pull back...push forward

We had a lovely time at retreat, with good time together as a family and as an OMS Haiti family! If it hadn't been for Josephine (or Zo-zo-phine, as Lily calls her) Lil NEVER would have made it through all the sessions without mom and dad. But as long as Jose was nearby, Lil was happy as a clam.

The weather was spectacular, and we enjoyed one afternoon at the beach, some time at the pool, eating out, taking a few naps, and spending extra time with the Lord. Tuesday and Wednesday concludes the "set apart" time with departmental vision casting, and Tuesday is also our last day of class before our one week "Spring Break."
(all the MK's but one)
(our fantastic meeting room)


(Lily JUST wants to be one of the big kids)


(Ba-boosh-ka Lily :)
As nice as it was to get away a bit, it is always good to be home, have the sand washed out of everything, catch up with what is going on here and get back in the swing of things. What a beautiful gift He continually gives us each : the opportunity to draw close to Him and lay down ourselves for our brothers and sisters unto Him each day...

We have something HUGE we just beg for your prayers for: This Thursday, Emmaus Biblical Seminary is setting out on it's first "Spring Break Missions Trip." A whopping 25 students, staff members and missionaries leave April 1st for Diquini, the mountain top area of Port-au-Prince where God brought over 650 people to a saving knowledge of Himself through EBS right after the earthquake. One of our own, Junior, continues to live in a tent on this mountaintop and work to disciple and plant the Church there.

After talking to him a few weeks ago, and detecting loneliness and discouragement in his voice (though he shared with me this beautiful promise: "God have given me the precious gift of joy. Things have been very difficult, but Stacey, I have not ONCE for one moment been sad. He gives me miraculous joy."), Matt and I began "dreaming" about sending a group over spring break to help him in discipleship, in evangelism, and in brotherhood.

As we prayed about this vision, we began praying that He would open the doors if it was what HE wanted, and in amazement we have seen 25 men, women and children step-up to plan an Easter crusade, house-to-house evangelism, a large children's ministry, and times of encouragement for Junior. SIXTEEN students are willingly giving up their Spring Breaks, the only days of class off until JULY, to voluntarily live in tents on a mountaintop in Port-au-Prince to be poured out. NINE missionaries have volunteered to help them do it.

SO EXCITING.


We have had a trip to Florida planned since Christmas, BE (Before the Earthquake), to see my dad, my sister, her boyfriend, Matt's mom and Matt's dad, and as excited about this as we are, it is KILLING us that we are missing out on this fantastic opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in Port and at EBS.

I will post pictures of those going this week so that you can be praying visually, too, but until then, PLEASE be surrounding the many preparations for this trip, and the many that are going, in prayer. This is as life-on-life, down-in-the-dirt, front-line ministry as it comes.

Another breathtaking vision I secretly and carefully hold: 25 men and women...3 full days...the Word of God and the message of salvation physically brought to EVERY SINGLE HOME on the mountain of Diquini. Not just through hearing the crusade services each evening, but speaking the Beautiful Truth in EVERY home....EVERY EAR on this Port-au-Prince mountain having heard directly of His love and plan of salvation for them by April 5th. It is a huge vision...please be praying. Thank you, family!