elevators and perseverance

Here they are: Matt and the other three Emmaus guys who are preparing to head for Jackson, Mississippi on Sunday! All four of them are very excited, and lunch-discussion has focused on little else. A Haitian previously traveling to the United States pointed out that elevators were terrifying to him his first trip. "You see this box, and someone gets in it. And then the doors close, and then they open again, and the person is GONE!" I can't wait to see the United States for the first time through their eyes. Matt will share their experiences with me and I'll do my best to pass them on!

Meanwhile, Lily and I are getting Daddy ready to go...these past weeks have been incredibly busy. We used to spend many evenings working just to keep up with everything, and now with Lily, we're getting very little done after supper :) A sacrifice we are grateful to make! Everyone that told us life would never be the same...life is never going to be the same!

One thing that hasn't gone out the window, however, is my devotional time, which is proving to be even more vital to my day now, working with less sleep and having someone so very dependent upon me for everything!

I'm working through "My Utmost for His Highest" by O. Chambers again, and the devotional from the 22nd spoke to the very heart of many of my daily concerns right now. There has been a situation in life that we've been baffled by, because we've been waiting and waiting for God to "take care of" an issue that to us seems quite simple to take care of! And recently, I've begun to doubt...thinking that either He is NOT going to take care this continually God dis-honoring situation, or that perhaps He is UNABLE to. (embarrassing to admit, I know...the boldness of mere men!)

Then comes Oswalt, reminding me that perseverance, of any kind, is a Discipline!

"Perseverance" he says, "Is more than endurance. It is more than just hanging on. Perseverance is endurance combined with absolute certainty that what we are looking for IS going to happen. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered.

"Our fear is that the very things our Lord Jesus stood for--love, justice, forgiveness and kindness among men--will NOT win out in the end. But work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will NEVER be defeated.

"If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. EVERY hope or dream of the human mind that is noble and of God WILL be fulfilled."

Don't know if you're going through something similar recently, but hope this encourages you...
What He stood for while He walked the earth He WILL stand for even now, in His perfect time!

rats and travel plans...

I've mentioned Micheline to you all before...she is a wonderful and godly woman that helps Lily and I out here at home a few days a week so that I can work for the Seminary and not just on laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning all day. She has such a consistently sweet spirit and humble heart, and is always setting a godly example for me, and always teaching me more about the culture and how things are done here!

Well, this morning she came into the bedroom and said, "I need to know if I can throw the thing away." For a moment we tried to determine what she was talking about, but all I could gather was "towels." Not wanting those thrown out, I followed her into the kitchen where she led me to my towel drawer, ripped it open, only to reveal to me a GIGANTIC dead rat, surrounded (inside and out) by an infestation of maggots. Not only did I almost throw up at the sight, but the SMELL. Oh my goodness.

However, not wanting to ever offend me, she did not want to throw it away without my permission. SO DISGUSTING (so I thought I would share it with you :)

Here are a few photos from Dr. Cooper's retirement party at the Seminary. Dr. Cooper "retired" in 1989 due to poor health, came to Haiti in 1999, and has been our director ever since. Now, he has retired again due to more poor health, and left on February 4th. We are so thankful to have had him in our lives and grateful for all of the ways he made Emmaus Biblical Seminary the place it is today.


Also pictured is a very happy Lily with her "Granny." Giselaine watches Lily every day while I teach, and this morning when I took Lily to her office, Lily just grinned and grinned upon seeing her (after I had been unable to get her to smile all morning!).

Matt IS going to Mississippi on Sunday with three other men in the Seminary for two weeks of "in classroom" study at Wesley Biblical Seminary. It will be Paul, Brighter and Luke's first trip to the US, or out of Haiti, for that matter. All four of them are very excited to be going and about the concentrated classes they'll be taking. They fly out of Haiti on Sunday, and Luke was quite happy yesterday that Matt would be going with them. "I don't have any idea how to get from Florida to Texas to Mississippi!" he said after I showed him their tickets. "It's a good thing Matt is coming with us to show us how to get there!"

slow to speak

Last night was one of the Seminary's bi-weekly ministry presentations, a time that the staff and students have at Emmaus to present music, testimonies, and the work of the Seminary to visiting teams. These are always so enjoyable for Matt and I, and last night was no exception. Lily slept wonderfully throughout almost the entire thing, and we had special music from the 3rd and 4th year classes, a 2nd year student shared his testimony, a staff member shared a devotional, and several other staff members shared the ministry and importance of training up Bible-based pastors in Haiti.

