Wings

There is a fable about the way birds first got their wings. The story goes that initially they were made without them. Then God made the wings, set them down before the wingless birds, and said to them, "Take up these burdens and carry them." 

The birds had sweet voices for singing, and lovely feathers that glistened in the sunshine, but they could not soar in the air. When asked to pick up the burdens that lay at their feet, they hesitated at first. Yet soon they obeyed, picked up the wings with their beaks, and set them on their shoulders to carry them. 

For a short time the load seemed heavy and difficult to bear, but soon, as they continued to carry the burden and to fold the wings over their hearts, the wings grew attached to their little bodies. They quickly discovered how to use them and were lifted by the wings high into the air. The weights had become wings.

This is a parable for us.

We are the wingless birds, and our duties and tasks are the wings God uses to lift us up and carry us heavenward. We look at our burdens and heavy loads, and try to run from them, but if we will carry them and tie them to our hearts, they will become wings. And on them we can then rise and soar toward God.

There is no burden so heavy that when lifted cheerfully with love in our hearts will not become a blessing to us. God intends for our tasks to be our helpers; to refuse to bend our shoulders to carry a load is to miss a new opportunity for growth.

J. R. Miller

---------------------------------------------------------------

As I learn how to "use my wings" all over again, I am finding that: 

No matter how overwhelming, 

any burden God has lovingly placed 

with His own hands

on our shoulders

is a blessing.

~Frederick William Faber

This... it's happening!

It's happening....

It is really happening!

J

We didn't just graduate from college and we didn't just get married but we are starting over. 

As we approach 20 years of marriage with 4 kiddos in the mix, we are smack in the middle of a whole new beginning. It's scary and exhilarating at the same time.. kind of like riding a big beautiful horse!!

As we've begun to process starting over here in the States several of you have contacted us to ask what we need and/or inquired about how you can help so we wanted to let you know that we created a New Beginnings amazon wish list. --Please know that we are not asking any of you to purchase items for our family but we believe that having this list will make it much easier to answer the questions we get regarding our needs.-- If you would like to purchase an item from our wish list please visit the link below. And if you'd rather not purchase an item or even look at the list, we want you know that is fine, too!

Amazon link: New Beginnings

Thank you for all the continued prayers said on behalf of our family! We are giddy and looking forward to what lies ahead on these paths He's making straight. 

"Strength shows...

not only in the ability to persist,

but the ability to

start over."

Monday Monday

John rocked his first week on the new job like a champ. He was in training in Indianapolis for 5 days and is now back in Florida. We miss him like crazy and long for the day that we will all be together living the "normal" kind of life people talk about.

This 'divide and conquer' thing is nothing new but danggit, it doesn't get any easier no matter which country we're in or how many times we do it.

Clinging so tightly to these words today,

Let us not lose heart and grow weary

and faint in acting nobly and doing right,

for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap,

if we do not loosen and relax our courage...

Galatians 6:9 AMP

 And remembering,

"...draw on HIS strength and not your own." (God's, not your rockstar husband's. *smile*)

I know the saying...

...but we are so ready for the journey to our own housing to be done already.

Thanks for your continued prayers as we keep on going! J

There is an exchange in God where we come, 'limited', and He responds with all the things we never knew we could have while feeling grossly weak. He responds...with Himself. 

-Sara Hagerty

Captivate us

Two painters were once asked to paint a picture illustrating his own idea of rest. The first chose for his scene a quiet, lonely lake, nestled among mountains far away.

The second, using swift, broad strokes on his canvas, painted a thundering waterfall. Beneath the falls grew a fragile birch tree, bending over the foam. On its branches, nearly wet with the spray from the falls, sat a robin on its nest.

The first painting was simply a picture of stagnation and inactivity.
The second, however, depicted rest.

Outwardly, Christ endured one of the most troubled lives ever lived. Storms and turmoil, turmoil and storms - wave after wave broke over Him until His worn body was laid in the tomb. Yet His inner life was as smooth as a sea of glass, and a great calm was always there.

