I am at the seminary. I explained what "marketing" is, how I am raising funds for them to go to school, and why having them sing would help groups know WHO they are able to support. I told them what a HUGE blessing it has been for me to ask for help for them, and how the Lord has completely blessed and changed my life by working at the seminary. I told them what a blessing it is to worship with them through their amazing talents and voices.

They shared so many things in return, and as I listened, I realized that THIS was relationship building. THIS is what brings change. In the end, I promised them no "candy" for singing...no credits, no money, no parties and no tours to Disney World. I simply promised them that I would continue to raise support for them when they acted like the Lord and when they didn't, and that I would BE HERE for them, and that the Lord would bless them for their praising.

What a JOY it was for me to be able to say to a group of men whom life has been so rocky and difficult for: It is a JOY to serve the Lord through you, and despite your attitudes or actions, I am HERE, and I will KEEP serving the Lord. (THANK YOU, again, to all of you who are making THIS POSSIBLE!)

They had 24 hours to decide what to do. Last night, the leader came to our home, and in broken English, said, "We will sing whenever, whatever, forever."

While I assured them we don't want them to sing forever :), the meaning behind their words was the point. No more messing around, Lord. I'm a blank check. Whatever, whenever, forever.

Sometimes I'm not sure Matt and I could possibly be learning more than we are each day!

prayer request

One of our security gards was killed this morning, and the community needs your prayers. He was working at the compound gate, but borrowed someones bike to run a quick errand down the street. While out, he was hit by a car and died minutes later. He was in his sixties, and his wife sells fruits and vegetables on our compound. Everyone is very shaken up and saddened...please be praying for our community, and especially for Jaque's family.

thank you, friends

for many reasons

Today was the end of another session at the seminary, a two week concentrated course for each class of students. Because the new classes don't start until tomorrow, we decided to help them do a "movie night." We picked "Evan Almighty", a comedy which tells the story of man who God chooses to be a modern-day Noah.

We set up the Seminary projector in the cafeteria, our i-pod speakers and a lap top, and every single student, and staff, came to watch "the biggest movie" they had ever seen.

No one enjoyed it more than Matt and I. All the parts we laughed at, no one laughed. Parts we didn't think were funny, the students almost fell off the benches laughing. Like, every single time there was a monkey. Even if the money wasn't doing anything :) It was SO FUN to hear their conversations...They commented on every single woman that was wearing pants, on the fact that "God" was black (Morgan Freeman), and called EVERY single animal either "dog, cat, goat, horse or sheep." Bears were "horses," llamas were "sheep," and monkey's were "goats."

The most interesting parts were when "God" appeared. The guys talked and talked and talked the whole movie, asking each other what things were, commenting, laughing...but when "God" appeared or spoke, EVERYONE went dead silent to hear what he would say. Frequently, "Noah" would say, "God, that doesn't make ANY SENSE," and each time "God" said, "Trust me, no matter what, everything I do is because I love you."

Each time "God" said that, everyone went, "OHHHHH!" It was so interesting!

We had planned on setting up the movie and leaving, but we ended up staying for the whole thing because they were having SUCH a good time! As the guys filed out at the end, one student stayed around as we cleaned up. He seemed clearly touched that we had spent our evening with them, and that we had brought the "movie machine."

"I think," he said carefully, "that God has brought you to Haiti for many reasons."

We think so, too!

side note...if anyone has any G or PG rated movies that have positive messages that you think fifty-five 20-40 year-old Haitian men would like, we'd love some suggestions for next month!

the hills are alive...

Today we drove the 45 minutes, and hiked the 65 minutes, to "Coup-a-David", a village church where one of our students is the pastor. It was a magnificent hike. We hiked over mountains, through rivers and around villages. Everything was so vast, but every moment there were signs of life. Children peeked around rocks, goats were tied to random bushes, homes were tucked between the trees...it was truly a "National Geographics" kind of day.

The church was wonderful, too...the only church in the entire area. I'm sure that many people hiked farther than we did today to be there. The sermon used the story of Naaman in 2nd Kings 5, and the pastor preached a solid, practical and Biblical sermon about obedience being more important than sacrifice to the Lord. He used Naaman as an example of the times that God does answer us, but we want to give Him OUR solutions, OUR answers. The pastor shared with the congregation that there would be problems in our lives that no money, no sacrifice, and no person could fix, but that it is in these times that God desires our obedience in the small and large things. God didn't want Naaman's money or gold, but it was his (reluctant) obedience that finally brought healing in his life.

Being with Pastor Enik and the members of the church was blessing enough, and then several women spent the entire 3 hour service fixing rice and beans and plantain for us.

As we hiked the long road back, we were overwhelmed with the realization that literally thousands of people, that we never knew existed before today, lived in the areas we passed through. Every Biblical truth, every shower of love, every answer to prayer, every promise of hope that we have EVER received from the Lord, He holds for these thousands, too. When we lift up our voices to Him, even for little things, He hears. Hears, AND cares. AND answers. And He does this for each tucked away person on this earth! Each naked child we passed today, each shriveled old man, each hungry family, each group of teens who had nothing to do, nowhere to go. Each family torn by the violence in Kenya, each broken brother in Nepal, each hopeless mother in Sudan, each hurting child in the United States.

What He has been for Matt and I, HE IS for all of these, whether they know it, know Him, or not.

If God SO loved the world as to send His only Son, we dare not love less or more selectively.

you give us value.

We have had a particularly touching week, the first week Matt says that he has felt overwhelmingly at home. We are moved and challenged, and the Lord is glorified, by our students.

Wednesday, a student in Matt's 4th year class came to the administration, telling them that one of the other 4th year students, "Jonas" was packing his things to leave. When the administration asked why, they were told that this student had exhausted every resource, and simply could not afford one more session (2 week course).

The dean called in Jonas, a student that we have both found to be of outstanding character. Jonas has asked both of us many times to pray for his father, who is not a Christian, and is heavy-set against Jonas being a pastor and being in Seminary. What he hadn't told us was that his father has always refused to let the family help Jonas pay for Seminary, even encouraging extended family and friends not to help.

Our dean asked Jonas about his situation, and he confirmed that he truly had absolutely no money, but would not beg for exceptions to be made for him, but instead would leave until he could find it. The dean asked him how he had afforded to go the last sessions, and it was his answer that touched us both so much.

For the last year, the other students in the 4th year class have scrounged together all of their money and paid for Jonas to be here. Many of them are sponsored by churches or helped by family members, so they put together bits of their personal money each session, totally the $20 US it costs for each session.

Jonas was leaving now, not only because he had not another penny, but because the entire 4th year class had not another cent. These ten men have all given so much, that they could no longer scrape together 20 dollars between them.

They have all spent their money, not on dinner or music or clothing or transportation, but have sacrificed to help one of their own Study the Bible. Train to be a pastor. Be a part of our classes.

There have been times that moving to Haiti has felt like a sacrifice. But in this week, we have been utterly humbled by true sacrifice. Who would not find themselves to be at home among such men!

Yesterday, a donor gave all the money necessary to cover the rest of Jonas's education. Matt went to their little home to rejoice with them. Their dorm home is about the same size as our current house, but with 8 men sharing it. For thirty minutes, he just "hung out" with them, laughing and talking. When he left, they said, "No foreigner has EVER visited our home. Thank you. You give us value."

We are overjoyed to find them mistaken...
It is their "before all else" value of the Lord that is changing OUR lives.