Here we are...

“My abundance and your emptiness are a perfect match.

I designed you to have no sufficiency of your own.”

                                       (Sarah Young, JESUS CALLING)

And there you go……

If that’s not a kick off to a Happy New Year then what is?! 

Sarcasm aside, this devotional was a great reminder for me today.  Our emptiness is a perfect match for God’s abundance.  As we experience the close of one year and anticipate the start of a new year we know full-well we proceed not in our own sufficiency. 

2 years ago we were gathering last minute things and relishing in extended family time, preparing to leave the familiar to start a new journey in the unknown.  A journey to Haiti. 

Our first year was supposed to be our ‘adjustment period’ and a time for building relationships and laying the ground work for great things God placed on our hearts to share.  We didn’t come bringing answers or remedies for current issues in this, our new environment, but solely a hope and love for this place we soon called home.

This time last year we were celebrating a hard but good first year in Haiti and looking forward to tackling fresh goals and growing with the community we had adopted as family.   3 days into the new year, however, our world came crashing down and our hopes were shattered.  With news that we had 2 months to find a new place to live, we immediately started unraveling.

We tried to make sense out of what just didn’t make sense.  Not only did we lose funding, we lost friends we considered to be family and we lost our church community.   Our happy new year wasn’t exactly happy and just like that, 
                                            a whole new adjustment period began. 

With faith that could barely be called such, we begged for direction.  Without answers, we let go and set out into the unknown...again.  We wrestled, we questioned, we doubted, we screamed, we cried, we pleaded.  We trembled with fear and we approached the throne, but with less boldness than before. 

After visiting 9 places and sleeping in 5 different locations during the first month of our search for the “next”, we were relieved to find a spot that could house us for more than a week at a time.  The staff and people of Heartline loved on us and helped restore our belief in the church as it’s meant to be but while we fought for a reignited passion, I argued repeatedly that I had nothing left to give.  It was during my weakness that God quickly reminded me that I never did.  

An incredible couple passed the baton to John and me as we took on the role of Guesthouse managers and once again our emptiness was a platform for His abundance. 

As we continue to grow (and argue about our limits some days) (still begging for a house of our own), we praise God that we are being restored, for GREAT is His faithfulness!

If you are empty, I hope you can take hope in knowing that it's ok to show up bringing your nothing.  God has enough sufficiency for us both to have abundance!

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated…Because God, your God, is striding ahead of you.  He’s right there with you.  He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.” 

Deuteronomy 31:6

We wish you and your family a very happy NEW YEAR as we enter into 2015....

Christmas Joy

The only thing falling from the sky this Christmas was the occasional mango bomb.  Our Christmas tree lights went up in smoke a couple of times (go Haitian wiring!) but trash was the only thing that actually roasted on the open fires in the village.  We didn't have matching pj's and our stockings were buried somewhere in Mississippi but OH..WHAT..JOY.... I loved spending the holiday with friends and THIS crew!

We are well and safe and so, so full - thanks to God!

What greater blessing to give thanks for at a family gathering than the family and the gathering. ~Robert Brault

Y

Home for Christmas

Home is a word that we've been redefining for almost 2 years.  Recently I left "home" to go back "home" to try and figure out some medical things before planning to come back "home"---all the while praying earnestly for a "home" that would be solely for us, our family of 6.

As we continue to fight consuming thoughts regarding walls to create a space we can call our own home, I am comforted to remember that walls don't actually create a home.  Nor does geography.  

"God, it seems you've been our home forever;

long before the mountains were born,

Long before you brought earth itself to birth,

from 'once upon a time' to

'kingdom come'-

You are God."

Psalm 90:1-2

*Quote from Alicia Bruxvoort taken from Proverbs 31 Ministries article.*



Wherever you will be this Christmas holiday, we pray you will be blessed and feel at home regardless of the address!  <><

Working Together

Several of you have asked us recently how to make an end of year donation or a financial commitment to help support our family and the work we do here in Haiti so we are including the list of ways here.  As self-supported missionaries, we greatly appreciate your involvement through giving!

