Blessed to be a Blessing

       One thing I am becoming more and more aware of is where I belong and what I should be doing in this grand scheme of life.  I was raised knowing that if someone asked for your help, you rolled your sleeves up and got in their and helped.  There are a lot of things we can do, with our talents for the church, but what is our gift that God has given each one of us?  So many of us struggle with this thought.  In doing this Study, Experiencing the Holy Spirit"by Larry Keefauver, I have gotten a much better picture of how it all works. 
     I always knew and had no problem with speaking in front of people, no matter how large of group, yet my personality and popularity of my middle and high school years limited the things I did.  I was not in any plays, yea I know, for all of you who have know me for the past 20 years are shocked.  Theater is so much of who I am now, but back then no.  The only thing I did take part in was speech contest through school and 4-H.   Living in a small community we didn't experience mission trips, most of us were high on the social economic scale anyway, and would not have been able to afford to do trips like that. 
      Since getting married I have been afforded the opportunity to serve in mission type of work in various capacities. Since living overseas all of them have also included a Bible study, which I have continued with the teams I take to Haiti.  In this last study I have realized that natural talent does not necessarily equate spiritual gifting.  While the Holy Spirit may use a natural talent you have in ministry, you many not necessarily have natural skills for your gifts.  But we will receive supernatural power from the Spirit to minister in the gifts(s) He gives us.  One scripture that was highlighted was,

1 Peter 4:11       Do you have the gift of speaking?  Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.  Do you have the gift of helping others?  Do it will all the strength and energy that God supplies.  Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.  All Glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

    It is funny how you can do studies and then all of a sudden, you see things you have never seen before.  I feel as if I now understand that I am to share what God has done in my life to help other see what the possibilities are in theirs.  I have been blessed with this gift so I can in turn be a blessing to others.  He calls us out of our security and comfort to go out to bless others so that  "all nations" can receive His blessing.  May God place someone in your path today that is to be a blessing for you.

 

Change of Plans

         The statement “there is going to be a change of plans”, is normal for us here is Haiti.  We have just learned to go with the flow.  Our group was scheduled to sort uniforms for the kids at school and get it ready for distribution day of Friday.  We got so much work done in a short period of time that one of the Life Connection Mission guys decided to have all the pre-school kids to come in and get their uniforms today.  One of the younger boys that helped at the mission, went around town on the four wheeler with a bullhorn announcing that pre-school could come in and get their uniforms.  Before you knew it kids filled the school ground and we were off.  It was so exciting to see Claudson come through the line to get his khaki pants and his two shirts for school.  You can tell he was so excited.    It wasn’t long before older kids started coming through.  We worked steady from 9am to 1:30.  I could not believe what time it was.  We were so busy.  Tomorrow we will finish with the rest of the kids in the school.  We were able to tie a few loose ends up with items for our families before returning back to the compound.  We got back in time for our evening meal. 

I have so enjoyed the Bible Study that we have been doing.  Are we living in the Holy Spirit?  It has been amazing to see how we have been blessed with the gifts of the spirit for build up the body.  We so witness down here every day, what the Spirit is doing in our lives.  I will write more if time and internet and power allow.

We have had so many problems with the internet and having powe that this will be my last post before stepping back on US soil tomorrow .  We will leave the compound tomorrow morning at 5:30.  Our flight leaves at 9am.  A glass of milk sounds really good right about now.  It is funny the things you crave when you don't have access to them.   Will sign out before I lose internet.

God Bless you All

Happiness is not about things...

Wednesday, was one of those hurry to wait days.  We all needed to be ready right after breakfast so we could go and start working on the kid’s school uniforms for distribution day on Friday.  It seems like all of Haiti is run on the fact that there is only one key for every door and the person who has the one key is always off to some meeting or getting supplies in Port-au-Prince.  So we wait for a while and then readjust the morning or day. 

The little church that I grew up in Hubbard, Nebraska has been actively following my mission work the last few years.  I have shared with them my experiences and they felt moved to help this year with sewing kits.  Marian Painter, whose daughter goes to the same church we do in Chillicothe, heads it up.  I was so proud of my little church; they got together 15 sewing kits for me to give to her for distribution.  She gives them to the second years girls.  They have proven that they are serious about the class and have completed enough work to even begin little private jobs or altering their own clothes themselves.  These kits allow them to have the items to do this.  When we went to Marians only 4 of the girls/ladies were there and today they were working on little dresses that they were embroidering some pretties on the collars of the dresses.  When they are done with those, they will be donated to one of the orphanages there in town.  When Marian donates the fabric that is what they do.  If they pay for the fabric themselves they can do them for their family or to sell.  We had a wonderful visit while we were there. 