It is always such a clarifying exercise for us both to be forced to put into words WHY training pastors is so important in Haiti, and WHY this is something that people can't HELP but need to get involved in...such a good reminder to us both why we are here and what great responsibility comes alongside this calling on our lives.




Pictured here is one of the current visiting professors teaching our second year class, and baby "Lee-Lee", sitting with "Granny" while I teach in the room across the hall. Giselaine talks to Lily throughout the hour, and when Lily is awake, she stares and stares at Giselaine, "listening" to every word she says. This will be a bi-lingual little one, for sure :) Though yesterday at lunch, when several of the guys were talking to Lily, and she just stared, one of them looked at the others, shrugged, and said, "Guess she doesn't speak Creole."

They may be disappointed to know that she doesn't speak English, either :) Soon enough! She's already growing up much too fast!

Brother Lily

Sunday we headed into down town to attend one of our favorite churches, pastored by a fellow professor and one of the men Matt is dong his master's studies with. It was a GREAT service, and Lily slept through the entire 2.5 hours, much to our delight! She was wearing a bright pink dress and silver slippers, but nonetheless the special music was dedicated sincerely to "Brother Lily." We've got to get some stick-on earrings or something for this girl! It was so special to be so welcomed here and to see so many people excited to have their prayers for a healthy baby answered.It is looking like Matt may be leaving us for two weeks in March after all, to join our three Haitian brothers for residency at Wesley Biblical Seminary. It will be their first time in the States, and Matt could use the 6 credits. He has to do three more of these 2-week residencies, so we are thinking that he should perhaps do them sooner rather than later with Lily still being so young. We're not for sure yet...please be praying with us as we try to discern the Lord's leading in this decision!

Happy Valentine's Day

Yesterday I was finally able to accompany Matt again to his weekly scripture readings in a Haitian home a mile or so away. Everytime we go there seem to be more and more people, and who most of them are or how they are connected to the family, we have no idea! This time there was a brand new baby, 10 days old, who looked both premature and malnourished. I could not get over how tiny he was, making a continually-rounding Lily look like a toddler.

One of the men there is constantly asking us for money, explaining how expensive everything is and how many debts he has...but the rest of the family continues to ask for nothing but more of the book of Mark and more prayer. This time, the prayer requests were all for children, brothers and sisters, cousins and grandparents who were not yet saved, and we had a really good time of lifting up each of these men and women to the Lord. Grandma, the obvious head of this large clan, continues to ask that we prayer for the Lord to heal her blind eyes. "I believe He can do it," she says each week, waving both crumpled hands in the air.

Going there is always such a humbling and joyful moment in our weeks!

Meanwhile, Matt has gotten some kind of food poisoning and was up the entire night throwing up. He's feeling a lot better, just tired and sore, today, so Valentine's Day will consist of some napping and a "Date Night" with the Bundy kids this evening!

"What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what I whisper in your ear, shout upon the rooftops!"

Life Takes Visas

...and they got them! Praise the Lord, Paul, Bright and Luke all received their visas this time around and will be heading off to Wesley Biblical Seminary in March for their 2 weeks of on-campus classes, and for their first time in the United States! Thank you for all your prayers!

joy comes in the morning

We woke this morning to find the steady rain that has poured the last six days and nights finally lifted, and sweet sunny breezes fill our little house again. Suddenly I happily realize that we have settled back into life again, a life that despite challenges, some sadnesses and some frustrations, we love.

He has given us so much joy in working and living here...

At school this morning I watched as each student came in the admin. building, popping their head into the secretary's office to give a hearty "Bonjour, Lee-Lee!" to baby Lily before heading off to class. And during class, whenever I asked what my students liked and didn't like the past several months to initiate English conversation, Frantz's answer was "One thing I like, Madame Stacey when she teach us. One thing I don't like, when Madame Stacey is not here for two months."


