Once we returned home, Rick and I knew that we had to make a decision to continue to move forward in pursuing long-term mission service in Haiti or to stay put in Sabetha, KS and let God use us here. We continued in prayer and study of the word, but we didn't talk about it much between the two of us. We were both thinking about it and I know we were praying about it, but for various reasons, we weren't quite ready to make the decision. I was busy getting re-connected with our children and getting caught up with household duties. Rick was distracted with work, travel for work and some issues within our local church.
In retrospect, we can see how God was continuing to prepare our hearts and minds. During this year, Rick has been using Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest as part of his daily devotions. If you are familiar with this book or have it, look through the devotions for September; during this month, the theme of the devotions is centered on being a missionary and being called to service. This theme continues into October as well. Through some of these devotions, Rick was being molded to follow God and answer a call to service that he heard many months ago. While Rick was seeing some direction in his devotions, I was clinging to my mantra of "I don't want to go, but I am willing if this is truly God's will for our family." For the first two weeks that we were home, I wanted a decision to be made, but I wanted Rick to make it and I would be willing to follow his lead.
During the next couple of weeks, we continued to be busy with Rick traveling for work and getting ready for the many birthdays we have in October. (Mine and Krae's on the 5th, Rick's on the 9th, our anniversary on the 7th and Selah's bday on the 19th) I was also doing some travel to be with my Dad for doctor appointments related to his cancer treatment. It was a busy time, but God was working on our hearts. Rick continued to feel led to pursue this service and I began to be overwhelmed with God asking me to step out and follow Him.
A portion of scripture that spoke to me during this time is John 21. Simon Peter and some of the other disciples had gone about their own business and were out fishing. While on their own, they caught nothing. Then, Jesus came in the morning and told them to cast on the other side and they caught 153 fish. After they had dined, Jesus asked Peter three times (remember he denied Him three times), "Lovest thou me?" and when Peter replied that he did, Jesus instructed him to "Feed My Lambs" and "Feed My Sheep". Peter was grieved by the Lord asking him about his devotion three times and the Lord responded with:
Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow Me. John 21:18-19
Upon reflection of this passage, I had to ask myself if I was following God or just willing to follow my husband. If we love our Lord Jesus, are we willing to feed HIS sheep in the place that he asks us to go? The future of mission service may be uncertain and fearful, but if God is directing it, we can confidently follow Christ! I came to the realization that God wasn't asking me to follow my husband in mission service, but to step out beside Rick and serve with him. Yes, Rick was called first, but God was calling both of us along with our family. For the next few days, I was consumed by these thoughts and the realization that it was God's will for our family to serve in Haiti.
I don't remember the exact day, yet I remember that it was in early October. Rick came home after being gone and I was about to burst - I knew that we needed to move forward, but I didn't want to tell him. All he had to do was look at me and I think he knew what was in my heart. Rick's words to me were, "We aren't going to get away from this, are we?" We talked some more and realized that we had both been feeling the same overwhelming guidance to move forward into mission service in Haiti.
We continued to pray and talk about our decision for a few more days, then we contacted the members of the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board (many of them were in Haiti at the time for a meeting) to let them know that we were willing to enter mission service at Hospital Lumiere in Haiti if they felt we were qualified to serve there.
Rick and I met with the board in early November and at that time we were approved for missionary service and Rick was appointed to serve as the Hospital Administrator at Hospital Lumiere. This appointed was announced on November 16th.
Ironically, November 16th was the day we learned that my Dad's cancer had progressed and that surgery was no longer an option for him. The next post tells more about my Dad.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Our Visit
Our trip was scheduled for August 27 - September 7, 2012. A few days before our departure, Hurricane Isaac started churning in the Atlantic. The Hurricane hit Haiti a couple of days before our departure date, and was expected to hit Miami on the day we were scheduled to fly there and stay overnight before flying to Haiti. To avoid delays or being stranded somewhere, we delayed our departure by two day and left our home in Kansas on the morning of August 29th.
We did encounter delays due to mechanical issues in Dallas and did not arrive in Miami until about 11 PM. By the time we got to our hotel, checked in and got settled for the night it was after midnight. Normally, this would not have been an issue; however, we were booked on the 6:15 AM flight from Miami to Port-Au-Prince and needed to leave our hotel by about 4 AM. Needless to say, it was a very short night and we did not get much sleep.
