Christmas Update

     At the outset of our mission to Haiti, time seemed to stand still somedays. All our experiences could be drawn out each day, thoroughly enjoyed and reflected upon. As time draws to a close, we feel speed picking up again, trying to wrap up all the work we have attempted to accomplish, while carefully balancing the great need to nurture relationships with those we will leave behind. No one ever promised Haiti would be easy and we can see how people proclaim this country to be one of the tougher mission fields. We are satisfied that we answered God’s call, a great stirring in our hearts, and

we have felt the eternal blessings gained from serving His people. Haiti has been a wonderful place for us as a means of growth, sacrifice and inner-peace. Early each morning, we rise with the sun and commit personal time to prayer, bible reading and journalling. God placed us here to take this time seriously and we have been richly blessed through what He reveals to our hearts each day. Our faith has been strengthened by seeing people healed through our prayer and compassion. God has called us to live beyond the confines of “our” time and to serve openly and selflessly within the community, where it is not always the clock that matters, but precious moments. As a young couple used to spending ample time with just each other, we had some reservations being thrust into a community environment. Mysteriously, we have had abundant time to grow together, as we live and work among God’s people, even though date nights don’t exist. "Just us" time is" just everyone else" time. Truly there has been a valuable lesson to learn in all this. We will continue to let our hearts proclaim this attitude of service and community and experience rich growth in our marriage.

     During the past 4 months we have been serving with Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM). Jeremy has been teaching English to the grade 1-6 students, primarily at Blanchard School, but also a few days a week at Cite Soleil School. Each afternoon he has offered adult English classes, which have been a conversation enriching time for all the students. By furthering their English study, they will have an increased chance at finding employment in a country where the unemployment rate is at a staggering 70%.

     Stacey is the school nurse for both Blanchard and Cite Soleil School. She has been shadowed by a local nurse with the expectation that this lady will take over independently after Stacey leaves. The students have been cared for extensively, parents have been educated on how to better look after their children’s basic needs, and many problems with personal care have been rid of. Very importantly, there is now an in-depth documentation process for tracking students medical records for years to come!

     The children have been the highlight of our trip and it has been a joy to work with them. Every day they make us laugh, think, and sometimes shake our heads with their wild and energetic behavior. They really are an intense bunch! Leaving them after several months of such close contact will be very hard, especially when we don’t know if we will see them again. God has placed them under our care and direction for a time and it would be a blessing to be with them again if He wills it. We love them so much and we feel like they are a part of our family. 

     Our mission to Haiti has met some challenging points, but nothing that we complain

about here compares with the with the everyday struggles of those in poverty. We don’t live in Cite Soleil, but we live as close as you can get. People in leadership here have been robbed, many people distrust their fellow neighbor, and even we as foreigners are taught to live in fear. However, never once have we been worried about our safety, and through it all we have kept our mission at the forefront of our minds. We know without a doubt that we are his servants and that his people are our people. God is so, so good!

The Future:

     As we look ahead to traveling through Australia and serving once again in Asia, we are

hopeful that God’s good plan for us will continue to unravel. In Indonesia, Malaysia and

Thailand, we have a handful of contacts who are going to lead us through their ministries. We will be exposed to street ministry, orphan care, AIDS initiatives and church activities. We have been strongly encouraged to consider Asia as a long term assignment and it will be interesting to see how God focuses this time. Thank you to everyone who has created these divine appointments for us.

     We will arrive in Cambodia in mid-March and work at Place of Rescue, an AIDS

orphanage, for 3 months. Here we will be part of a community of children diagnosed with AIDS, and destitute grandmothers, who have been left without family due to AIDS. Our primary purpose here will be to teach English, but we already know God has much, much more in mind.

     Thank you for your support of our mission. It has been encouraging to receive financial

support, prayers, emails, Facebook messages, Skype calls and even a package! The blessings that these gifts bring enable us to keep pressing on, knowing that we have the strong covering of believers back home. Any financial gifts for travel are funneled through ACOP, of which almost half has been covered. Donations towards living expenses in Cambodia can be made through Place of Rescue. All expenses are strictly missions related.

Please continue to pray. Stacey has battled some minor health problems and we both desire to give with compassion, patience and generosity as we serve. This will demand our best, our all.

Much love to everyone, Jeremy and Stacey

Donations can be made to:

ACOP (www.acop.ca)

#119 - 2340 Pegasus Way NE

Calgary AB. T2E 8M5

(403) 273-5777

Place Of Rescue Foundation

Box 27096, RPO Tuscany

Calgary, AB T3L 2Y1

(403) 973-5470