***If you are interested in sending a gift to our family via check, you can mail it (along with a note in the memo line stating it is for Chappelear Family Support) to:

       Heartline Ministries 

     - Chappelear Family -

       P.O. Box 898

       Sunnyside, WA 98944

OR to:

       McHenry First Baptist Church

            Chappelear Haiti Fund

       1476 W. McHenry Road

       McHenry, MS  39561

***If you would like to give an end of year one time gift or sign up to give a monthly gift to help cover our family's ongoing costs of living in Haiti, you can click here.

***If you would like to set up an auto deduction gift you can fill out the form located here.  

AND ***if you would like to give to the Heartline Ministries- Haiti General Fund, you can make a donation here: General Fund. 

All monetary gifts are tax-deductable.

“We have been challenged 

by the unprecedented opening of doors 

for evangelism.  Working together, we can seize

the opportunities 

that God keeps placing before us.”

Don't forget the password...

"On your feet now--applaud God!

Bring a gift of laughter,

sing yourselves into His presence.

Know this: God is God, 

and God, God.

He made us; we didn't make Him.

We're His people, His well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password:

'Thank you!'

Make yourselves at home,

talking praise.

Thank Him.

Worship Him.

For God is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever."

~Psalm 100

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

~GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE~

Please don't tell me...

Before I could see her I could hear her coming around the corner and then she stopped before entering.

  "Please don't tell me to change.
      Pleeeease don't tell me to change cause I have
      something on that I weared before.
         I weared this before!!
           This is what I want to wear!
              I won't 'burn up' cause we have fans on."

After pleading her case, our 4 year-old entered the room where I was working and I braced myself for the outfit of the day.  Maybe it would suffice to say that we need to spend more time on English grammar, yes.  But I determined that her chosen wardrobe was, indeed, fine for the day ahead and then it hit me...
As silly as it seems, this is the exact approach I take with God again and again.

I wonder if He smirks or rolls His eyes and thinks, "what now?"  I mean, I may not actually say the words, "God, please don't tell me to change" but good grief, I think it.  And I wish it and I sigh it and I imply it...not necessarily about my outfit each day but about my life, yes!

I argue my points of validity.  I tell Him how this or that worked in the past.  I remind Him about the things He said He'd do and sometimes I'm even quick to point out that things aren't exactly lining up like He promised, as if MY ideas are going to work better or something.

And then as He would have it, I'm prompted to review scriptures like Ecclesiastes 11:5 that say, "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." 
And Isaiah 29:16, "You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be the clay!  Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'He did not make me?' Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing?'"
And Isaiah 45:9 & 64:8, "Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?'", "O Lord, You are our Father.  We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand."

Occasionally I hear, "Your outfit is beautiful," but sometimes my Father says change is necessary.
Surrendering is hard stuff.  But as He's proved again and again, in spite of my pleading, God knows what He's doing.

When I'm tired, when life gets harder, when I feel restless, and especially when the enemy attempts to convince me that old ways are better than the new thing God is proposing, I am grateful for our spunky 4 year-old that helps me put it all in perspective.

 "A changed life lived for Christ is the greatest proof to man there is a God--a God who is alive and working in frail human vessels like ourselves.  It was with people like ourselves that Jesus set out to change the world--and did it."

~Carolyn Lunn

11.12.14

Maybe I'm still in 'teacher mode' but when I look at today's date, 11.12.14, I automatically think, "something is missing".  For a correct number sequence we need a number '13' in there, right?
   (I need a break from school.  This is truth.)

     Schooling aside, I've felt like something was missing for months now.

It's not just the kiddos and families from Camp Coq that we miss.
It's not just the home we lived in or the attained structure that we had adopted as part of our new life in Haiti that we miss.
It's not just time with extended family or traditions, as we experience holidays in new ways here, that we miss.

     So, what is it?