We met up with our traveling companions in the morning. We traveled with Bro. Bob and Sis. Sue Beebe from South Bend, Indiana. Bob is the executive director and interim administrator at Hospital Lumiere. At the airport, we also met up with an electrical team that was traveling down to work on the Hydro-Electric Plant at Hospital Lumiere.
Our flight was uneventful and all of our luggage arrived with us. We had a hired driver in a small van for the trip from the airport in Port-Au-Prince to Hospital Lumiere at Bonne Fin. Our driver was an excellent driver and we had a good drive without any blown tires, roadblocks or other obstacles that are common in Haiti. The drive from the airport in Port-Au-Prince to Bonne Fin is a little under 200 km (125 miles), but normally takes about 5-6 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
I will mention that our 10-month-old baby did quite well with the trip. As long as she was fed when needed and could fall asleep when tired, she was great.
We arrived on the Hospital Lumiere Campus in the afternoon and I had the chance to get settled at the Guest House while Rick went up to the hospital with Bob. Our group met up with Bro. Lon Butikofer and Mike Briggs who both made the trip on the 27th despite the Hurricane. Lon is CEO of Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa and serves on the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board. Mike works with Lon in Iowa and came to assist with system development at the hospital.
We did encounter delays due to mechanical issues in Dallas and did not arrive in Miami until about 11 PM. By the time we got to our hotel, checked in and got settled for the night it was after midnight. Normally, this would not have been an issue; however, we were booked on the 6:15 AM flight from Miami to Port-Au-Prince and needed to leave our hotel by about 4 AM. Needless to say, it was a very short night and we did not get much sleep.
We met up with our traveling companions in the morning. We traveled with Bro. Bob and Sis. Sue Beebe from South Bend, Indiana. Bob is the executive director and interim administrator at Hospital Lumiere. At the airport, we also met up with an electrical team that was traveling down to work on the Hydro-Electric Plant at Hospital Lumiere.
Our flight was uneventful and all of our luggage arrived with us. We had a hired driver in a small van for the trip from the airport in Port-Au-Prince to Hospital Lumiere at Bonne Fin. Our driver was an excellent driver and we had a good drive without any blown tires, roadblocks or other obstacles that are common in Haiti. The drive from the airport in Port-Au-Prince to Bonne Fin is a little under 200 km (125 miles), but normally takes about 5-6 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
I will mention that our 10-month-old baby did quite well with the trip. As long as she was fed when needed and could fall asleep when tired, she was great.
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| Selah sleeping in my arms on the airplane |
We arrived on the Hospital Lumiere Campus in the afternoon and I had the chance to get settled at the Guest House while Rick went up to the hospital with Bob. Our group met up with Bro. Lon Butikofer and Mike Briggs who both made the trip on the 27th despite the Hurricane. Lon is CEO of Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa and serves on the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board. Mike works with Lon in Iowa and came to assist with system development at the hospital.
We also met the Pfister family. They have been serving as missionaries in Haiti for several years. They were in Les Cayes with Loving Shepard Ministries for two years, then went home to the states for several months and returned to Haiti to serve at Hospital Lumiere in February 2012. Rich Pfister is the Director of Operations at the hospital, his wife is Amber and they have 5 children. At this writing, they are expecting their sixth child (June 2013), but we did not know about it when we were there. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them.
The first couple of days were a bit hard for me. After our short night in Miami, I was completely exhausted, but still did not sleep well for the first few nights because of the Ra Ra Bands, plus there was just so much to take in. At one point during our second night there, I had what I will call an anxiety attack; my heart was racing, I was breathing heavily and I was in a panic. I could feel Satan trying to intimidate me! Of course, I was fervently praying and was able to find comfort and peace in the Lord.
