Happy New Year!

2013

We know it will be a year of change, a year of God stretching us and a year that we will need to take one day at a time while following in the footsteps of Jesus!

If you are reading this blog for the first time (since we just made it public), scroll down to the bottom to start the story of our call to mission service at the beginning.  It is a long story, so I broke it up into segments that are reflected in the different posts.  

From this point, I hope to post at least once a month while we are stateside and preparing for our move.  Once we move and are living in Haiti, I will try to post once every week or two.  

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As we move into this new year, we ask for your prayers as we continue to pray for each of you, our family and friends.  I love to read Paul's epistle to the Colossians and consider his words when I pray for others.  I encourage you to read this passage and pray for us in the same way.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 
                                                                                                    Colossians 1:9-12

Dad is Called Home

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.    Isaiah 55:8-9

I start this post with this verse because it states what I know to be true in my heart, but my worrisome mind seems to forget.  

As I have said in earlier posts, one of my greatest concerns with going out into the mission field was my Dad.  I knew he would be very upset about such a move and I felt the responsibility to be here for him.  These concerns grew when Dad was diagnosed with gastric/esophageal cancer during the summer of 2012.  

Dad started chemo/radiation treatments to shrink the tumor before surgery in July. He had just finished up the scheduled treatments when we traveled to Haiti for our survey trip at the end of August.  He took a month to let his body recover and we met with his surgeon in early October regarding surgery to remove the tumor.  For various reasons, his surgery was not scheduled until November 17th.  

At a follow-up appointment with his oncologist on Tuesday, November 13th, his CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) levels were extremely high which indicated a progression of his cancer.  The oncologist ordered a CT scan to be done on Wednesday.  On Friday, November 16, (the day before his scheduled surgery) we learned that the cancer had progressed significantly throughout all of his lower abdomen.  At this point, surgery was no longer an option and his doctors were recommending hospice care.  


Interestingly, we learned the seriousness of his condition on the same day that our plans for mission service were announced.  What a mix of emotions!  It was sad to learn that Dad's time on this earth was short, yet our prayer was that he could go quickly and would not have to suffer a long and painful decline.  

I traveled the 200 miles down to Moundridge to be with Dad to meet with hospice on November 20th.  While I was there, Dad wanted to go to the funeral home and make some of the arrangements; it seemed to give him some peace of mind to have this done.  His pastor visited us that day as well and I was encouraged when she shared Psalms 121 with us as this chapter had been an inspiration and comfort to me throughout the last few months.  During my time with Dad, he expressed to me several times that he was ready to go.  I appreciated and was thankful for the peace that was evident in his heart. 

I came back home that evening, but in conversations with the hospice nurse the next day, it was determined that Dad would need round the clock care ASAP.  Unfortunately, it was the day before Thanksgiving and we were not able to arrange anything until Friday, November 23th.  Dad had some wonderful and loving neighbors that stayed with him all day and overnight on Wednesday.  On Thursday(Thanksgiving), Steve and Sue Towns were planning to visit Dad and they stayed with him all day and overnight.  Sue's parents had been like second parents to Dad when he was student at KSU and worked for them during the summers.  Dad had always thought of Sue as his sister.

I planned to travel back down on Friday and we had an appointment set-up with in-home care service providers and I planned to investigate the skilled-care nursing facilities in Moundridge as well.  My plan was to stay with Dad until we made arrangements for his care and Rick was bringing our children to see him on Saturday.  In the early morning hours of Friday, November 23rd, Steve called to tell me that Dad had passed away.  In His divine mercy, God called him home quickly.

It had only been a week since we learned of the progression of cancer so it seemed that he had gone very quickly.  Dad had expressed to me earlier in the month that he thought the cancer was changing and that his time was short.  I guess he knew what was happening with his body and he had more time to prepare than I did.  Yes, I do wish he could have seen our children again before he died, yet I learned that he was asking for Jesus to come and take him in the hours before he died.  How wonderful to go and see Jesus!  I thank God for His mercy, for His love and for His comfort.

