Where He leads...: 2016

I am so thankful for the compassion and generosity of others when a disaster strikes. I often receive comments and messages asking how people can help. Hurricane Matthew's devastation of Haiti has been no exception.

Let me try to write out a concise explanation that covers the basics for those of you interested in helping out. And this is not just limited to Haiti. It applies to disaster relief anywhere in the world.

Here are two common messages I receive:

I would like to make a financial contribution. What organizations do you recommend?

When possible, support local organizations that were on the ground before the disaster and have long-term efforts already established. They have the best understanding of the needs and how to respond most effectively. They also have long-term development in mind and aren't only looking at short-term relief.

Here's one great example of an initiative taking place in Haiti right now to provide relief where it's needed most.

HURRICANE MATTHEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN: This is a collaborative effort of several grassroots organization in the Gressier and Leogane areas to make a well-measured response. We are combining our efforts and resources to make both long-term and short-term positive impacts in some of the worst hit areas in Haiti. We are performing a needs analysis based on current needs and supplies already being sent by other relief groups. Our relief efforts will focus solely on the gap between what is needed and what is already being provided. We prioritize buying locally to support Haiti. If you feel called to help with this relief effort, you can contribute finanicially through the following link: www.amoveogroup.org/hurricane-matthew-response.

Photo credit: Michael Broyles

What I love about this is that it is a combined effort of several organizations working together for maximum impact. Not only are they working together within themselves, but they are making it a priority to find out what other efforts are taking place so that relief is not duplicated and more people in need can be reached. I know these people personally and that they are doing everything they can to do things well. They are putting into practice important lessons that they learned after the 2010 earthquake. So again, if you would like to give to a reputable effort to help where it's needed most, click here to make a donation.

I am also heading up a smaller scale fundraising campaign for Hope For Life Children's Home and a few families I know in the Leogane area. If you would like to support either of those causes click here. It will automatically go towards the children's home, or if you'd like to support one of the families I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, write "families" in the "add a note" section. I can assure you that 100% of your donation will go towards those needs.

I would like to travel to Haiti to help with disaster relief. Do you know any organizations needing volunteers?

I commend your desire to want to go and serve. If you don't already have personal contacts on the ground, it's generally not easy to quickly jump on board with relief efforts. From time to time I may hear of an organization needing volunteers with specific skill sets. I try to post those needs when I learn of them. But my general answer is this... If you find your heart pounding to get involved on the ground when a disaster happens, you should look into becoming a registered volunteer with organizations that deploy volunteers. This is something you can do ahead of time and possibly get your name on a list to serve with future disaster relief efforts. If you are in the medical profession I recommend Heart To Heart International, www.hearttoheart.org/volunteer. Samaritan's Purse also has opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Occasionally they have an international DART position opportunity listed on their employment page where you can apply to get trained as a DART member. Otherwise check out their volunteer page where they'll have a list of current volunteer needs, www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/volunteer. These won't always be immediate opportunities after a disaster (unless it's in the U.S.), but if you have an interest in relief and development work in general, that's a great place to start.

I just want to say thank you to all of you who have been praying for Haiti. I have personally been encouraged knowing that so many people have been lifting up a nation so dear to my heart. And my friends in Haiti have told me how much they appreciate your prayers and concern. Please continue to pray for them as they face a long recovery. I was devastated to hear that one of my friends lost his home, as just six years ago he lost his mother, father, and two sisters in the earthquake. This disaster is reopening wounds from that terrible time, and for many people it has only piled more debris on top of the huge mountain they've already been climbing since 2010.

But there is hope and together we can make a difference. I'm reminded again of the Haitian proverb "Men anpil, chay pa lou." Many hands make light work. Let's continue to work together to help build back a stronger Haiti!

I don't want to start counting down the days, but I can definitely sense that our time here is running short. The second half of my summer is looking much different than the first. The first several weeks were spent getting used to a new place and a new routine. We were meeting people constantly and getting into the groove of what our ministry would look like here. Now we are all meeting up with people individually and in groups on a consistent basis. I've made several new friends who are all at different places in their spiritual journey.