On Saturday, our 3rd day in Haiti, I was able to go with Amber Pfister into Les Cayes to get groceries and supplies. This was a great excursion for me and helped me to see how the missionary wives/mothers get supplies for their households. On the way, we drove by the open air market that is two miles down the mountain. Market days fall on Wednesday and Saturday; it was interesting to see the market and all the people walking on the road to get there with their goods. After most of our errands were complete, we had to make a mad dash back to the hospital to take one of the doctors back to attend to a woman in labor with the baby in the breach position. I was quite impressed with Amber's "Haitian" driving skills.
We visited Rainbow beach in the afternoon with the other team members and the Pfister family. It was a perfect day at the beach and we enjoyed getting our feet wet in the ocean and a dinner of Haitian Lobster and Fish on the beach.
On Sunday, we attended services at the MEBSH church that is adjacent to the hospital. While we were not able to understand the message, the evidence of the Holy Spirit was there in the songs of worship of our Lord and on the faces of those in attendance. In the afternoon, we had a typical Apostolic Christian service led by Bro. Jon Zeller from Morton, IL. Jon was part of the electrical team. Bro. Tim & Sis. Joan Reinhard came up from Les Cayes along with Bro. Eric and Sis. Jami Hartzler and their families to worship and fellowship with us. After this day of spiritual refreshment, my comfort level with being in Haiti began to move in a positive direction.
Tim & Joan Reinhard have served as missionaries and lived in Les Cayes for many years. Along with the work they do for MEBSH, they are vital to the in-country training and orientation of new Apostolic Christian missionaries that come to serve in southern Haiti. Eric and Jami were living in Les Cayes at this time and participating in language training and cultural training. In October, the Hartzlers and their 4 children moved to Bonne Fin where Eric assumed his duties as the Patient Care Manager. They are expecting a new baby in January 2013.
During the next few days, Rick was able to observe more at the hospital and was able to spend some time down at the Hydro-Electric plant to see how it functions and understand the issues that need to be addressed there.
On Monday, we toured some of the dwellings on the Hospital Lumiere Campus that could be used for missionary housing. These homes will need to be renovated, so if you have a heart to serve on a week long construction team, there are plenty of opportunities. On that note, there are also many renovation needs at the hospital and for staff housing as well. If you are interested, let us know and we can get you in touch with the appropriate contacts.
On Tuesday, we traveled to Les Cayes to tour some medical facilities and to meet with some of administrators of these facilities. We had a bit of a delay in Cavallion because a semi had crashed and the trailer was lying on it's side across the road at the bridge over the river.
Rich Pfister was driving that day and tried to find alternative routes, but was unable to find a place to cross the river. After about 1.5 hours, the truck was cleared from the roadway and we were able to be on our way.
While the men were in meetings in the morning, I was able to spend time with Jami Hartzler and her children. It was a great time for me to learn more about the process of moving to Haiti as a missionary and get information about the training they were doing in Les Cayes.
On Wednesday, Rick and I spent some time together at the hospital and visited about the work being done there and the challenges that lie ahead. Some of the biggest being in dealing with staff, recording and tracking of financials and renovation of the facilities. There is so much more, but these were some of the obvious ones. On the positive side, there is great infrastructure, the management team is coming together (by God's guidance) and the potential is immense.
Rick and I did some walking about the Hospital Lumiere Campus and talking about the decision we needed to make regarding long-term mission service. We felt that we would need to make a 5 year commitment to be effective in the work and we could see how our family could live and thrive in Bonne Fin. At the same time, the challenge looked overwhelming to me. My feeling at this point was that I didn't want to proceed with the commitment, but I was willing if we felt that God was leading us to it.
We traveled back to Port-Au-Prince on Thursday and stayed overnight in a very nice guest house. On Friday morning, we started the return trip and we were back home in Sabetha, KS by that night. What a joy to reunite our family after being separated for 10 days (the longest that I have been away from Mara & Krae). It was so very nice to get back home, but we had this decision looming over us. We both could see positives about going and we could see how challenging and even difficult a move would be for our family. I had plenty of objections, but above all else, we had a desire to serve God where he wanted us to be. Our prayer was for clear direction.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8
On Saturday, our 3rd day in Haiti, I was able to go with Amber Pfister into Les Cayes to get groceries and supplies. This was a great excursion for me and helped me to see how the missionary wives/mothers get supplies for their households. On the way, we drove by the open air market that is two miles down the mountain. Market days fall on Wednesday and Saturday; it was interesting to see the market and all the people walking on the road to get there with their goods. After most of our errands were complete, we had to make a mad dash back to the hospital to take one of the doctors back to attend to a woman in labor with the baby in the breach position. I was quite impressed with Amber's "Haitian" driving skills.
