Shoebox reciever

 

Here is Dadou from the Childrens Home. This week she came running down to Kenslie and Jayla to show them the shoe box she had received  It was fun to be on this end this time and see the joy of someone opening their package. It gives inspiration to us and hopefully to all of you that have so graciously packaged the Samaritan Purse shoeboxes.

Behold how great a little fire kindleth........

Sometimes it can be in our very lowest times that God can raise us up so quickly.
When we say "Lord, what do you have me to do"? "Am I of value in your kingdom"?
And He says "Yes, let me show you."

We have always been drawn to the young men (some as old as 27 here). Some of them we started relationships with back in the 2010 earthquake. These relationships are what brought us back to Haiti and then to come as long-term missionaries. Some of them have made good changes in their lives, and some not so good. Our ultimate goal here is to see them come to love the Lord and have a passion and desire to know him more.

It seems here in Haiti you spend so much of your time meeting physical needs. And although this is important too. (Jesus spent a lot of time healing the sick, and praying for their physical well being.)

We want to go further with this. What will happen if they die and we never shared Jesus with them?

We have had an opportunity to see this recently. We have had a couple guys (one of them a new found friend) seeking. So one night we had asked them to come along with us to our village service. Then, they wanted to come the next time. They have now both asked for a Creole Bib La (bible) and asked us to have biblestudy with them . This is very exciting for us as we have been praying about this but didn't have direction.

Just a little explanation on these guys, and the other ones we would like to study with. They all go to church somewhere, and what it has seemed to us; are content with their life. Here, church is mostly music celebration and not a lot of deep Biblical teaching. So when they come to you with their own desires to want to learn more of their Savior,  this is exciting! God is working!

See, these people were not raised like a lot of us. Most, never have had much Bible teaching in their homes. They understand that Christ died, but are unsure of the simplicity of His salvation. So because of fear they think they need to keep asking for forgiveness to appease. A lot of them live lives of sin. It is sad.

James 1:12 says:
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

 We want them to know the blessing of walking with Jesus, knowing Him and therefore having the desire to live like Him.

Luke 9:47-48 says:
"And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. "



So this is our Prayer request and also Praise report:

Pray that we will be given courage and wisdom to reach their hearts.
That more of these precious souls will have this very desire, to learn more of Him!

First day of school at IFM 2012

This past week on Monday, marked the first day of school here at IFM. Here they are all lined up
 as both excitement and anxiety are in the air. This is a special day for them and considered a great priviledge!



Here is Pastor Volitaire the director of the school as well as the Pastor here. 

 

They file out to their classrooms 

Such sweetness with their little green check uniforms 

and white socks with black shoes.

Here is a link to our pictures from July and August.
https://picasaweb.google.com/102771674354323845206/PhotosInJulyAndAugust?authkey=Gv1sRgCKfc-ejbtP_neg

Lecòl in Haiti vs. school in America

In America it seems all children are given a chance to go to school. The government has made it available to pay for schooling so that all children can get an education.

I never thought it was a blessing when I had to do school.
Is it just because I took it for granted?
Yes, but that is not the case here in Haiti.

Here in Haiti it is a great privilege to be able to get an education. A lot of children here are sponsored by donors in America, and for some, their parents are able to pay their schooling. But, many do not have the opportunity to go to school at all.

Recently we had the privilege of going to the awards ceremony for the school here that IFM sponsors. It was inspiring to hear the children read, sing or offer something they wanted to share. ( of course we could not understand it all ) We could see in their faces and hear from their hearts that it is a privilege to be able to go to school.

As another school year begins, let us each take time to be thankful for the opportunities we have had and do have today to achieve an education. It is truly a blessing!

English class with the kids

We are doing an exciting ministry with some of the kids that hang out here at the mission. We are doing some English lessons with them and picking up a little more Creole in the process. We have a copy of "A Question of Yams" in both English and Creole. I read the Creole version and they read the English and we correct each other.

After reading we do some activities. Here we are doing a bucket brigade relay.

Last week, we went to watch a soccer match, the guys got all dressed up in their best, but we had the wrong day:(. They still had a fun time playing on the playground equipment.   

 

Aftermath of hurricane in Haiti

Live news from Fond Parisien. Haiti  9-10:30 a.m.

Here is our gardener moving limbs in a pile to make into charcoal for later.

The lake looks a little rougher than normal.

Here a tree fell on the pig pen, he is letting me know he is still okay. :)

Boga, one of our security guys is out cutting his claimed tree. 

Steven and Rylan are trying to cut this tree that fell on one of our picnic tables.

We then headed out for a drive this morning thru our town here.
This is in front of a church lot.

This is the main road.

So many roofs have come off of houses like this tin roof in the back. 

Pray for all the Haitians, especially the ones that don't have dry shelter like we do

and that they can experience the safety and peace thru Jesus!

 

Helping the widows...

Rylan and I were blessed last Friday to be able to help Shea put a roof on the house of a widow lady in our church. Her brother had built the house, but they did not have the money for a roof.

She has been living in this tent while the house was being built.

 

 

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17
Seeing the appreciation from this dear lady was repayment enough.