lots of changes & a shocking new reality

Morning, friends!

The sun keeps rising here in beautiful Haiti, and it just seems that everything... from Lily's hilarious morning antics to the soft breeze, waking up to Matt making coffee to the brilliant blossoms...points to Him.  I'm so grateful this morning for this one life He's given us each and the chance each day to celebrate new mercies and to BE more like Him.

Lots of things are going on...

Last week after many years of working here in Haiti, Mary Lou left the Haiti field.  Matt and I worked with Mary Lou on a daily basis for our first several years here, and it just never gets any easier to live life alongside of each other and then have someone leave for good.

Joetta, the field treasurer, also left the field last week, meaning we're missing her humor and friendship and everyone's missing having a field treasurer!

Dave and Marilyn also exited, though not permanently, on Saturday for a few months away of work, travel and rest.  It seems we are always transitioning!

As I shared last month, both Julie and Hannah finished their one year terms and left in January, but the happy news is that they are BACK this week for a visit, to introduce us all to Julie's now-fiance Bill, and to get to say good-bye a little better.  (due to some family needs, Julie had to leave in quite a rush!)  Can't WAIT to catch up with these dear friends and to drill Bill.

Please keep praying for all of these missionaries as they transition: for His enduring and un-matched peace and for His continued clear calling on their lives.

Matt joined Junior this past Sunday in Konpech for a few hours, an afternoon that really opened his eyes and both broke and excited our hearts.  There are around 100 people living in this community, and they shared with Matt that they have all come from 4 people who started the community a LONG time ago, committed to Satan.  The poverty of the village was shocking to Matt, most people showing orange hair (vitamin deficiency) and children aged four or five still breast-feeding to curb starvation.

More shocking then the poverty, however, was this reality:  In 2011, there is a village 20 minutes from the main road where NOT ONE PERSON has EVER heard even an OUNCE of the Gospel.  In Haiti.  Where Christianity and missions, etc., have been around for decades.  Not ONE person in the crowd that gathered Sunday to hear Junior teach how sin came into the world had EVER heard ANYTHING about it.  No Idea.

When Junior told them how the world was created, where Satan came from, who made the trees, how sin came into the world...no one had EVER heard it.  There is an entirely UNREACHED people group living in complete darkness a 20 minute walk from me.

Belony says they've never heard the news because Christians largely avoid areas noted as being 'evil zones' such as Konpech, choosing instead to continually evangelize "safe" areas.

The reality continues...if this is true, that there are 100 people who have never heard one word of the Truth 20 minutes from here, then there are places EVERYWHERE in Haiti, most deemed 'demonic areas', that have ALSO never been reached.  Other people, JUST like you and I, who because of fear of Satan, have NEVER been given Hope.  Who continue to live under complete fear and bondage of Satan...perhaps because they NEVER knew there WAS another option.

(Is it possible, too, then, that in America/Canada/Europe, etc. that there are LOTS of people who have perhaps truly NEVER heard the Gospel?  Completely unreached people?  20 minutes from the church?  Perhaps people Christians largely avoid because they are known as being 'difficult'?  Just a thought...)

I can honestly tell you that until this past month, I would have told you that by now, everyone in Haiti had at least heard the Gospel.  This new reality is keeping us awake at night, and we're pumped to see the students as worked up about this as we are.  IF we believe that God has all power, and that Satan is nothing before our God, than what have we to fear? (as Junior has so boldly shown.)

Suddenly, there is a LOT TO DO!

February 28th (our spring break), a group of 21 students will be working to evangelize a zone not that far from the airport, hoping to eventually plant a church there.  Please be praying now for this upcoming major day of ministry, and please CONTINUE to be in prayer for those HE created in Konpech.

Many of you have been asking for more information about this "Bible story telling method" that I've used in SEEP and that Junior solely uses for evangelism.  I've been working on this blog and will have it up this week: complete with what that method is, how it works, where you can find the materials (for free), what Junior has added to it (which is just crazy, and insanely effective) and more about Konpech.

Thanks for all your continued prayers as we live life, with all it's changes and potential for what God means it to be, with you.