Then we were off to our family.  We had decided as a team what and how we were going to tell them about Claudson.  We arrived to find most of the family there.  We told them that we would love to sit and talk with them./  Papa immediately started going from neighbor to neighbor to borrow a chair to have enough for all of us to sit on.  Once that was completed we shared with them how sick Claudson was.  We did not share that he was not going to make it to be an adult.  Just that he was very, very sick.  We did describe in great detail what was actually wrong with his heart.  They shared with us that momma Adalene was very sick during her pregnancy with him and afterwards.  So who knows what may have caused this condition. I then went on to explain how excited we all were that all the boys were now going to be in school, that momma had a job and then we told papa that he as of Sept. 1^st was going to be employed also.  He was so excited and so happy and started praising God.  I had shared that his last prayer need from his last year was for him to find a job and that God always hears our prayers, but out of obedience we wait for his answers.  One of our translators asked if they plan on having any more children, because that could altar him hours able to work.  He shook both hands in the air, and in said, NO, NO, NO...We all smiled and laughed.  Then papa shared something that none of us knew.  That papa and mamma we not married yet.  I said “WHAT”, you need to make her an honest woman, all of us laughing together.  Alex, who is the same age of my boys, said we need a wedding.  So before God and all of us, a slew of neighborhood children and a group of curious neighbors, Alex had papa get on one knee and he repeated the vows to her as Alex had said.  I think momma Adalene was blushing.  Then the proclamation was made, and now before the eyes of God and these witnesses, you are now man and wife.  Cheers came from everywhere.  What fun.  Then I said, you may now kiss your bride and he did. Momma blushed more.  We were all smiles.  We again thanked God for all he had done in this family’s life.  Just before leaving, I asked papa and the translator to come in off the porch and I shared how proud and touched I was to see his devotion to his children and to momma. We shared hat because his job would not start until Sept 1^st I knew he would need a little cash to get him by.  I gave him $40 to get food to keep them until his first paycheck.  We hugged me and in English said, “We love you.”  After going back out we all circled with hands and I prayed for God to continue in their lives.  After my prayer, we asked papa if he wanted to pray for us.  He was slow to begin, but them my word, the words just flowed from him with praise and thanksgiving as to what God had done for them.  He thanks God for his American family and asked God to watch over us.  His prayer went on for some time, it was so touching.  Then just before leaving I asked what we could be praying for them.  He looked at me and said that they had everything they needed.  I have thought about that for some time now.  They have 5 of the 9 children still at home, they live in a 12x12 space, their meals are mostly rice and beans, they do their laundry in the river and they have a son that will not become an adult.  I praise God for all the things he shows me while I am here.  Happiness is not about things. 

Just got to compound and we have power, so quickly posting.  Just found out one of the vehicles has a flat, actually a split on the side wall.  It cost $200 for one new tire, prayers for that to become available. 

Love and the Peace of God be with you all

sue

Two Trips, Two Directions, One Spirit

       Our team will divide today to accomplish what is needed this morning.  We have added a new family that we have found and have secured sponsors for the two children.  They live in a small one room structure that is made of woven wood strips and covered in mud.  Her floor is made of dirt, and when it rains, water seeps into her home.  Tomorrow morning, we will be delivering two goats to them to have for their own.  Both are females and one is ready for milking.  The hopes are that she will raise the babies to sell or butcher to heat to help support her family.  The momma, Rose Mary is expecting a baby in three months.  Most mothers get none or next to no prenatal care.  She two children, Brenel (boy) age 5, and Julie (2 ½).  Julie has orange hair, which is a sign of malnutrition.   Momma Rose Mary is also suffering with severe tooth pain.

    I will go with a translator and Papa with Claudson  to a cardiologist in Port-au-Prince.  During a clinic he was found to have a substantial heat in his heart.  It has been confirmed and  we have made an appointment for 9:30 in the morning.  We need to leave here at 7:30 to get there on time.  Claudson has no birth certificate or any other legal documentation proving who he is.  The office said we did not need anything,  We are grateful for that.  But if for some reason  they decide that he will need surgery, the states is the best place for that and he will have to get some legal documents to apply for a medical visa.  But that is a bridge that does not need to be crossed.