Anyone could have gone to Him at any time and found rest. Even as the human bloodhounds were dogging Him in the streets in Jerusalem, He turned to His disciples, offering them a final legacy: "My peace."

Rest is not some holy feeling that comes upon us in church. It is a state of calm rising from a heart deeply and firmly established in God.

- Henry Drummond

~ With evil ever growing and hate showing face everywhere we look these days, 

may we learn to land where true rest can be found. ~

   Captivate us, Lord Jesus
   And set our eyes on You
   Devastate us with Your presence falling down

   Rushing river, draw us nearer
   Holy fountain consume us
   And captivate us, Lord Jesus, with You

   Your voice is powerful

   And Your words are 

   radiant bright
   In Your breath and shadow
   I will come close and abide

   You whisper love 

   and life divine
   And Your fellowship is free
   Draw me closer 

   Oh, my Lord
   Draw me closer 

   Lord, to Thee

   Let everything be lost 

   in the shadows

   Of the light of Your face
   Let every chain 

   be broken from me
   As I'm bound in Your grace

  Your yoke is easy, 

  Your burden is light

  You're full of wisdom, 

  power and might

  Every eye will see You

  Captivate us, Lord Jesus
  And set our eyes on You

      Captivate us with You

                     (lyrics written by Nathaniel & Christy Nockels and Charlie Hall)

*photos from the beautiful waters in Haiti

Take Thirty-One

Transitions...

...take 31!

Some transitions are embraced enthusiastically...
     but honestly, sometimes we'd rather just eat sand instead of being forced into others.

Why? 

Because transitions mean change. 

And change can be exhausting and hard and painful and messy and uncomfortable and overwhelming. 

Change can bring with it a sense of panic. It can make your heart race with fear. It can make you cling to unhealthy familiars because they are...familiar.

Change can be ugly and gross.

It can make you cling to stuff and people you might not ordinarily cling to.

Despite feeling like "full-time transitioners", we Chaps have worked really hard throughout the difficult seasons to cling to the only ONE who doesn't change in the midst of change. 

When we felt forgotten, He faithfully proved we weren't.

When we were broken, He ushered in healing.

When we were hurt, He loved us through and through.

And now, as we face transition again, God is leading us still.

We've prayed and prayed and we asked you to pray with us.

Without fail, many of you poured out encouragement and voiced numerous prayers for our family and after a year of travel and an emotional trip back to Haiti last month, we are ready to embrace the next...

...to shed the luggage and kick the packing and unpacking of suitcases to the curb for a while.

The constant traveling and house-sharing is drawing to a close, praise the Lord! 

We praise Him for His faithfulness and we are pressing hard into His sufficiency as we leap again, with 'new skins'.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new chapter for this 6-on-a-journey!

John starts a new job tomorrow in Davenport, FL, just outside Orlando.

I will finish packing our things, at my parents home near the coast of Mississippi, over the next couple of weeks and while we feel ALL the feels, we covet your prayers just as much now as we ever have!

Here's to
   following the ONE who's CONSTANT
       in ALL the change
           as we:

And sometimes...

against all odds,

against all logic,

we still hope

because

"...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." 

Isaiah 40:31

Just a cup

Recently we stayed with some friends who don't drink coffee or hot tea every morning.
 *They are, indeed, stronger peeps than we.*

Starting my day that first morning, I asked for a cup and
     my Texas friend offered me the cutest one I'd seen in some time!



She had a few other cups in the cabinet but none as cute as this one.
(I mean, do you see the little flower peeking out inside the handle?!?)
It became "my" cup for the stay and one morning I inquired about where she'd found it.

  "Anthropology......I've had it for years", she said.

As I did my quiet time that morning (while drinking from the cute cup) I was so moved by my friend's kindness that I journal-ed about it.

I know....it's just a cup.. but she only had one of them and it was purchased a long time ago so I was sure it couldn't be replaced if something happened to it. Instead of pushing it to the back of the cabinet while company was there, to ensure that nothing would happen to it, she brought it out and offered it to me to use.

I was very careful with it and that simple act of kindness opened an entire chasm of gratitude for me...

I began to journal and thank God for the countless kindnesses that He's poured out over our family during this time of transition.

