A month has passed since our last blog. It was a great month in Ontario ... full of celebrations with family & friends honouring Christ's birth; time away with the kids to relax at a beautiful spot in the Muskokas & ring in the New Year; and a time of reflection on God's continued goodness, after three busy months of ministry.
Tuesday we arrived back in Dessalines to continue our ministry journey. We are looking forward to what God has in store! Was it hard to leave? Sure, we always are sad to say goodbye to our kids, extended family and friends, but when we consider all that Christ has done for us we are humbled and honoured that He has called us to be here.
I want to take a few minutes and share with you a blog posted on Heartline Haiti, written by John Mchoul. We found it very helpful in consideration of the ongoing publicity about Haiti's safety! It is titled: Haiti Can Be A Dangerous Place
'I often receive emails from some that would like to come to Heartline to visit and help out. We appreciate those that come with a purpose, they certainly make a difference. Often, I will hear from someone or from a group that would like to come and who ask if Haiti is safe. I usually reply back cordially and ask if God has called them to come to Haiti. And if the answer is yes, then I tell them it is safe. As safe as it was for Daniel in the lion's den and for the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace and even as safe as it was for Stephen when he was stoned to death, and ultimately as safe as it was for Christ when He died on the cross. I strongly believe that "safe" is overrated if it means will I be safe physically. The better question is, "Is it God's will for me to go?" If the answer is yes, then how much safer can you be than in God's will. Was Jesus safe? If harm comes your way, does it mean that you are not in God's will. Certainly not.
Haiti can be a very dangerous place. Those of us who live here can be in great, grave danger. We can be in danger of:
becoming numb to the cries of the poor; looking but not seeing; hearing but not listening; seeing what is but not what can be; thinking that living here is a sprint, when in reality, it's a marathon; being so practical about what we need to live, that we limit God in what we do; not totally depending on God for God's work; thinking that doing is more important than being."
We covet your prayers as we continue to serve in Haiti. Please pray that we will not become numb to the hurt around us, that we will seek God in all we do as we serve His people, and that He will use us as the vessels He created us to be.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1,2
Tuesday we arrived back in Dessalines to continue our ministry journey. We are looking forward to what God has in store! Was it hard to leave? Sure, we always are sad to say goodbye to our kids, extended family and friends, but when we consider all that Christ has done for us we are humbled and honoured that He has called us to be here.
I want to take a few minutes and share with you a blog posted on Heartline Haiti, written by John Mchoul. We found it very helpful in consideration of the ongoing publicity about Haiti's safety! It is titled: Haiti Can Be A Dangerous Place
'I often receive emails from some that would like to come to Heartline to visit and help out. We appreciate those that come with a purpose, they certainly make a difference. Often, I will hear from someone or from a group that would like to come and who ask if Haiti is safe. I usually reply back cordially and ask if God has called them to come to Haiti. And if the answer is yes, then I tell them it is safe. As safe as it was for Daniel in the lion's den and for the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace and even as safe as it was for Stephen when he was stoned to death, and ultimately as safe as it was for Christ when He died on the cross. I strongly believe that "safe" is overrated if it means will I be safe physically. The better question is, "Is it God's will for me to go?" If the answer is yes, then how much safer can you be than in God's will. Was Jesus safe? If harm comes your way, does it mean that you are not in God's will. Certainly not.
Haiti can be a very dangerous place. Those of us who live here can be in great, grave danger. We can be in danger of:
becoming numb to the cries of the poor; looking but not seeing; hearing but not listening; seeing what is but not what can be; thinking that living here is a sprint, when in reality, it's a marathon; being so practical about what we need to live, that we limit God in what we do; not totally depending on God for God's work; thinking that doing is more important than being."
We covet your prayers as we continue to serve in Haiti. Please pray that we will not become numb to the hurt around us, that we will seek God in all we do as we serve His people, and that He will use us as the vessels He created us to be.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1,2