We have been doing a Bible Study about the Holy Spirit and how we are empowered.  Yesterday was empowered praying and today was empowered healing.  The healing is not about us or the person needs the healing, it is about the Healer.  God the Healer performs miracles of healing by His Spirit throughout history.  We ask that you lift these people up in pray.  To God be the Glory.

God Bless

Momma Rose Mary (lady who lives in mud hut) had the goats delivered by  other part of team.  Both of them were expecting and she understands that if males are born they can be sold, they have no provisions for keeping anything.  She may butcher one, and then sell the meat to others, but it goes bad fast down here. 

I got Claudson to the specialist and he did an echo on him.  He then said that he felt better if we went to this other doctor.  He could better do what we needed.  We were so worried, got to one location, then another.  This is not the easiest thing to do here.  We called and “thanks be to God”, the doctor told us to come right over, that he could get us in.  We finally found the place.  How they drive here is beyond me.  There are next to no street signs, hardly anyone has a number of their building.  We are grateful for the signs that are hung outside.  We found it in a short time and was inside the building.  This building was full of all types of special doctors.  Baby, teeth, eyes, internal medicine, heart and a pharmacy were are located in this compound.  Then we waited for a short time and then got in.  Thank God, the doctor was from Egypt and spoke wonderful English.  We had to pay up front.  Even before I sat in the chair to speak with him, the cash was in his hands.  Claudson was such a good boy and did everything he was told.  Thank you all for your prayers, but the news is not good.  His hold should have been repaired in his first month of life.  Would not have been a big deal, but now that he is almost 5; it has done a lot of damage to his heart.  At the point surgery is not an option anymore.  He doesn’t think he could even survive the surgery.  He said that he would not make it to adulthood and that making it to his teenage year is a stretch.  It broke my heart.  So many things that we take for granted that would have been noticed even in a prenatal check are what add to the mortality rate here in Haiti.  We will still take all the information back with us and give it to the doctor who has agreed to help us, we pray.  At this point it is out of our hands and in God’s. 

   We will meet with the family today.  We will tell them that he is very sick, but that is all.  The rest is not for us.  I think Papa knew after the exam, but none of us spoke.  I have lost a son, I know the pain.  It was all I could do to keep the tears I felt inside. 

Tropical Storm Emily

     Many of us were unaware that a tropical storm was building out in the ocea.  We had lost internet, but another local missionary who flies down here has a weather tracker on his phone and he and his wife had joined us for our afternoon meal.  He explained what they were reporting at the time.  then between various calls to home we were able to be aware of it's path.  One day it was projected to hit our village as a direct hit.  I called a childhood friend and she posted on the internet for prayers for us here in Haiti on Facebook.  The storm changed it's path further north and when the rain bands went over the mopuntains they were all broken up.  We never even got a drop of water out of it.  Just heavy winds and choppy seas.  Thank you to all those who have prayed for us.

    I am also trying to upload some new pictures.  Just be patient, here in Haiti, things are a little slower.

God Bless you all

Impossible is not a word!

Impossible is not a word, it’s just a reason for someone not to try.  I've seen miracles just happen.  these are words to a song by Kutless, but it is what we experience day in and day out down here.

Mwen Bouke, That is Creole for I’m tired.  We really don’t put in long days in total hours, but it is constant when we do.  We start all jobs 9am and work until 4pm or the last person was seen.  We take two breaks of 15 mins each during the day.  Today was another clinic day.  We saw 156 people.  One station check blood pressure, got their name and age and then came to my station where I (through a translator) found out their symptoms or what was wrong with them and then sent them off to the Doctor for further evaluation.  A group of sick  kids from an orphanage were brought in, most had malaria or worms.  We ran the gambit of illnesses from, flu to pregnancy and scabies to congestive heart failure.  When you are down here and something is happening, everything rolls up their sleeves and pitches in.  You will never hear, “ I can’t do that”, we just do it.  We learn along the way.

Will enter more later, have things to do to get ready for tomorrow.

God Bless

Everything to Me

This is a verse of a song that I woke with on my heart;

We’re living in uncertain times and more and more I find

 I’m aware how fragile life can be. 

I want to tell the world I’ve found a love that turn my life around,

they need to know they can taste and see. 

Now, every day I am praying just to give my heart away. 

I want to live for Jesus,

so that someone else might see that He is everything to me.

Then I walked down to the ocean for my quite time and Bible Study.  I turned my    i-pod on to listen to some of my music and the song that was next on my list was the song that was on my heart this morning.  After seeing the girl that had stung by the jelly fish and our boy with the hole in his heart, I see how life is so fragile, but here, it is more so, their options are limited.

