Leo, Terry and Greg our November team.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
November Team
Hello,
I know we have sent out quite a few emails lately, but I wanted to share about what's going on with the team that is here. They have had a short whirlwind trip. They started with a board meeting in Port-au-Prince, for three days. The team traveled up north for a day, then they came to our children's village. So in 4 short days, they have spent time with the children, passed out glow sticks and have taken photo's. I mention the photos because Terry already has over 1100 photos on HIS camera, he is a bit over the top as far as photos go, those of you who know me, know I am the same. I had over 60 photos hanging on the walls in my home in Lynden when we lived there. I love photos. The team also spent the first day seeing all the projects we have going in Marose, and catching the vision of the future projects.
On Friday their second day, the team spent the morning visiting Perou. In the evening they traveled to Pass Rein for a church service. Nathan led worship and Mike taught. It was a good evening.
Saturday morning the team visited our Poteau church to see the Awana program. Later that morning Greg, Terry and Leo each had a turn to speak into the lives of our Good Shepherd pastor's during our pastor's conference. Later in the day the team visited us at our daughter's house to see the boys transitional home. Greg has a good relationship with both Junior(David) and Altine, so he wanted to see where they are living now. Afterwards, they visited Gonaives for the evening. Gonaives is a different place in the evening then in the morning. Greg and Mike bought some street food, which is a fun cultural experience. I love the manje lari, (street food), especially the BBQ chicken which comes smothered in onions, and a special hot sauce along with bannann fri and ponmdete (fried plantains and potatoes). The stand we usually buy from, knows Mike really likes the hot sauce and usually gives him some extra in a bottle.
Today, Sunday, the team is heading back to Port-au-Prince to fly out, please pray for safe and on time travel. We really enjoyed having them, although Mike and Greg never went on the moto (motorcycle) ride that they have been wanting to do. I will post a team photo on the blog.
I will also post photos on the blog of Altine, the first boy to transition from the Children's Village to our daughter and her family's transitional home. We are really proud of him. He is in 11th grade. They have a total of 13 grades in Haiti, before you can move on to University. We are enjoying living here with him and Junior(David) as part of our family, while our daughter Rebecca and her family are stateside fund-raising for a bit. It has been challenging though to say the least, home schooling my 5 children and Junior. They range from first grade to 6th grade, with three of them in multiple grade levels due to their past education and their level of understanding English.
Thank you for reading our prayer partners and praying, many blessings,
Chris
Canadian Fundraiser
Hello,
I wanted to write and share with you about the Canadian fundraiser that Wendy has so generously offered to hold in Canada. The event will be held on the evening of Wednesday November 26th. This is the night before American Thanksgiving. This should be a wonderful evening. A buffet will be served, with all the bells and whistles, along with a live auction. Wendy has reserved the Redwood Golf and Country Club, in Walnut Grove, B.C. for the event. Looking forward to seeing both our Canadian and American friends. For more information you can contact Wendy at wendgare@gmail.com. We would love to see you there.
Blessings,
Chris
November 2, 2014
Hello,
I wanted to share my heart a bit on this Orphan Sunday. I know Mike has written a few short notes to you already. But I feel called to share a story. If you take time to read it, it will touch your heart.
It is amazing to me, that after 40 years this November of walking with God in a personal relationship, that I realize more and more how much I do not know, and how very far I fall from being like Jesus. I feel like I should be so much closer but then He reveals another broken part of me.
Last night was all night prayer and worship in Pass Rein. As I stood and assessed where I would sit or stand in the crowd of probably 300 at that point a little girl about 7 years old named Schinina ran to me in the dark and threw her little arms around my legs and held on for about 5 minuets. Her cousin T-LeLe and her love hanging out with us when we are in Pass Rein. I was offered someone else's chair, which I usually turn down, but I was already tired and it was all night prayer and worship so I accepted the offer. Schinina crawled up on my lap and grabbed my arms and wrapped herself up in them. She only left my lap when she had to pee, as she put it, or when I left to pray over someone. Mike had brought a couple of handfuls of peanuts with him, a gift from a pastor and his wife who send treats to us sometimes. I put a handful of them in my pocket and let her pick them out and eat them.
She stayed with me until 4:30 in the morning. When church was over I walked with her in the dark to the short path that leads to her hut. She started to tell me why she could not go to the hut. I told her she needed to and kissed her on the forehead and said goodnight. Then I walked away. When I turned back I could see her coming after me. It made me cry. Cry because she wants love so badly, cry because I see her wandering all over Pass Rein with no one watching out for her, cry because I can not protect her, cry because I can not heal the fungal spots on her body, cry because I can not make sure she has eaten that day.