In retrospect, I see God's hand continuing to work in our lives.  God knew my concerns and fears before He asked us to follow Him and He knew how to orchestrate the timing of lives to allow us to serve Him.  I have felt all along that God would provide for my Dad if He asked us to move to Haiti; I guess I worried most about how He would provide and I stewed with my own lack of understanding.  His ways are so much higher than my ways and His thoughts than my thoughts...

Making a Decision...

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.

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.  

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.

Our Supper 

Our Supper on the Beach once it was cooked.  The Lobster is on the plate at the top of  the picture.

The Beautiful Coast at Rainbow 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.  

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.

   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

A few more pictures from our trip!

Selah with her new Friends!

Rick and Selah getting their feet wet in the ocean

The Market that is about 2 miles from Bonne Fin

Nurses station in area of hospital that has not been renovated.
Notice the nursing staff is just sitting around  which is rather common.

A renovated part of the hospital.

Our transportation for most of the week

The Guest House in Bonne Fin

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

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!

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

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

God Prepares and Leads Our Hearts

After Rick was home from his first trip to Haiti for a few weeks, the emotion of the trip began to wear off, but the idea of mission service at Hospital Lumiere in Bonne Fin, Haiti stayed with him.  As I was caught up in my pregnancy and the preparation for another little person in our family, he kept these thoughts and prayerfully pondered them in his heart.  

During the summer months, announcements were made in church regarding staff positions at the hospital and Rick felt moved to begin considering mission service more seriously.  During the early part of September, his thoughts and daily devotions were leading him to take action, so he typed up an email to the contact at AC World Relief.  Interestingly, on the same day that he had typed the email, but before he sent it, an email message arrived that specifically addressed the need for administration staff at Hospital Lumiere.  With this direct prompting, Rick felt the time was right and he needed to send his email.

Meanwhile, I was still in the dark.  However, I received the same email from World Relief.  As I read the request and the specific position description, I got butterflies in my stomach and it wasn't the baby moving this time.  My thought was: Oh no, I hope Rick doesn't read this email.  If he reads this, he is going to want to do this.  I remembered how impressed he was by the hospital and I knew his heart to serve others.  I quickly deleted the email so he wouldn't see it in my inbox and hoped that it would get skipped over in his inbox. 

Rick sent his email and set up a phone call with Tom Hitz to discuss the plans for Hospital Lumiere and the staff needs.  Rick debated whether to tell his very pregnant wife.  I was at 34 weeks gestation.  Finally, the evening before the scheduled call, he approached me with a serious manner and said that he had a phone call scheduled with Tom Hitz for the following afternoon.  Before he could explain further, I turned to him and said, "I knew you were going to do this!"  Without Rick telling me, I knew exactly what the call was to be about and why he had scheduled it.  God had already revealed to my heart his plan, but I was too worried about self to see it and rejoice in His light on our path.

Rick wanted me to be a part of the call and my first response was NO - Absolutely not!  I can't deal with this right now, I'm about to deliver a baby!  After a few hours of getting over myself and letting God calm my fears, I agreed to listen in on the call, but I was not going to participate.  (can you imagine - I did not say a word, really!)

I did not want to even consider long term mission service; however, my experience with being called to service with the women's Bible study at the jail prepared me to be willing to listen when God calls us to serve Him.  I presented every objection that I could come up with when God called me to serve in a prison ministry and I was miserable in my rebellion to God's leading.  Once I finally got past serving self, God blessed my service at the jail and taught me to trust in His perfect plan.  Above all else, Rick and I have a desire to serve our Almighty God and to live in His perfect will for our lives.  

That first phone call provided us with more information and gave me a concept to consider and wrap my mind around.  Rick and I agreed to commit our future to prayer and to seek to follow God, whether that be in Sabetha, KS, Bonne Fin, Haiti or some place else.  

