not alone, not in need, and NOT church

Just got off the phone with Junior, and MAN, I'm just so proud to be his sister and friend!


Can I make a confession?  I've been really down these last few days.  Our "normal" life in Haiti has me feeling lonely.  I'm used to having dozens, even hundreds of people in and out of my life every day.  Crazy busy-ness.  Tons of social-ness.


When an unexpected business emergency took dad out of town yet again, I've found myself alone with the girls in a city where I know very few people, over a holiday weekend in which everyone is with family, in a culture that keeps to itself.


The three of us have been flocking to playgrounds, Wendys, Meijers, anywhere that lots of people are.  However, being with a million people who are ignoring you is rather lonely as well.  Add in the exhaustion that comes from being alone with two very little and needy ones 24/7 day-in and day-out...


I've been down.  


And then I call Junior to see how their summer missionary adventure/experiment has been going, and instantly feel invigorated, inspired, grateful, content...blessed.  

Alone a million miles from home, from my husband, and from my entire family, I am HIS.  I'm still His daughter.  He is still passionate about me.  Intimately interested.  He still has a plan for my days, even lonely ones.  He still has a plan for my life right here, right now.  Praise the Lord.


After what seemed to be a very discouraging start, Jodenel, Junior, Jean-Marie and Jean-Baptiste (our 5 J's with Jesus :) are jumping for joy.  It's true, the zone they're in is NOT interested in church.  And they are NOT interested in religion.  And they are NOT interested in pastors.

Junior and Jodenel

Jean-Baptiste, left

Jean Marie (and Jean-Baptiste, right)

But turns out, they're awfully interest in God's Word and the four men who rather bizarrely showed up on their doorsteps to share it with them.  They're eating in up, listening daily in two different corners of the community, until today when a woman offered up her yard to hear more...now three.  


Our brothers are just telling stories.  Starting at the beginning of The Great Story.  Sharing testimony after testimony--using Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, David, Paul, Peter--of who God is, the problem of sin, the solution.  


I've been praying that God would provide a tent for them for shelter.  Just a little tent.  Just something to keep them dry.  


A man in the village came up to them yesterday and said, "look, you can stay under that little tarp if you want, but I have a house you all can stay in all summer."


In a place and condition such as Haiti, this is just a miracle.  WAY more than they had hoped for.  WAY more than I had asked for.  He does that.


They will continue to meet in these three parts of Au Troude (Oh-True), and then once a week, all these parts meet together to hear the Gospel.  You know...church.   But it sure won't be Sunday morning, there sure won't be any ties and jackets, and it sure won't be called that.


I'm pretty sure He doesn't care.  I'm pretty sure He's a billion times more touched than I even am over the thought of this large community, completely non-believing, hearing about Himself every day.  


And I know the Spirit is at work, and even now I can see the light in Jean-Marie, Jean-Baptiste, Junior, Jodenel's eyes as they share His Story...can imagine the stirring in people's hearts as they hear things they have never heard before, and yet realize what they're hearing is TRUE.  THE True.  


My inward woes have been exchanged for outward hallelujah's in light of who He STILL is and what He is doing...wherever I am and whoever I am with, or without.  


Praise the Lord, I'm no more alone than Junior is in a community of total strangers!

"What do you need, Junior?" I asked right before hanging up.


"Oh, Stacey, why do you always ask me that?" he immediately responded.  "You know I don't need anything.  I've got everything I need in Him."


I still have so far to grow...
Praises.