home again

This is another one of my new favorite pictures of shoes as of late...

Maxi and Kerline came home from the hospital today,

and this is their front door step (with a Lily foot in there, too boot!)

So fun for Matt and Lily to bring these good friends and their new baby home!  The community has been so excited, and most of their family met Christie for the first time today.  Everyone is doing well, so happy to be home, and Kerline is on the up and up.

I wasn't able to go because this dear couple, and their boys, were coming for lunch!   My post visiting-professor cooking strike ended, and we enjoyed catching up with Janiel and Peninah, and learning that she is expecting!

After lunch, they asked to go meet Christie, so I led the way and quickly felt like I was with celebrities.

Janiel was the pastor of the Saccnaville church for several years, and though he hasn't been for at least 2 years, they both have such a good reputation in the community and are so beloved, I thought we were never going to get to Maxi's!  Janiel is known as a man of prayer with the gift of encouragement, and I can't tell you how many people stopped him and asked for prayer today, almost all people not in the church.  Christ radiates beautiful in Janiel, and Peninah, too.

When we did finally arrive, we found Christie looking cuter and happier than ever, and her parents both finally sinking into the new reality:  they are parents!

As we all visited and stared down at Christie, 

Maxi and Kerline were particularly chatty, and I heard all kinds of stories I've never heard them share.

The most heartbreaking ones were of the many persecutions they have received over the years for not having children...people refusing to pay back debts owed them because "you don't need the money, you don't have children," slights for years about not being a true family, criticisms for both of them about what sins they've committed that them to not have children for 10 years.  

As Maxi shared some of his many prayers from over the years, his high and low points, and even a nightmare he had a few nights ago about Christie actually dying, and her healthy birth just being a dream, I was touched by his simple faith and the power of prayer.

We often think He's not answering...and sometimes I wonder if we quit believing and praying far too soon.  

Add in an afternoon with the Charlot boys (and a movie :), and dinner with Maxi and Noel...it was a busy social day full of friends we are incredibly blessed to have.

this one, we're not sure how blessed we are yet.

tomorrow, this guy turns 30...

and is off to preach at Granny Giselaine's church!

praises

I had a post ready for yesterday, but there's a few blessings and items for prayer I'd like to share first...

The Lord is not letting me forget how many beautiful things are unfolding each day, as well!

Yesterday we had a family of good friends visit us, and upon arriving, they thanked us heartily for a loan we had given them months ago (and entirely forgotten about.)  Apparently, they had promised that they would return the money the first week of September, so they came to return it.

"So you're in your new house then?" I asked excitedly.

"No, no where close," they said, with smiles.  "Our budget was totally off.  We spent what we had budgeted, but there are no floors, no roof, and no doors."

"Well," I asked, "then why didn't you use this money to finish it?"

"Because we promised you we would return your loan on this week.  And we knew it would take four months to make the money to pay you back.  So four months ago we stopped the work on the house completely so we could save up these 4 months to pay you back."

I felt terrible and so touched all at the same time.  We have loaned thousands of dollars in the last 5 years, and very rarely have seen one returned.  And here's a family who has no home, who was now sitting in our beautiful home, that we didn't have to wait one day for, much less years, and they were paying us back.

"Because we said we would.  And the Bible tells us to do what we say we will do.  So we did!" they shrugged again when they could see how baffled I was.

What touched me most was that while this family of four has no home, and their new home is no where CLOSE to being finished, and they have NO plan of how TO finish it, they were full of joy in their trust for the Lord.  FULL of joy.

What a joy and great reminder for me not just claim joy, but to truly have and share it despite all circumstances.

Lily and Kinderlee, playing in her "kid house".

Not two minutes after they left, a few great young men and women from the seminary and the community came over for a while, and I was blessed again to see a true love for the Lord exude in how they carry themselves, treat each other and us and in how they speak.

Today, Micheline's family, recently reunited with Micheline's husband after almost 5 years of him living in Turks and Caicos, are coming over for lunch, so Lily will have more friends to play with.  There are few people on earth as genuine, joyful and servant hearted as Micheline...being with her is always a joy.