Earlier this year, shortly after moving to Port-au-Prince, we took a field trip to the tin market during school one day to see how the artisans make art from steel drums.  They don't use machines or template presses but they use their feet, to hold the metal, and their hands to hammer out the designs or wording.

It's quite fascinating!  These guys possess incredible talent!

We visited the different workstations and looked inside and outside a lot of rooms that displayed the art.  The kids found things that they wanted to purchase and John even saw a couple of things that caught his eye, too.

I was amazed at the artwork throughout the market but when we walked into one shop, I saw a piece I was particularly drawn to.  It was the only one like it (and now, 6 months later, I still haven't seen another one).  I loved it!

We talked to the artist, agreed on a price and left with the piece that day.  Eventually, we hung it in the office here at the Guesthouse.

Art isn't the thing that's been missing but when I look at my piece, I'm reminded of what is....

                            .....contentment. 

As cool as the piece is, after hanging it on the wall where I could see it every day I was very aware that it didn't exactly mirror my heart and that wasn't so cool.  It, instead, has been my challenge and some days I'm just not satisfied.  Lately I've even said it out loud,
       "I am not satisfied."

I'm sure you can relate to some common 'when's' that keep us from relishing in satisfaction...
  "When I lose 10 more lbs I'll be satisfied."
  "When I get this new job I'll be satisfied."
  "When my children grow out of the 'know-it-all' stage I'll be satisfied."
  "When I can have children of my own I'll be satisfied."
  "When I have more money I'll be satisfied."
  "When I get a bigger house I'll be satisfied."
  "When I get a newer car I'll be satisfied."
  "When we have what they have I'll be satisfied."

The list could go on and on and on but do any of these things really bring satisfaction?  Lasting satisfaction???

Here's what Isaiah and David had to say about it...
"Why spend...your labor on what does not satisfy?  
Listen, listen to me...and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." 
-Isaiah 55:2

"..the Lord ...satisfies your desires with good things..."
-Psalm 103:5

As I was looking for these scriptures in my Bible I found a card with a name and phone number on it.  It's from the guy who owns the vacant house right around the corner.  House #7, the house that really is near perfect.  The house we looked at months ago and again last month.  The house I've prayed over since the first time we saw it.  The house that is still around the corner and vacant since we can't make it work.

While it's true that a house of our own, with a bedroom for JUST John and me (and separate bedrooms for the kids, of course), has definitely been tops on our list of wants for the better portion of this past year, there's no doubt that when we have that again, there will be other things that dangle in front of us claiming satisfaction, won't there?

So.... when we are faced with the temptation to go after more in pursuit of satisfaction, how do we actually obtain it?

According to scripture, satisfaction will never be found in any "it" that we might be holding so dear but only in the One who takes joy in filling us every time we are lacking.  It's hard......the waiting......the striving......contentment.

I'm trying to be satisfied both with the stuff I'm given and without the stuff I want but it's not even about the stuff.  Can't I get this, already?!?

When I look to the Lord to satisfy, He never fails to deliver.  But it's not going to be in stuff.

"...godliness with stuff contentment is great gain." 

~ 1 Timothy 6:6

No other moms...

I grabbed the keys and a mug with coffee.
With the youngest and oldest kiddo in tow, I started the truck this morning.
It felt like old times.
It felt normal.
It felt right.

Kinley and I dropped Cabila off at his school and then proceeded back into the "flow" of traffic.

I sipped my coffee in my favorite Guesthouse ceramic mug and then it hit me...

...no other moms were dropping their kiddos off (not in a vehicle, anyway).

      No other moms were sipping coffee from a ceramic mug.

           No other moms had a young one behind them
             playing a game on their mom's cell phone.


I was reminded that though I am living in a world where I sometimes stand out instead of blending in, I am extremely blessed!

I face challenges everyday that haven't always been a part of my 'norm' and many days I'm tempted to focus on what I don't have instead of thanking God for what I do have.  I've struggled with this lately.  But today I am reminded again that His provisions are indeed provisions, even if they don't look like I imagine them to be.

