GO and LET HIM

I had all these things to share with you from the weekend, but tonight is has all boiled down to one.  

Staff retreat Saturday was great (we have such a special group of men and women at Emmaus!!!), all our visiting professors got in safely and with minimal drama yesterday, praise the Lord, and we enjoyed a great morning this morning at Vilmer's church in town even with Leandre preaching the sermon.  The Heckman's are breaking in just fine, Haylie is teaching me how to skateboard on this swiveling wheely thing, professor Leroy brought his dear wife Kay and I keep catching her doing dishes (oh, sweet wonderfulness) and Giselaine is back tonight and doing a lot better.  Classes start tomorrow morning at 8 am, and I'm not lying to you...it'll be REALLY nice to hit Tuesday or Wednesday, have all the start-up stuff behind us, and be plugging away.

Lily has a major kid crush on FanFan ("Mom, it's just that I LOVE him.") and decided to eat with him at staff retreat on Saturday :)

I got no pictures of our meetings, but eating together is everyone's favorite, anyway.

These two are the loviest lovebirds you're ever going to want to meet.  Abel and Myolene (MaAbel) end each other's sentences, share each other's food, sit together without fail in a culture where couples do NOT do that, and grin at each other like they complete each other. 

Lucner, our academic dean (front in red) is always telling everyone to be on time, and then almost entirely missed the staff picture...had everyone laughing.

This morning, at Church of the Celestial Lights.

All good stuff.  But I'm rushing through it to tell you instead about tonight.
You've gotta read this.
Stick with me.

On top of ALL the other things this weekend, Belony asked Matt to come and preach at a crusade service at his church tonight at 6 o'clock.  

Let me tell you.  By 6 o'clock on a Sunday night after an INSANELY busy weekend like this one, when the first day of school starts tomorrow...Matt was NOT excited about this grande finale to the weekend. 

But this afternoon at lunch when he said, "Uh, I do NOT want to have to do that tonight!"  I said, "I know.  But I just know it's going to be great, and that afterward, you will be so glad you did."

He left at 5:30, not even knowing what he was going to share.  He'd prayed about it, and couldn't get a sense from the Lord about the direction.  So, he headed off anyway, and as he was driving through l'Acul on the way to Flavil said that there were just hundreds of people out, milling around, hanging out, and partying.  Weekend evenings are big for partying in this culture, and the way you dress in Haiti (and perhaps everywhere, but esp. here) is to make very clear statements about whether you are in Christ or not.  

Matt said as he drove, he felt so burdened by SO many people in l'Acul living and acting so far from the Lord.  He was disturbed by a lot of what he saw as he drove, and said that his heart felt so burdened with this idea that Jesus was SO NEEDED, RIGHT here, RIGHT now, and so obviously out of sight and mind.

When he finally arrived at the church in Flavil, right on time, the church was locked tight.

Hmmm.  No one was around, at all.  He asked a little girl if there was a service tonight at 6, and she said yes, at six.  But it was 6:10...and no one.  Belo's dad lives right across from the church, so Matt went to see him, and he said the same thing.  Yes, service tonight at the church, yes, at 6.  But NO one was there.  And no Belo.  And Matt couldn't get ahold of Belony...wasn't sure what to do.

At 6:30, a panting, sweating, suited Belony rushed in, apologizing profusely.  "It's not HERE!" Belony said.  "Tonight's the last night of the crusade...it's in the middle of the town square!"

They headed BACK to l'Acul, and headed right for the center of all those people he had JUST driven through and felt so burdened for.  Matt took this picture when he arrived, and the square was empty, the musicians just getting started...

They worked out all the sound kinks, generator kinks, etc., and Matt said it was as disorganized and just bizarre as any other function in this culture frequently seems to be.  But then everything came together, the music got going, the singers all appeared, the loudspeakers got going...and you know.  There's just not that much to DO in Haiti.  So when something is happening?  You go check it out.  

They played/sang until 7, and by now it was almost black out and the square, steps, street and surrounding yards were Packed. Out.

Matt said he was praying and praying, because there were literally thousands of people, almost all of whom openly professing by their dress and behavior to NOT be in Christ, just waiting to see what the one foreigner in the middle was going to say.

Matt was waiting to see what the one foreigner was going to say, too.

And God completed the heavy burden He'd given Matt just an hour earlier for these exact people with His love.

Matt said he felt a clear direction to share with this non-churched, non-Christian crowd of thousands that our God is not One seeking to punish, condemn, and destroy us...but one desiring to Love, Renew, Restore and Complete us.  