I wish most teachers (like my sister!) got such affirmation from their students :) We love them and the men and women we work with, and continue to learn so much...not just about them and ourselves, but about the Lord. I love the way that "Faithful is He who calls you" (1 Thess. 5:24), not just to provide us with what we need to exist, but also with what we need to thrive and grow in who we are and in Him.

Our friends and fellow teachers are in Port-au-Prince today for their visas...we'll let you know how it goes! Thank you for all your prayers this past week as we travelled and have gone through this rather large transition with Lily.

for His own possession

It has been raining almost non-stop since Wednesday afternoon and has been surprisingly chilly! Our students are freezing, wearing long sleeve t-shirts and even sweaters underneath their shirts and ties :) Tomorrow we both start teaching again, and with four visiting professors teaching this week and only three translators, Matt will also being doing his share of translating. The three men doing their online Master's alongside of Matt are traveling to Port-au-Prince for the second time on Tuesday in an effort to be granted their visas. In March there will be another "on campus" session at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Mississippi, and they are hoping to be able to attend this time! Please be praying they may be allowed to enter the States this time around!Being home has been so good, especially being back at the Seminary. That sense of urgency and freshness that the so many of the students carry is contagious...They are anxious to learn, anxious to share and anxious to make a difference here...and there are a LOT of things to change.

This upcoming week is Mardi Gras here in Haiti, something that the government is spending 5 million gourdes (roughly $150,000 US) on, JUST for Cap-Haitien alone! Mardi Gras in Haiti is basically a week of heavy partying for non-Christian Haitians. We will mostly be sticking to the compound this week, and several churches are trying to hold events again this year in attempts to keep the youth off the streets and away from a lot of the ungodliness that comes with Mardi Gras partying. Something else to be praying about, for sure!

Confronted by several men in wild and very dark looking masks preparing for Mardi Gras this morning on our way home from church, my heart was truly broken. I've been studying the book of Titus this week, which in chapter 2 reminds us that God gave us Jesus Christ, not just to "redeem us from every lawless deed," but also "to purify for Himself a people for His own possession."

The AWESOME thought that God DESIRES us, and sent His Son to bridge the gap our sin has created in order to truly possess our hearts...I mean, wow.

That unbelievable, crazy love that has already swept over us in just these first weeks of Lily's life is just a fraction of what Father God has for ME...for you, and for each and every person here. And when I saw these men, stumbling in wild circles of drunken dances, dripping with black oil and covered by these masks, I felt a fraction of the pain in my heart that God feels for them...His very children that He desires for Himself deeply enough to sacrifice His own son.

So much of work here (in Haiti and on Earth) is simply that...to make people aware of this crazy love their Creator has for them, and of the "lawless deeds and ungodliness" that keeps them from Him.

"For the grace of God has appeared,
brining salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to
live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed HOPE and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior
Christ Jesus, who gave Himnself for US to:
Redeem us from every lawless deed, and
to Purify for Himself a people for His own possession,
Zealous for good deeds."
Titus 2:11-14

So final prayer request...that we might have our eyes fixed on that blessed Hope, and that He would continue to give us His heart, His eyes, His love for each and every person we encounter....and that He would give us the boldness and the faith necessary to make Him known in such a dark place and such a dark time!

Happy Sabbath!

"Hasn't anyone told you?"

He shot the question at Matt as Matt squeezed past him down the aisle of the plane, returning from the bathroom on our flight back into Haiti.

"Hasn't anyone told me what?" Matt asked the stranger, stopping for a moment and eying the older gentleman, whose dog sat next to him, buckled creatively to the seat of the Douglas DC3.

"Hasn't anyone told you that missions is for before children, and for after children, but NOT while you have children? What are you thinking taking that tiny baby to Haiti! Hasn't anyone told you that family is your first priority?" he quizzed, catching Matt off guard.

