3- Everyone is NOT leaving...and there are constant kids for the kids! Our faithful neighbors have been such a grace to us in this time, weathering the storm with us, and their three little boys being constant friends for the girls and Ben. When our staff heads home at 3, I know I can chase Ben while Julie chases Jacob, and have some normal...We know we can borrow what we need and can't get from one another, I know the days Julie is at work, I'll have a happy household of kiddos, and vice versa. When I don't know what to do about the generator, at 11:30 at night, I can go yell in Bill's window...and he's there. (He was trying to sleep, but he's there :) In a time when SO MUCH has changed, stopped and been unstable for our kids, one stability for us all has been the Edlers next door. Praise the Lord.
4- Our fabulous staff has been making crazy sacrifices to be here and keep things running. Getting up insanely early. Searching for fuel, taking long routes to work, sometimes having to stay the night, etc. I have been so touched and encouraged by how hard everyone has been working every day to KEEP working, to keep being here for our students, to keep getting to town to purchase food, to BE here, come what may, on the days they are teaching. There have been many sacrifices unto Him (and many I'm not even aware of) and man, I just praise the Lord for them. We have always been a family, but our family is growing together in this time, and I am thankful.
5- We would be totally lost without Nikki. Every day I am able to head to work at 7:45 because Nikki and the girls are heading to homeschool. Some days go well, and some days are a major struggle, but she is struggling with us, patiently guiding the girls, working through everything from multiplying fractions to learning to write capital letters, from four year old emotions to tween-craziness, and I am so, so, so thankful for good and continued and Christ-centered education for our kids always, but especially during this time. Sonlight, and Nikki, have a been a rock. And to have another adult around when Matt is gone :) And for that adult to be such a precious friend!
6- Tuesday Noon Staff Prayer is the best hour of my week. We didn't know at the start of the school year when we renewed our dedication to time of staff prayer how necessary and needed and powerful this time would be. Praying together for our students, and lately, for our country, has been such powerful, humbling and encouraging work. This week, Pastor Claudin shared this idea from Matthew, and it's reoriented my heart and prayers, praise the Lord!
7- He is enthroned by our worship, and it's such a cultural part of every day. At 8 o'clock, classes begin with a hymn and a prayer, and you can hear the harmony echoing down the halls. At 11:30 the chapel pours praise the preaching and prayer, and the hearts within and around are reminded of who He is. When dinner and study hall are over, the chapel lights flood the campus again, as resident staff and students gather every night for worship singing and prayer. It was a continual part of every day before, and I'm so thankful it still is now. The powerful hymns the students are choosing lately just PREACH.
Chapel, October 2
8- Food: It's a really big deal. It's always a very big deal in Haiti, something I'll never fully understand as someone who has ALWAYS had some. In this crisis, more people are eating less than ever, and I wonder how much of the anger and frustration is fueled by genuine hunger, alone. I rejoice to share that thanks to the help of many, the hard work of many, the steady hand of many, the sacrifice of many and God at work, Emmaus has continued to serve every meal. That's ALWAYS a big deal, but it's an especially big deal right now, and a MAJOR grace. Major grace. Walking through the cafeteria at lunch time floods my heart with praise. Keep praying with us for the many, many hungry.
9- No matter how bad it gets, our lives are full of laughter. Just as the Bible talks about believers not mourning the death of loved ones as the world does, believers do not mourn crisis and struggle as those who have no hope. There have been some very heavy and discouraging moments, to be sure, and we all, by his grace, are hit heavy at different times and work to hold one another up. But every day there has been laughter...and teasing...and soccer...and reminders of His faithfulness, and I rejoice.
10- By God's grace, Emmaus is currently doing what NO ONE else is doing. A few days ago I shared a few photos on facebook of our classes that day, and one of our students pointed out that he was pretty sure we are the ONLY school in Haiti having class right now. While I haven't heard of any schools or universities in function, it hadn't really occurred to me that this might be true, or what a big deal that is. It hasn't been our intention or drive to stay open, but only to have class as long as we continue to have students, and to feed everyone as long as we have food, and to run the generator as limited as possible each day as long as we have fuel...and here we are, again today, pressing on.
I am THANKFUL our students and staff have not been sitting at home for weeks, I am thankful for their desire to keep pushing forward, which has kept us on, and for the stability and hope that brings to EVERYONE. I am thankful for the way the Lord has provided what we need, EVERY DAY, one day at a time. He's been working miracles with the oil in our jars, and I'm thankful. There ARE THINGS ADVANCING in Haiti, even if it is ONLY the Gospel...it is enough.
People keep asking what they could do to help, and help is needed.
1- Write a letter. It doesn't have to say much, and it doesn't have to include the perfect word. But it would encourage our students to hold in their hands reminders that there is a world outside of this one, a body of Christ not in this situation, who are PRAYING for them. It would bless Lily immensely to hold in her hands a few lines from a kid who IS going to school, somewhere, that they know she is here and they are praying. It would bless our staff to hear from you, our families, our country, to be reminded physically that there is, outside, an awful lot of prayer and different burdens and different victories. Sometimes we can get mail and sometimes we can't, but it always comes eventually, and while boxes are incredibly expensive to receive, envelopes of all shapes and sizes are free.
Emmaus University and/or Matt Ayars
Unit 1153 - EUH
3170 Airman's Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34946
2- We need help (tripled). Without fuel to get it to and from market, the cost of food is way up. The cost of transportation for our staff and students and friends, obviously, has tripled and quadrupled. Some friends were able to purchase fifteen gallons of gas the other day and paid $16 US/gallon...very happily. Everything is costing way more, and more people are needing help because of that than EVER. Emmaus needs help just doing what it's always done, what should be costing $20 is costing $50. If you want to help and you can, send us $20, send us $50. When the bank is open, we will buy food for another day and keep searching for fuel and keep providing jobs and keep helping every complicated, hurting situation that we possibly can.
3- KEEP ON PRAYING. Pick a time each day and pray for Haiti...for her leaders, for her people, for those many suffering, for truth and justice and for transformation. Pray for our brothers and sisters throughout Haiti, as they stand and are stretched, that we would all hold firm to the faith and GROW. Pray for His protection, especially for those most vulnerable, for Haiti's precious children and orphans and widows and sick and hungry and impoverished. Pray for His light to be radiant in this dark time. Pray as if you are with us...for you are. I know you are.
He is unchanging, and we praise Him!
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