We are on complete and total overload.
We knew these two weeks would be crazy and full and busy, but man.
How precious, how sacred the stories I am collecting. How precious, faithful are the people who are trusting them to me. How powerful the stories of transformation, of conviction, of action, of faith.
I'm collecting them at the fire-hydrant, not at the sink this time, and it's totally overwhelming.
I just sat with Lucner for an hour as he shared story after story of God showing up in his church and community. I just prayed with Claudin as he shared the powerful story of light battling dark in his village. I sit with a list of so many students to interview...stories of how Jesus became the Lord of their lives, how Emmaus came into the picture, how they hope and pray to be poured out for His glory here in Haiti.
They share in passionate Creole. I type as fast as I can to keep up in frantic, broken English....these stories, waiting to be written and shared. My heart breaks, my eyes fill, my heart catches up, I pray with them, LORD, give wisdom, make ways, send HELP.
We need help at Emmaus. Donations are down to 20% of what they were a year ago. The pandemic has wiped out ministries everywhere and for good reason...times have been hard, fear has been distracting, life has been difficult.
But we have the SAME NUMBER of students this year as last year. We have the same number of staff. We have the same number of needs and churches and communities and ministries, and with giving at 20%, everyone is struggling.
I didn't know how much everyone was struggling until they sat in the chair next to me.
I didn't realize that the community outreaches that used to include a meal now include hunger. It is still happening, praise the Lord. But the sacrifices have been great.
Places once reached on the bus are now being reached on foot. Teachers once teaching on pay are now still teaching on half. Outreaches once reaching far are now having to stay closer. Budgets that once included meat are now limited to bones.
And yet all I hear is story after story of what God is teaching. Of what God is doing. Of how He is filling empty places and overflowing cracked cups.
Those who were giving mightily of themselves are now giving even MORE, and somehow, somehow, they are sharing the powerful stories of sacrifice with praise and thanksgiving.
As Matt preached in chapel yesterday, as we visit people in their homes, as we sit with so many, so many, Matt and I both have a renewed commitment to come alongside.
God is at work here. We will be, too. Our brothers and sisters are pouring out, and dang it, you will find us alongside.
Life and politics and viruses and change and culture have been distracting.
Suddenly, I have thousands of pictures and dozens of pages of stories that refocus me...I hold worn hands and look into hope-filled eyes and the distractions cease.
There is MUCH to be done in this world, for His glory, and we've gotta be joining our brothers and sisters in doing it.
I have so much to share, but today, today, as the entire Emmaus family fasts and prays together on our knees, TODAY I implore you to pray and to come alongside.
If you've ever given to Emmaus, if you never have....If you were in that 80% now missing or if you're still in that 20% carrying on...If you've ever loved Haiti or never knew her, let me ask today that you help.
It is hard to hear the stories and see the stick homes and hold the babies with uncertain futures. It is challenging to give in a time of fear, to give in a way that hurts. To sacrifice.
But how RICH it is to be a part of something that hurts for His glory. How rich it is to hurt in a way that matters. How rich to join those who are giving and living with abandonment to the Gospel, giving and living too. How rich it is to be here, present, KNOWING it would be impossibly hard, how grateful we are to hold these hands and to capture these stories, with all the pieces of our hearts.
These coming months will carry many precious stories, many prayers.
But can I ask you today, family, that while you join us in praying for our brothers and sisters at Emmaus, in Haiti, that you would join us in BEING an ANSWER to those prayers.
If you can give $10 a month, every single faithful month, family, that means the next missions trip includes rice and beans for the students preaching the Gospel. If you can give $25 dollars a month, every painful faithful month, family, that means Claudin's precious children go to SCHOOL this month. Dear ones, if you can give $100 dollars a month, every sacrificial month, it means our students are eating. It means cooks are being paid. It means families are being cared for.
If the Lord whispers, family, please speak.
Whatever we can do to spread the Hope we have in Christ, let us do it.
May this be true in every area of our lives.
The Gospel is being lived, regardless, in sickness and in health. In much and in want.
Let us come alongside, and not miss out on being a powerful part of what God is doing...in Haiti and the World.
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