Exciting Support Update

We've gotten several really exciting emails and phone calls from several different people with HAF, and I've been meaning to write them up in a blog, but I've been a little behind. So I apologize for this one being so long. But I wanted to make sure I included everything.

So we got a really exciting email from Mark Stuart about a week ago! He said that he really wanted to help us raise support by using the platform that they have with Audio A. He said he was thinking about making a 90 sec video of us. He said he would tell a little about us at the beginning, and then we could share our story at the end. And it sounds like they are going to show this video at their concerts! How crazy is that?! I can only imagine how many people will get to hear the story of how God has called us to follow Him to Haiti!

This is totally a God-thing! Andrew said to me in the car Wednesday morning on our way to work, "I really feel like we need to just set a date to go in March, whether we have all of our support or not. If God has called us to go, why can't we trust him for the rest of the finances. We keep saying that we trust Him, then why not step out in faith and trust?" I was thinking, ok, I guess you're right. So, then....that very same day Andrew got a phone call from Bob (the director of HAF) and he said that they would like to help us out with our financial support- from H&F!!! They would like to be able to give us a little salary! SERIOUSLY?! It was as if God was directly telling us "don't let the financial support hinder you from getting to Haiti!" It was really neat, because I feel like we had been holding on to our support with a pretty firm grip, but when we let it go and completely gave it to the Lord, (which is where it should have been in the first place) He worked it out better than we could have! Imagine that- the God of the universe can handle our battles a whole lot better than we can as humans.

And to top all of that off: we got a phone call yesterday from Drex (Mark Stuart's dad), who said that he would love to help us in any way they can as we prepare to go. They are willing to meet with us and help us to emotionally and mentally prepare for Haiti. Then he said that him and his wife were also thinking about going down in January to build us a cottage on the Grand Goave site, and get it all ready for us and baby!

So not only are we getting SO much help with support from Mark & Bob, but we're getting emotional support from people who have lived down there AND we're getting a cottage built for us in the meantime! It's undeniable that God is the perfect orchestrator!! It is just amazing to see how God is completely working out all the details right in front of our eyes! And to Him be all the glory and honor and praise!!!!

God-Send Encouragements

Ok, so I've had some really awesome conversations over the past week with some random people God has put in my path at work. 2 days ago I was talking with the pastor of one of my patients, which first of all, was kind of refreshing to be talking about the Lord at work. But secondly, through our conversation, before I even mentioned Haiti to him, he told me that he has been leading mission trips down to Haiti since the 70's. When I heard that, my jaw dropped to the floor!! Then I got to tell him about our plans to move to Haiti this Spring. He was really interested and very excited about what God is doing in our lives. And through talking with him, he gave me several couple's names to get in touch with (who run orphanages in Haiti). He told me that one of the couple's lives near a place called "Petit Goave" and they have a hospital there and really have a finely run system. Little did the Pastor know that the place where we'll be living (eventually) will be at Grand Goave- which is less than 10 miles away from Petit Goave!! God is so amazing!!!! Then....to top all of that off, he told me that they had some extra money left over in their missions budget for this month, and he really felt the Lord leading him to give it to us!!! WOW!! What an amazing divine appointment. It just continues to confirm His call on our lives. It's such an amazing feeling to know that you are right in the center of His will- there is so much peace in knowing that you are right where He wants you to be!

To top that off, God sent me another encouraging conversation today at work. One of my patients was asking me about what will happen once the baby's born, and if I'll go back to work. So I got to tell her about our plans to go to Haiti. She seemed really excited about our ministry and told me that her son is a worship pastor at a church outside of Chicago and they are really involved in missions. She asked if I had some more information that she could send to him! Then, she looked at me and asked, "can I keep in touch with you?" :-) God is so good!!!

These two conversations have just been an amazing encouragement in spite of the devil's flaming arrows of doubt and discouragement. Please pray that we would not let the devil gain a foothold by falling for his lies. Also, pray that we would be able to stay focused on Christ and His call on our lives as we continue to walk in obedience to Him. May we never allow our own desires for comfort get in the way of what God wants to do through us! Is the Gospel not worth our all? Is Christ not worthy of our all? Pray that we would continue to rely on Christ and His strength and wisdom as we prepare to make this transition.