It was not as if we had boarded the flight to Haiti Tuesday morning without doubts. Just that morning, as we hurriedly prepared to leave our hotel to make the 6 am flight, fleeting thoughts of "Is this the right thing? What are we doing!" passed through our minds. It was one thing to board the plane to Haiti two years ago, almost unaware of the risks, but something entirely different to board that morning clutching this tiny fragile bundle that we have come to love so deeply, taking her far from family, her doctor, and everything she had known in her short life.

It was by sheer faith and nothing else that we climbed aboard, only to have our concerns vocalized by a stranger.

As Matt and I discussed the incident later that evening, the Lord brought so many things to our minds. Where in the Bible does it say, "Follow the Lord's call on your life, but if that call comes with risks, wait until your children are grown?" Where does the Scripture tell us to put down our nets and follow Him, whenever we are good and ready? How often do we see the Bible examples of men and women called to risk-free lands and callings?

In our minds, it boils down to this: DO we trust the Lord to take care of us AND Lily? Do we trust Him enough to obey before all else? When it is easy, and when it is hard...before children, and WITH children...to England or America or Haiti...do we believe that obeying our Lord is THE most important thing in life, or don't we?

"Is He going to help Himself to your life, or are you taken up with your conception of what you are going to do? God is responsible for our lives, and the one great keynote is reckless reliance upon Him" O. Chambers.

Have we not but one life to give Him? Perhaps bringing Lily to Haiti looked like "reckless reliance" to this man, and I realize now that we are ok with that.

As we have prayed the last few days that the Lord would strengthen our faith and give us unwaveringly obedient hearts, we pray it for you as well!

Meanwhile, He blessed us abundantly yesterday with many joyful reunions, most precious of which was at the Seminary. We slipped in at the end of chapel, and when it finished and the students saw us, I must say I have NEVER been so joyfully greeted. Students that are normally respectfully distant literally attacked us, and I don't think either of us or Lily have ever been kissed by so many men :)

The predominant comment about Lily has been that she looks just like her father...and then that her hair is exactly like his. I'm not sure anyone in the States said, "Oh my, doesn't her hair look just like her daddy's!" but, hey, culture difference number 900.

I'm relatively confident that many of them did not expect we would return or that they would ever see us again, and the joy on their faces, NOT because of who we are but because of Christ in us, was every blessing needed for each sacrifice the last day or so had held. God does take care of His children, not just physically, but He also takes care of our emotional needs...abundantly.

Thank you for all of your prayers that carried us in His hands from this place pregnant 2 months ago, back to this place again with a healthy baby and happy hearts now. We are blessed to be on this journey with you and blessed by so many of yours' encouragement that we cling to Christ and not to this world.

We've had nothing but rain, rain, rain since coming, but we'll have some photos to post soon!

May we each allow God to be responsible for our lives today!

home at last....

We made it safely back into Haiti yesterday afternoon and have been busily unpacking and trying to get settled. Lily is enjoying the warmer weather and being able to be outside, and Matt and I are very much so enjoying being home, being together, and being back with many friends.

I'll blog tomorrow about our fun homecoming, but wanted to let everyone know we made it back safely!

heading south!

Lily's passport came at 11 am Saturday morning, and we were on the road minutes later! We are SO thankful to have this important document in our hands, and despite all of the hours of frustration and work to get it, we recognize that receiving a passport on January 31st for a baby born January 2nd is NOT bad. We're grateful to have it, grateful to have had this time at home, and grateful to be headed south!

(Lily is not liking all these hours in the carseat!)

It's still cold and icy in Ohio! We arrived last night at a dear friends house in Atlanta, GA, after 555 miles. The first leg of our trip went really well, and now we're getting ready for "Part 2: It's still cold, let's go to Florida!" We should arrive at my grandfather's house tonight in Brooksville, Florida, and then on to Fort Pierce Monday morning.

Thank you for all of your prayers. We've had some really good time to talk and pray with the Lord and each other about Haiti, and it's been so refreshing to have this time to re-evaluate how we do things, what we are feeling led to to, and our relationships. We are are overjoyed to continue to feel His hand on our lives and in our work at Emmaus Biblical Seminary. Please continue to lift us up as we return with new hearts and minds, and a new baby!

(did we mention she has a passport? Ahhhhh)