Assignments were given after breakfast and half our team helped with surgeries and Lynn and I took a team of kids from Maryland to do clean up at the local public beach.  When I say it that way, it sounds way nicer than it is.  It is a area of beach front that is about a block and ½ long, it is where the those who are still in the refugee camp left from the earthquake, bath and wash clothes.  Local men set out their nets there in hopes of catching something to sell and feed their families.  A corner of the beach is solid conch shells, all about the size of the palm of your hand.  Many have made that their main food source.  Remnants of a fire remains from where they have been thrown into the fire to cook the meat inside the shells.  It took 12 of us four hours to clean the mess.  It was a hot and nasty job, thank goodness we all had gloves.  There is no such thing as an infrastructure here in Haiti.  No one comes to collect the garbage and put it all in one location.  They all create their own garbage piles and the wind takes it from there.

After finishing that job, we went to the clinic to see how everything was going.  I was invited to assist with some of them.  Ok, relax, I put on Neosporin on the incision and bandaged it before they went home.  Some of them were very interesting surgeries, and I will spare you the pictures.  We removed many cysts, (some the larger than gold balls), removed a large scar created from Keloid (sp) skin.  Everyone only received a shot in the area the Dr. was going to be cutting.  Then two people would hold their feet down, a person  at each arm and then two nurses to assist the Doctor.  After the surgery they went to where someone had filled what medicines the doctor wanted them to take after the surgery.  The first surgery started and 25 surgeries later, it was almost 5pm and time to close up.  Everyone was tired.  Side note, the girl who was stung by the jelly fish came by and she looked much better.  Raised welts still very every evident around her boy, but she looked good.

We put everything away and then all went to eat.  The Painters showed up to share dinner with us.  They are local missionaries here whose daughter goes to my church.  She has a sewing school here in the village that I am working in and is where all the sewing kits that my home town church in Hubbard will go to.  After eating, Dale the director of the mission came and told us that they were having a special church service for us.  We immediately went to the church for a wonderful service.  I have gotten very comfortable and am remembering some of their songs, so most of the service I was singing in Creole.  It fills my heart to see show many of them were there praying for us.  This was a special service for God to direct and help all that we were doing in the community.  I was so excited to turn and see Fabrice, one of my sponsor boys, sitting down the row from me.  When he saw me he came over and gave me a big hug and kiss.  So good to see him/  His Dad was also there and were able to chat for a moment before walking home by flashlight.

As of right now for some reason the internet is down, so not sure when this is going to be loaded up, but will try still a little later.  We were all told about a Tropical Depression that is heading our way, but are thinking the tracking of it may go south of us.  We will see.  Tomorrow we are going to the mountain to help Dr. J do a clinic up there.  I am so excited; I have never gone to the village up the mountain.  Sorry for not loading any new pictures.  All the pictures I took today, were mostly graphic.  I will go through them again to see if there is something I can post.  Thank you all for your prayers while we are there.

thanks for waiting....God Bless

INTERNET BACK ON!

     Internet back up and will post a few item this morning.  Just finished upacking all of our bags.  Have been so busy before this time to do this.  We will be going to the market in a little while to get food for the families and the orphanage.
50lb bags of rice
25lb bags of black beans
cooking oil
pasta noodles
tomator sauce
bananas
bread

    The orphanage has changed drastically in the last year.  People have come in and built structures, church, cooking area, place for children to sleep protected, which is all well and good.  Yet the children still go hungry.  The orphanage has gone from 27 children to 49.  More mouths to feed with the same amount of money is coming in.  Praying the spirit reveals some thing that will help.  In the mean time we buy food.

So I will enter a few logs and then we need to go to the market.
God Bless
Sue

Day One, Clinic Day!

Had a wonderful night sleep last night.  There was a wonderful breeze that came through the room and we stayed at Dr. J’s compound.  NO RATS there!  Yes!  I woke normally as I do at home a few minutes before 5 and went down to the water to do my Bible Study and have some quite time before starting the day.  The sound of the water crashing onto the beach was such a wonderful soothing sound this morning.  Off in the distance I heard life in the village beginning to stir around and then heard an island bird start it’s morning calling. 