He said he started sharing that message, and then went ALL through the New Testament following the life of Jesus from his birth in a manger to His death on the cross and resurrection as PROOF that this is true.  That our God is a God who desires LIFE for us, not death, FREEDOM for us, not condemnation.  To be our Daily Bread and Living Water, not our school principal or our judge.  

He touched on Christ's miracles.  He spoke through Christ's words.  He walked through Christ's life, and he went through Christ's love.  And then he talked about what it all meant for each one of us.  TODAY.

Matt says he's never done or seen anything like it.  Never talked to so many people at the same time.  Never spoken to such a HUGE crowd, unreached or otherwise.

And never expected them to be so interested.  

Matt said despite the utter darkness that had now fallen, despite the thousands...thousands of people, you could hear a pin drop, and that heads were bobbing in understanding in waves.  That there was a look on so many faces of complete surprise at what he was saying. Matt preached for about an hour like this, and finally at 8:30, wrapped up his portion and headed home, drenched in sweat and with visiting professor orientation still to do...with the crusade service truly JUST getting started.  

Belony's expectation was that it will continue until 1 or 2 am.  I'll have a report from the rest of the night tomorrow.

We get so caught up in what WE DO.   Spend so much time focusing on what WE do, how things affect US, how WE look while doing it, how it goes for US, what's in it for US.

MATT did one thing tonight.  Put on his tie and shirt and got in the car.

All Matt did was GO.

And as Matt went...God gave him HIS burden.  HIS perspective.  

And as Matt waited...God gave him HIS audience, HIS crowd.

And as Matt stood, God gave him HIS message, HIS life to share.  

And as Matt spoke, God did HIS thing in EACH heart of EVERY man and woman He so intimately knows and loves and desires to be in relationship with.

We get to thinking we're just so tired and just so busy, that the mountains are just too high and the needs just too big and the ways just too wrong and that the barriers are just too impossible.  

And they ALL ARE.  

For US.

But all He's asking US to do it GET UP AND GO.

GO talk to that person.  We do NOT have to have it all worked out.  We do not have to know exactly how it's all going to go before we do.  We do NOT have to know what WE are going to say.

If He's whispered GO, (and He HAS) then GO and LET HIM.

GO forgive.  We do NOT have to be wrong, we do NOT have to have it all worked through on our own first, and it does NOT have to be the first time.  

If He's whispered FORGIVE, (and He HAS) then GO and LET HIM.

GO take that stand.  We do NOT have to be politically correct, we do NOT have to be sure it's not going to offend someone (cause it IS), we do NOT have to worry about what someone might think. 

 If He's whispered STAND, (and He HAS) then GO and LET HIM.

GO into all the world and preach the Good News to EVERYONE.  We do NOT have to feel like it or be full of time and energy, we do NOT have to have figured out what we're going to say, we do NOT have to preach our burdens our way to our people.  

If He's whispered PREACH, (and He HAS) then GO.

And LET HIM.

I'm so excited about what God is doing in the world that I can hardly stand it.

We talk and think and know a lot about what PEOPLE are doing in the world, and it'll drown you in discouragement.  If Matt drove through l'Acul tonight to get groceries and came on home, he would have been despairing by what he saw.

But have people ever in their life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place? Have people ever entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to people? Have people understood the expanse of the earth? Have people entered the storehouses of the snow? Can man lead forth a constellation in its season, and guide the Bear with her satellites? Does man know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix their rule over the earth? Can man send forth lightnings that they may go, or count the clouds or tip the water jars of the heavens?  Job 38-39

NOOOOO.  Then why do we act like what PEOPLE are doing in the World is what MATTERS?

He always has been, is, and always will be, the KING.  Of l'Acul, of Haiti, of the WORLD. 

 It is not the ways of the world that are to direct our paths, family!  Not the ways of the world that are to motivate our burdens or our actions.  

It is to be the KING, and He is ABLE.  

If we GO and let Him.

baby blessing

I finally convinced Matt to take off work early today so we could make the drive to Flavil and visit Belony and Angeline's new baby!

Baby Esdras (Ezra) was downright adorable, chubby, sleepy and very very very doted on by Sofie.  

By the end, I think the family was getting nervous that she was going to kidnap him :)

 As we sat and chatted with Belo, Angeline, and their family members, I couldn't help but just be filled with joy and peace and thankfulness.  I mean, what a blessing to be a part of their lives.

