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!