busy, beach, burden

This past weekend was a busy one and the week has started much the same! The internet drama continues, so hopefully this blog will make it up sometime.

We enjoyed Friday night with Don, making plans for his team coming down in April, and then saw him off early Saturday morning.  No one was happy to see him go, but Lily had huge tears streaming down her cheeks and broke my heart.  I'm so thankful that despite His faraway calling on our lives, He still gives us precious times with family.  We are thankful for family in Lily's Haiti life!  She loves her Uncle Don, and is already talking about how he will "be back soon!"

Don and Maxi

 the guys scheming early Saturday morning

Saturday, we headed out with the Easley's and Hubeles for the beach.   Traffic (see below)  meant that it took 2 hours to get there, but once there, it's always worth the trip.  We had a fun day, supper together at our house that night and at least Matt, Lily and I went promptly to bed.

Lizzie and Lily both look so tired!

from left to right: Leslie Easley, Sarah E., Jacob E., Brian and Lizzie, Josephine H., Matt & Lil, John and Rachelle Hubele, Jacob H., and Ben E.  

Yesterday, Matt and Bryan headed to Vilmer's church in town while Leslie, Bubba and Dodo and the kids and I walked to Saccanville's Maranatha Church.  After all this talk of how much cooler it has been this spring, yesterday ended all that.   "Haiti" hit...it was hot and humid and is again today!

Heavy on my heart today is Konpech.  Upon Junior's arrival there yesterday afternoon, he was asked not to return again.  I'll sit down with Junior tomorrow to learn more about how things transpired and to spend some time in prayer with him over this people group, but I can't seem to put them out of my mind...Neither can He.

Please keep praying for this zone and for this precious and fragile opportunity to share Christ.

Goodbyes....again

Ah, life always seems to be full of so many good-byes! This one was a hard one, as we, all in tears, saw the Hubele family off on Tuesday. This was the seventh year that they have come to Haiti during the off-season on the farm, and as soon as the Haitian sun begins to burn, everyone knows the fields are thawing in Illinois. Lily was so convinced that Zo-zo-phine and Jacob were her siblings, and that the house next door was as much a place for love and happiness and wonder as her own.

Besides the beautiful friendship they provided, John and Rachelle were incredibly helpful to us personally and to Emmaus Biblical Seminary, carrying out dozens of energy saving steps, fixing ovens, stoves, hot water heaters, beds, computers, generators, water pumps, tutoring students, helping to feed and house visiting professors, sharing errands and trips to the airport with us, watching Lily, feeding Shay, praying with us...

So thankful for this family that God gave us, and for the intimate way we have been able to become in true Christian community with them these past months. Please be praying with us for their transition, and for ours!
We also saw Paul and Kathleen off today, and are so thankful for the precious time that we had with them and that they had with the students and staff here. So grateful for Cornerstone Church, for their sacrifice in sending their pastor for two weeks, and for the many beautiful ways they continue to "hold our ropes".

I know you're probably growing tired of hearing about Pehpay, but today Belo and I led a weekly Bible study down the road, and stopped at Pehpay's house on the way home. When we entered the house, he was laying on the bed, and it was as if, for a moment, nothing had ever changed since that first week we prayed for him.

But as soon as he saw us, he threw his skinny legs over the bed and popped up. It was like the miracle happened again before my eyes.

"Hey! Pehpay!" we said, and he grinned from ear to ear. "I hear you can walk!?" I said, and he grinned, "Oh yes, don't you want to see?"

In an instant he popped off the bed and trotted right out the door of the mud hut and traipsed about the small dirt yard, waving his hands and grinning while Belony and I laughed out loud. I cannot WAIT to get to heaven, just from the small taste of it I experienced today...

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!

goodbye's

Bright and Paul at graduation, 2009

Friday was a day of goodbyes, one for just a week (Matt), and one for an indefinite amount of time (Brightner).

Many of you know Brightner as the joyful young man who perhaps translated for you, preached in a church you attended, whom you perhaps supported to begin his masters at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, who perhaps helped you fall in love with Haiti and its people.

For three years now he has been on staff at Emmaus Biblical Seminary, teaching and translating, and last year, joined with Matt, Luke and Paul to begin their continued education with Wesley. He also plays a leadership role at the Vaudreil church, and, well, just seems to be involved in much of life here in Northern Haiti.

Paul, Bright, Luke and Matt as newly accepted master's students to Wesley Biblical Seminary

Last month, however, he obtained a residency visa to the US, requiring that he not leave the States for one year, and then spends more time in the US than anywhere else for several years to come. This means that Tuesday, Brightner (along with his sisters and soon, mother) will be moving to New York. This summer, he plans to marry his fiance Rachel, who lives in Ohio.

This Friday, his last day at EBS, we had a staff send-off party, and each took turns talking about the impact Bright has had on our lives. Bright always carries a jovial and joyful ("bright", actually) spirit, and it was rather sobering for all of us to think about life and ministry without Brightner encouraging us on!

Staff members Belony, Matt and I, Elizay, Paul, Bright and Luke at Bright's farewell party Friday

"I have always prayed that God would 'expand my territory' as the prayer of Jabez says," Brightner said Friday, "and I think that this is a part of that. I think the United States will be a difficult mission field. Please pray for me."

Meanwhile, Matt left at 5:00 am this morning for a five day missions conference in Waco, Texas, hoping to begin relationships between the church and some Emmaus men and women, and to meet new friends and catch up with several other OMS missionaries from headquarters and around the globe. I just spoke to him, and his final flight just landed in Dallas, and he is now trying to rent a car for the final 2.5 hour drive.

He is scheduled to speak three times tomorrow, and then another 3-4 times throughout the week. Please be praying for him while he is traveling, building relationships, sharing what God is doing here in Haiti, and also trying to catch up on his master's and work here on the field! He plans to return Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Lily and I are hanging tough (as you can see here. Lily will go along with ANYTHING Josephine thinks is hilarious :) and getting ready for a big week.

A new visiting professor and his wife joins the two already here on Monday, and we cannot wait to have him! Paul is the pastor of one of our main partnering churches in Bear, DE, and a good friend! Pam Simpson is finishing off her time here (she's been teaching since January!) and Glenn Wells of Hamilton finishes off his Ephesians course on Tuesday.

Pastor Paul, when he came to visit us two years ago...

One more big good-bye is on the horizon...the Hubele's annual 5 months in Haiti is rapidly drawing to a close. They have been such beloved neighbors, helpers, family, encouragers and friends, that I just don't know what we're going to do without them! Lily will be so crushed to find the house next door empty again, as will we! They plan to head back to the farm for spring planting around the 29th...

Thankful for the God that is steady through the changes, faithful through loneliness, strong through weaknesses...Best made strong through the weaknesses!