Kindness is..
  ..sharing.
  ..making room for more people (and stuff) when you've got just enough space for your own.
  ..giving up a vehicle so someone else can have wheels.
  ..moving your kiddos into your room so your guests can spread out.
  ..taking your friend for a spontaneous nail appointment.
  ..staying up way past your bedtime to watch movies and play games with friends you haven't seen in a while.
  ..sending a message to let your people know they are thought of and prayed over.
  ..offering grace.
  ..listening without trying to fix things. 
  ..embracing with a big ole hug.
  ..sharing the ministry of indoor soccer.
  ..grocery shopping for another family plus yours.
  ..cooking for 6 extra people.
  ..taking a family to visit your church and then treating the guys to a pro soccer event.
  ..mailing little notes and checks and gifts out of the blue.
  ..lending your camera when your friend forgets hers.
  ..making dips and patio drinks and settling in for long conversations.
  ..teaching new games and playing old ones together.
  ..driving 5.5 hours to meet long distance friends and then taking them to a ballgame.
  ..buying extra laundry detergent.
  ..meeting your pal on your only day off.
  ..waiting when your guests are running late.
  ..treating a big family to a nice meal out.
  ..giving your best instead of just the 'good enough'.

The list could go on and on and on. 

As you can imagine, our current position of beginning again has been extremely humbling but in our need, we've seen [firsthand] the true picture of the church as described in Acts. 

"No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, 

but they shared everything they had."

Acts 4:32

We ventured to the States almost 10 months ago with expectations. 
Expectations that changed as "real" life happened. 
Expectations that were, both, met and unmet.

Expectations that proved: 

Wandering (even with a purpose), leaves a person (or 6 people) very vulnerable.

Many have put action to their words and have given--over and beyond simple means--but here's the thing that remains hard for me..

     ..more often than not, I've got to admit my need in order to receive. 

And needing people is risky.

I'm a risk-taker by nature but I don't like needing people.
I'd rather be self-sufficient. I'd rather trust myself than trust someone who might not be there at the time I need them most. If you've ever needed someone who didn't come through for one reason or another, you know what I mean.

I like making sure it's done and done right. I like to control the outcome as much as possible so I tend to rationalize that it's easier not to need people (or God). When others don't help shoulder a load, or worse..don't even show up..
when we're wounded after trust is broken,
it hurts.

When a friend falls down themselves and can't spare a hand,
needing people can get messy.
But self-sufficient thinking is dangerous. To think we don't need others is a lie.

God created us as relational beings. We need Him and we need each other.
From the moment God made me, He knew that I would need others and He also knew that I would try to do things on my own. In this season, I am a student who's learning that, "Two are better than one..."(Ecclesiastes 4:9) on some pretty deep levels.


Being dependent on others is hard and often icky but we learn together. We grow together. We can "get by" alone, but we really thrive when we are together.

I've already admitted that I don't like needing people but I also admit that I have to choose.
   --->Risk and reap great rewards or play it safe (and lonely) and bear the weight alone.

None of the kindnesses listed above would have been ours to receive if we hadn't agreed to need.

Maybe you're like me and you'd say it's easier to give graciously than to receive graciously but y'all, we've got to take note of the cups that remind us that the blessings outweigh the risk.

Venture out and show some kindness today BUT let someone show you a little bit, as well.



P.S. In spite of my ever-growing disdain for luggage and bags, I unpacked last week and guess what my friend had secretly wrapped and placed in one?!?

"Money is but one

venue for GENEROSITY.

KINDNESS is an even more

valuable currency."

-Alan Cohen

Yes!

You guys - THANK YOU!!!

So many of you have been praying and have done an amazing job of keeping in touch and loving us across miles and miles and miles.

A little over a week ago, our crew piled into my dad's truck in pursuit of a vehicle but not before previously calling about many others, stopping to see several possibilities, and driving several miles to check out some clunkers and some way-out-of-our-price-range beauts.

We prayed (and begged) til we were blue and we were in high hopes that we'd finally found "the one". We drove about 50 miles to a dealership that had said vehicle and then we went through the gamut. We chatted with the sales guy and then loaded into the vehicle and took it for a spin.