"God is in the business of providing for us. And He does provide for us everything we need each day. We need to open our eyes to the ways He is providing. Focus your eyes on all God has given you each day."

~Melissa Crutchfield

The Mystery

"The mystery of the dance is that it's movements are discovered in the mourning.  To heal is to let the Holy Spirit call me to dance, to believe again, even amid my pain, that God will orchestrate and guide my life.  

We tend, however, to divide our past into good things to remember with gratitude and painful things to accept or forget.  This way of thinking, which at first seems quite natural, prevents us from allowing our whole past to be the source from which we live our future...

Gratitude in its deepest sense means to live life as a gift to be received thankfully  And true gratitude embraces all of life: the good and the bad, the joyful and the painful, the holy and the not-so-holy.  We do this because we become aware of God's life, God's presence in the middle of all that happens."

~ Henri Nouwen, Turn My Mourning Into Dancing

Halloween and Random Thoughts

Hey y’all!  

(Ann E, the drawl is for you, dah-ling!)  

Alot has happened since I last shared here.  After anpil (many) prayers, some rest and several different medicines and herbs, along with changes in my diet, I am happy to report that I am feeling SO much better these days.  All of the well-wishes and encouragement you’ve sent with your prayers have played a huge part in my healing, no doubt!

Last week marked a month since 3 kiddos and I returned from the States.  We miss our family there a whooooole lot but we are glad to be back home in Haiti.  We hit the ground running and school is now in ‘full swing’.

Learning that God has a purpose for everything that comes our way is a continuing, never-ending, on-going, recurring, lasting, steady, perpetual lesson for us as a family.

Our prayer time together has kind of dwindled away.  Since we share most of our days with a number of other people, it's hard to find time when it's just the 6 of us.  This week we had a couple of nights with no guests so we got to pray together with praise, for things that are hard right now and also for some friends that are going through challenges, as well.  It's so easy to let good things fall by the way-side if we aren't purposefully choosing them but being purposeful is worth the gain.  I hope we will remember this as things pick up and schedules go crazy again and again.

Waiting for a time when things are easier seems like a good idea but what if "when" never gets here.  I've wrestled with the "when's" lately.

Every now and then it's good to let someone know how much they mean to you, even if it's not a special occasion.  When you have a random thought about someone, maybe God's putting them on your heart for a reason.  

Everything... that's the name of a song that means a lot to me.  I blogged a little about it during my first trip to Haiti in NoWay José.  We sang it at church this past Sunday and I was reminded that when we ask the Lord to be our everything, He finds ways to show us that He is.  

No time like the present to stop during a random post and say thank you, so..... thank you to all who come through these doors at Heartline Ministries Guest House and wind up ministering to us!  Thank you to those who follow us on Facebook and on this blog!  Thank you to all who give monetarily to help support our work here in Haiti! Thank you to all who pray for us continually!  We hope that wherever you are today, whether you celebrate Halloween or not, that you have a wonderful day!

What's Your Role?

Platoon. 300.  Braveheart. Avengers. No matter what your taste in movies, there are some great ones that depict the epic struggle of good versus evil. I personally love the Band of Brothers series. For those of us that grew up in a relatively peaceful time in history, it gives great insight into what other generations went through during times of war. I can’t began to imagine the pain, trauma and anguish that war inflicts on a person, but I knew some great men that went through WWII and I know it changed them forever.

Whether the battles are fictitious or historical, a skirmish or part of a larger war, brief or lengthy, all of the armies had one thing in common – a home base. They may have been tents, caves or castles; lavish or simple; well-equipped or held together with twine, but they were a shelter in the storm, a safe place for the troops to strategize, refuel, rest and regroup.

Wars have been won and lost due to poor supply lines. Armies that were initially well armed and trained have been defeated because they could not get equipment, food, clothes, etc…The German Blitzkrieg campaign of WWII is a great example of not having a good supply line. Their forces won many small battles in the their push for land, but eventually outran their supply lines and were defeated.

“Inherent to the success of any tactical operation is continuous, sound, logistical planning for adequate supply, medical, and maintenance support.” Armystudyguide.com.