We had a wonderful breakfast of bread, peanut butter, banana’s, mango’s, avocado’s, watermelon, fried egg bread (a little like French toast minus butter or syrup) and something that looks like sausage, not I take that back, it is something shoved in a casing and it was round and fried.  Oh well, its protein right?  J   

We then found out that we would be conducting a clinic with a Dr J.  He is a Dr. that actually only lives in the town just north of where I live in Chillicothe.  We started at 9am, but people were lined  up way down the street by 6am.  We started and worked consistently with little breaks at different times until we quit at 4pm.  The president of the Mission and I walked down to my familys house to let them know we were having clinic so we could check Claudson.  His last check a year ago showed that he could have a sizeable hole in his heart.  We wanted the other doctor to listen also and then we would be able to discuss his options.  We had a couple of emergencies that put us behind.  One case was really frightening, and we are still not sure this girl is out of the woods.  They brought a 10 year old girl in writing with pain.  She had been swimming and had a jelly fish grab around her chest.  She had a giant welt around her where the tentacle had been.  Her throat was closing up.  They gave her a shot to stop the swelling.  It was so scary to watch.  She was just flopping around like a fish out of water; she was in so much pain.  We had to get a table to put in another room, because it was hard to work on the other people and hear what was going on with all the noise she was making.  Later she was sick to her stomach and we had to give her a shot for that.  Later she was taken home with no other medication given.  If we were not there having a clinic today she would have died, and what is scary she still may.  Prayers got out for her.

 We saw 125 people today between the hours of 9 and 4.  If we would not have had the two emergencies, we could have seen 25 more. 

We found out that our youngest Claudson has a very bad hole in his heart.  The doctor really wanted him to have a EKG to see the extent, but the only place that can happen is Port-au-Prince and it could be very costly.  We will be praying tonight for the Spirit to move with what needs to be done.  I was so please to see how well the family is doing.  They were even raising rabbits.  Praise God!  Five years ago when I found this family they were living in a lean to and know they have their own house, all boys will be in school this fall and Momma Adeline works for the school.  I had a conversation with the director today about getting a job for Papa. 

We still have a lot to do for planning for tomorrow.  They will be doing surgeries tomorrow.  There are many other things on the list that need to be done.  Everyone will get their assignments at breakfast in the morning.  It’s 6:30 and it is almost completely dark.  When working on the equator, it is pretty close to 12 hour of sun, and 12 hours dark.  Power came on about a half hour ago, and I want to get this and some pictures of before I lose it, so will close for now.

Please pray for the girl with jelly fish sting and for Claudson for the door to open for his heart to be checked further.

God Bless

We are in Haiti!

    We arrived to the normal heat and hunidity, but after all the heat that we have experienced the past two weeks in Missouri, it feels normal.  There is another team here from Maryland.  Funny it is a group that was hear a year ago when we were here also.  A much smaller group, and a few different, but same church.  We arrived to get our sleeping assignments and quickly took our things to the room before going to the compound for a wonderful meal of rice, with a red sauce with some chicken and potatoes, picklee ( a most wonderfully spicy vegetable relish), bread fruit (not a fruit) and watermelon.  Of course it was washed down with the most wonderful home made lime juice from local limes.  Macqueline, graced us with her singing.  Will need to post a video later.  The rains have moved in and everyone has moved in or under the trees for conversation, the mosquitos have followed.  Let get the bug spray out before returning to the rooms.  Will enter much more tomorrow, but it has been a long day and I am fading fast.  Love to you all from Haiti!

Where will Sue be you ask? Montrouis, Haiti

Realized many of you do not know where I will be while in Haiti.  So here is a map that has the town listed.  Imagine the country shaped as a crabs claw.  Go to the center of the opening and you will find Port-au-Prince.  Follow the coast line up and around to the middle of the top claw, you will see Montrouis.  The town is pronounced,     Moo - E  

I don't want to go through the motions!

    Sometimes there are things that change your life, loss of job, divorce, death of a child.  I had already been doing mission work before Nathan died, but now I feel a greater purpose in all that I do.  Life is so fragile and so temporal.  I love this song.  This is how I want to live each day.  Enjoy.

Matthew West - The Motions

Always there, Always Seeking Us Out

   The Holy Spirit is always with us.  Even when we are unaware of His presence, He is there.  Even if we refuse to acknowledge His involvement in our lives, the truth remains:  the Spirit of God is always present and ever seeking us out to draw us into a relationship with him.


     This last week at Vacation Bible School I found myself smiling and almost laughing of how God has worked in my life with his gentle nudges as to what he wants me to be aware of.  Most of the scriptures that we highlighted this week for the children to learn, mirrored the first day of my Bible Study, Experiencing the Holy Spirit.  It made me think more of all that he has done through me in past mission trips.  Whether it has been a orphanage in Poland, a Nigerian village far away from any sense of civilization or tornado relief in Missouri, He was there working in me and through me.  