We (kids included) started listing the visible stuff that was wrong and pulled over to check under the hood. We began the "well, we could probably get this fixed for this price but is that other issue worth what it's going to cost to fix it?" banter.

As we weighed the options we drove back to the dealership not quite sold on it being "the one". Feeling great disappointment and defeat again, we were just about to leave when John noticed a fresh find.

As we were talking to the sales guy another family was buying a new car and trading in their old one. An old one that was the exact size we were looking for and about the same year we had been looking for, too. When John spotted it he asked if it was available.

Sure enough, it was in fact available. We looked it over and waited on a price (since it wasn't in the system yet) and after a few minutes were elated to find out it just might be what we had been praying for. We reloaded the family and tested that baby out.

Y'all...... we drove away with that vehicle that day!
God is so good. He promises to deliver. When we are tempted to give up, He's often waiting with "the one".

Thanks for praying for us - please DON'T STOP!
We've still got a long road ahead.

           But when the enemy screams, "YOU CAN'T",
                remind him that with the right directions.......

Badump, bump....the cheese here is free folks but the lessons are not!


 

Update

As most of you know, its been 4 years since we committed to leap out of our "knowns" and jump into the "unknowns" of full-time work in Haiti. We've been stretched beyond what we argued we could stand but we've also been blessed more abundantly than we ever dreamed.

Prayers were answered all along the way!  

After 2 years of praying through some pretty hard transitions, we returned to Mississippi last year as an excited, yet exhausted, family of 6 on July 1st for furlough.  We were eager to unwind with family, regroup, and prepare to return to Haiti in January. We prayed for direction and provision for the next step as we traveled and shared about our work. 

So many of you have continued to lift us up through each and every challenge. You're simply amazing! 

At the end of December, 4 of our 6 traveled back to Haiti. Caleb and I returned to Mississippi the middle of January but John stayed and worked with our Heartline Ministries family in Port-au-Prince and Cabila was able to go and visit with some extended family and friends from his 'hometown'. Being apart was really hard as we continued to pray for direction. 

Last month I wrote about delays and travel and disappointment and prayers and waiting and All These Aspects. Praise the Lord, we are all together again but today I write with a heavy heart.

We believe that our family needs to be together wherever we are serving...that's always been our plan. But the thing that's currently leveling me is the plan to return to the States full-time. It's not a decision we've taken lightly but it is a decision that John and I feel God has led us to. The last 8 months have been brutal as we've mapped out what the "next" is supposed to look like. 

We aren't shutting the door on Haiti but we agree that making plans where we have more opportunity to do what's best for our family unit is here right now. My mind knows this but my heart has yet to embrace it. My heart is in Haiti. I don't want to start over here. 

I'm struggling and while I know it's a great risk to put my raw feelings out here in the vast world of social media, I need to ask for your prayers as we begin this process of starting over. 

 

If you are a praying person, would you pray for us?  

This very real, 'say goodbye to where you've been and tell your heart to beat again' kind of feat is upon us.  Will you pray for supernatural relief and provision as we look for employment, vehicles and the right place to relocate and serve?

Another beginning... getting back up...starting over... Oh God - as I type the words I shake...
     It's going to require strength I'm not sure I have.


Clinging to this: "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, My Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of Me, you can be sure that I'll be there." 

-Matthew 18: 19-20

All these aspects

Delays. They are never easy.



                     When we arrived it was late. 

But we made it! 

Throughout the night I heard cats fighting and dogs barking and anticipated the early bird "can't-tell-time-for-nothing" rooster crows. 
This bunk-bed rest was just as I had remembered.
It was oddly comforting.



It was beautiful!

It was so incredible to be back! 

But dang, it was so hard!

    I didn't want to be a visitor.
    I didn't like being a visitor.
    I wanted to be unpacking in our new home. 
    You know... The one we've been praying for.
    For 2 years now. 

I cried a lot those first few days.
As I unpacked the most recently packed suitcases, I realized that I needed a heart adjustment.
That...or this trip I had anticipated for the last 6 months was going to be miserable. 