We are not in a military campaign by any means, but we are in a spiritual battle for Haiti. We fight with the Heartline Ministries army to combat the social and spiritual factors that the people of Haiti face everyday. Heartline has chosen to focus on a key problem facing the country and concentrate their fight on that issue.

Heartline spent years as a crèche (official orphanage that could facilitate adoptions). They spent the first 20 years of their operation with this as their main task. Over time they saw that while they were doing a great thing, there was something greater that they could do, so they began to change directions. Now they work hard at orphan prevention. They do this through maternal health programs, birth control administration, pre and postnatal education and care, operating a childbirth delivery clinic, women’s job training, bakery and men’s job training program. They focus on keeping parents alive, kids at home and providing job skills/jobs for Haitians. These things provide hope and opportunity, which the lack of are major deterrents to being open to God. By meeting physical needs, it opens the door to discuss the spiritual needs.

Many times we are asked, "What do you do at Heartline?" or "What's your role?"

Our role here is to operate the home base that the Heartline army needs. We manage the Heartline Guesthouse. Our focus is to provide a safe, comfortable place for those going out to serve on the front lines. Haiti can chew you up and spit you out on a daily basis, so it is critical to have a place of retreat at the end of the day. Teams are able to get a great meal, showers, have power, reconnect with family back in the states and plan for the next day. We are here to help recharge these guys daily.

We also, work within Heartline’s mission focus by directly employing eleven Haitians. This means each one has income coming into their home, medical insurance and a good meal daily. 

Much like the men and women that provide combat support in times of war, our role can be minimized our trivialized by those on the outside. However, without the support that we feel called to offer, those serving on the front lines would have difficulty doing their part. While our role is not ever to be the focus of the mission, we know that our role is vital in the operations.

On the days I feel like our work is forgotten or overlooked, I reflect on the impact that is being made on the front lines.  We get to see new babies born to healthy mommas. We get to look in on the Women’s Education Center and see ladies learning a trade to help provide for their families. We watch as men study God’s word and we see those guys make some incredible bread. And occasionally we even get to be a part of helping adoptive parents welcome a child into their forever family.

There are some long days and some hard days, but there are also some amazing days.  1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it with Christ.”  We can continue doing our part as we work in conjunction with others through Christ.  

As we continue to offer support in our role, we need you, our supply line.  Like most missionaries in Haiti, we operate as self-supported missionaries. This means without the prayer and financial support of others we can’t fulfill our role. 

We need others to consider becoming a part of our supply line.  We need people that are willing to pray for us in the daily battles we face. The evil forces we face on a regular basis do not want anyone to succeed in Haiti.

Equally as important we need people willing to support us financially. We need people to come along side us and commit to be a part of our supply line. Your one time gift or monthly gift of $15, $25, $100 or whatever you can give, will make an impact. Please consider joining our team. The link to partner with us is http://heartlineministries.org/product/john-dawn-chappelear/.

If you, individually or with a group of friends) would like to be a part of a Heartline Mission Team in order to see and be a part of the work that is going on here in Haiti, please visit: http://heartlineministries.org/travel-to-haiti/

All in All

As promised here is the video of our sweet Kylie singing while 'Jolly' played for her a couple of weeks ago at church!  I grew up with this same talented guy in the back, playing for me and there are no words to describe how my heart felt while watching these 2 perform!  

(I couldn't get the high-quality video to load due to size so pardon the quality.) 

When I listened to the video for the first time I cried when I heard my own voice assuring, "It's ok", when she paused.  Despite losing her place in the song, she picked right back up and kept on going.
Oh, what I gain from being her Mama!  At 7 she teaches me....... oh, how she teaches me.

How grateful I am that my Jesus continues to say to me (over and over)...  "It's ok...  keep going..."  

You are my strength when I am weak...

To give up I'd be a fool....

Rising again, I bless Your name!  

"We know that He gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty."

