Satan Hard at Work

Have you ever felt lead to do something for God? And as you go on that path follow Christ you keep getting hit by satan. That is how this last week has been for me. Every time I turn around I see a reason for us not to come back in January. Satan is hard at work here in Haiti, He doesn't want Gods Will to be done.
I was outside tonight just looking at the sky when my friend Marcus come by me. He said "that I was quiet tonight." He also asked "what would I tell my friends and family when I went home about Haiti." I told him that I had a good time but have been over whelmed a lot. I asked him how he would feel if everywhere he went people asked for things, even the shoes on your feet. The constant need overwhelms me. Everyday you hear another story of someone in need. I told him that I don't have a lot of money and I can't help everyone, How do I decide who to help and who not too? What he said made me almost hit myself in the head. He said "you could have a lot of money it doesn't matter, what you need to do is to ask God to lead you. He is all knowing and will tell you who to help. That was exactly the answer I should have already thought of, but satan had me so discouraged my vision was blurry and I was trying to do things on my own. When we try to do that we let satan get his foot in the door. That is when we will struggle!
Marcus also told me that he hopes I start a church here on the compound. He wants to learn the Bible. I told him I want to have a Bible study during the week and some kind of worship on Sunday night. After the conversation with him I seen the most important reason why we will be coming back to Haiti in January. That is to share Jesus Christ with as many people as we can! I can see the hunger for Jesus that many of the people around us have. No matter how hard it gets here, Gods strength will get us through it.
Theresa has had a great week. She told me yesterday "Is it wrong that I feel bad about leaving and would stay longer." She has people bringing her presents all the time. Yesterday and today two young girls brought he cherries. Marcus told us the second week we were here that all the Haitians know Theresa. He said everywhere he would go people would be talking about Theresa. I'm sure blessed to have such a wonderful wife.
The kids are ready to come home. Zacc said he wants to see his meme and maam. The girls are anxious to start school and see all their friends. I have asked them if they wanted to come back in January and they said yes. So God has been very good to us here in Haiti. We had no major sickness with anyone and we were able to meet a lot of great people, Haitians as well as Americans, oh yeah I can't forget about my Canadian friends too. We ask for your prayer for strength as we try to get everything done we need to get done before we go. (which is a lot more than we had to get done before we left the US.) Also please pray for our friends we leave behind. I know there will be a lot of tears shed on Sunday when we leave for Pierre Pyen.

Bible Study

If you don't know it Haiti is full of voodoo. I recently read a blog from a fellow Haitian Missionary he was talking about voodoo and the beliefs. Please read his blog on voodoo before you read mine so you have some insight on voodoo. (http://newvisionhaiti.blogspot.com/) After I read it I decide to talk with a couple of my boys about it. I couldn't believe they told me everything he had written. They told me that Athensian had an older brother die after being flashed one night. I asked if they were scared about voodoo, they said they were. I told them I wasn't afraid of anything, and then I showed them Ephesians 6:10-18. These verses talk about putting on the armor of God. It is perfect for them. Athesian was so impressed that he asked if I could speak about this when we had our next service. So today we had our service, I would call it more of a Bible study with lots of questions. Athensian brought a friend, as we read the verses I could see that the new boy was taking everything in. After we finished reading the questions started. I could see he is searching for the answers, I did my best to answer them and add insight when I could. I got him a Bible and told him I would mark some verses for him. He wanted to know how he could get the armor of God. I told him it all has to start with Christ. So if you are reading this please pray for him. Pray that God will help me talk with him. He is so close. We are planning on having a Bible study on Thursday, I will encourage him to bring his questions then. I pray that Watson will keep our group going so the boys will have someone helping them to come to have a relationship with Christ.

Work team

We had a great time with all the work teams we have had here. The last team that was here was a great group of people. They worked very hard and accomplished many things. They got the roof finished on our house, and also painted it. They also painted Steve's roof too. I really like the colors. One thing cool was the team got to work with some of the Haitian boys. They got interact with them, even though they spoke different languages you could really see the bonds forming. This really gets me excited, because not only did we get things done around the compound, the team was able to teach the Haitians different forms of work. The team was also able to see how hard they work and how dedicated the Haitians are. The boys were here first thing in the morning everyday ready to work. I know that the team went home having a different outlook about the Haitian people.
That is one of our goals, we want a changed person getting on that plane in Port Au Prince. I want people to come and experience what God is doing here. He will change your life if you are willing to let Him. God works through all kinds of people. I see it here in Haiti all the time!
It is hard to beleive that the summer is almost finished. We only have 11 days to go. On one hand I'm excited to get back to the States, but I'm also sad because all of my friends are sad we are leaving. Please pray for them. They come to the compound everyday, their lives will have a huge hole when we leave. There is so much work here that needs done. And when I say work I'm not just talking about physical work, I'm also talking about Spiritual work. The harvest here in Haiti is ready, God just needs the workers. So if you think that God wants you to come to Haiti, don't be afraid.