During the night we prayed for at least 40 people for healing and restoration, we also prayed for over 80 young girls who were struggling sexually. From my experience here I would say most of them were not choosing sex. It was humbling to watch that many come forward knowing their own community was watching and ask for help and prayer. But, among the huge numbers there is always the “one”. The “one” God points out. The “one” your called to minister too! It means I will be on my hands and knees in the dirt with her, it means I will probably get scratched or accidentally kicked in the process. It means I will hold her sweaty body and try to keep her from writhing too much and hurting herself on something, it means I will look in her eyes and try to see if the enemy's legions have left her or if Jesus has more work to do. The “one” is why I said yes to Jesus.
But, I have to remind myself of that “one”, when the beggar will not stop harassing me, when the man in the market is making sexual comments about me, that I only understand in part, or when I get upset with a child who has made a bad choice for the 12th time, I have to remind myself of that “one” when I am hot, frustrated, and exhausted. Oh how I wish I got it right each time.
The other day Mike and I were having a disagreement and I said “it's not fair I have given up everything, my home, my belongings, my children and my grandchildren, everything.” It made me even more mad when he said I had given up little in comparison. But he was right. You see God is changing my perspective, it is starting to not look so American, but it is not looking Haitian either, It is looking a bit more kingdom like. By this statement I do not mean that I am more Christ like, quite the opposite, I just see my short comings and failures oh so much more lately.
I am trying to spend my life on the people of Haiti and there are days when I struggle just to see joy. Days when we have no water, the solar power has failed, when we do no have money for the 1150 children the school directors have just finished signing up, When the nanny's are not doing what they have been asked, when some of the children have made a poor choice and the enemy is riding on my back and whispering in my ear, failure, your a failure. Sometimes I am trying to discern whether God is trying to tell us something or the enemy is attacking us, and I want to just sit down and cry. We are in the front line and in desperate need of people being with us.
One of the verses I hang onto is 2Corinthians 4:16-18;
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
So in closing we need you. We need your prayers, we need your notes of encouragement, we need your physical support, we need your financial support, we need you to share with others, but above all we need to get more of the children sponsored out, so we can meet their needs. So little girls like Schinina have food, water, medical care and the ones caring for her understand protecting and watching out for her. You see it is very holistic, it is like everything is broken and needs to be retaught. Please help us in the battle for His children...He is calling!
Blessings,
Chris
November 1, 2014
Hi again from Mike on this "Orphan Sunday' weekend. We at New Generation Ministries are trying to use this designated "orphan Sunday" weekend to bring much needed awareness to the plight of the vulnerable children in Haiti and around the world. Millions of children in every country are in need of your prayers and your help. "We want to bring to you the revelation of the heart of God for these children." We want you to be aware of the needs they have and how easy it would be for you to help. New Generation Ministries is;
- Providing Safe, Healthy Care for 55 Orphans
- Providing Christian Education to 1,150 Students
- Providing Medical Care Clinic for the area
- Providing Jobs and Job Training
- Providing Food and Clean Drinking Water
- Providing Adult Education
- Providing Life Giving Churches
- Providing Good Haitian Leaders
- Providing Life Giving Community Conferences
You can help us reach these children by sponsoring one or more of them to receive help from the list above, plus the deep satisfaction of giving such a wonderful gift to a child, who has absolutely no way to pay you back, other then by becoming healthy, growing, flourishing, and blossoming into the greatness of what God has planned for them............ Mike
October 31, 2014
Good afternoon everyone; We are rapidly coming up on "Orphan Sunday." If you have not heard of it before, then let us tell you about it. Orphan Sunday is the dedication of the first Sunday in November to raise awareness of the plight of the orphan. This year Novemeber 2, 2014 is the Sunday set aside for you to join together in unity with other believers for the sake of orphans and vulnerable children around the world. Won't you please join us in prayer for these children?
- This is your opportunity to be in alignment with the heart of God in His concern for these vulnerable children.
- This is your opportunity to offer up prayers according to His perfect will for these vulnerable children.
- This is your opportunity to bind the tragedies caused by this world, and loose the compassion of Heaven for the sake of these vulnerable children.
So will you please join with us in prayer, and an effort to reach out to the lost and hurting children in Haiti.
How can you help?
- Pray for these children
- Pray for the people who are helping them
- Sponsor a child in Haiti
- Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to sponsor a child in Haiti
- Send financial support for this ministry
Blessings,
Mike and Chris
Our October team from South Carolina baptized 13 believers from Marose
Emmanuel one of our boys from the Children's village being baptised.
Pastor Neely's team baptizing.
Proud papa at the baptism.
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Wonder what he is thinking?
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