Preparations

Boys Bible Study

Preparations...

James 4:13-14 - Now listen, you who say, "today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

There are so many things we prepare for in life.  Today at Grace Village we find ourselves preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac.  Will it hit Haiti?  What time will it strike?  What supplies do we need?  What is our storm policy?  This kind of preparation is for a moment or day in our life.

We also prepare for spiritual storms.  As a family, we have been studying Ephesians 6:10-18.  These verses instruct us how to prepare spiritually for life and how each piece of armor has a purpose!  It is our choice daily to secure the armor of God so that when, not if, we get attacked or hit, we can stand firm.  Discipleship is not an option here in Grace Village, it is our daily way of life.  "Oh the joy that floods my soul as the sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart".

Robb and FanFan

Many of you have been blessed as I, to know and minister in Haiti with our brother FanFan Larame.  Over the past weeks, FanFan and I have prayed, preached, worshiped, cried, and laughed a lot!  My wonderful brother is getting married to Miss Julie Salzmann, a beautiful Christian woman that is also in ministry to the lost in Haiti.  We are so happy and excited for Fanfan and Julie to begin their life together, but also feel stretched to know we will be missing him here at Grace Village.  We love you Fanfan and Julie and pray that God will continue to pour out His Blessings as you move into this new ministry.

I have a reason to sing...

As I washed laundry this morning, I listened to a song called "Desert Song" by Natalie Grant.  The words have so much meaning to our family here in Haiti but also speaks of the people of Haiti with whom we worship:

This is my prayer in the desert,
When all that's within me feels dry.
This is my prayer in the hunger in me,
My God is a God who provides.

This is my prayer in the fire,
In weakness or trial or pain.
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold,
So refine me Lord through the flames.

I will bring praise, I will bring praise.
No weapon formed against me shall remain.
I will rejoice, I will declare,
God is my victory
And He is here!

God is indeed here in Haiti.  These wonderful children at Grace Village bring praise and rejoice every day, many times in the day.  They live without so much and still they praise God!  Every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night, adults and children from Titanyen come to Grace Village to worship.  They bring praise and rejoice every time!  May we never fail to bring God praise!

Praise and worship - morning, noon and night!

Prayers before bed.

Oh the amazing sunsets God paints in the sky!

Scorpions and Blessings!

Thank you Slumberland!

Our first 2 weeks at Grace Village have been filled with many blessings, opportunities and surprises!  We have settled into our house and are so thankful for our home.  The beautiful furniture donated by Slumberland arrived safely and it was fun to unpack it from the storage container.

While the days are hot and sunny, the nights are cooler and often there is a 30 minute thunderstorm that brings a bit of rain.  We are thankful for the fans each night to lull us to sleep.

Each morning we are greeted with the children's worship singing after breakfast.  Every evening we join them for worship before bed.  Robb enjoys praying with the children at night and tucking them into bed.

Our little neighbor : )

Ben loves the wildlife we are discovering right in our home... scorpions, crickets, grasshoppers and even a 4 inch centipede!  What he really loves is chasing the little pink lizards.


We were extremely BLESSED last week when a team from Rockpoint Church came to serve.  They were all part of the worship band at the Church service last Sunday, but left that afternoon after a great prayer time together.  Many of the students prayed that God's Spirit would move to bring many to make decisions to follow Jesus.  That night after they returned to Port-au-Prince we shared the Gospel at a gathering and 22 street kids from Titanyen made decisions to follow Jesus!  We are amazed daily by how God is moving and providing opportunities to share the Gospel and we have only been here a few weeks!  Pray for those 22 kids that met Jesus at GV!

Morgan reading in the hammock on the back patio.

Ben's new barber!

We have arrived!

After months of prayer, planning, and preparation, we have arrived at our new home at Grace Village in Titanyen, Haiti!  It was so sweet to see the children and staff again and to meet the new children.

Our house is not quite ready, so Jessica and Alli (2 other missionaries at Grace Village) were so kind to get two rooms ready for us to bunk in until our house is complete.

Packing It Up

Our final day of packing... July 3, 2012.  

Everything is tucked in the basement.

The bags are packed for the flight to Haiti... July 9th, 2012

Farewell Sunday at Rockpoint Church

 

June 24th was our farewell Sunday at Rockpoint Church.  Oh, we feel so loved and blessed by our church family!  It was a wonderful morning followed by a backyard picnic of hot dogs and root beer floats.  Thank you to everyone for making it a special time for our family... our hearts are filled to overflowing! 

Last Day of School in the USA

 

Oh, the joy of the last day of school... June 8, 2012.  Morgan asked me to take her picture walking to the bus for the last day of Junior High in the US!  Benjamin finished his last day of elementary school in the US too : )


Next year, Morgan will be in the 8th grade and Benjamin will be in the 5th grade in Haiti.  They will be home-schooled and Mom & Dad will be their new teachers!!!


It was also Jennifer's last day of school/work at Rutherford Elementary.  It was a bittersweet day as she said goodbye to her co-workers and students.


Our Stillwater tradition is to celebrate the last day of school with a Lumberjack at Nelson's Ice Cream!  We will find a new tradition at Grace Village!