Matt's bday!

Yes, it was already days ago, but I love posting more of the beautiful sides of Haiti, and the joy a new adventure brought Matt on Monday for his birthday!

For Matt's big 31 on Monday, I decided to find somewhere NEW to take him.  New and different is hard to find in a country with very little tourism, and can often be not a GOOD new and different :)  Like, Don brining a tarantula INTO my house to show us all it's fangs.

So, I actually googled places to go in Cap-Haitian, Haiti...we had already been to four of the five 100 times over the last 8 years, and so we set out to celebrate Matt by finding and enjoying the fifth.

Getting directions to Hotel Jouissaint was not easy, as that all the website says is "Cap-Haitian" and with no real street signs, anyway.  Quite by chance I learned that someone had been there, and they told me to go "like you're going to Mont Jolie, but go way higher, and look for a sign."

So we did, and it was beautiful, and we found it!

It's just gorgeous, in the perfect setting on the mountain edge.

It's a rare day that Matt gets to celebrate with two of his very best guy friends, and I was so thankful we all were here and could take him out (missed you, Em!)

Never seen one of these babies in Haiti!

He got his coffee...

the company is always fabulous no matter WHERE we go :)

as is His nature.

And this girlie is always either really happy or really devastated, so I was thankful it was a really happy night.

Sofie adores coffee as much as her dad :)

And Ethan would have been happy even if this was all he got.  This kid and catsup! 

Next time you come, we'll take you!

Really thankful for Matt, really thankful for God's hand at work in our lives and in Haiti, really thankful for good community, and really thankful for a chance to get away and have a GOOD adventure!

the source of HOPE

Did you know Matt has a blog of sorts?  It's  a place where he posts reflections on his study of the Word, of culture, of religions, etc..., and if you're looking to be challenged and grow, it's a great place to explore.

Yesterday he shared a bit from his OT class that touched me (you will quickly recognize this is not me writing :)...

"I had a moving moment this morning in my OT Historical Books course. As we met for our penultimate class lecture for the semester, discussion of Ezra and Nehemiah was on the schedule. After going through the normal motions of outlining the historical, historical-theological and literary structures of the book of Ezra, we jumped into our chapter by chapter commentary/discussion.

One of the themes immediately apparent in the book of Ezra is the writer’s emphasis on God’s faithfulness. Elohim is faithful to fulfill his promises to his people.

In 586/7 BC, the people of the southern kingdom of Judah suffered a serious blow to not only their political nation, but also their faith. The people of God, who believed they were under the divine protection of YHWH himself found themselves vulnerable and exposed to attack from the gentile nation of Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar.

The books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Lamentations and the latter parts of Isaiah record the deep pain and confusion experienced by God’s people as a result of their fall to a pagan nation. However, in the midst of that pain came what seemed to be at the time a lofty message of hope for restoration of Jerusalem. Even though the pagan armies pillaged the sacred temple, the holy of holies, the day would come when God’s people would be restored in righteousness. The glory days of Israel would return and the temple restored and the people of Israel would be a people marked by righteousness.

With this frame of reference, the book of Ezra opens with the promise fulfilled. The first two chapters in particular, strongly underline the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people to restore that which had been lost c. 50 years prior.

With this message, I asked my students to apply this message of God’s faithfulness to restore a nation to their own Haitian context. At first, I was a bit surprised that they were slow to respond – so I pushed them a bit -

“Guys, does this imply that there is hope for Haiti that one day God will restore this nation?” There were some nods, but doubtful nods.

“Come on, guys. What’s wrong?”

Joshua – “He’ll do it if the people of Haiti repent” – in a sad voice. Joshua’s position as affirmed by his classmates.

I realized, as this intelligent, educated and able young man responded in such a way that perhaps hope among Haitians is lost in light of our perpetual failure. When Joshua thinks of who God is, he has hope for change in Haiti. However, when Joshua thinks that God’s redemptive work on Haiti depends on the Haitian responsibility to repent, discouragement sets in.

With this, I was reminded that hope for any nation or individual lies with God and God alone. Yes, God’s redemptive work in our lives depends upon our human responsibility to repent and believe – however (and this is a BIG “however”) – even our repentance is a work of the Holy Spirit through God’s grace. This means that hope for Haiti must begin with the diligent prayers of His saints. We must pray for hearts to repent and believe and trust that God’s prevenient grace is enough to move people to follow Him."

a fallen short give

Where in the world is he?? I thought to myself around noon.  Abel had taken Matt to the airport at 8:30...he should have been back by now.

