food and family and faith

Unrest and desperate need continues to plague Haiti. Rioting in Port-au-Prince has cut off all transfer of goods from there to here, so resources, such as fuel, are dwindling. Fighting and police have appeared at gas stations, and gas prices are around 80 dollars Haitian, or $11.40 US. So, we are all adjusting some...staying close to home, walking, doing without some products we can only purchase in town, and helping out as many people as we possibly can. Heightened tensions in the country have spread into some heightened tensions at the seminary, clinic, etc...

However, it is during this difficult time that we are seeing a few beautiful Christ-followers step up. One such young brother is Janiel, and his faith seems to just be unwavering. He is a fourth year student in the mornings, a janitor in the afternoons, a night watchman for our compound, a pastor of a growing church down the road, a husband and a father of two little ones. He is known for being an beautiful annoyance to visitors on the compound because he won't let them come and go without hearing about Jesus. His joy is SO clearly in our unchanging God, and therefore ever strong despite this rather depressing time.

After a hard day at the seminary on Thursday, he caught up with Matt while he was walking home. "You are discouraged," Janiel immediately said to Matt, grasping his hand knowingly. "My people and my country can be so discouraging! Put all of your strength and your energy into your faith in our God."

Later that evening we asked him to stop by our house in order to pick up a box of food to take to the most impoverished of his congregation. He took the box happily, but would not leave until he had prayed for us. "Lord," he said, "help the people who receive this food know full well that it is food from YOU. Give them YOU because of it, and bless Matt and Stacey over and over."

We are so humbled by his example! Whatever we are going through right now, it is nothing compared to being unable to feed our children or living in unstable villages. And yet we hold on to our joy and faith so loosely. They are some of the first things to go on difficult days!

Please keep praying for the people of Haiti, and please keep praying for family like Janiel. Pray that we might be consistent lights, despite circumstances. Pray that many might come to know a sustaining and transformed life in Christ, though they seek fleeting things such as food, peace and money. Pray that the Lord might use us, and use you, and use our brothers and sisters here in a mighty way during this difficult time.

(pictured: for fuel-free entertainment on Saturday, we climbed a mountain with good friends...from the top, all seemed right with the world!)