I gave my heart a little pep talk because.. 

And I thanked God that although I wasn't there under the means I desired, that I was there none-the-less.

I visited with friends, I loved the GH canines, I ate incredible Haitian food, I drove in insanely frustrating traffic, I ate REAL mangoes and non-store-bought coconuts, I spoke kreyól with peeps who extended grace in more ways than one, I used mosquito repellent like after-shower lotion again, and I wore tanks and shorts in January!

Pure bliss.

I sat on the roof and rang in the New Year with my one and only (after a wonderful meal at the McHouls).

I prayed over and held little miracles!

And we even got to spend some one on one time away with our first-born (for the first time in years)! 

Y'all, it was so wonderful!
But despite the amazing things, there was still hard reality. 

This was a photo message I got from the girls one day. Though Caleb and I got to travel to Haiti the day after John and Cabila left Mississippi, our girls didn't get to go with us. 

I was in Haiti but our #6onajourney was missing 2.

As I dug through our things that we left behind, I literally wept. 
I pulled out stuff that belonged to our girls and I cried til I couldn't even see what I was looking at.  

I remember the hopes that were bigger the day we packed them.  

Everybody had specific spots where they wanted to unpack their stuff, themselves. 

I dug until I couldn't dig anymore.    
    "What now, God?  What are we supposed to do now?"

I got caught up in the details. 
I wasn't hopeful for later, I hurt right then...down deep. 
I closed the top to the box.

I tried to make sense of what needed to be held onto and repacked vs. what could be given away that someone else might be able to use while we were still in this horrific holding pattern. 

    And then, honestly, I just stopped.  

Have you ever prayed and prayed, and waited and waited, and still you see no evidence of an answer? Are you tired of seeing no movement? 

Are you at the point of giving up? 

Then perhaps you have not waited in the right way, which removes you from the right place-

the place where the Lord can meet you.

"Wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:25). 

Patience eliminates worry.

Patience eliminates weeping.

Why feel sad and discouraged? He knows your needs better than you do,

and His purpose in waiting is to receive more glory through it.

Patience eliminates self-works.

"The work of God is this: to believe" (John 6:29),

and once you believe, you may know all is well.

Patience eliminates all want.

Perhaps your desire to receive what you want is stronger

than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled.

Patience eliminates all weakness.

Instead of thinking of waiting as being wasted time,

realize that God is preparing His resources and strengthening you as well.

Patience eliminates all wobbling.

God's foundations are steady, and when we have His patience within,

we are steady while we wait.

Patience yields worship.

Sometimes the best part of praiseful waiting is experiencing

"great endurance and patience.....joyfully" (Colossians 1:11).

While you wait, "let all these aspects of patience have her perfect work"

(James 1:4), and you will be greatly enriched.

~C.H.P.

Digging and Flying

I've done a lot of digging lately, both in Scripture and in some old journals.  

When I'm 'stuck' I find it encouraging to look back and see how God has proved Himself faithful time & time again. 

I've found lots of photos in my recent exploration, too!

This one was taken 4 years ago on a little plane (like in 12 seats!) in Haiti.  I couldn't help but think about that time we sat in the cockpit, when reading this devotional from the year that followed in The Word For You Today..

    "Did you know that most small-plane crashes are not caused by mechanical failure but pilot error? In most cases the pilot was not instrument rated, so he or she depended on two things that can fail you.  Let's look at each: 

     1)SIGHT. As long as the pilots can see roads, bridges and landmarks, they can fly safely. But when the storm comes or the fog locks them in, they're in trouble.

     2)SENSES. In aviation terms the problem is called "vertigo". If you blindfold a person, sit them in a revolving chair, spin it around for several moments, then stop the chair and ask them in which direction they're spinning, they couldn't tell you with certainty. There's a sensitive device in our head that's like a carpenter's level. The force of the spinning sends the "bubble" as far as it can go to one side. When it can go no further it begins to return-even though the person's still spinning in the same direction. So they have the sensation of stopping and beginning to spin in the opposite direction, but it's only a sensation. If they were not blindfolded and could see, they could ignore those sensations and would have no difficulty knowing in which direction they are going. It takes many hours of training in simulated storm conditions to develop the ability to confidently fly by the direction of your instruments and ignore your sensations of vertigo. 

