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!

will you?

"YES!" she said (once she got over the initial shock of the question, anyway) and suddenly life feels so very fast: my baby sister is engaged!

Lisa and Adam got engaged a week ago today, and man, I am STILL crying! (happy tears, of course!)

My favorite person in the world is now planning a Christmas wedding in beautiful Colorado to a guy who is quickly climbing our "favorite people" list! We love you both and are already praying for a beautiful marriage blessed by the beautiful presence of the Lord!

ahhhh...if Aunt Lisa getting married has me this emotional, I am simply going to die when it's Lily's turn!

Lisa will be here Monday, Lord willing, to show us the ring and to help us out with graduation and end-of-the-year planning!

Meanwhile, Don's daughter Sami and good friend John from Sharptown Church arrived this morning to help with seminary construction and the major remodeling of Lucner's house.

Check out the seminary blog for some exciting news regarding Yolene, one of our fourth year students!