We visited Rainbow beach in the afternoon with the other team members and the Pfister family. It was a perfect day at the beach and we enjoyed getting our feet wet in the ocean and a dinner of Haitian Lobster and Fish on the beach.
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| Our Supper |
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| Our Supper on the Beach once it was cooked. The Lobster is on the plate at the top of the picture. |
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| The Beautiful Coast at Rainbow Beach |
Tim & Joan Reinhard have served as missionaries and lived in Les Cayes for many years. Along with the work they do for MEBSH, they are vital to the in-country training and orientation of new Apostolic Christian missionaries that come to serve in southern Haiti. Eric and Jami were living in Les Cayes at this time and participating in language training and cultural training. In October, the Hartzlers and their 4 children moved to Bonne Fin where Eric assumed his duties as the Patient Care Manager. They are expecting a new baby in January 2013.
During the next few days, Rick was able to observe more at the hospital and was able to spend some time down at the Hydro-Electric plant to see how it functions and understand the issues that need to be addressed there.
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| We didn't know it at the time, but this house will most likely be our home once we move to Bonne Fin. |
On Tuesday, we traveled to Les Cayes to tour some medical facilities and to meet with some of administrators of these facilities. We had a bit of a delay in Cavallion because a semi had crashed and the trailer was lying on it's side across the road at the bridge over the river.
While the men were in meetings in the morning, I was able to spend time with Jami Hartzler and her children. It was a great time for me to learn more about the process of moving to Haiti as a missionary and get information about the training they were doing in Les Cayes.
On Wednesday, Rick and I spent some time together at the hospital and visited about the work being done there and the challenges that lie ahead. Some of the biggest being in dealing with staff, recording and tracking of financials and renovation of the facilities. There is so much more, but these were some of the obvious ones. On the positive side, there is great infrastructure, the management team is coming together (by God's guidance) and the potential is immense.
Rick and I did some walking about the Hospital Lumiere Campus and talking about the decision we needed to make regarding long-term mission service. We felt that we would need to make a 5 year commitment to be effective in the work and we could see how our family could live and thrive in Bonne Fin. At the same time, the challenge looked overwhelming to me. My feeling at this point was that I didn't want to proceed with the commitment, but I was willing if we felt that God was leading us to it.
We traveled back to Port-Au-Prince on Thursday and stayed overnight in a very nice guest house. On Friday morning, we started the return trip and we were back home in Sabetha, KS by that night. What a joy to reunite our family after being separated for 10 days (the longest that I have been away from Mara & Krae). It was so very nice to get back home, but we had this decision looming over us. We both could see positives about going and we could see how challenging and even difficult a move would be for our family. I had plenty of objections, but above all else, we had a desire to serve God where he wanted us to be. Our prayer was for clear direction.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8
A few more pictures from our trip!
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| Selah with her new Friends! |
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| Rick and Selah getting their feet wet in the ocean |
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| The Market that is about 2 miles from Bonne Fin |
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| Nurses station in area of hospital that has not been renovated. Notice the nursing staff is just sitting around which is rather common. |
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| A renovated part of the hospital. |
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| Our transportation for most of the week |
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| The Guest House in Bonne Fin |
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Preparing to Visit
During the summer months of 2012, we made arrangements to travel to Hospital Lumiere on a survey trip at the end of August.
We continued to be prayerful and continued to feel God leading us to consider mission service. At the same time, it seemed that several situations were causing extra stress in our lives. There wasn't any one big thing, but there were several things such as my Dad's diagnosis and treatment for gastric cancer, issues and divisions within our local and national church, Rick's computer crashing and the 70 hours it took for him to get a functioning computer. There were other little things too, but these were the issues that weighed the heaviest on our hearts and minds. After an especially stressful period in early August, I told Rick that I believed we were under attack by Satan. We had been counseled during our early interviews in the missionary placement process to be ready for Satan's attack as we sought to follow God and His plan for our lives. We believed that this might happen, but we had no idea how intense it would be when the attack came. Once we realized how Satan was trying to disrupt our peace and distract us from focusing on where God wanted us to be, we asked God to protect us with His whole armour that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:10-12
I also found myself saying, "In the name of Jesus, get thee behind me, Satan!