At one, Abdian came to the door and explained why her dad and our truck still weren't back.  Abel's sister had been in some kind of a car accident, and he drove way east to find her, took her to a hospital, and now was driving her far back west to a different hospital.

"Ok, Ok, no problem." I told her.  "We'll be praying!"

But as she walked away I found myself thinking dryly, I wonder who will be paying the 75 cents a mile for all of this.  I know exactly who.  WE will.  This ALWAYS happens.  

Not a few minutes later, I found myself bent over Lily and her crazy-haired mermaid Barbie, talking to her yet again about why it is important that she share with Azi. 

Before I even straightened by hypocrite back, the Spirit convicted my heart, squeezing a pain through my chest.

Just a few days earlier, I'd ben studying Luke 6, blessed and convicted by the simplicity of the commands following the Beatitudes.

Love.  Do good.  Bless those who curse.  Turn the other cheek.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.  Treat others the way you want treated.  

Love.  Do good. Lend. Expect nothing in return.  Be merciful.  Do not judge.  Do not condemn.  Pardon.  

Give.  

For his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Four years ago, when we found ourselves 6 months pregnant with no reliable or available transportation, we asked supporters who were already supporting our little family to also consider helping us fund a vehicle.  

What if, upon being asked for help YET again--help that would NEVER personally benefit any of our supporters--our friends had carried the same sentiment that I secretly whined today?  

Ouch. Ouch. OUCH.

My own sin...NOT going what God has asked me to do in Luke 6, pained my heart as I know it pained His.  My thriftiness and wise-spending pushed to the extreme...stinginess.  Stinginess in the face of family crises.  Attitude.  Attitude when all I have received is grace.

After I got the girls down for naps, I was anxious to spend some time with my Father, repent of my silent sin that only He had seen and be made right with Him again.  As I sat with Him, the many ways I have failed just the simple commands in just this passage were made clear to me.  (I truly have nothing to boast aside from Him, or I would never share any of this with you.) 

As always, Oswald nailed it home (even more).  

Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest--your best for His glory. 

Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God's perspective.


Thankful, today, for God's perspective on a "little thing"...a thing that never even left my heart...that was NOT a "little thing" before Him.  

Thankful, today, for the cross and the new life and new day He continues to give me to seek hard after Him, to allow the Spirit to further work on that which fills my heart.  

Thankful for His forgiveness and release.  

Thankful for the opportunity to GIVE and to give Him glory by obeying His command to GIVE.  

Search our hearts, O God, and give us your perspective...

_______________

Follow-Ups: 

ABEL:

When Abel returned around 5 pm, he shared that his sister's tap tap (public transportation) had been going around sharp bend far too fast and plummeted over the side of the mountain.  The truck had been overflowing with people, two died on site, and several more were never expected to reach the hospital.  

His sister is still unable to speak, and has suffered a major head injury.  She is still in the hospital in town, along with several other people whom Abel was able to take, thanks to the truck.  There's no calling "911."  As he handed me the keys, eyes numb, he assured me that he had washed all of the blood out of the truck before returning.

Please be in prayer for Abel's sister and others who suffered this trauma.

MATT:

After a several delayed flight out of Haiti, Matt missed his connecting flight, had to buy yet another ticket to a different final destination with a different airline, etc, in order to get to New Jersey in time for church serviced in the morning.  THANK YOU, Uncle Don, for driving all the way to New York at 10 PM to get him, and thank you, all, for your prayers as he continues to travel and preaches tomorrow morning.

news

The bad news is...

...after 3 sick days and 1 great day and 1 fantastic day at the pool, Aunt Lisa, Lily's "very best friend", is gone.

Good news is...Matt is safely home (and quite sick).  Praise the Lord for family here while Matt was away, for bringing him home safely, and for being so Faithful to the girls and I in Matt's absence.  Praying for a quick recovery for Matt...because school (and better blogging :) starts Monday!

starting the year in Romans...

...a servant of Jesus, set apart for the gospel of God...

The 2011-2012 school year is officially underway, with more beds being moved into the men's dorm, 75 people eating lunch together and about 55 students (still working on a final number!)  From the buzzing market, the crowded dusty streets, the tops of the mountains and the stretches of Haitian desert, one by one men and women have emerged and come together in one place with one purpose.

...now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God...


It is a beautiful thing to walk down the halls or past the chapel and hear the Word of God already being dug into.  Matt is teaching Romans to third and fourth year students and an Introduction to the Old Testament to first year, Guenson, Biblical Interpretation and Systematic Theology, Vilmer: Biblical Culture and Geography and Methodology, Lucner: Christian Philosophy, Fan Fan: Pentateuch (1st five books of the Bible)...

...who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...