Here is a man and woman who love the Lord fearlessly and with great ACTION, and the zone of Flavil is STILL talking about the Flavil Church Revival of 6 months ago that just. won't. die.  

Add in their love for each other that we've seen grow from friends to dating to being newlyweds to being parents together.  They are committed, they are holy, and they love each other well.

And now add in their adorable, healthy little man!  It doesn't MATTER how many changes of clothes he may have, how much money their house is worth, or if he will ever have a college fund.  

There was no crib, no boppy, no diapers, no strollers, no Johnson and Johnson, no mobile's or stuffed lambs, but this little guy is dearly loved by a man and a woman who dearly love each other and run all of life through the perspective and passions of our Father.  

Don't see how Ezra could be more blessed.  

Praise the Lord for brothers and sisters in Him!

go

I don’t even know where to start. 

 

Today was GREAT.  When you tell a group who’s been in Haiti for 2 whole days that you’re going to a remote village and that they are then going to walk around and share the Gospel with complete strangers…I was just thankful there wasn’t a meltdown.  That’s a lot.  I would have understood if they did.

But true to form, these 18 are no complainers.  There were a few tears, and more than a few fears, but we spent the evening planning, and at 6 am this morning, we those to Jesus, climbed into the truck, and went. 

 

     Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations…Matthew 28:18

It took two hours to get there, and with grime in our teeth and sleep in our eyes we met in the church where dozens of children had already gathered.  We worshipped through song and prayer for a bit and broke into three ministry groups: sharing the gospel with kids, with women, and door to door.

     For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God…Acts 19:27

From 8 until noon, joined with a slew of students, members from the church and members of an evangelical group Junior’s been working with, we worked.  The church, His church.  Teens, adults, Haitians, Americans, English speakers, Creole speakers, going through this huge community.

Sharing testimonies.  Praying with people who were hurting…Women who recently lost children…Mothers of 7, 8, 9 children completely unable to take care of them and worried…A woman who was demon possessed…A witchdoctor…children. 

 

Telling charcoal sellers why God made them: to be in relationship with Himself.  Sharing with households that sin, unlike commonly believed, is not just murder, but anything that rejects God’s plan or is less than holy.  Drawing lines in the sand to show people the divide now created between a Holy God and unholy men.  Glowing to tell attentive children and smoking old men about God’s solution to the problem, and the opportunity to live with Him now and forever. 

     To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by Faith in me…Acts 26:18.

Matt worked with one of the door-to-door groups, but I worked with a group of 5 women, sharing with all the women (and quite a few men and children) that we could find.  All the women in the market, families frying fish, women nursing children, groups chatting around the lottery booth.

We were working along a fantastic young man, Lindsey, who is currently being discipled by Jodenel.  Everywhere we went, we greeted everyone, and then he opened with this:

“I know when you see groups of foreigners like this, you think that they are here to give money or to give food, because that is what foreigners usually do.  But let me tell you that today, they aren’t giving those things.  But they are giving something more precious than gold.  Something that lasts longer than food.  I’ll let them tell you.”

 

     Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for He is with us…Acts 17:9

Then, the women I was working with took turns sharing their stories, sharing the gospel message, and praying with everyone.  Tentatively at first.  Scattered at first, but then more and more passionately, completely, powerfully.  I was so incredibly, for lack of a better word, PROUD.  I mean, sister proud. 

The Gospel was shared so personally, so passionately and so purposefully that I was just astounded, blessed, and reminded all over again that Lindsey was right.  We DO have what is more precious than anything else.  We DO have the only thing that lasts.  We DO have the one thing that EVERY person, regardless of race or national, culture or language, sex or age NEED. 

And the more I was overwhelmed by how grateful I am for His forgiveness, His death, His redemption and His Holy Spirit, the more I wanted to share it. 

Which is EXACTLY how it’s SUPPOSED to be. 

Sharptown, the family you sent to Haiti knows the Truth.  And shared it boldly to hundreds of men, women and children in Haiti today.  They were not phased by the demon-possessed woman chained to cement blocks, but put their 14 year old hands on her and prayed for her instead. 

They were not intimidated by the dying woman on the floor, but instead crowded into her home and sang her songs of His peace.  They stepped their beautiful feet over running sewage, blackened their hands holding hands brimming with charcoal, burnt their flesh standing in the blazing sun to tell His story, OUR story, over and over and over, gave all their energies climbing the Zaccheus tree, slithering like the snake and singing their hearts out with clingy, desperate for attention children. 

     We are also just men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from the vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them  (Acts 14:15).