Great People

I'm sorry that it has been so long since I blogged. Two teams left the compound today. We had 3 awesome ladies from Canada, and a couple form VA. We had a great week. It started with us putting a tarp on Athensons and Alexs' roof. Then we went out and measured feet to give out tennis shoes. Theresa and Karla was in charge of this task. I told everyone that this wasn't my rodeo, and that I was the rodeo clown. I was there to make people smile and make sure noone got hit by the bull.
They left and are now home enjoying the AC.
We now have a new team. Some of them speak creole, because they were missionaries to Haiti. The first day of work went great. It was a slow start, but as we got the ball rolling a lot of things got done, and better than that the team has got to inner act with Haitians as they work. That is why I want teams to come to Haiti. Sure I like when we are able to complete project, but I feel the most important thing is that teams let Christ's love shine through them. I watched as different team members worked with the Haitian boys. The boys loved it. They started to take off the roof and started to paint the old part. I will try to keep up with our blog. I got up today at 4:30 so I could write. God is so amazing. He is so Alive. Each person that comes here has been sent from God. Last night I was in need of prayer. I just got done telling a team member about a prayer request, him and I walked out of the bedroom where we were putting up his mosquito net. We were talking in the hallway and another guy say he needs to talk with me. We go into the room and he said the spirit wants him to pray for me. It was my prayer request. Unreal! God is good. Well I got to go. Already being called, we are out of water.

Sunday Service

Well today was our "come as you are service". We got up at 6:15 because we were to have a 7am service. I know what people from our church are thinking, 7 am they are lucky to make 9:30 Sunday school on time. Anyways, 7 came and went no boys. Theresa told me don't get to upset if they don't come maybe they forgot. Then around 8 the guard from the outer compound came and was all fired up speaking creole fast. I went and got clona to translate. He said the boys tried to get in on the compound and the guard would let them in so one of the boys hit the guard with a rock. The reason the guard wouldn't let them in is because no one is allowed on the compound on Sunday. I didn't realise that or I would have told the guards last night.I asked the guard if the boys told him they were coming to church he said no. So I sent someone up to Rollands house to get the boys to come down. The guard wouldn't let them on the compound so we had to walk out to the front gate. The whole time I was praying for Gods wisdom to solve this situation. When the boys came I got their side of the story. They said they told the guard that they were coming to see me, but the guard told them he didn't work for the whites. And that they couldn't enter. There was a verbal altercation and the guard was pushing the boys. Asking them if they wanted to fight. Addison said he was scared and picked up a rock, and hit the guard on the shoulder. This took place outside of the gate. I talked with others who saw this and they told the same story. So I had to figure out how to resolve this conflict. I understand why everything happened, but hitting someone with a rock is unacceptable. I explained to the guard why they were coming in, I wanted them to hear about Jesus. He understood but was still very mad. I asked him if Addison could come in today for church and then he couldn't be on the compound for a week. He wanted three weeks. Through the work of Christ I was able to bring the guard to the compromise of one week. I really feel bad for Addison, because I know things just got out of hand and the guard overstepped his boundary too. It was such a touchy situation, but give glory to God all side are okay with the solution.
Around ten we were able to have service. It was funny, but what happened to Addison played right into what I was going to talk about. I was talking about how things happen to us that we don't understand, I told them that we see just a small piece of the puzzle but that God sees the whole picture. After I was done speaking I asked if there was any prayer requests, two of the boys opened up. It was powerful to here them speak. Addison said he could relate to struggles, he has dealt with them his whole life. He said he prays all the time that God will help him. God gives him that peace he needs to get through his struggles. He said when he comes to the compound and works, that takes his worries away. He said that is why he is always smiling, when he is here. Please pray for him. He is a great kid, he is 18 yrs old. He said his mother needs prayers too, they are living in another persons' house. They were told they could stay there for 5 years, well the five years are up and his mother feels guilty because they have no where to go. He asked for God to give them a place to go. He also understands Why I said he couldn't be on the compound for 1 week. He is sad though. I told him we will go and visit him.
The other kid Samuel told us his mother came to Christ when she was younger, she met a man and she told him if he wanted to become her husband he must come to know Jesus. The man did and they got married. The man became a pastor, and someone allowed them to build a church on their land, however after some time the owner of the land kicked them out and now they are holding service at a house. He was asking for prayers for his parents to be able to find some ground and build a church. So I ask you to keep this in your praayers.
I feel the service went really well! I wish things would have happened differently, but I only see a small piece of the picture. I pray that God's WILL will be done for all situations. I pray that we are able to be at peace with that. Whether WE feel His WILL is Good or Bad. Help us to understand that HIS WILL is ALWAYS GOOD.