There's one friend who I met just days after arriving here who told me during our first conversation that she is "very hungry for spiritual food." I've been trying to connect her with the local church community here. It has been interesting to see how the timing of events in her life have lined up with us meeting and me being able to encourage her during some of those challenges.

And another new friend who I volunteered with recently. She's several years older than me, but it was the first time she had experienced anything like the refugee center where we were serving. She walked away that day disappointed in humanity and how refugees are being treated around the world. I tried to share what God has taught me about loving people and being a voice for those who need someone to speak up for them. She ended the day by telling me, "Knowing that noble people like you do exist makes me process better all I have thought and felt today." Such kind words, but I'm just thankful that God allowed me to share that experience with her and offer some encouragement. I'll be seeing her again this week and I hope to have more opportunities to share how Jesus has changed my life and given me a mission to share His message of love.

And then there's Stela and Alaa who I will mention shortly...

In my last update one of the prayer requests was for our team to have more access to the refugee centers. God heard our prayers! Doors have opened wider for us in the two main centers where we were working. And new doors have opened at other centers where we've recently made contact. The big center we've been serving in is allowing us to come in 3-4 times a week for the next three weeks for several hours at a time! That's a huge increase from only having a 1.5 hour slot once a week. We are so thankful for the relationships we have made with the children and the parents. Some from our team have also befriended several teenagers, many of whom came to Belgium alone. And just today I met a young lady who has been living at the center for six months. Three months ago she gave birth to a little boy. She is not married and has no other family here. All she can do is sit and wait for her papers to be approved so she can begin a new life for her and her son. I'm reminded every day that refugees are real people with real stories of loss, heartache, and desperation. They need love. They need hope. They need someone who will take time to sit with them and listen.

It's a girl!

In my last update I asked for you to pray for my new friend Stela. If we're connected on Facebook you've also seen updates about this special family. On July 1st (two weeks ahead of her due date) baby Alexandra came into the world. I've been visiting with Stela regularly over the past several weeks. If you remember, I met Stela on her birthday, June 6th. I've never seen a face so lost and desperate on what should be a happy occasion, but I'm so thankful for the transformation I'm already seeing in Stela's life. Joy and hope are being restored as she is realizing God's abundant love for her. Her boyfriend Nicolas called me minutes after Alexandra was born. I went to visit them that day in the hospital and sat on the hospital bed with Stela for an hour, watching her cuddle with her newborn baby. Smiling as she looked at each finger, whispering to herself about Alexandra's tiny hands and the miracle of birth.

While this small family is excited about their new addition, there are still many challenges ahead. Thankfully they haven't been evicted yet, but when I visited last week there was a sign on their front door that the building would be demolished August 1st. The clock is ticking! Please pray that a door would open soon for a housing option for them. Without a legal address they cannot continue with the residency process. The second prayer request is for a permanent job for Nicolas so that they can have a steady income. Having a full-time job is also a requirement to continue his permanent residency application.

I would love to help this family in a few tangible ways while I'm still here. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus to help those in need. And while I don't believe that Stela and Nicolas are just sitting around waiting for a handout, I do feel that now more than ever they could use a little jumpstart to get them on their feet. I plan to raise some money for diapers and a stroller and anything extra I will put towards their first month's rent on a new place.

Prayer for a friend

And finally pray for a friend of mine who works at my favorite restaurant. She is a Mus1im from the Middle East. She came to Belgium one year ago. We have enjoyed getting to know each other throughout the summer. She recently hung out for a couple hours. We talked about the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity. Every chance I had I talked about God's love, the power of Jesus' sacrifice, and how following Him has forever transformed my life. When she told me that she tries to be a good person in hopes that maybe Allah will let her enter Heaven when she dies, I told her that I believe God loves us so much that He doesn't wait to see if we'll one day be "good enough". That He loves us so much He came to us through Jesus and made a way for anyone who believes to spend eternity in Heaven. And that He doesn't just wait until we die to give us good things, but when we believe in Jesus we get to experience hope and peace and love throughout our time on earth. I'm so thankful for my sweet friend and her friendship. I'm excited for more conversations and the opportunity to answer any further questions she has about my relationship with Jesus. Please pray for her as she starts a new life on her own in Belgium.