The year hasn't begun without its peril...one of our first year students became so sick on Tuesday that he was rushed to the clinic, aggressively vomiting blood.  He is still with his family and not doing very well.

One of our night watchmen, Augustine, lost his 5-year-old daughter on Monday morning to "sickness".

Pastor Elizay has been sick as well, and is facing surgery next week, a big deal (especially here).  Belony is STILL not recovered from his stomach pains of last year, and not feeling great at all today...all things for your prayers.

Also, Irene has dumped a lot of rain on us, but thankfully, never really "hurricane'd" us...just rain and some wind.  Even our visitors were able to get out today without problem, and students and staff have had no major issues coming and going.

...be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.  Be at peace with all men...

Then, some playful new student "induction" traditions got carried away and really hurt some feelings.  A very concerned and somewhat discouraged administration met yesterday and had a meeting with the whole student body this morning.  Matt was dreading it, and just hates the discipline-side of administration in general (who doesn't!?), but then the meeting was fantastic...The problem was well articulated, and the students quickly agreed that they had taken playfulness too far, and left the chapel of the same mind and at peace...Praise the Lord!


...since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...be devoted to one another in brotherly love...


Uncle Don, Emily and Phil all left this morning.  I cannot begin to count the ways that Don has blessed us these past two weeks...here's just a few of his (and Phil, too) finished projects.  

new plants...

new house for Boone

new house for Lily

new blender for Mama!

new aluminum screens (so rats can't eat through!) THANK YOU Sharptown!!

Lily woke up so sad this morning to find Uncle Don and "my friends" gone, and Matt and I feel the loss as well.  We had such a good time getting to know Phil and Emily better.  The help is fantastic...but the friendship is even better.  Don is one of those rare people who doesn't seem to even think about himself or his own rights, but just pours out what God has given him freely and joyfully.  Can't help but feel a bit lonely in the house this morning!  (hint-hint...our guest room is empty!)


...how will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  How will they hear without a preacher?  How will they preach unless they are sent?  How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News of good things...


Let me squeeze a quick pitch in here!  We have SO MANY men and women at Emmaus right now that are in great need of being under-written.  While it costs $2500 each year to feed, educate, house, and care for every student, each is only charged $500.  This is already a very difficult amount of money to obtain for the large majority of our student body, so part of what I do here is seek out the other $2000 to back each man and woman.

I have shared and will continue to share SO many stories of what God is doing in Haiti through the lives and ministries of the students at Emmaus, and we need help keeping these same students in training, fed and cared for.  If you or your family or your Sunday School class or business or church or small group is interested in aligning life and ministry with His kingdom-building here, PLEASE contact me for a student name, photo, testimony and giving info.

Your "little bit" can go a long way in providing for beautiful-footed-preachers of the Word to learn It well and to take it out to those who have not believed.


...being fully assured that what God has promised, He is able also to perform...


At staff retreat on Saturday, we talked a lot about different visions everyone has for the Seminary and for Haiti.  As I've pondered these, I've been going back to the basics in my heart: what has God promised?  What's He promising for this year?  There are a lot of unknowns, but here's just a few of the things He's PROMISING, just in Romans alone...


He will render to each person according to His deeds (2:6).
There will be glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good (2:10).
The doers of the Law will be justified (2:13).
The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus is for all those who believe (3:21).
The one who believes in Him, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (4:6).
We have peace with God through Jesus (5:1). 
Tribulation brings about perseverance, perseverance, character, character, hope (5:3).
The love of God is poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit (5:5).
Christ died for the ungodly, while we were still sinners (5:6).
We shall be saved from the wrath of God through Christ (5:9).
We can be united with Him in His death and in His life (6:5).
Sin does not have to master over you, for you are under grace (6:14).
Though we deserve death, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ (6:23).
We can serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the the oldness of the letter (7:6).
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus (8:1).
The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (8:6).
He who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit (8:11).
We are not under obligation to the flesh (8:12).
We have received a spirit of adoption as sons (8:15). 
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (8:18).
The Spirit helps our weakness (8:26).
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him (8:28).
Nothing, nothing, nothing will separate us from the love of Christ (8:35).
In all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him (8:37).
He loves us (8:37).
It all doesn't depend upon us, bot on God who has mercy (9:16).
Those who were not His people shall be called Sons of the Living God (9:26).
The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (11:29).
We are one body in Christ (12:5).
God will repay (12:19).
The authorities which exist are established by God (13:1).
Through perseverance and the encouragement of the Word we might have hope (15:4).
Christ accepted us to the glory of God (15:7).
There is power in the Spirit (15:19).
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (16:20).
He is able (16:25).

