Haiti

For the last 10 days, Ive been in Haiti doing medical work in the mountains. Last year, the trip was extremely difficult physically, spiritually and emotionally. Haiti has extreme conditions of ultimate heat and humidity, hills with a mathmatical slope which would almost be considered close to "undefined", and the worst medical cases I have seen in my entire life. Last year our medical team saw about 5 or 6 children we had to send home to die because they were septic or too far gone medicine couldn't help the neurological and physiological damage. These things really can burden your soul, especially if you are a compassionate freak like me!!! I often said I never really wanted to go back to this country.. But, when God calls...I must go. And what blessings I would have missed out on if I had not gone to Haiti this year.

Here are some highlights of God's work:
We set up a medical clinic and evangelism team. The patients would wait early in the morning at the clinic for us to get there and give them care. After they saw the doctor, the Haitians would come to the evangelism team. There we would talk to them about Jesus...and who He is in their life. We prayed over their health and ANY requests they had. One elderly woman came around the back of the clinic and said to our evangelism staff, "I don't need to see the doctor today, I need Jesus!!" So, right there under the breezy palm trees--she accepted the God who sent His son to die for her. She left with the greatest joy and it showed in her step! And we all know angels were rejoicing over a Haitian woman in Christ. I pray she reaches her whole family!!

The first day held a lot for us at clinic. My job was to go out into the crowds and evaluate the greatest health needs. I found a baby who looked extremely juandice. She was the first patient registered. The baby was 8 days old. It didn't take us long to realize, this child was septic which means a bacterial infection had entered the blood...It also meant a 50-50 chance of survival. We called a truck to take the mother and the infant to the nearest hospital to set up I.V.s to pump the baby with fluids. Monday night we got word the baby was stable. Tuesday morning, about 4 am, we got word the baby didn't make it. I was still in bed when I got the word, and I just covered my head with my sheet and closed my eyes. I was angry. I was angry because it hurt to see this tragedy AGAIN. How many times have I been before the Lord saying please please please spare these children and spare me from the empathatic grief I have for these mothers and families and children who are in pain. Another death. It must be understood that God's brought me all over the world to the most remote places and NEVER have I seen such a wave of infant deaths. This was my second time to Haiti in my whole life and now the count of infant deaths were 6 or 7. I have only been in Haiti for 20 days of my entire life, and have seen 6 or 7 infant deaths---this means many more are dying all the time!

The next day, I got to hold a child...a sweet little boy about 8 months old. I couldn't get him to laugh or smile at all the first day. Then, any time I was near him he reached for me which I absolutely adored more than anything else! I played with him, I held him up in the air, I cuddled him, I danced with him, I carried him around, I got to feed him a bottle, I burped him, we laughed and laughed at each other. My soul cannot express this joy of holding and enjoying this Haitian child.

It was then, I realized how God had allowed me to experience a characteristic of His very own image....I then understood a small portion of just how much God loved to hold the Haitian children in His arms too...and how He is holding many Haitian children in Heaven with Him now. The thought of my beautiful Saviour holding these children was breathtaking, literally. He was holding my heart, too. What comfort and resolve in my previous disappointments and anger. And what a mighty, loving, compassionate Saviour we serve. In either death or life, He is there.

There is much more to share...
God's grace and comfort made this trip one of the best of my life. And I look forward to sharing more stories soon! Thank you for your prayers.

Oh Happy Day!

Thank you for all the prayers! Im feeling much better than I did the last two weeks. I feel recovered and ready to go. Taking it easy in Haiti will be my goal!

Today is going to be a WONDERFUL day. Im going to see my pals at the bank. Can't wait...You may be reading this now and wondering where the heck I am...Im about to leave the house now! See you!!

Sick

Ive been really sick with some kind of amoeba. Today is the beginning of a let up and a ray of sunshine for me. The doctor said only bread and applesauce for me...So, Im following orders closely.

My flesh honestly does NOT want to board a plane to Haiti on Friday. The heat is seeming unbearable. Please pray for me in this matter. God has provided the funds and I know I am to go to Haiti early Friday morning.