We felt the power of His might and were able to regain our focus. This early attack also helped me to realize that God's plan for us might actually be a move to Haiti. I know this sounds strange since we had been praying about it for many months, but we were taking this journey one step at a time and would not have been surprised if God led us in another direction. In fact, my selfish will wanted it to be an exploration of mission service - maybe to influence someone else - and not mission service for our family. In some way, I felt assured that we were truly seeking to follow God. If we were seeking to serve self, the devil would leave us alone to stumble and fall down the wrong path into confusion. The realization that he was trying to distract us made our focus on God more determined and more clear.
The preparations for the trip continued and my emotions ranged from excitement to anxiety to overwhelming awe to fear to love and peace. I made my lists and packed for all of us; Rick, Selah and myself to go to Haiti and for Mara and Krae to stay with Grandpa and Grandma Aberle. The physical arrangements were the easy part, but we also had to prepare our hearts and minds spiritually. We spent a good deal of time in study of God's Word and in prayer. I personally prayed for love of the Haitian people to develop in my heart. I also prayed for strength and protection as our family was separated. I found myself in the Psalms often and Psalms 121 spoke to my heart. Each verse of the chapter spoke to me in a specific way that related to our upcoming trip and decisions for our family. All of a sudden, Psalms 121 was popping up everywhere for me. It was read from the pulpit, it was sung in a song, my Bible was open to it often, it was part of a devotional, etc... In these eight verses, I found comfort in the strength of the Lord to help me, to keep me from stumbling and to preserve my going out (into the mission field) and my coming back in. I praise Him for giving us His word to comfort, guide and teach us!
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon they right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalms 121:1-8
We continued to be prayerful and continued to feel God leading us to consider mission service. At the same time, it seemed that several situations were causing extra stress in our lives. There wasn't any one big thing, but there were several things such as my Dad's diagnosis and treatment for gastric cancer, issues and divisions within our local and national church, Rick's computer crashing and the 70 hours it took for him to get a functioning computer. There were other little things too, but these were the issues that weighed the heaviest on our hearts and minds. After an especially stressful period in early August, I told Rick that I believed we were under attack by Satan. We had been counseled during our early interviews in the missionary placement process to be ready for Satan's attack as we sought to follow God and His plan for our lives. We believed that this might happen, but we had no idea how intense it would be when the attack came. Once we realized how Satan was trying to disrupt our peace and distract us from focusing on where God wanted us to be, we asked God to protect us with His whole armour that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:10-12
I also found myself saying, "In the name of Jesus, get thee behind me, Satan!
We felt the power of His might and were able to regain our focus. This early attack also helped me to realize that God's plan for us might actually be a move to Haiti. I know this sounds strange since we had been praying about it for many months, but we were taking this journey one step at a time and would not have been surprised if God led us in another direction. In fact, my selfish will wanted it to be an exploration of mission service - maybe to influence someone else - and not mission service for our family. In some way, I felt assured that we were truly seeking to follow God. If we were seeking to serve self, the devil would leave us alone to stumble and fall down the wrong path into confusion. The realization that he was trying to distract us made our focus on God more determined and more clear.
The preparations for the trip continued and my emotions ranged from excitement to anxiety to overwhelming awe to fear to love and peace. I made my lists and packed for all of us; Rick, Selah and myself to go to Haiti and for Mara and Krae to stay with Grandpa and Grandma Aberle. The physical arrangements were the easy part, but we also had to prepare our hearts and minds spiritually. We spent a good deal of time in study of God's Word and in prayer. I personally prayed for love of the Haitian people to develop in my heart. I also prayed for strength and protection as our family was separated. I found myself in the Psalms often and Psalms 121 spoke to my heart. Each verse of the chapter spoke to me in a specific way that related to our upcoming trip and decisions for our family. All of a sudden, Psalms 121 was popping up everywhere for me. It was read from the pulpit, it was sung in a song, my Bible was open to it often, it was part of a devotional, etc... In these eight verses, I found comfort in the strength of the Lord to help me, to keep me from stumbling and to preserve my going out (into the mission field) and my coming back in. I praise Him for giving us His word to comfort, guide and teach us!