Sometimes, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 4:29), just means obeying God rather than ME.  Doing what He asks us to do:  Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15), instead of what is comfortable, what is easy, what we feel like, and what we already know how to do. 

     We are also just men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from the vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them  (Acts 14:15). 

We had some follow up as a group of 60 afterwards that was also very sweet and shared lots of conversions, follow-up names and phone numbers, and hundreds of seeds planted.

Ah, I could talk about it all night, and Matt had several moments that he has detailed as some of the “very best of my life that I never want to forget” that I’ll share with you soon (BUT I AM TOOOO TIRED!).  It was great. 

THANK YOU for your prayers for the day and all the encouragement and love we've received since yesterday's doggie drama.  (Sof is still doing well...)
THANK YOU, Brenda for keeping the girls so I could do this with the team and translate and share my heart out

THANK YOU, Sharptown Group for being willing to do something so crazy and for pouring yourselves out so selflessly

THANK YOU, Junior for helping us plan and tweak and set this all up,

THANK YOU, Jodenel, Jean-Marie, Jean-Baptiste for being faithful to Him in this large zone so we had true disciples and fired-up evangelists going with us,

THANK YOU, Cammie, for stretching way out there (“I’ve got to be the Yay-Rah person?  AHHHHH”) and leading the kid’s evangelism,

and THANK YOU Lord for BEING more precious than gold, everlasting, for WANTING to be in relationship with me, for going so far as to even sacrifice your ONLY and innocent Son to reconcile that relationship that I screwed up, for forgiving me, for giving me new life, for letting me follow you, for HELPING me follow you by the Holy Spirit and for giving me LIFE, now and forever. 

Oh man.

goats, friends and the harvest

Having these two weeks off school (and having Dad's extra set of hands) has given us more time in the community, too.   Yesterday morning we visited several good friends, and went to see "Oreo's" new baby goats.  

Sofie and Kevins are only 3 weeks apart, but he is beating her in chub and in hair!  It was wonderful to be able to catch up with lots of friends in Saccanville, and Lily REALLY had a good time making new little friends and playing in the mud and with all the goats, chickens, dogs, cats...

We also had good time here at home with Grandpa, with Dodo and Bubba...

...and with Junior, Civil, Fanfan, Belony, and other staff and students as they are using the campus as "ministry headquarters."  If this was a women's university, we would have a lot less dinner guests :)

Junior, Belony, and a box of Bibles headed out yesterday morning to Yolene's church community, and met up with 11 other students.  They all then joined with member's of Yolene's church plant and broke into three groups, going throughout the entire area, preaching the Gospel.  

"I'm not going to lie to you," a very weary Junior and rather down-trodden Belony told me upon their return.  "It was a really hard day.  It was like EVERY person we met wanted to fight with us.  One long debate after another, everyone had so many arguments.  Some days, it seems like everyone is interested in Jesus, and today it seemed like NO one was...everyone was interested in being told that nothing needs changed."

One woman argued that she never had sinned, therefore had no need of Jesus.  Many argued that they pray to demons and spirits, Jesus, God and Satan, and that it didn't matter who you spoke or committed to, as long as you were committed.  Lots of people felt that a commitment to the saints was the same as a commitment to Jesus.

As Belo and Junior revealed conversations from the day, I found myself uncertain about what the right response to varying debates should be!  These were hard issues, hard arguments.  "What did Brave SAY when he said that?" I kept asking, or "How did Jasmine respond to that kind of an argument?"

As Junior and Belony told me what each of the students had said in response to each debate, I quickly felt as if I had been to church.  AMEN, I kept thinking.  Hah, YES...that's it.  Ah, what a relevant Scripture to bring in at that point....YES, way to go, Benjamin....that IS the truth!  Amen!

While the guys were exhausted and a bit discouraged in the retelling by people's responses to the Gospel, I was invigorated, thrilled and blessed by the students' presentation of the Gospel!  THEY HAVE GOT IT!  What Matt and I came to Haiti to do, to accurately teach leaders the Gospel so that they could take its' transforming message throughout Haiti, has happened, is happening.  

We tend to get so frustrated by the immediate picture that we haven't seen the big picture like I did yesterday.  A student threatened another student, and had to be expelled.  Failure.  No matter how big the portions are, a small group of students continue to gripe that they aren't served enough food.  Failure.  We want the seminary to have a high academic standard, and half the first year class didn't even know the books of the Bible.  Failure.  By OUR standards.