    Understand this: as a child of God you must not be led by your sight or by your senses, you must be led only by the Scriptures."

It was cool to sit in the pilot's seat that day (as you can tell by the incredibly cheesy grin on my face!) but there is no doubt in my mind our flight would have ended terribly if John and I had tried flying that plane. We were not instrument rated. 

Since that time, our training hasn't been with any aircraft so we still aren't instrument rated in that regard.  However, we've had many hours of training while 'flying' through some pretty fierce storms...some that left us spinning and unable to see where we were going.  

In the middle of the storms, when we're fighting vertigo, it's so tempting to make decisions and choices based on our sight and senses. 

John and I still haven't mastered flying (on the ground, of course) but praise God He's still faithful through our attempts to ignore our flesh reactions and follow His Words. 

"Our God who has proven Himself faithful throughout the years is always with us. Because His character doesn't change, in our fear we can say with a confident voice of faith, 'The Sovereign Lord is my strength!' (Habakkuk 3:19)." ~Pho Fang Chia 

What storms are you facing? 

What scriptures have you found to be instrumental so you can 'fly' safely?

"I heard and my heart pounded,

my lips quivered at the sound;

decay crept into my bones,

and my legs trembled.

Yet, I will wait patiently...

I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength..."

Habbakuk 3:16-18

Lessons from "littles"

  "When my little son was about ten years old, his grandmother promised him a stamp collecting album for Christmas. Christmas came and went with no stamp album and no word from Grandma. The matter, however, was not mentioned, until after his friends came to see his Christmas presents. I was astonished, after he had listed all the gifts he had received, to hear him add, "And a stamp album from my grandmother."

  After hearing this several times, I called my son to me and said, "But George, you didn't get a stamp album from Grandma. Why did you say that?"
  With a puzzled look on his face, as if I had asked a very strange question, he replied, "Well, Mom, Grandma said, and that is the same as." Not a word from me would sway his faith.
  A month passed and nothing else was said about the album. Finally one day, to test his faith and because I wondered in my own heart why the album had not been sent, I said, "George, I think Grandma has forgotten her promise."

  "Oh no, Mom," he quickly and firmly responded. "She hasn't."

  I watched his sweet, trusting face, which for a while looked very serious, as if he were debating the possibility I had suggested. Soon his face brightened as he said, "Do you think it would do any good for me to write Grandma, thanking her for the album?"

  "I don't know," I said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth then began to dawn on me.

  In a few minutes a letter was written and mailed, as George went off whistling his confidence in his grandma. Soon a letter from Grandma arrived with this message:

          My dear George,

             I have not forgotten my promise to you for a stamp album.

             I could not find the one you wanted here, 

             so I ordered one from New York. 

             It did not arrive until after Christmas, and it was not

             the right one. I then ordered another, 

             but it still has not arrived.

             I have decided to send you thirty dollars instead 

             so that you may buy the one you want in Chicago.

         Your loving Grandma.

  As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. From the depths of a heart that never doubted came the words, "Now, Mom, didn't I tell you?" George "against all hope...in hope believed" (Romans 4:18) that the stamp album would come. And while he was trusting, Grandma was working, and in due time faith became sight.

  It is only human to want to see before we step out on the promises of God. Yet our Savior said to Thomas and to a long list of doubters who have followed, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

   ~Mrs. Rounds

(published on Feb 18th in Streams in the Desert a long time ago 

but meant for me to read today)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Feb 18, 2014 I prayed this prayer:

Oh God, I'm scared...not scared of not having a home, 

not scared of not having stability, not scared of not having

support...

but scared of missing Your voice, scared of missing

Your hand, scared of missing Your direction, scared of falling

for something that may be disguised as You but isn't You.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that is alive in me.

Thank You that as Your sheep we can hear Your voice, 

as our Shepherd. 

Oh God, I praise You that You never leave.

You are there for me.

Please remind me that You are here.