I am SO fully assured that what He has promised, He is able to perform...which makes this new year just drip with hope!

an added crisis, English aches and proper placement

The Easley's made it back to the States safely, and our visiting professor who planned to come tomorrow cancelled yesterday.  This is the second visiting professor who has had to cancel for April, totaling 60 hours of teaching that suddenly needs covered!  Lucner and Matt "flipped for it" this morning and are each rather anxiously attacking 30 hours of classroom time...a HUGE amount of preparation!

Matt will be teaching Inductive Bible Study and Lucner, Civil Rights.  I'm very thankful for these guys and everyone's continual willingness to sacrificially help out when needed.  They are both also feeling the weight of their master's studies, administrative tasks, and the other courses that they are both teaching...please be praying for us!

Sofie is officially 30 weeks along (see the girls' blog here) , Lily and Dodo and I are all feeling better, Matt is on his way to town now to preach at an English chapel service that a friend is having, the heat keeps ramping up and life continues to be a busy joy.

Today's English class was especially fun.  We just began Unit 12, which talks about emotional, spiritual and physical health and problems.  It begins with learning the parts of the body, which had me bent over with laughter.

No one ever mastered the pronunciation of "thumb", which has lots of non-Creole sounds in it, and there were lots of good questions, like "Teacher, are mouth and belly synonyms?", "Can I add -ache to any body part if it hurts, like back-ache, elbow-ache and buttocks-ache?" followed by "What is a buttocks?" and "Why is your small finger called a pinkie?" and "What do you call a sixth finger if you have a sixth finger?"

It is also April's Fools Day in Haitian culture, as well, and I always get particularly nailed being rather gullible.  The favorite joke every year seems to be to tell someone that someone else was looking for them, and then laughing hysterically whenever the two people find each other and didn't need each other at all.  I fell for this at least 4 times this morning.  Junior got me particularly well, but then his dear conscious bothered him too much during prayer time in chapel and he left the service to find me and to apologize :)

This morning's "Utmost" reading nailed my days struggle again...

Look at our current circumstances.  Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on us?  Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship?


If so, we must put a stop to such distractions and get into such a living relationship with God that our relationship with others is maintained through the work of intercession, where God works his miracles.  


Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will.  We run ahead of Him in 1001 activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don't worship God, and we fail to intercede.  If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness towards God and despair in our own souls.    


God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless towards them...giving them a quick verse of Scripture or leaving them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go.  A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.


Are our lives in the proper place?

a day in Matt's life

Last week, Matt suggested doing a blog on his day-to-day life to give you a better idea of what that looks like.  I thought that was a great idea, and started capturing some "normal" pictures to go with it.   So here is a very rare blog from Matt!

Each morning, I wake up at 5:00AM (with the Haitian roosters) and throw on a pot of strong coffee (sometimes a Haitian espresso) and head for my devotions.  For my Scripture reading, I’m currently working through 2 Samuel and Luke’s Gospel. For my devotional reading, I’m alternating and between Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ and The Story of Christian Theology by Roger Olson.  

(our front yard)

For March, I sensed the Lord’s leading in exploring the Meta-narrative of salvation in order to have a Biblical and prayerfully considered frame of reference for understanding my own story and calling as it fits within the greater framework of salvation history.  It is this idea that led me to the historical books of the OT and the Gospels.  

(our back yard)

At 6AM, I know my devotional time is finished when I hear the pitter-patter of Lily’s feet on the cold tile as she runs down the hall from the bedroom to see me (one of the best moments of the day).  Lily and Papi (Haitian name for “daddy”) adventures go from 6AM-7AM while Stace does her devotions.  We color, go for walks around the EBS campus, dress up in princess clothes, dance, play hide and seek, you name it.  7:15AM - off to office/class.  

Every Tuesday and Thursday, I teach two courses totaling 3.5 hours in the classroom.  The first class on Tues/Thurs (7:30AM-8:50AM) is a Bible translation critique course in which we compare the original texts (Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament) with the French La Sainte Bible and the Creole Bib La.  The primary goals of this course are to (1) strengthen advanced students’ Greek and Hebrew, (2) understand dynamics of Bible translation and (3) discover the strengths and weaknesses of both La Sainte Bible and the Bib La as it pertains to accurate Biblical interpretation.

After Translation Critique, I’m immediately off to the Isaiah course (9:00AM-11:00AM).  The beauty of studying the book of Isaiah in the Haitian context is Isaiah’s powerful emphasis on God’s Holiness, Power and Trustworthiness as critical to understanding, judgment, hope and redemption.  