Misc Stories

As most of you would agree whenever you drive somewhere in the US you are bound to run into road construction. Well the same is true for Haiti. They have been working on the road in a couple of places from Borel to St Marc. The big difference between here and the US is how you drive through the construction site. In Haiti they usually don't have a flagger, you just weave in and out of machines working on the road. While we were in St Marc they were working on the main road through town. I don't know how the workers could concentrate on their jobs. Cars and trucks were everywhere. The steam roller just kept going and the cars had to get out of his way. Since I have been driving I have come to learn that there is many rules to know when driving in Haiti. I thought at first that it was mass confusion, but I have learned that it is organized confusion. The horn is definitely an essential piece of equipment on your vehicle. I bet I honk my horn 50 times in one trip. In the US if you honk your horn it is because you see a friend or someone has mad you mad. Not here, you honk it to tell people or cars to get out of your way. The amazing thing about it is they get out of your way and they don't get mad.
As you can see in one of the pictures I have tied a dead tarantula on Ben's backpack. When he came back to the house to get his backpack he lifted it up and the tarantula swung around. He screamed like a little girl. Everyone enjoyed that. I'm not sure he is ready for my sense of humor.
Now back to every ones lest favorite subject, the rat. We went to the Delimart, which is the store we go to in St Marc. Above the store is a restaurant named Mac Epie. It is Haiti's version of McDonalds. From the restaurant you can look down on DeliMart. We were sitting there eating and Miranda said a rat just ran across the market floor. No one else saw it so we all kind of blew it off. Then we see the workers down below trying to catch (kill) it. As you can see in the picture they put crates in a line so they could herd the rat. It was fun to watch this take place. We then went down to get a couple of items from the store, Watson was standing next to a Delimart employee and I snuck up behind him and scratched his leg. I bet he jumped two feet off the ground. I'm not sure if they got that rat or not.
Everything is well here. The kids are doing great. I was able to pick a bike up for Ariel the other day so she is very happy. Miranda has been riding Bens bike. The Haitian boys push Zacc on Ariel's bike. Theresa is still having English class for two Haitian boys named Cleevens & Harrison. She also helps Watson in the evening. Sunday we are going to have a worship service here on the compound. The boys that we took to the beach, don't go to church, they say it is because they don't have the right clothes and shoes to wear. I guess the church will tell people that they don't have the right shoes or clothes. Clona wore sandals one day and they told her next time she needed to wear the right shoe. So we are going to have come as you are service. I will give the message, Clona is going to translate and lead the singing , she has a beautiful voice. I told the boys about it and they are very excited. I ask that you add this to your prayers. We pray that God will lead us in the service and that we will be able to reach people that feel they don't belong. We are starting at 7am Haiti time. 8 am Eastern time. I'm excited about this!!!

A day at the BEACH!

A day a the beach is always a great day. It is even better when you get to take friends along that don't ever get to go. That is what we did on Sat. I asked Theresa do we want to go sailing or do we want to ask the boys, that come on the compound and work hard for no pay, to go to the beach with us. She said "Go ask the boys" I first went up to Rolland. He is the hardest working 15 year old I have ever met. He comes to the compound every morning by 7 am. Right away he will ask me for a shovel or pick, and then he goes right to work. I paid him some money the first week because we had much rain that we had to dig ditches everywhere. The next week I told him I didn't have much money so there wasn't any work. He told me No problem and went to work. It is hard to watch people work so hard for free. That is why I felt they deserved to go to the beach. Later that day I told Alex, Atterson, and Lamar. I told them we would be leaving at 9 am the next morning. The next morning at 8 am they were here ready to go. We took a big cooler of water and stopped in St Marc and bought PB&J. When we got to the beach I got three items out of my back pack. The first was a Frisbee, no one grabbed it, Then I pulled out my football (again no one grabbed it) Then I took out our soccer ball, they all wanted that. So off they went to kick the ball around. There was some other people at the beach that came over and was kicking the ball with our guys. So they setup rocks for goals and was time to play soccer. They asked me if I wanted to play, I said no because I never played soccer before, but I told them Theresa would play because she loves soccer. She played for a little while then wiped out in the sand. So they called me up from the bullpen. Oh yeah that's baseball, well anyway they told me to play defense (it seems that everyone wants to play offense and they stick the new guy on defense) That was fine with me because I didn't have to run back and forth in the 100 deg heat on sand. Just running on defense was almost killing me. I did okay for my first time playing soccer. I really had fun, especially because we got to play with other people. I think the game was a tie, I'm not sure. But I do know this playing soccer on the beach in 100 deg temperature is not easy. My body feels it today. Yesterday was one of the best days I have had in Haiti. Not only did I get to spend it at the beach. We were able to spend it with some kids that deserved a break from their not so easy life. I wish I was able to write everything that I see and feel here. God is on the move here in Haiti. He has some great things planned. Please be in prayer for His will to be done. Some ideas that He has placed on my heart I wonder how is that possible, then the spirit tells me all things are possible for him who believes.