Micheline and her children, just a few weeks before Hershniece (far right) passed away.  Her husband left Haiti before Hershniece got sick, and just returned last week, 4 years later.

Also, our one new student who was very sick returned yesterday, and Matt is finally feeling better...thanking the Lord for healing.

For your prayers...

Uncle Don and Aunt Brenda lost their dad this past week.
My grandfather had a pacemaker put in on Wednesday (dad's dad).
My grandparents had a huge move this week (mom's parents).
Belony is still suffering with a lot of stomach and back pain, and will be heading to Milo hospital monday.
Elizay has surgery scheduled for Wednesday.

this is BIG

Today was a BIG day. It didn't start big. We planned to go to church right across the street. Matt didn't have to preach. We didn't have any visitors to translate for. A few friends were coming for lunch. "Bless us with your sweet presence" I had prayed this morning, wanting nothing else.

By His grace, He gave us that, and much more.

As we walked up to the church, I saw Frandia standing outside. She was the "first" convert I have spoken of frequently, and for weeks as Belony and I have opened the Word to her, we've talked to her about going to church. We've spoken to her about the importance, especially as one who lives entirely in a non-Christian household, about spending time worshiping the Lord with other believers. But each week, she has had a reason why church wasn't for her.

But this morning she was outside, scraping mud off her shoes, and though she looked quite uncomfortable and was wearing a rather failed-attempt at appropriate church clothing, she was THERE, and she and I both broke into a big grin at the sight of each other.

"Lord, this is big!" I prayed silently as we walked in together.

After some opening announcements, Abel stood to introduce any visitors, but said that this week there were two new Christians to introduce. "Joseph" Abel nodded, and a few pews over Joseph stood, a previous gate guard for EBS. A man who had spent his life in a Catholic / Voodoo mix of religion, this past Tuesday he came and found pastor Janiel, saying, "Today is the day. I want to be a Christian. Tell me how."

It was all I could do to keep from clapping my hands in joy, when Abel introduced the second, who sat right in front of us. We could tell he was young, but then he turned around, and we recognized him immediately. Remember the day when several young men from Sakanville stood outside the gate, behaving quite badly? And Matt prayed that one of these Saul's would one day be a Paul?

Kenson was in front of them, throwing rocks and spouting off mouthy responses to each word of peace Matt spoke. "With so much energy and passion and intelligence, Stacey, these men could do BRILLIANCE unto the Lord. We have to keep praying," Matt had told me.

This morning, in front of all of his peers and neighbors, Kenson stood. "I am a Christian now," he said strong and slow. THIS IS BIG.

We were floored. Making an announcement like that here is not the same as it might be in the States. He won't drive 30 minutes home and not see any of these people until next Sunday. They will see his every moment, hear his every speech, watch his every move. He pronounced to Sakanville this morning that he has died, and been born again a new person, and 100 people will be holding him accountable.

Beside him sat three other young men, all in jeans and t-shirts. This completely unacceptable dress for church in Haiti was entirely ignored by the whole church, who welcomed these men the same as everyone else, and I breathed another silent prayer..."LORD, THANK YOU." They were friends of Kenson's, that he had brought with him.

"Don't you want to become Christians today?" Abel asked them. "Not yet," they each said, but Matt whispered hope next to me. "If this is real, Kenson will bring them to the Lord." (After the service, Matt and Kenson had a long talk, and Matt quickly saw that all of the attitude, hatred and bitterness formerly possessing Kenson have been entirely replaced with a quiet joy.)

Pastor Janiel announced that every night this week there will be services, calling this week a "Week of Revival"...please be praying for these, starting tonight through next Sunday, from 5-7 pm. Pictures to come.

Overwhelmed by the miracles around me, the service began, but it wasn't until the end that that they brought me to tears. Right at the very end of the two hour service, and old man stood from the old-man-row, and picked up a stick and headed out the door.

It was Pehpay.

He met my eye and grinned, holding our hands for a moment in joy before heading home.

Pehpay should be dead. DO YOU HEAR ME? I was THERE. I held his dying hand. Pehpay lived his whole life in darkness. Pehpay should be at the beginning of an eternity of death, darkness and HELL. Pehpay should be dead.

