a standing ovation

(without Jesus, Haiti cannot be delivered)

How can I describe the excitement of what is happening? Capture in words what you can feel in the air on campus today? Lucner, preaching in chapel today, did:

"Look around you. Think of these weeks. Is God finished?

Or is He beginning a new day at Emmaus Biblical Seminary, a new day in Haiti?"

Immediately, strong and rapid and simultaneous and passionate clapping erupted and continued on. Beautiful music. Beautiful praise.

"What are we clapping for?" I heard a visiting professor ask, having been lost in translation.

"We're clapping for GOD."

Love your neighbor as yourself, knowing that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep...

Yesterday was the first day of class. We had our 35 students. The absence of Junior, first year, and Belony, staff, was quickly noted. 34. Prayers for them and the work they are doing in Port-au-Prince, tending to seeds that so many among us planted, quickly followed. Rejoicing over God's plan and His caring for His sheep. Thankfulness for Junior and Belony's willingness to leave a beautiful campus, three meals a day, friends and family, to go to a poor-poor community and plant His church. Joy over being a part of His plan.

...for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first came to believe...

Yesterday afternoon, two men came through the front door. They had just come from Port. They had NOTHING. No food. No money. No bags. No ties. No shiny shoes. One thing only: a paper, an ID, a phone number of seminaries destroyed in Port-au-Prince...and stories that only time will reveal.

"Can we come?" they asked, previous classmates. "We heard on the radio we could come. You understand? We have nothing. Nothing. No home, no future, no money. Can we come?"

...The night is almost gone, and the day is near...

So this morning, I had two new faces in class. Our students have a new type of mission field...what happened in Port has come to live among us, come to study among us.

After first hour, there were two more men in the hall. Same thing: no ties, no jackets, no books, just them. We put them in a class, interviews scheduled for this afternoon.

By chapel today, there were six. After chapel, we had to go find more chairs to put in the "Doctrine of Holiness" class.

...Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of Light...

We are now 40, Day 2.

This isn't about growing numbers. This is about God not being finished.

This isn't about the earthquake. It is about what HE is BUILDING.

The excitement of what is happening is that on Tuesday, the same day that another four small ones died, this time at this Cap-Haitien school, millions of Haitians marched through the streets that would have been wild with Mardi-Gras partying, carrying banners marked with His praise, praying as they walked.

...let us behave well, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy...

The excitement of what is happening is that people across Haiti are gathering HERE, in our literal front yard, to learn how to better and more faithfully take God's Word to their people. God has called them, called them to Himself and to His people. They are obeying, in the midst of a unimaginably difficult time, they are obeying.

The excitement of what is happening is that their people are asking for It. They have nothing. No clothes. No food. No money. No shiny shoes. But they are asking for HIM.

(Live on faithfulness to God in Haiti...Praise the Lord.)

...but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:11-14

I am clapping for God.

Many of you are such an integral part in Matt and I having the privilege to be in the midst of what He's doing here. THANK YOU. Life is hot, life is hard, life is without Dairy Queen, and there is much to be done and much courage and perseverance and wisdom is needed...and we are having A BLAST. Seeing Him at work amongst His Haitian people continues to be one of the greatest joys of our lives.

I KNOW I keep asking. You are probably getting tired of that. But we need you, and I just can't stand letting you miss the opportunity of being a part of this. We've got six new students from Port-au-Prince. We've got 35 others from across Haiti. That is today, day 2. We don't just want to feed and house them. We want to EQUIP them to GIVE the Jesus that their own people are searching for.

Please, do ONE thing. Commit to praying about aligning with one of the men or women of Emmaus Biblical Seminary. Pray for Emmaus, pray for Haiti, ask the Lord how He wants to use you. If after that, you sense that it is NOT here, NOT with EBS, NOT in this way or in this time or in this place, then DON'T. Praise the Lord, He has a different plan for you, a different way to use you in His vast kingdom!

But if you feel led to be involved, please DO. Worry not about your tomorrow, about what you will eat or drink or wear or have, but about following after God's heart for you. Trust Him to provide, and email me: staceyhaiti@gmail.com. I will introduce you to a student that needs your help studying and carrying and delivering His Word.

I promise not to ask again! The need is just SO great, and the harvest just SO beautiful!

We love you!