Please pray also that refugees would experience the goodness of God in the midst of their pain. And pray for refreshment and increased energy for our team as we are in our final weeks in Belgium. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement! I'm so thankful for you!

It's hard to believe that I've already been living in Belgium for over a month. It's been an adventure getting used to a new place. It took a while, but I think I finally have the metro and transit system figured out... well enough anyway!

What's been most exciting has been going deeper with the relationships we're building here. Some of you may have seen the photo a couple weeks ago on Facebook of us having dinner with a family from the Middle East. We met them at one of the centers for asylum seekers and they invited us to share their iftar meal with them. Since we're in the middle of Ramadan, Mus1ims are fasting during the day and breaking their fast with iftar at sunset—which is around 10pm in Belgium right now. We've been invited twice to share this meal with them. It's an incredible and delicious spread of food. And spending that special time with the family has been such an honor. I wish that everyone could experience this incredibly generous hospitality. My heart is forever changed.

After living in the crowded shelter for months, this family has been able to move into their own home. It's a temporary location, but you can sense their relief to finally have a place of their own. On Sunday I visited them again and began teaching English to the kids. The mom joined in as well which was great because she's learned quite a bit of English and was able to explain in Arabic the grammar I was teaching them. She's a teacher herself so it was fun to work and learn together. I also mixed in some French with the lessons because when they're finally able to attend school again in September they will be taught in French.

Can you imagine uprooting your whole family and having to learn another language (or two) just to be able to live and be productive in a completely different society from what you've been used to your whole life?! This family has shared with us one horror story after another about what it's been like for them the past several years. The father has been injured so severely that it is truly a miracle he's alive. He lost two of his brothers in the war. They've had many threats against their family and finally made the decision to attempt the risky journey to flee and start over. There are still more challenges ahead, but they're feeling a bit more hopeful each day. They shared with us that our friendship has brought them a tremendous amount of encouragement.

I'm glad we still have several more weeks to share Christ's love with them in meaningful ways. On Friday we were able to tell them the story of Jesus. It was the first time anyone had told them why Jesus died on the cross. Please continue to pray for this family as they begin a new life in Belgium. And pray for us as we go deeper in our relationship with them.

During the week our team is spread out across the city doing outreach. Sometimes we'll meet people in a coffee shop or through a service project. Other times we'll just introduce ourselves to people we meet on the street. We've been able to encourage and pray for so many people! We've also seen people being physically healed from injuries and ailments. One woman my team members met who was walking with a cane received healing. She took a step after they prayed for her and yelled, "This is impossible!" The team told her that they prayed in the name of Jesus and the woman asked, "Can I pray in the name of Jesus?" Of course our team said yes! The lady invited them to her house for dinner and they were able to share more about God's power and love.

Pray for Stela

I met Stela a few weeks ago—June 6th to be exact. It was her birthday. I didn't know it was her birthday at the time. I only knew that it was a rough day in the middle of a challenging year since moving to Belgium from Romania. When I passed her that day I had noticed her protruding belly and her sweet face and sat down to learn more about her story. The details are too complex to mention right now, but please pray for this young mother-to-be (only 19) and the difficult journey ahead as she attempts to start a new life here. She and her boyfriend will be evicted from their home in a few weeks because the building is being demolished. They have little money and nowhere else to go. I spent a few hours yesterday trying to find out what services are available in the city for their situation. Will you please pray for them as they admitted they are running out of hope? Pray for me also that I will have wisdom to know how to help. And that God would open the doors that need to be opened for them. The odds of being able to start a new and good life here are sadly not in their favor. But I want to try to do what I can to see what help can be found for them. Thank you for praying for Stela and the baby girl that we will be welcoming into the world some time around July 13th!

Thank you for your prayers! We are seeing and feeling the effects of them!