And yet here this evangelism day yesterday and the fluency, accuracy and passion with which the students were able to boldly present the whole Gospel in the face of persecution, ridicule and worldly thinking...Success...By His.  

To encourage Belony and Junior, I told them again that they weren't responsible for how the Gospel was accepted, for people's responses, or for conversions.  They weren't responsible for what kind of soil the Seed fell upon.  They were responsible to give it.  To preach it, and they had.

As they drug themselves back to their dorms for a well deserved rest, holding my hands and affirming, "Yes, Sister.  You are right...praise the Lord"...I realized that this same message was for my encouragement, as well.

I feel so blessed and encouraged to be used by Him, to give the Gospel...unresponsible for how the students accept or apply it.  It is He who cares for the harvest...and He is. 

Praise the Lord...

p.s...11 new brothers and sisters joined us in His Kingdom yesterday!

help!

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

"A God Perspective" has been my prayer the last several days in light of every circumstance, from playing with the babies to receiving news to preparing finances or for class...How does God see this?  What is His perspective?  What does He want mine to be?


It seems simple, but man, it has really been revolutionizing my thought and heart life these past few days!  I have even been surprised several times by my very-different-than-usual response to several situations, feeling far more grounded and joyful in Him as I work (and it is) to be like Him.

As we draw boldly to His throne this week, we need your help!

...prayers...

We thought we had a generator problem...then thought it was an inverter problem....then thought it was a pump problem...and realized this morning that we actually think there is a major water leak.  Somewhere.  This leak could be causing all of our other problems.  Please be praying for Matt and Maxi as they try to find the underground source of the problem, and as they try to fix it.   Big project.

Internet...We're having some big issues (don't think the water leak is at fault here :) that's Matt's working to remedy...please pray the Lord will supernaturally help with his understanding of the whole thing and to fix it.

Staff...several of our staff are currently dealing with a lot of hard things.  The school year in Haiti begins October 10th, and paying for children and grandchildren to attend is a major stress on many.  One of our staff lost his cousin this week to a violent beating.

Lucner, Vilmer and Matt leave on Monday for Jackson for their final two-week intensive residency for their master's.  Please be praying for their travels, for their time, and for their families in their absence (especially for Lucner, whose wife is expecting their first child ANY day).

...support...


Bibles
While most of Emmaus' administration is in the States the next two weeks, EBS is taking a fall break.  Because this break does not coincide with any major events in the life of the church, like Christmas or Easter, our students are "extra" available to participate in special ministry, which was great news to Belony!

The first week he will be leading a group of students in helping past-graduate Yolene.  Yolene has a huge three day weekend of evangelism and services planned for her area and church, and has asked Emmaus to help.  Students will be working alongside of church leadership to go out with church members to spread the Gospel (and to train people on how to do this), and will be leading services in the evening to help His children walk deeper with Him.  

The second week, students and Belony will be working with Civil, fourth year student who has recently started a church in a zone called Breda.  As a new church plant, there is a lot of work and training to be done, as well as continued evangelism in the area.  

Everyone is really excited about both of these works, and so I wasn't surprised when a common need came up...BIBLES.  Where the Gospel is preached, there is need for the Gospel to be HAD.  At $8 US a Bible, obtaining God's Word is no easy task in Haiti.  We would love for the students to be equipped with some Bibles to place in the hands of new (and old) believers, but currently have no Bible money.

If you're interested, email me (staceyhaiti@gmail.com).  Pray about it...If you feel led to be a part of all that we're expecting Him to do over this fall break, this is such a tangible need.  $8.  One Bible.  $40.  Five Bibles.  We'll go to town on Friday and buy however many Bibles we have the money for and send them out with Belony.  Thank you!

Contacts
Finally, we have several staff members who are very ready to begin doing their masters, helping Emmaus in it's accreditation process, helping bring better, more qualified teaching to our classrooms, and helping greatly in the formation of men and women for Him in Haiti.

Vilmer, Guenson, Matt, Bryan and Lucner have all been either students or professors at Wesley...now we're looking for another sister seminary!

However, the program that Vilmer and Lucner have been doing through Wesley Biblical Seminary is no longer available.  We have been looking far and wide for a seminary who has an on-line program (with a limited amount of Stateside work being required) that is willing to partner with Emmaus to educate some of our staff!  So far, nothing is working out!   If you have possible contacts or information regarding a continued education institution that may be interested in this kind of a relationship and ministry here in Haiti, please contact Matt!  This is a major step in "working ourselves out of a job" at Emmaus and a major priority for us and for Emmaus...we need help!