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon they right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalms 121:1-8
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| Some of the Beautiful Hills of Haiti. Will my help come from these hills? No - it comes from the Lord who created them, who created me and who created all of heaven and earth! |
Friday, December 14, 2012
Fears & Doubts
I can't write about our journey to mission service without mentioning some of the fears and concerns that have been in our minds.
From the very beginning, my biggest concerns about leaving the country were for my dad and our children. Dad was getting older and I felt a responsibility to be here to assist in his care when needed. I also knew that it would be very difficult to take our children away from all of their grandparents. There were many other reasons that moving our children to Haiti caused me great concern. So many of the activities that the kids were enjoying and that we encouraged would not be available. Such a move would mean no more violin, no more piano, no more 4-H, no more school activities, etc... While we could see some wonderful benefits of raising our family in a missionary environment, I didn't know if I was ready to give up life as we knew it.
I had to remind myself that our greatest responsibility as parents is to teach our children to have a desire to love and know Christ as their Savior. All of those other things are great, but they really are secondary. As we continue in this journey, I hope you can rejoice with us as we see how God addressed these concerns.
We were also concerned about our qualifications to be missionaries as well as hospital administrators. While Rick has many skills and talents that are applicable, what does he really know about being a hospital administrator? I write this with a smile on my face; for those of you that know Rick well and how he loves a good challenge, this might not seem like much of a concern. We both have a heart to serve, but serving as missionaries takes serving to a whole new level for us.
And then there are the small things about learning to live in a different and very poor country. I have joked about Sabetha being "in the sticks" for years, so I guess our move to the mountain country of Haiti is justly due. The conveniences of daily life will be different, our pace will be different (might be a good thing) and learning to drive there will be interesting.
The concerns are present, but we are also anticipating the joy of being vessels that God will fill with His Spirit; we want to be open to his work through us.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work.
II Timothy 2:21
From the very beginning, my biggest concerns about leaving the country were for my dad and our children. Dad was getting older and I felt a responsibility to be here to assist in his care when needed. I also knew that it would be very difficult to take our children away from all of their grandparents. There were many other reasons that moving our children to Haiti caused me great concern. So many of the activities that the kids were enjoying and that we encouraged would not be available. Such a move would mean no more violin, no more piano, no more 4-H, no more school activities, etc... While we could see some wonderful benefits of raising our family in a missionary environment, I didn't know if I was ready to give up life as we knew it.
I had to remind myself that our greatest responsibility as parents is to teach our children to have a desire to love and know Christ as their Savior. All of those other things are great, but they really are secondary. As we continue in this journey, I hope you can rejoice with us as we see how God addressed these concerns.
We were also concerned about our qualifications to be missionaries as well as hospital administrators. While Rick has many skills and talents that are applicable, what does he really know about being a hospital administrator? I write this with a smile on my face; for those of you that know Rick well and how he loves a good challenge, this might not seem like much of a concern. We both have a heart to serve, but serving as missionaries takes serving to a whole new level for us.
And then there are the small things about learning to live in a different and very poor country. I have joked about Sabetha being "in the sticks" for years, so I guess our move to the mountain country of Haiti is justly due. The conveniences of daily life will be different, our pace will be different (might be a good thing) and learning to drive there will be interesting.
The concerns are present, but we are also anticipating the joy of being vessels that God will fill with His Spirit; we want to be open to his work through us.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work.
II Timothy 2:21
Thursday, December 6, 2012
They That Wait Upon the Lord...
After we submitted our missionary questionnaires/applications and the new year began, we continued to pray for guidance and for God's will for our future to be revealed. We are a busy little family and the months slipped by without any indication that we were meant to be missionaries in Haiti. The willingness in our hearts had not changed, but we felt a bit like we were waiting for the Lord to reveal His plan for us.