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.   Psalms 119:105

On October 19, 2011, our Selah Marie was born.  We were delighted to have another little person in our family and I quickly got caught up in mothering an infant along with two older children.  For the most part, I put mission service out of my mind.  Rick, on the other hand, continued to feel that we needed to move forward.  He had his application for missionary placement filled out and ready to go and I still hadn't really looked at mine. Once I started to read his and see the willingness in his heart to serve God, I knew that I had the same desire in my heart and I needed to move forward with him in this process.  I didn't want to drag my feet when God called again.    We still didn't know where this would lead, but we wanted to be willing to go where the Lord sent us.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:  I will guide thee with mine eye.     Psalms 32:8


Rick submitted his application around the end of the year of 2011 and I sent mine in about one month later at the end of January 2012.  At this point, we felt that we had answered God's call to explore mission service, but we really did not have a clear vision of where it would lead us.  We stepped out in faith and waited for God to light the path for our next steps.

It All Started With A Hat...

Are you intrigued?  This does start out a bit silly, but stick with me and you will see the connection.

In 2010, our family went on our first big family vacation to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  While we were in Hill City waiting to board the 1880 Steam Train, Rick ran back to our vehicle to get a camera and saw a leather hat in a store.  When we returned to our vehicle after the train ride, he asked me to enter the store to see something.  This was our conversation:

Rick:  What do you think about this hat?
Komari:  It's a nice hat.  Is this what you wanted me to see?
Rick:  Yeah, should I get this hat? (As he is trying it on)
Komari:  Why?  It's a cool hat, but when would you wear it?
Rick:  I could wear it to mow the lawn.
Komari:  You won't wear that to mow the lawn! (just a bit sarcastic)
Rick:  I would wear it on a mission trip.
Komari:  Are you going on a mission trip?
Rick:  Someday...   ...I've wanted a hat like this since I was in high school.
Komari:  If you really want the hat, go ahead and get it.  (to herself: I don't think he will ever wear it, but whatever.)

He did get the hat and after it sat on the closet shelf for a couple of months, a mission trip to Haiti was announced in church.  Rick's birthday was coming up; I knew he would enjoy being part of a construction mission trip in Haiti and he could take that hat!!  So, I committed him to go, paid the fees and the kids and I gave him a card on his birthday with all the details.  

In February 2011, Rick (and the hat) traveled with John and Cornelia Aberle and the team they led to serve Palm Grove Missions in Haiti.  While in Haiti, the team had the opportunity to visit our sister in faith, Sheila Moser, who was serving at Hospital Lumiere in Bonne Fin.  Rick had heard about the hospital, but was surprised by the infrastructure and potential that he saw there.  He came away with a positive impression and shared with Sheila the potential that he saw and his excitement that our church was getting more involved in the management of the facility.  She suggested he pray about serving there.

Once Rick was back home, he shared with me his thoughts about Hospital Lumiere.  Before he got to the part where he wanted to ask me to consider praying about service there, I dropped a bit of a bombshell.  He came home to find out that we were expecting a baby.  Once I shared that I thought I was pregnant (at 40), he felt it might be better to keep his thoughts to himself regarding mission service in a foreign country.  (Wise Man)  

As we look back, we see how God planted this seed in his heart and how God chose the correct timing to let that seed sprout and grow into a willingness and desire to serve Him. 

See the next post for more of the story...

Why a Blog?

Welcome!  As we prepare to follow God's leading and enter long term mission service in Haiti, we have talked about how to best communicate with our loved ones.  While we are not huge fans of blogs and we have a lot to learn about being bloggers, we felt a blog would be the most convenient option for us and for those who want to stay in touch with us.  If you would like to receive email notifications when we post a new entry, enter your email address at the top and click submit; otherwise, feel free to check in when it is convenient for you.  We hope to post once every week or two once we move to Haiti.

We appreciate the support and prayers of our family and friends so very much.  You are a vital part of our success as missionaries serving in the field.  It is our hope that the information shared on this blog will help keep our hearts and minds bound together in the common purpose of serving and giving glory to God.  

Thank you for joining us on this adventure!