   One thing I had become increasingly aware of is "self", while on this trips.  I have found my self on a clean up crew after a tornado and just going through the motions.  Because in my mind, it is something that "I" am doing.  I had found myself just getting the job done, rather than being aware of what He wanted me to be aware of or learn from...  


      When growing up I had a lot of responsibilities and I was "in control" of the house during evenings when my mother worked.  My personal chores, then supper on the table for Dad and my brother and sister.  Cleaning the kitchen afterwards, making sure the younger ones had gotten any projects done for school.  I learned to take charge of things and be in control. So for me to "lose control" to the Spirit was a big thing for me to learn.  I have been blessed with many brothers and sisters in Christ who have helped nurture my growth.  I am also grateful for a loving husband who has, many times, sat back and let me learn from my mistakes rather than rescuing me.  Oh, believe me I am FAR from perfect and realize now that I do not need to be perfect.  I just need to be flexible so I can be molded into what he wants or needs me to be. 


    

Do we take our time? Or time our takes?

      It has been a week since my last entry.  My days have been so filled that I have not had time to gather my thoughts.  Isn't that a scary statement.  I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS!

     I have a dear Nigerian friend, Sam.  I love him so much.  He has such a heart for God and his whole life is revolved around furthering His kingdom, first in Nigeria, now in South Africa.  I remember one time we were discussing all that needed to be done that day.  We were working on what we could get done.  He shared with us how he and his wife (Roli, my dear sister) and he deal with issues like this.  He said that Roli takes her time and he (Sam) times his takes.  We all laughed, how many of us take our time and how many of us, time our takes.  I would say that if you polled anyone who "really" knows me, they would say I time my takes.  I want to actually quote a high school friend on something she posted to me just recently after declaring that  I was calling it a day around 6pm and in my friends words, gonna be lazy for the night.  Here was her response;

About time. Your husband definitely picked the right woman for the job. You are definitely the cow chasin, coop fixin, thistle cutting, dawn to dusk, fryin that bacon up in the pan and shootin them chicken eatin varmints kind of woman. Sue, I have no doubt you could have come across the prairie in a covered wagon and helped repair that broken wagon wheel or fight off any number of no account drifters trying to steal your supplies and water. So take a well earned break woman, geeze...lol  

      I laughed and then thought, people perceive who we are by what we say and do.  These last few weeks have been busy here on the farm.  I am trying to get my jobs finished, before leaving for Haiti, so it is not left for someone else to do.  So to those who see my posting on FB probably think I am a little nuts.  It has been temps in the 90's and 100's with high humidity, but hey, that is the life of a farmer...and farmers wife.  But one thing became very aware to me this week.  When I "check in" or post, it is never about my quite time, my Bible Study.  I only checked into Vacation Bible School the first night...was too busy getting ready the rest of the nights to post it...   How much do we share with our friends about who we are and what we do?   We don't think twice to say on FB funny little moments and pictures of kids or grand kids, but do we also use it for something that God made you think about today.  The simplest yet best lesson I have learned this week have been at Vacation Bible School. I think ALL adults need to go to VBS, we could all learn a lot.  Every day they had a Bible Verse Buddy who helped them learn every day a key phase that would be shared in every rotation to make sure it hits home for them.

Day 1       God Made Us

Day 2       God Listens to Us

Day 3       God Watches over You

Day 4       God Loves You no matter What

Day 5       God Gives Good Gifts

     I would guess to bet that a large portion of people I show this list to would say, Yes, those statements are true.  But how many of us would say that we truly believe with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, every statement?   One last night of VBS, still need to finishing packing one bag to go and all my clothes in my carry one.  Sunday will be here before I know it.

God Bless 

The Study has Arrived!

   I always get excited when the study I have ordered for us to do while we are there arrives.  This time, I am a little more apprehensive.  I guess right now, I am second guessing what God wants me to do as to what I think we can pull off.

   When looking for a study, I always talk to friends of mine who are missionaries, teachers in seminary, close Christian friends.  After talking to many, nothing really jumped out at me as to do any of those that were mentioned.  So I started looking at a few sites where I order material and one study seemed to jump out at me time and time again.  No matter what site I went to, it was always on the first page of the list.  The title is what caught me, "Experiencing the Holy Spirit".  I thought, who doesn't want to do that, but in reading more about it, found that it is designed to be a twelve week study, yes 12!  So immediately went on looking.  I spent a week praying and looking and this book was everywhere I looked.  Finally, I said (out loud), ok God, I got it.  We will do it.  So it is now in my hands.  It was meant to be a 12 week study with 5 lessons in each day.  So we will complete a weeks worth of work each day.  Nuts right?  Well after going through it, reading some titles and references, I am excited.  There is no way that we can do this and that is exactly why we will do it.  Because HE wants us to.

