Rob ~ Praying for Missionaries @ Starbucks!

Today, I was working on my computer at Starbucks.  I had Chris Tomlin's latest piped through my head phones, negating the distractions of my fellow patrons.  For whatever reason, my attention was drawn to the title of a novel on the shelf next to me... The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.  I have not read the book and really have no idea what it is about, but it got me thinking...  It got me praying, right there in Starbucks...

Missionaries on the field are always "racing in the rain".  Everyday.

You may have heard RMI missionary Billy Moses singing the song he wrote upon arriving on the field, "Everything is Broken"...  Same idea, "racing in the rain".  A perfect metaphor, at least in my mind.

Their experience and existence necessitates our prayers.  They are truly on the battlefield, dealing with the stresses of life in a third world context that we in the comforts of our home simply cannot fathom.  Lack of finances, both personal and ministry are a constant burden carried.  Relational strain, just like we encounter, within the context of team mates and colleagues from other agencies is of constant concern.  Lack of spiritual input (church, small group, SS class, friends, even from books) has them weak and weary.   Fellowship with others in general is limited at best.  The absence of the felicities of life that we all enjoy must be disheartening (consider having no ice cream!).   Equipment is always broken and in need of repair, with no Home Depot around the corner.  The constant strain from the surrounding pain and despair must be overwhelming.   The desire to help others, but a limited capacity to do so must wear them out.  Time away from the family while traveling is the norm. This is only the genesis of their struggle.... They are stretched beyond their capacities.  They are "racing in the rain".

Will you pray with me for our RMI Missionaries?  For Billy and Debbie Moses?  For Gary and Marilyn McLaughlin?  For Jenn Rogan?

Rob

Lake Mirogoane & Travel

Well, the new lake that formed back in September with all the hurricanes that came through is still a lake and it is still there. It is right in the middle of the road and has caused so much trouble for everyone.  I hear stories of all the chaos going on in that area. It is where the road comes to an end and no one has anywhere to go except to wait on the next boat going across either to Port or headed out our way.  I can imagine the mass confusion going on.

We have had trouble with getting fuel out here in Cayes where we live.  We have cut back the hours on the generator in order to preserve fuel here on the mission center and we don't drive the motorcycles or vehicles unless we absolutely have to. We combine trips to town to get supplies for several families in order to preserve.  We think about what we are doing before we do it in order to be as efficient as we can and as good stewards as we can with what we have to work with. I have to ask myself....why don't we do this all the time?

In this day and age of extremely high prices and very little for your dollar, why aren't we conserving in every area that we can?  Why do we wait for a crisis to look for ways that we can cut back?  Sure I look for a bargain here and there, but when I want to use my 4 wheeler, I don't think twice about jumping on it and running to the store or over to the office or someone's home.  I could use my feet just as easily and the exercise would do me good.

Well, we did get some fuel in on Saturday, enough to last 30 days if we are careful.  I don't know when the road will be open to Port and things will start flowing smoothly again.  Things move at a snails pace around here in that area. It seems to take forever to get something repaired/restored. This was major as the lake isn't moving...the road has to be moved.

We will keep you updated as the progress continues.

Monday September 29, 2008 ~ Hope For Kidz at Boyer

This morning Benson Joseph, our RMI HFKz representative, came out on a motorcycle to help translate for the children in the Boyer School.  The children were so happy to meet their new Sister Church and sing some songs for them.  The school director talked with the team and shared a little about the children and what they do in the school.  It was a good time for all. 

Later in the afternoon after lunch, we went up the road a piece to visit one of the other churches in the district.  We did another prayer walk and met many people in the community.

This evening the deacons of Boyer Church met with the leadership from Church on the Cape and shared prayer needs.

During the deacons meeting, one of Pastor Sony's (Boyer Church Pastor) children taught some of the team members how to play a Haitian card game.  I was asked to explain the rules which stretched my Creole vocabulary and it was a lot of fun.  We all went away knowing a lot more than when we started.  I have tried many times to play this particular game with my girls and have never been able to beat them.  I now understand the rules very well and will look forward to trying my hand with them again.

September 28, 2008 ~ Sunday Morning at Boyer

The Sunday morning service was full of praise and worship as the Boyer Church in Haiti and the Leaders from Church on the Cape came together for the first time.  It was the first of many firsts this week and the beginning of a wonderful relationship based in Jesus Christ our Lord. The service consisted of greetings from each of the team members, greetings from the RMI Staff and lots of singing and praising.  I realized just how long the service was when Billy & I went up to give our greeting and I greeted the church with "Good Afternoon" instead of "Good Morning"...yes, it was just after 12:00pm and the message was still yet to be given.  It was a good time of beginnings and the team enjoyed getting to know their new Haitian brothers and sisters. 

After a wonderful lunch and a short rest we went on a prayer walk through the village.  We prayed for sick people and for the community, that many would come to know Christ as their Lord & Savior.  We also invited everyone to come to the service tonight to see the Jesus film and hear the Gospel.

Later in the evening service, there were about 350 people who came to see the film and hear the message.  It was a great time of fellowship and another first for Boyer Church.

1st day at Boyer ~ Saturday Sept. 27th, 2008

Well,  we arrived at Boyer about 4:00pm this afternoon.  A group from the Boyer church along with the Pastor came and met us about 1/4 mile from the church and we walked in together.  There were a couple of drums and the Haitian people were singing praise songs as we walked on into town together.  It was exciting to see people from two very different cultures come together and show their love for one another even though none of them had ever met.    We had a short greeting from both the Haitian Pastor and the US Pastor.  Billy, Gary & Pastor Jean Chery (Our RMI Liason Pastor) greeted the church.  We spent a little time finding our rooms where we would sleep and getting settled in and then we were served a wonderful meal.  We ate goat, rice, fried plantain, carrots, potatoes and avocado.  We had fresh squeezed orange juice to drink.  It was a great meal and a wonderful welcome for the US team.  We are relaxing tonight and preparing for church tomorrow where we will get to meet the rest of the body of Boyer church. 

Church on the Cape

We are headed out to a new sister church today.  The US church is from Wilmington NC and they are going to their sister church in Boyer Haiti. 
We are excited about their visit and are looking forward to many years with them as they begin this wonderful adventure.

We will be out in the countryside so we won't have Internet. I will be doing posts about the trip, but they won't be on the blog until we return next week.

The girls are staying here at the mission center with Josette (our nanny).  I am sure they will have a blast as they usually do.  Hopefully they will get some of their school work done.

Y'all have fun now!

HOT & HUMID!!!

Well, it seems that the storms have slowed a bit and the sun is shining. YIPPEE!!! Things are finally beginning to dry out.  There were about 3 weeks there that we thought we were going to float away.  After Hanna left, we had Ike to deal with. Ike dumped buckets and buckets of water on us and just added insult to injury. It has been a very wet month. What we call the "rainy season" won't really be here for a couple more weeks, but I am hoping that we have had it early.  We will see what lies ahead.

The heat here has been...well let me just say HOT!!! The humidity has been horrendous.  You have a thick layer of sweat on your body all the time and you just can't get away from it. This happens if you are just sitting still not doing anything. If you get up and move around in anyway, the sweat just starts pouring.  It amazes me how many showers I can take in one day and still be hot and sweaty.  Cooler weather is on its way, but not for a little while.  We will see what October holds in the way of rain and then things will begin to cool down some for the winter.  I am really hoping that the rains have already come and we are finished with that for a while, but I am not counting on it.

More to come.....