Haiti Life

We have officially been here a week! I already talked about our Thursday through Sunday events, but in this post, I want to give you a run down of what our normal week looks like for now.
Brittany has started teaching the ladies at our house English and is doing a Bible Study with them also. So every morning she meets with the ladies for this, and I meet with the guys for a Bible Study and time of prayer at the same time. During this time, we also discuss what else we will be doing during the day-logistical type things we need to accomplish. Then on Monday evenings, we head out to Karadeaux for our English and Bible Class. Tuesday nights, we go to Pernier Baptist Church to teach an English  and Bible Class there. On Wednesdays, we go back to Karadeaux to help with a class that developed out of our class. A Haitian woman wanted to start her own class and took the initiative to teach other Haitians English. Praise God for her faithfulness and drive to share the gospel with others. She asked us to come help her teach the Bible side of it because she is not confident enough at this point to do so herself. Thursdays, we go to Karadeaux again to do our English and Bible Class, and Friday it's back to Karadeaux again to help Gheisse with the Bible part of her English class. Saturdays we head over to the Children's Home to take them the supplies they need for the week, and on Sundays we go to Pernier Baptist to Worship.
There are still many other opportunities we are praying through-possibly teaching English and the Bible at the Children's Home and many other opportunities working in Karadeaux. Please join us in praying that we will follow where God is leading us in all the ministry opportunities available. There are so many ministry opportunities in Haiti, so we want to stay focused on where God is calling us and not get distracted by spreading ourselves too thin. God called Brittany and I, as well as John, to Haiti to disciple others, so we want to stay focused on what God has called us to do here. Therefore, we cannot chase every ministry opportunity presented to us.
On another note, I had quite an event getting home on Thursday. We were at Karadeaux on Thursday when it began to rain. Within an hour, every street was flooded. I'm talking at least a foot of water on every street. Now combine a foot of water with roads full of potholes, so now you can't see the potholes and you have water running down the street. You also have rock and rumble running down the mountain through the street as well from the water. Did I mention there are no street rules in Haiti either? Now you can imagine the craziness that ensued. It took us 5 hours to make it 3 miles. We finally made it home at 11pm, ate dinner, and then we all went straight to bed. By God's grace, Brittany and Sharles decided to stay at home that day or that would have been a much more eventful trip than it was already. 

Clarianna sweeping the water off the porch. It gives a little perspective of how the rain affects everything here in Haiti.  

We've shared all our current ministries with you, so we would like to ask you to please pray for them specifically throughout the week. Thanks for all your prayers. We know God is answering them.
Also, check out Chadasha's blog to see more ways you can get involved at www.chadasha.blogspot.com 

Josh

We made it!

We made it safely to Port au Prince on Wednesday. We began to settle in, getting our things unpacked after arriving. After that, we immediately hit the ground running. On Thursday, we went to the tent camp, Karadeaux, where we went out with those in the English classes to evangelize others in their community. The awesome thing is the students of the class asked if they could do this and even want to do it more than once a month, like they are now. God is moving in Karadeaux! Sharles was a big hit, especially with the kids. John said she will open many doors for ministry opportunities. I pray this is true. It's so cool that she is already a light shining for God, and she doesn't even know it. I have been praying for her to be a light, but i have been praying more in a future tense. It humbles me to see God answering prayers in this way, and I am thankful He answers them in His own timing and not mine. 

Friday, Josh and I went shopping with Josue for some of the things we needed in order to settle in. Things here are super expensive! We went to the store to buy a hamper for our clothes and it cost about $60! So we bought a plastic one on the street for $15! Josh started driving, and did great for his first time out! 

Saturday, Josh went out with Penier Baptist Church and about 30 members in small groups to share the story of Christ in their community. They had 19 people accept Christ! They will follow up with them to continue to disciple them as well. Then, we went to the Children's Home to take their supplies for the week and of course to play with the kiddies! They too loved Sharles. They all want to rub her skin and hair! After that, Josh and John, the other missionary we live with, went to pick up 3 of the heart patients, who had to come back. They were unable to have their surgeries because they were too complicated for the hospital they were using this time. One of the heart patients is currently staying with us until hopefully he can go back for surgery in July. Please pray for him and the others who have returned as they are all very sick. 

Today, we went to church at Penier Baptist. It was awesome as usual, even though we cannot understand much at this point! Their singing is so beautiful. Sharles loved it too! She loves the Haitians speaking to her. I think she is going to pick up Creole very quickly. The ladies at the house don't speak English, so they speak to her solely in Creole, and she just looks at them with the biggest smile. Also, when the guys are around and speaking Creole, she stops what she is doing and listens. It's pretty funny! 

One thing we have learned over the last few days as we have been talking to the people about Christ is they believe they have to be perfect or they can't be a Christ follower. This is a huge barrier we have to overcome. Please pray for the people to understand they are made perfect through Christ. I believe the verse they are referring to is Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." I came across this in my quiet time after going to the tent city on Thursday (thank you Lord), and its not meaning we can or will ever be perfect, but that we must strive to walk as closely to Christ's perfection as possible. However, we are made perfect through Christ who cleansed all the sins of all those who believe in Him. Please pray the people will understand this and those who are sharing with them can accurately explain it to them. 

Please also pray for God to guide us in His will and direction for the many ministry opportunities we have available, especially in Karadeaux.

Sorry for the long post, but like I said, we hit the ground running and are loving every minute of it! Thank you all for your support and prayers! 

Brittany