I am ready to experience my daily walk in the Spirit.

July 19, 2011 Live What You Believe

       While it's the big decisions that can change the course of our lives, it's the small choices that can define a life.  We often make these choices without thinking much about them.  Maybe they're just a part of our routine or a response to people in our lives.  Maybe we're in a hurry and just don't take time to consider the implications of our everyday actions.  If we did, we would see that behind every to-do list, calendar appointment and shopping list is an opportunity to live what we believe.

      I have learned from an early age to get in there, roll up your sleeves and get to work.  Being raised in a small town, (Hubbard, Nebr.) you learn early that everyone is family and if someone needs help, you are there in a heart beat.  Someday you may be the one needing the help and everyone knows that.  As I grew into an adult I kept the attitude of busy-ness (if helping others) was a good thing.  No matter what you did, volunteer at school, soup kitchen, Church committee, Sunday School Teacher, scout leader it was all good.  While on a two week Bible study in Turkey, studying the seven cities of Revelations and Paul's missionary travels, I learned something, something so foreign to me that it really made me stop and think.  We had been discussing our role in the grand scheme in the world of God's.  I guess you could say, what's your calling, what is your Gift, what is your purpose in life.  While there I heard....You may be doing a lot in God's world, but are you doing what he has called you to do..?  I also heard that me being the yes person a lot, may be taking an opportunity for someone else to do what God has called "them" to do.     I have done a lot since moving here, to Missouri.  So if we were making a check list, it would be pretty long already.  But looking at that list, a lot of them had nothing to do with, what I feel God has called me to do.

     There is a song by Josh Wilson called "I Refuse".  The first time I heard it, I said to myself out loud, (for those of who you know me well, this happens a lot, the saying to myself out loud), that is me.  I need to move forward with out reservation with what I feel God has called me to do and let others do their thing.  I remember sitting back once and thinking, (this one was not out loud).  Me do mission work, I am not gifted in the Bible, can't recall scripture, have a family, the list kept growing.  Until one Sunday, when a  Nigerian friend of our got up and spoke at church (Wassenaar, The Netherlands) about a mission group that he have a heart for and wanted people to see if this is something our church could support.  He was wanting to take a small team down to see everything.  No sooner did Meschack got it out of his mouth, My husband, Scott, looked at me and said, "You're going aren't you"?  And that solidified it.  After returning I felt that is what God had called me to do.  I was comfortable doing it.  I never felt uncomfortable being in a village, in Nigeria and now Haiti feels very comfortable for me also.  Comfortable in the fact that is where God wants me and needs to be his arms and feet.  

So in your busy day, please find the time, and listen to the song,  It is really easy for us to stand and watch life, but what has God called you to do?  I want to Live What I Believe.

 Right now I am being called to be obedient to my responsibilities around the property before leaving to Haiti.  Off to mow.

