does it mean anything NOW?

Anytime you think of us, please be praying for Haiti.  I found myself lying awake in bed much of the night last night, thinking about all this cholera...thinking through all the horrific rumors surrounding the "epidemic," thinking about how to better protect Matt and Lily, the staff and students...thinking about how easy it would be to get, and how hard it would be to get proper treatment for this "plague" that many doctors and nurses are refusing to treat because they are afraid for themselves...

Getting true facts is always a bit hard in this culture (or, in the WORLD, I guess :), and the fact that next week is Haitian presidential election week seems to be making the stories even more muddled and varied.  As ever, many are complaining in light of Cholera that the government is doing...well, nothing.  Moral is way down, and we have found the Haitian moral in regards to the election to already be quite low.

I have not yet spoken to a person who WILL be voting on the 19th, as that EVERY person I have asked about their plans has felt that the voting system is so corrupt that it is unworthy of their time and money (to get to the voting locations).  "The richest one will win," we have been continually told.  "Whichever of the nineteen candidates pays the most will be chosen by the government...and then will do whatever whoever pays HIM most wants done."

Add on top horrific rumors of the cholera plague, the reality that many across Haiti are still flooded out of their homes and living in deplorable conditions since the flooding that came with Tropical Storm Thomas...yeah.  It's kind of a depressing day in Haiti.

The more I find myself "thinking", the further I seem to carry myself from peace.  The more I rely on my own understanding, the more hopeless the situation seems to grow.  The more I worry, well, the more I worry.

It always pleasantly surprises me how the Bible doesn't just give us instruction so that we please God, but that the instructions it gives actually seem to make our lives a lot BETTER when we comply with them.  There is a reason, isn't there, that Matthew 6:34 urges us not to worry about tomorrow.  That Psalms 27:3 points out that our hearts have nothing to fear in light of His hand over us.  That 1 John 4:18 speaks of fear as being a symptom for one who does not have His perfect love?

Not to mention that countless number of times that God reminds us that it is HE who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, that it is HE who directs the lightning and pulls in the waves, HE that watches over every sparrow and counts the hairs on our heads...Not just that we would remember his almighty power, but that we might have indwelling peace.  He, who calls ALL the shots and sees ALL the problems, pain and fears, IS.  And listens when I cry out.  And promises that He has a plan for good.

Laying up last night, I realized that this is what it comes down to:

"I trust Him."  Is that just my good Christian phrase that means something when the sun is shining?  Is all my Christian jargon about God being in control, my trust in Him, His power reigning, etc. just that? Jargon?  Good for the good days?

Or does it MEAN something when I am afraid for Lily? Depressed about the Haitian situation? Concerned about the students and their families?  Feel like vomiting all the time? Dreading the election?  Greatly disturbed by the horrific cholera nightmares?

Does the fact that THE God is MY God mean ANYTHING to me NOW?

As I poured through my life and His marvelous presence and grace and works, it only took me a moment to realize that I have no grain of doubt.  His promises to provide, guide and stay with me are enough for me...though I am fully aware that He has not promised me that everything will turn out as I hope and wish and will.

As the students pointed out to me this morning after a debate about whether bread, which cannot be washed in bleach water or brought to the boiling point, can be considered safe to eat..."If He was God before, Madame Matt, He is God now, and we know that no bacteria, president, flood, earthquake or fire  changes anything before Him.  And He is OUR God."

If only they spoke for all of Haiti.  Please pray that these current crisis and fears will do the same thing that the earthquake did...bring many in search of The Only Thing Bigger and more powerful than the ugly things that rock our lives. And THAT is why we are here...Emmaus Biblical Seminary, the staff and students and Matt and I...for such a time as this!  THANK YOU for your prayers.

Meanwhile, there IS happy news!  Matt is putting the finishing touches on his sermon for chapel today, a powerful message on His plan, which includes "do not be afraid!" (Eph. 3).

And...

Lucner Pierre is finally getting married!  Since we started working and living with him in 2007, we've been teasing him towards this day, and tomorrow is it!  After my dad explained to him last week what "cold feet" were, he bent over with laughter and said, "OH YES.  THAT IS WHAT I HAVE!"  He and his bride to be, Luna, are so excited, and we are thrilled to be able to be a part of this joyous event tomorrow.  We'll have some fun pictures to post, I'm sure.

Shyler's funeral is also tomorrow, so I would ask for your prayers for both services and families.

Though you may not be facing Cholera or hurricanes or political upheaval today, you may very well be coming through your own storms.  Praying for you each as you pray for us, that He would replace all fear, doubt and worry with Himself.