Rick traveled to Haiti once again with a construction work team. He did not visit Hospital Lumiere this time, but still got a first hand look at life in Haiti. While fireworks were not ignited in his heart, the willingness to serve where God directed us continued to grow.
During this time, some opportunities were developing for Rick with his work at KSi Conveyors, Inc that he was finding challenging and exciting. We were still considering mission service and wanted to explore how God might use us, but because of several reasons, it was taking a long time for interviews to be arranged. We began to feel God might be closing the door. (which would have been very fine with us!)
In May, things came to a head. Rick was given the opportunity to move into a position at KSi as the National Sales Director. He was excited by the new challenge. We discussed this opportunity and decided that he should move forward with it. The thought of long term mission service was still out there, but we were open to the fact that God might have other plans for us. Rick made a verbal agreement to accept the position and had a contract in hand when we received an email to set-up the first round of interviews for mission service. At this point, there was a bit of frustration and confusion as to what God's plan really was for us. After a few hours and a discussion with a few brothers in faith that gave wise counsel, we decided to move forward on both fronts. Even if a commitment to long term mission service did develop, it would be a year or so before we would mobilize; Rick could still be productive in a new position.
We met with members of the Mission Committee for interviews in late May and then with members of the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board for interviews in early July. Once we completed these interviews, the idea that God might REALLY be calling us to serve in Haiti become real. I began to realize that mission service could be a reality for us and I had to examine my heart to see if I was willing to follow where God was leading. It is easy to say that we want to live in God's will and follow where he leads us, it takes humility and faith to act on it. Before a decision could be made, Rick and I needed to travel to Haiti together and take a survey trip of Hospital Lumiere and the work being done there. Our next step was to schedule a trip.
It had been 7 months since we officially started this process, 10 months since Rick had told me of the desire in his heart and 17 months since the first seed was planted. While it seemed like we were waiting on the Lord during some of this time, I am thankful for God's timing. In hindsight, if the process to this point had moved faster, I would have been completely overwhelmed. His timing is perfect!
As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord? Or who is a rock, save our God? It is god that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Psalms 18:30-33
Rick traveled to Haiti once again with a construction work team. He did not visit Hospital Lumiere this time, but still got a first hand look at life in Haiti. While fireworks were not ignited in his heart, the willingness to serve where God directed us continued to grow.
During this time, some opportunities were developing for Rick with his work at KSi Conveyors, Inc that he was finding challenging and exciting. We were still considering mission service and wanted to explore how God might use us, but because of several reasons, it was taking a long time for interviews to be arranged. We began to feel God might be closing the door. (which would have been very fine with us!)
In May, things came to a head. Rick was given the opportunity to move into a position at KSi as the National Sales Director. He was excited by the new challenge. We discussed this opportunity and decided that he should move forward with it. The thought of long term mission service was still out there, but we were open to the fact that God might have other plans for us. Rick made a verbal agreement to accept the position and had a contract in hand when we received an email to set-up the first round of interviews for mission service. At this point, there was a bit of frustration and confusion as to what God's plan really was for us. After a few hours and a discussion with a few brothers in faith that gave wise counsel, we decided to move forward on both fronts. Even if a commitment to long term mission service did develop, it would be a year or so before we would mobilize; Rick could still be productive in a new position.
We met with members of the Mission Committee for interviews in late May and then with members of the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board for interviews in early July. Once we completed these interviews, the idea that God might REALLY be calling us to serve in Haiti become real. I began to realize that mission service could be a reality for us and I had to examine my heart to see if I was willing to follow where God was leading. It is easy to say that we want to live in God's will and follow where he leads us, it takes humility and faith to act on it. Before a decision could be made, Rick and I needed to travel to Haiti together and take a survey trip of Hospital Lumiere and the work being done there. Our next step was to schedule a trip.
It had been 7 months since we officially started this process, 10 months since Rick had told me of the desire in his heart and 17 months since the first seed was planted. While it seemed like we were waiting on the Lord during some of this time, I am thankful for God's timing. In hindsight, if the process to this point had moved faster, I would have been completely overwhelmed. His timing is perfect!
As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord? Or who is a rock, save our God? It is god that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Psalms 18:30-33
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