As we travelled to Port au Prince this week for groceries and other supplies, a 3+ hour journey, we were reminded once again of how much we have to be thankful for.  Yes ... we could grumble ... what an inconvenience to travel so far ... over rough and bumpy roads ... to have to purchase our groceries to last the next four weeks ...but all we have to do is look around us and realize how truly fortunate we are!!

True thankfulness:
for a comfortable vehicle to travel in ... while many can only go as far as their feet will carry them
for funds to buy a months supply of food ... while many don't have enough to get them through the day
for a home with cupboards to stock our food supply in ... while most have one shared room with meager shelving
for electricity to run our fridge and keep our food from spoiling ... while many have no electricity
for a soft bed to lay our weary heads ... while many make their bed on the hard ground
for a roof over our heads that keeps us dry ... while many have roofs severely damaged by the hurricanes

The list is endless of the many, many things that make our life comfortable. We are not hard done by serving in Haiti.  God has reminded Burt and I over and over not to justify our blessed existence and turn a blind eye to those truly in need. 

1 John 3:16-20 tells us ..."This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than hearts, and he knows everything." 

So when the knocks came at the door this afternoon, as we finished unpacking our abundance of groceries, our hearts were convicted to help Lina, a young mother and wife who has been sick for several days and needs treatment at the hospital. To reach out to Celibien, who is leaving for school in Port au Prince because others believe he has hope for a bright future, and to financially aid Gerlene, who works so hard for us at the apartment, so that her two boys can continue with their education.  Haiti is changing, one life at a time.  Sustainability is being displayed by furthering education, and realizing the value of work through earning an income.  Our prayer is that we never take for granted our rich state, and wherever we are planted that we look around and lay down our lives for our brothers.  'Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day ... teach a man to fish and you feed him for life!'  We thank you for your prayers and support.  Please continue to pray for our friends in Haiti.

Hurricane Sandy (I'm not sure where they came up with that name!!) poured buckets of rain on Haiti, creating havoc in the village to houses, roads, and crops!! On the third day of rain, despite the weather circumstances, Burt had the privilege of driving the SW medical team to a remote village clinic in Nial.  (You can see above the conditions of the roads!)  This clinic served a great purpose in providing many with medical care, however it became evident that God had an even greater purpose!   A 40 year old man had come to the clinic to be treated for shingles, he was very downtrodden and the doctor found out that he had lost his wife in July and had been unable to attend the funeral due to his poor health.  Life had become a huge burden for him.  Through counsel, prayer and God's direction this man accepted Christ that day in the clinic.  He left the clinic a different man then when he entered, not only with physical healing but with the greatest gift ~ spiritual healing.  Later that same day, he returned.  This time, with his brother who also wanted to know Christ.  What joy the team experienced to lead the brother to the Lord as well ... and what joy the men had in their hearts!  The two men were instructed that now they could go out into their village and share the good news of Jesus.

In conclusion, many of you are aware of Burt's penny story.  God gave Burt an analogy several months before we left.  It goes like this: In today's society we discard pennies, and they will, in a few short years, be discontinued as they cost more than they are worth.  God laid on his heart how in many ways we treat lost souls the same way ... casting them aside as worthless.  He asked our church family to contribute any pennies they had, and the pennies would be a reminder to Burt & I, of the many who need to hear the good news of the gospel.  That day we had a beautiful reminder ... Burt brought a small jar of pennies down as a visual, it sits in our living room, along with a wood cross that my niece Julie painted for us.  Before he left for the clinic he opened the jar and picked 3 to put in his pocket.  When he shared with me that evening, we marveled at the great reminder God had provided ... 2 lives were touched by God's saving grace ... but there is always one more to be reached.  He also was vividly reminded that he was a 'tool' that day, only the driver who took the med team to the clinic, but no matter how insequential his task seemed, God uses many to complete His story.  So no matter where life takes you, and no matter how insignificant your lot seems, remember there is always a 3rd penny waiting for you to share the good news!

Please keep these two men in your prayers that they will receive further discipleship and training through the local church.

P.S. ~ an evangelistic team was here this week and when Burt shared the penny story with them, they all asked if they could have a penny for their pocket.  That evening when they returned from their day in the village, a family of 3 had come to know the Lord and the next day another 2!

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.