July 18, 2011 The Miracles of God

          I have seen God work in so many way.  I remember hearing someone say one time, sorry can't remember who said it but..., "Do we believe less in miracles because we see less miracles, or do we see less miracles because we believe less"?  I actually heard a person say once, "that only happened back in Biblical time (miracles)", my heart felt so sad for that person.  How can anyone who believes go through life thinking that God has changed His ways and has decided to cease in the miracle department.      
        For those of you who heard me share my 'Faith Journey after Losing Nathan", need to understand if you don't already, even before Nathan died, I believed God could and would do as he saw fit.  From the time I prayed for him to give me what ever he wanted me to have, so each morning I could give him the glory as he wanted me to.   If you have not yet heard my story, you can still hear it.  Follow these steps.
1). Go to www.chillicotheumc.org
2). On the right hand side of the home page click on Sermons (audio)
3). You are now at the Recent Sermon page, You will see the Title, "Why I Lift My Hand" with my name under it.  Double click on it.  It will take a few moments but it will come up and you will hear that service right before I begin to speak.  You will also hear my girlfriend Angel sing a song that I felt explained my experience.
         Back to miracles, as if that story isn't enough to prove them.  Over and over again I have seen miracle happen while on my mission trips, from a Chief in a Nigerian muslim village allowing his wives and the members of his tribe, to worship the Three in One to our team in Haiti having a specific amount of money left to work with and that is the exact amount that was needed to purchase additional plates and cups for the meal service of the additional children coming to the school.  I am sure many of you have said, what a coincidence.   Why do we as Christians say that?  Why do we come and worship Sunday morning, listen to the words spoken, sing the songs that lift Him up, to only walk out the door with the same attitude as we did when we walked in?
            Something that our new Pastor, John Rice, said really hit home with me.  I found that I also do what he had done.  He shared about going to a local diner (I guess you could call Nicks a diner) and while there, during ice tea fill ups, struck up a conversation with the waitress.  He learned about her struggles, her hurts, her frustrations.  All over the time it took to get his ice tea filled.  Invited her to church.  Sowed a seed of love and caring.  One thing I have struggled with over the last 5 years of doing mission work here, is dealing with the #1 question that I always hear up my return.  What did you do, how much work did you get done.   How do I explain to people that I held a child while he slept for an hour or we walked almost 5 miles, just to move 50 cinder blocks, because the conversation on the walk, was more important that moving the blocks themselves were.  That we played Skip-Bo with some of the older Haitian boys, because them learning English and us learning Haitian was not paramount, but the fact that we laughed and shared about our lives to each other was.  The "work" we do in many cases is very important, but "I" can do the work.  It is when I slow down that "God" takes over and His work starts happening.  I have personally seen so many miracles come from those quite, seemingly mundane moments of our trip.  It is those moments, I continue to see a harvest of fruit on my return visits.  He is at work.  He still performs miracles every day.  I guess some of us are just waiting for the water to turn to wine or for the sea to turn red.
      

Where is the time going?

I looked at the calendar yesterday with the realization that I leave for Haiti in 16 days.  So much to do, still need to pack all the things that have been given to me to take down there, my carry on with enough clothes for two weeks get the Bible studies out to everyone.  While there we are completed surround with God's work, through people, songs and his Word.  Every year I have chosen (or God places it on my heart) and we do a study in the morning before breakfast and then one at night.  We want to be in His Will in all that we do.  We have seen his fingerprint on everything down there.  It is hard NOT to BELIEVE IN MIRACLES after spending time down there.  We make plans and then sit back and laugh to see how God will rearrange them for his Glory!  The study this year is..The Holy Spirit: Transformed by his presence.  So much more I want to enter, but I am still on here on the farm, so that means I have other responsibilities still.  Have to go out and do chores and work on thistles in the fields today.  Will gather thoughts today and enter more later.  God Bless you All.

July 12, 2011

Good Morning Everyone,

    Starting the countdown to Haiti 2011.  I have spoke with many of you and not everyone has FaceBook, so I have started this blog for people to track what I am doing while in Haiti.  I will try to the best of my ability, God willing we have power every day, to update.  Over  half the bags are already packed and still waiting for sewing kits, Vacation Bible School donations and the like.  Lynn Lyon asked what would we do if we don't have anymore room...I said stop asking for stuff.  We are only four people this trip, myself, Lynn Lyon, his daughter in-law Lori and his granddaughter Katie.  We wish we could take so much more with us when we go, but when a bag is full, a bag is full.  I have so many people to thanks for their donations.  First my home church in Hubbard, Nebraska.  Those wonderful ladies heard my stories and have decided to make sewing kits for the sewing school.  Then when sharing this with a friends mother, Esther Watkins, she is going through all of her sewing things and is getting a group of items to send down with them.  I have been so blessed to have a wonderful little community that I have called home all these years.  My heart will always go back to Hubbard and my earlier years.

      My church here in Chillicothe has been an amazing also.  They have helped me since my first trip 4 years ago.  Securing land for the family that God provided to me, building a house...and prayer, so much prayer.    The pre-school has collected flip flops and has drawn pictures and has pictures of everyone for me to share with the children in Montrouis.  The VBS this year will be collecting pencils and pencil sharpeners to take down.  God has really laid a lot on my heart and each year something new is being accomplished.  My dream of hiring a full time nurse for the clinic may be happening.  I have gone around and spoke at a few women's groups and have received some generous donations.  We would love to hire Rebecca.  She is a local Haitian girls who has been and is a trained nurse.  Cost to hire her for one years is $3600.  Yes you read it right.  That is $300 a month.  Of course once that money is raised we need to get the word out and have people make donations to help keep that money going to pay her.

    I still have so much to do here before getting ready to go, so will close for now.  Love to you all and thank you for all your prayers and support.

sue