The study of Isaiah presents an opportunity for theological/intellectual challenge among students.  Holiness, holiness, holiness is at the center of salvation.  A message for us all (see Called to be Holy: A BIblical Perspective by John Oswalt).  I owe a great deal of thanks to Dr. John Oswalt for his help in preparing the Isaiah course at EBS.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday's I also attend chapel services from 10-11, and preach in these services 2 or 3 times a month.  

After teaching, I’m off to my office for a cold drink (usually Toro - meaning “The Bull” - the Haitian equivalent of Red Bull, but at only $0.80 a piece instead of Red Bull’s $2.20 a piece).  To unwind from teaching a bit, I begin to tackle administrative tasks and project development.  

Some of the regular items I work on administratively for EBS are: (1) plan for future academic calendars with Lucner (Academic Dean of EBS), (2) authorize purchase requests and expense reports, (3) legal research, (4) follow-up on previous administrative projects still pending, (5) collaborative meetings with senior administrators on project visions, goals, strategies, budgets, etc..  

Some of the projects we’re currently working on are: curriculum review, the 2011-2012 academic calendar, student spiritual life development strategies, in-country marketing for EBS, solar energy/increased energy efficiency solutions, student-work study program, EBS garden, increased economic efficiency in the cafeteria and an EBS radio program.  

When finished with priority administrative tasks, I replace the administrator's hat with the academic’s.  In my academic life, there are a number of things happening.  First, I’m finishing up an MA in Biblical Literature online with Wesley Biblical Seminary (www.wbs.edu).  My course load this semester online is, (1) New Testament History and Interpretation, (2) Apologetics and Cultural Change and (3) Theology and Theory of Leadership.  I spend approximately 20-25 hours a week on my Master’s work.  My favorite course right now is Apologetics and the most helpful course is Theology and Theory of Leadership.  

(Matt also has the ONLY office with an air conditioner...something he gets VERY excited about)  

Secondly, I’m always preparing for EBS courses.  My preparation includes preparing for classes I’m currently teaching at EBS, as well as preparation for classes to be taught the following semester.  Third, I’m leading a study on Romans for our weekly, OMS missionary prayer meeting that requires weekly preparation.  Finally, I spend any extra academic time (which is very little) exploring linguistics and semiotics (study of symbols).  

Let me say here that I love teaching and the academy more than any dynamic of my professional life.  I believe teaching is my primary calling.  

I pause in my academic endeavors for lunch in the cafeteria with students (12:30PM-1:00PM).  Lunch consists of either rice, beans and fried chicken or yummy hot corn grits covered in a milky bean sauce and vegetables soaked in oil - sits like a cinder block in the stomach.  After lunch in the cafeteria (Creole - refèktwa), I head home (1PM-1:30PM) to spend the rest of the lunch hour with Stacey and Lily, reading books on the bed and putting Lily (and CS Lewis, the cat) down for her 1:15 nap.  Work being a 3 minute walk from home has its benefits :).

I spend the afternoon (from 1-4:30) back in the office, meeting with the staff, administration, various students, or continuing to work on lesson plans or my masters.  On Wednesday afternoons, I have the opportunity to teach during a weekly gathering with all OMS Haiti missionaries and visitors.  Currently, we are working through Romans, studying God's plan for salvation and new life in depth.

I call it quits in the office around 4:30PM and head home for more adventures with Lily and time with Stacey!  A few days a week I also join the students for their daily soccer match from 5-5:30.

Lily and Papi adventures in the afternoon are simply a more intense version of morning adventures. Everything we do is done louder and faster.  Lily has lots of energy :) Lots of days we walk around the compound and she visits her friends and the kitten that lives in the guard shack with Kesner.  Her two favorite things right now are (1) “Like a monster” in which I growl and chase her while she runs and hides in closets; (2) Princess time in which she puts on one of her princess dresses, “sparkle shoes” and tells me to “sing the princess song” (which is any made-up melody and lyrics that repeat the words “princess”, “Lily”, “beautiful”, and “pretty” and “wonderful”)

Dinner at 5:30PM (Stacey is the best cook in the world, no joke), a family walk each evening, Lily bath and bedtime stories and prayers from 6:30-7:30PM.  After Lily goes to bed, Stacey and I unwind by having some decaf while talking, reading, (Stacey blogging) watching a movie or The Office.  We have to admit, we rarely make it to 9PM before heading to bed...

Add in preaching and visiting student and community churches every weekend, a trip to town at least every 2 weeks for supplies or for airport runs, working in Konpech most Sunday afternoons with Junior, and all of the daily "unique" problems and situations that come up, life in Haiti continues to be very busy...and very happy.

trips to town