MTinHaiti

Wow, how important it is to do just that. Since January everything about and around us has been a whirlwind.  So much has happened and is still happening that I feel like I haven’t even been able to come up for air.  I have felt so far behind — behind in blogging, emails, pictures, and everything that we are “required” to do.  But ministry doesn’t wait for those tasks — when it is put right before you you just do it.  God has given us a ministry here in Haiti and it is not for the faint of heart.  As we have said before, Haiti is the hardest ministry both physically and spiritually that we have ever done but it has definitely been some of the most rewarding.

Over the past 4 months so many things have happened — the earthquake, changes in physical and spiritual needs, a new grandbaby to help with, shipping of needed supplies via the shrimp boat, speaking engagements in Nebraska, groups and more groups, medical groups, completion of a new children’s church building, completion of the sewing room, almost completion of a new campus house, start of construction for the pastor’s house here in Beauchamp, planning the 4 new church plants for 2010, planning the 27 revivals for 2010 and that is just some of what has taken place in 4 months.  So, to be still and let God speak is a difficult thing to do.

Our campus here in Beauchamp is a little different than the main campus in St. Louis du Nord.  Our home is open to all short-term missionaries — in which there have been about 200 since January.  The kitchen for cooking is in our house in which Mike and I do all of the cooking (except for lunch which is Haitian).  We help the groups with the ministry tasks that they want to be a part of — anything from construction to giving out rice and beans to needy families.  We have morning and evening devotions when groups are here.  We do have a small staff of 4 people who help look after the campus, cook lunch for groups, leadership classes and anything else that comes up.  Salla helps with washing dishes for breakfast and lunch.  But as you can see there is little privacy in our home.  Several of our staff actually sleep on the back porch every night.

In a country where life is hard — I mean just everyday survival is hard — both physically and spiritually, the need to meet with our savior is paramount.  This is a dry and thirsty land both physically and spiritually.  If you do not quench that thirst you will die — both physically and spiritually.  Pray that Mike and I find (and take) the time to quench our spiritual thirst.  God is the only one who can fill our cup to the point that we can overflow with His goodness and mercy.

We have 2 weeks without groups and are planning to spend a lot of that time with our Savior in study and prayer.  We have many needed things to complete and supply all of our supporting churches and individuals with.  Please pray that we can complete all of the needed things before us before the next group comes on May 18th.  Let me remember to …be still and know that He is God!