Instead, Pehpay has been given NEW life in every way imaginable. He walked 6 blocks, by himself, to church this morning. He is just at the beginning of an eternity of glory, of love, and of sweet communion with his new found Father. Pehpay is ALIVE.

IT IS A MIRACLE, friends. Miracles, all of it. I saw 5 miracles this morning, family, with my own eyes. I was THERE. Family, I'll never have anything more sweet to share with you than this. I was THERE today, and so were YOU.

Dan and Gill, Gord and Doreen, all that you did down here to build the Seminary and His kingdom, you played a part in the bigness of today. Sam and Cammie, all the hours you spent pouring Jesus into these brothers and sisters, Christ in you did BIG things today. Have you prayed for Sakenville? Given 1$ to build a seminary in its midst? Come on a team? Prayed for Haiti? Prayed for us? YOU were there today. Christ in you, the hope of glory for Sakanville.

In this little block church in a little quiet community on a little distant island, God's doing the same thing He did for me. Called me to Him, took on my sins, and exchanged my spirit of death for a beautiful spirit of LIFE. As steadily as He's changing me, He's changing Sakanville, and doing what He does best....the impossible.

Glwa a Dye...Glory to God

back at it...together

We forgot to send our camera with Matt, so we have NO pictures of his trip to Waco! However, it's been so good to hear about many of you, about his experiences there, about the joy of sharing with family about what we see God doing here in Haiti! Thank you again, First UMC of Waco, for loving on Matt and for your participation in the building of His kingdom.

Here's a few pictures from the last days. Paul and Kathleen Owens have joined the EBS team for two weeks and are teaching discipleship and English 2 and 3 as we wait for our new ESL teacher to begin in May. We have been so blessed thus far by their friendship and desire for the Lord. Today, on our way to a church in town, another church about an hour away called to ask where Matt was....he was supposed to be preaching! An engagement he had confirmed three months ago, Matt had entirely forgotten, and it was too late to get there in time.

Matt felt TERRIBLE, and no amount of pats on the shoulder or encouragement made him feel any better. Out of nowhere, Paul just started praying for Matt out loud as we continued on our drive, and speaking to the LORD about the predicament was EXACTLY what we all needed (duh....why do we always forget to do this?) We were so thankful for this brother and mentor and for his in-tune-ness with the Spirit and boldness to share Him with us.

We are also enjoying our "last days" with the Hubele Family, at least for a while. Saturday, Matt, John, Rachelle and Paul took the motorcycles to the ocean. Lily is absolutely confident that "Z0-zo-phine" and Jacob are her brother and sister, and is frequently irritated that she cannot live with them. She refuses to be babied when they are around, but insists on being treated like one of the big kids. We will miss them greatly, and are not looking forward to being the only missionaries in Sakanville again...having their help, and having a few neighbors of our home culture and tongue, has been such a blessing!

Evangelism through EBS in Sakanville continues to grow...What used to take place every Tuesday and Thursday is now happening every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1-3. The guys, studying God's Word four hours a day in the classroom and a few hours a day outside of the classroom, feel the urgency for their lost brothers and sisters. Monday is a Bible study of John, verse by verse, with lots of questions and interaction, at the far east end of Sakanville, and Wednesday is a Bible study at the far west. Tuesday and Thursday is sharing the gospel with every man, woman, child, and witchdoctor in between these two sites.

The more often Matt and I go with them, the more often we want to, and this past week, without Matt here to watch Lil, she joined the guys and I, attracting larger (but more distracted :) crowds to hear the gospel. PLEASE keep praying for Belony as he heads up this materialization of the Great Commission...he is absolutely the man God is using to bring change to Sakanville, and we are doing all that we can to support him. As the work gets harder and more persecuted, he seems to be growing in wisdom and passion and urgency and love...what a joy to be a part of!

Also, dear Janiel (known to some as Charlot) lost his father last night, pretty unexpectedly. Please be praying for him, the pastor of the Sakanville church and a graduate from EBS in 2008, during this hard hard time.