Please pray for my body to withhold the stress of travel and heat in Haiti.

Journal Entries

I wish I could sit and post journal entry after journal entry of all that was experienced in SE Asia. My heart does not know where to begin....

In a discussion on how God was going to reach the uttermost parts of the earth, a girl asked "Well, what about that tribe up in Burma...They were rejected and then pushed out into the jungles of Thailand." Who is going to reach them? How is God going to reach them? A girl asked my roommate this question last month. Little did she know, God was sending me there to this SAME people group. Little did I know, when I arrived there, God had already built his church there. 100 years ago, God brought the gospel to the Haupai village. The villagers shared with me a song, in their language, in their church, in the middle of the uttermost ends of the earth. The song declared how God brought the gospel to their village...and how God built the church....and what God is doing now. This song is passed from generation to generation in this village. They cherish it deeply; And, oh, the joy in my soul this night to hear this song proclaiming the greatest of the same God of Heaven Ive personally known as my Savior for 19 years. They know Him the same way I know Him. This doesn't just happen. I met so many people a world apart that I could just sit and talk with about the words and desires God placed on our hearts. The words are the same. The desires are one. There is no god even comparable to Jesus Christ who reaches beyond every culture, beyond language barriers, and remote locations--and connects hearts in praise as the Holy Spirit works. Enjoy the song of redemption...

God's Hand Is Constantly Moving All Over The Earth

Thank you all for the prayers for the S.E. Asia trip. 58 Souls came to know Christ in Thailand!!
Praise God for this work!!

Here's a story for you:
A man in the jungle of Northern Thailand had been wanting a Bible for over 2 years. He sent a letter to a Bible company to receive one in his language. However, the letter never made it to the company. He has been begging God to bring him a Bible so he can devour the word.

Little did this man know and little did we know of his prayers, our medical team stumbled across a Bible store in Chaing Mai. We had found Bibles in his native language. We purchased 300 Bibles and brought them with us to the jungle village. We set up medical clinics and also taught about Christ.

By God's soverignty and grace, the man came to our clinic! We gave him glasses so he could read. Then, after recieving medical care and glasses, he came to our evangalism table--and God answered his prayer!! He finally had the Bible his heart had desperately desired. This man immediately sat down with his new glasses (with the prescription strength 1.25 sticker still on the lens) and read and read and read that Bible. I took a picture of him reading. I didn't know his story yet...But I met him in church one night when he gave a testimony of God's power of answering prayer.

Our purpose in going to the jungle of northern Thailand was to encourage believers and build the kingdom. The team came and left, but it is STILL our responsibility as Christians to specifically pray for the Huapai village. Join the work!

There is a Filipino church planter sacrificing more than we could ever imagine to help these indigenous people and build God's kingdom. His name is Bro. Sunny. He did much ground work with these people before we came to this area. Please stop now and pray for him financial blessings beyond comprehension of how God's providing, strength while he is away from his family, and a sweet closeness with Savior more and more each day.

God bless!

Creative Access Countries

Oh the stories that need to be shared....
I will call the country 'L'...and please be cautious to comment about the country due to the safety of the team and other believers...

Our team has accomplished the task in 'L'. Christ was shown through actions. We could NEVER initiate any word.We were extremely limited on sharing the gospel in 'L'. However, God did much work and prepared every step. There is no way for me to describe this right now..but will do a post when I come home with more details.

Pray for a doctor in 'L'...God knows which one. ;)
Pray for a 5 people who received the truth in print.
Please pray for communism to lift from this country so the opportunities are free.

Right now, Im in Bangkok...Getting ready to fly to Chiang Mai, then Korea then the US. Im excited to come home and share the work of God's mighty hands.

I love you all and thank you for all the comments! My heart is lifted!! I can't wait to see you all!

Crystal, if you are reading from Paris, I tried desperately to find a way to contact you and remind you I was praying for you...but had no luck. You know Im praying for you as you reach the college students for Christ!!!