cups of water

It's been two busy busy days!

I know we keep saying this, but the Lord really seems to be actively at work right now in our students, in the Seminary, and in Haiti!

Matt had a great afternoon with Met Son and one of his graduates from last year on Tuesday. Once they finally arrived where they were going, the speaker spoke about the church's responsibility to address the problems in Haitian society. Matt was really impressed with the conference. It took them several hours to actually get to the conference, however, as Matt learned about another evangelical tactic Met Son has. From the moment they left the compound to head into town, Met Son picked up every single person standing along the side of the road that they could fit, dropping people off and picking them up along the way.

The moment each person got in the car, Met Son posed question number one:
"Are you a Christian?"
If yes, "When were you baptized?"
If so, "Have you ever shared your testimony?"
And no matter what the response, "Share it with us!"

After each person shared their testimony, Met Son confronted several with the idea that there was no actual conversion in their testimonies, and then asked if they wanted to become a Christian.

No matter what anyone said, he made sure that every single person they picked up had a chance to become a Christian and hear more about Jesus. They then stopped at a random high school on the way to the conference, entered a classroom, and Met Son shared with the a class for about 20 minutes about being a "new creation", not just becoming converted.

Finally, they arrived at the conference, and got home again around 5:30. Matt had a blast and was reminded that evangelism doesn't have to be nearly as eloquent or complicated or scary as we sometimes think. He also had a great time just watching the Lord work in these guys and in the conference...Matt wasn't leading or making anything happening, just along for the ride with men that are feeling the Lord push them to bring His change in Haiti.

Tonight was another blessing for us both, as we were a part of the Wednesday Night Seminary Presentation for visiting teams. Four different students shared testimonies and songs, and one of our fellow staff members shared a message that really encouraged us both. He preached from Mark 9, using the verse in which Jesus tells John that anyone that gives even a cup of water in His name will not lose his reward.

Guenson spoke about the Lord blessing what we give in His name, even something as simple and as inexpensive as a cup of water. He was speaking to the team about their sacrifices in coming and working at the new seminary this week, and mentioned that the Lord WOULD bless them, not necessarily by fulfilling their Christmas lists or healing a loved one, but sometimes also in more subtle ways.

"Maybe you were feeling really discontent with what you have before you came, and maybe that blessing will be true joy, or true peace whenever you go home. Maybe the Lord will bless you with contentment, with encouragement, with a stretching experience, but He promises to bless you for all that you've done in His name."

Thinking through this made Matt and I both realize how much God truly HAS blessed us for various times we've sought to serve Him: with so many stretching experiences, with joy, with contentment, with hope...in so many ways. AND, we have such confidence and joy in the knowledge that He IS blessing you as well, not just for all the ways you are serving Him where you are, but for all the ways you are serving Him here through us, through the students, through the pastors, through OMS in Haiti.

It truly is a joy, even on the hot, hard, lonely, exhausting days, to be His children.

On a completely different note, Matt is GLUED to the Phillies web-site, as he follows the final minute of the World Series by 30-second online one sentence updates. Not quite like watching the big game, but, he is still REALLY excited, and cheering on...the computer screen. Op, they just won. Matt is sitting at the desk, fists raised victoriously with a huge grin on his face :) Ahhhh, even from Haiti :)

have a great evening!