It is so very good to have Matt home, and tomorrow we dive back in for another week, Lord willing, blessed to be His and to be entrusted to carry His light to such a dark world!

waiting on the Lord

We had some beautiful friends for supper the other night, and while Lily gleefully rough-housed with their kids, we had an awesome time of sharing and encouraging one another. Janiel (John-yell) has the God-given gift of joy and encouragement, and since the moment we moved here (he was one of Matt's first students), he has unceasingly reminded us to put our faith, hope and energy into the Lord, not OMS or the Haitian people.

"Ah, but He IS faithful, Go to Him!" Janiel always tells us, and then frequently bursts into spontaneous prayers for us, or songs of praise unto the Lord. Moments like these with families like this bless the deepest parts of our hearts.

Meanwhile, the concept of "waiting on the Lord" has been working on me for several months now. I mean, what does that MEAN? And WHY is it so clearly highly valued by God?

Isaiah 40:1 - Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength and will mount up with wings like eagles, run and not grow tired, walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 64:4 - ...God, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

Psalm 130:6 - My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchman waits for the morning

What does that even mean? I frequently hear it referred to like this: "I didn't have enough money to send my daughter to school this session, but I am waiting on the Lord for next session" or "It's not working out great now, but let us wait for the Lord!"

I keep getting this image of me tapping my foot at the front gate, running late, anxiously looking at my watch and searching the road for God to be hustling down the way to meet me. I should be standing there waiting more patiently, perhaps?

I don't think that's what this is the kind of "waiting" the Word is referring to! First, if waiting on the Lord is checking your watch and trying to patiently WAIT for Him, it seems to suggest that He's not already THERE, and that He is LATE. I don't think that the verse "God acts on behalf of those that wait for Him" is in support of those who are extra patient for their Friend to come.

This morning, as I was reading through Isaiah 40-50, anxious to hear from Him and to be pleasing in His sight, I imagined something quite different that I think might better serve His desire.

When my baby sister turned 21, we took her to Chicago to celebrate with a weekend of fine dining, Broadway and tourism. For fun, I had found a REALLY fancy restaurant online, and we took her there for her big evening. I have never eaten at such an extravagant place! The food was exquisite, the atmosphere luxurious and the company was very high class. The craziest part, however, was the service.

The entire meal, there was a waiter standing 3 or 4 feet behind EACH of us, right off our right elbow. If you dropped your napkin, your waiter swooped in behind you put it back on your lap before it had even touched the floor. If you took more than 2 or 3 sips of water, your waiter was quietly refilling your glass. He was ever-present, calm and collected, completely focused on my actions, calm but anxiously poised and ready to go when I indicated.

As I think more about this, it seems possible that image better represents what "Waiting on the Lord" IS.

Waiting on the Lord: being RIGHT at his elbow continually, studying Him carefully, being close enough to Him and focused enough on Him that if He speaks to me, I HEAR it. Not off to the side, distracted by my own thing, but empty handed, poised and ready to go at His indication.

I am not telling Him what to order. I'm not telling Him what I need or want. I'm not in a different room, making nice things for Him or building little gifts for Him. I'm not working on a project for Him. HE is working on building His kingdom, and I am just anxious to be used by Him.

When He speaks, I am not tied down, too rooted, too worried about others, too comfortable, too proud, too afraid or too busy to respond. I am ready and willing and overjoyed to respond. Immediately.

I am WAITING on Him. I'm not in a frenzy, not worried about what might happen next, or how I messed up earlier. I am in the moment with Him, eyes eagerly studying His face, His hands, His position with anticipation. And when He acts, I respond. Right then.

Obviously, the analogy falls apart in some places, but this image is helping me throughout the day to stop and say, "Does my life represent one that is waiting upon the Lord?"

Am I right at His elbow, watching Him build His kingdom, anxious to be pleasingly used by Him? Or am I distracted by doing my own things for Him, for His children, for myself, missing when He speaks? Am I running around like crazy in my heart, attending a million customers and a million tasks? Or is He IT for me? When I DO hear His voice, DO sense His leading, am I too comfortable or too selfish to budge? My hands too full? My feet too planted? Or am I ready!? Is it about me? Or am I glued, eye, hand and foot to Him?

Ah, Lord, help me be a better Waiter!

those who Hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame...Isaiah 49:23