~ Elizabeth Ann Seton

Cousins, Grands & some Mississippi activities (1)

Aside from visiting doctors and drinking yucky stuff for tests this past week, we enjoyed lots of family time!  

We had some great American food and YUMMY ice cream (and chocolate that didn't melt if not refrigerated).  We savored every minute of each WARM shower and LOVED that we have CLEAN tap water for brushing our teeth.  

We got to be a part of a Haiti Benefit Garage Sale in McHenry.  

**Thank you to all who participated!!!**  

We've been fishing, swimming, bowling, trampolining and had enjoyable car trips on SMOOTH, paved roads.  

We've worn long sleeve shirts cause it's cold everywhere we go indoors (ha!) and I've snuggled down deep with comforters at bedtime.

We had fun at the Children's Museum on the coast!

Caleb and Brendon showed us their cool trampoline poses!

And Caleb and Colton were finally reunited again! 

 We had church with Mammaw and Jolly and a few others we love...

 And Kinley didn't seem to mind that she was the only one dancing 2 Sundays in a row!

(Kylie sang this week but I haven't been able to get the video to load... will try again in the next post.)

Mom snapped some photos before everyone changed attire after church this past Sunday...

And we even documented the unplanned matching black and white dresswear...

The kids had a blast at Murphy's Farm!

Aunt Cammer is too much fun!

Daddy (aka 'Jolly') prepped my bowling shoes....

...and I got to bowl
with the greatest bowler I know!

Two of my favorite guys grilled lunch one day even though it rained...  

  

and Caleb was caught snuggling with Bandit even though he's "not a pet person".  

However you choose to sleep tonight,

we hope you rest well!  

Night night!

J

So thankful!

Thank you so much for praying us through the last week! 

I will never believe that prayers are just words that don't matter...I felt the prayers you prayed last week and I knew when that 2nd plane touched down Tuesday night it was those very prayers offered up on our behalf that paved the way for us to get here!  These kiddos were pleasant and flexible and a joy to travel with!!!  (A huge bonus when Mama is sick and Daddy can't be there!)

I've seen 3 doctors since arriving in the States, (thanks to my mom and my sister-in-law, Cameron) and after changing meds (and being in their company) I am already feeling somewhat better!

Sunday night, we enjoyed some family time (though we REALLY missed 2 of our favorite family members) at the bowling alley with our friends from McHenry First Baptist Church.  The company and entertainment were good medicine but I couldn't help but get teary as I watched the kids relish in some first-world fun!

We are hoping to have answers after I have some outpatient tests run this week. Maybe we can move toward complete recovery soon after that is done!  In the meantime, we'd love to know you are continuing to pray alongside us!  

Here are some specifics requests:  

*Please continue to lift up our immediate family as we are separated by many miles and lots of water.  We miss John and Cabila so much!! 

*Please pray for me as I undergo thorough examinations and testing this week.  (nerves, anxiety levels, accuracy, answers and overall healing)

*Please pray for our kiddos - all 4 of them - as they are filled with their own anxieties and questions during this time.

*Please pray for Caleb, Kylie and Kinley as they reconnect with some friends and our family here in Mississippi.  They've waited on this visit for a long time!

*Please pray for John and Cabila as they serve at the Guest House this week.  I know their hearts are with us and that they are concerned about what is going on here - I pray that they are encouraged right where they are, especially while we can't all be together.    

*Please pray for our extended family as they love on us while we are here but also prepare to let us go again when we head back to Haiti.  We know that our job in Haiti is anything but easy on those that love us most.  

*Please pray that all of our hearts will be open to what God is doing in this current set of trials.  Sometimes it's hard to focus on anything but the trial but we want to see Him above the trial and that doesn't just happen without determination and the Holy Spirit.  Oh God, that we would see You in this! 

*Please pray for peace of mind and for our spirits as we seek to be still and know.

THANK YOU!!!  We continue to thank God for you!

"Your prayers move God to change the world.  You may not understand the mystery of prayer.  You don't need to.  But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth.  

What an amazing thought!"

~ Max Lucado