As the last 2 years played out, I did get scared.

   ...scared of not having a home, not having stability,

       and not having support.

   My flesh failed again and again and my doubts and

       fears spoke louder than my faith.

It's so easy to let difficult circumstances strip us of the very perfect provision 

and protection that God promises us. 

I'm praising God today for Grandmas, for timeless truths and the fact that He never forgets His promises!

   What about you?  What are you trusting and/or struggling to believe? 

     

Inside Out

I don't know about y'all but we are rejoicing that we made it to the other side of 2015.  While God delivered blessings in the midst of pain for lots of us, if I thought it was possible I would argue that the last 12 months were way longer than one year.  Can I get a witness??

Prayers were answered despite the 'crickets' at certain intervals.  Some answers were as we hoped they'd be and others just the opposite; some answers were simply "wait" (which isn't simple at all) and, well, some answers have yet to come. 

     I'm sure you can relate.

     Cue----> Life..

         ... inside and out!

In reflection, I can't help but see that these people I get to do life with are a beautiful reminder that I'm so blessed!

I still find myself trying to make sense of where we are right now, figuratively speaking and yes, sometimes even literally... (I'm beginning to loathe suitcases on a whole new level!) but soooooooo many of you prayed fervently with us throughout the past year(s) and for that we are SO grateful.  I can't even begin to tell you how much you mean to us!  I feel certain we are still Circling Haiti as 6 on a journey because of you!!

Though it didn't take us long after losing our housing in Haiti to realize that the 6 of us needed more than a 250 sq ft bedroom to work well (with others and with each other), we aimed to make the best of things.  Thanks to the gracious Heartline Ministries-Haiti crew, we "made do" until we just couldn't "make do" any longer.  

As you know, we were granted Cabila's VISA in April (after a 2 year long pursuit). God opened the door for us to go see our Stateside peoples (Hallelujah!) so when we were able to fly away for a bit, we all rejoiced!  We moved out of our bedroom at the Guesthouse on June 30th and we flew to the States for some family time and some much needed rest & recovery time, too.  It was our first trip 'home' as a family since Jan 2013.  

We set aside a couple of months to "fall into family" upon arriving in the grand ole USA, and then we dove 'head first' into fundraising.  As independent missionaries we are responsible for raising our own support to live and work in Haiti so we began traveling and sharing with churches and groups and families that were open to hearing our story regarding our love for Haiti.

Thank the good Lord we were embraced by family and friends when we arrived Stateside but (despite knowing it was going to be hard), I don't think any of us realized how hard it was going to be to rally the extra support and community needed for us to get back to work in Haiti...especially while discovering gaping wounds that just hadn't ever healed.  

Although our full-time missionary work in Haiti began in January 2013, we lost our financial support and housing after the first year so there we were--starting over.  Cabila couldn't leave Haiti at that time and we didn't believe leaving him here to go home and raise needed funds was an option so we prayed for direction like we'd never prayed before. 

        And 21 months ago, God led us to HEARTLINE. (smiles)

Fast forward a bit to now...... after 6 long (good but hard and long) months away from the amazing country of Haiti, I am now sitting on a bunk bed (back in Heartline's Guesthouse) IN HAITI typing this post.  (!!!!!!!)

We aren't fully funded yet and only 4 of the 6 of us could be here at this time so we aren't back permanently right now but God is faithful and you guys are amazing! 

My prayer continues to be, as 2016 has begun, that we will proceed with HOPE.  

     Hope that HIS plan for us, 6 on a journey, will carry on and that wounds will be healed.

     Hope that, though things are currently inside out, that we will thrive again soon.

     Hope that we will be found faithful to share Christ, regardless of location and circumstances.

     Hope that despite obvious needs, God will receive the glory when His plan prevails.

     Hope that we don't lose sight of our Savior while circling this country we madly love!

"He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.  

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love

and His wonderful deeds...

for He satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things."  

~ Psalm 107:7-8

 "Prayer does not change God, 

but it changes me in big ways.

It helps me accept the unacceptable.

It helps me trust God when 

all the circumstances are untrustworthy."

- Kathi Lipp