See, I am doing a new thing! Those words from Isaiah 43:19 have been replaying in my mind lately. As I think about my upcoming summer in Belgium, I recognize how different this opportunity is from anything else I've ever done. How exciting! And it's also a reminder that I'm completely relying on God to accomplish His purposes throughout my time there. I am doing all I can to prepare—studying about Is1am, learning more French, praying for our team and for those we will meet and serve, and so on. But I must admit that I do not feel particularly equipped for this assignment. I'm simply trusting in the One who called me to this "new thing" and I'm asking Him to work through me to accomplish more than I ever could my own! I know that God is going to use this summer to grow my faith and take me even deeper and further with Him.

Our Vision: Our vision is to ignite a disciple-making/church-planting movement among refugees, the Mus1im community, and native Europeans in Brussels that spreads throughout all of Europe and back into the Middle East bringing transformation of hearts and society.

The role of my team will be to build relationships within those three groups mentioned above. We'll be active in community outreach, assessing needs, partnering with other organizations, starting Bible studies, and facilitating Impact Trips (teams coming to serve in Brussels for 2-3 weeks throughout the summer). Thank you for your prayers that God will draw men and women to Himself and into a deeper relationship with Him.

Support Update: Thanks to the support of many of you, I only lack $1,075 to be fully funded for my summer in Belgium. If you feel led to help with this remaining amount, click here. And again, thank you to all who have committed to being a part of our team through your giving and prayers! We couldn't do this without you!

"The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow."
Psalm 146:9

Prayer requests:

Pray for unity and encouragement among the long-term team members
Pray for salvations within the refugee community and for our discipleship ministry
Pray for the Belgians to encounter the living God and for an increase in local believers

Your gift to ACC is tax deductible. Donations are solicited with the understanding that ACC has complete discretion and control over all donated funds. In practice, ACC implements donor instruction wherever possible. If for any reason I am unable to go on this trip, funds raised will be used to meet the team’s needs.

33 days! That's how many days until I fly to Europe for the summer. In barely over one month I will be saying goodbye to these beautiful hills of Tennessee and jetting off to a new season with the Lord.

Several of you have been in contact with me after the terrible attacks in Brussels three weeks ago. We are still continuing as planned, though our leadership team has been wise to take time to regroup, wait, and pray as they seek God's guidance for our ministry in Belgium. They have been in close communication with the ministry partners on the ground as they work out the details for our arrival and time there. A few of them were actually in Brussels just days before the attacks. During that trip they were incredibly encouraged to see how Jesus is working in the city among refugees and also in the Mu$1im community and in the lives of the native Europeans. Our team will be entering Brussels at an exciting time to be able to join up with what God is already doing there.

I'm excited to report that well over 50% of my support has already been raised for this trip. I currently need $2,400 to be fully funded for my three months in Belgium. If you feel led to contribute financially to my trip, click here to give securely online. A HUGE thanks to all of you who have already donated. I am so humbled by the opportunity to serve God in Brussels this summer. And I'm thrilled that so many of you have joined our team through your prayers and giving! I look forward to sharing stories with you soon!

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Nahum 1:7

Prayer requests:

Pray for our team as each one of us prepares ourselves spiritually and practically
Pray for an opening for the gospel among the refugee community and others
Pray for our leadership team and ministry partners as they plan for our arrival

"Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work."

-Oswald Chambers

Thank you for praying for Belgium. And for praying for those serving now and in the coming months with Engage The Crisis. I received an email from the leadership team that a few of them were in Brussels over the weekend and they were excited to report that they could really see Jesus working in that city. They will be prayerfully considering how to move forward in light of the recent attacks. They have ministry partners on the ground in Brussels and will be communicating with them in the coming weeks as preparations are made for our arrival. I will trust their leadership as I step into this new journey this summer. And more importantly, I will trust that the God who calls is also the God who is faithful to lead us no matter what the circumstances are around us.

I'll let the words from the leadership team encourage you as they encouraged me...

"We can have confidence today as we head toward Easter, that our God brings life out of death and we are called to be people who carry that life everywhere we go. I want to ask you to be in prayer for the people of Brussels and for those working there to share the love of Jesus with people. Thank you for carrying the refugees, Brussels, and our churches in your hearts."

I'm so excited to share that I'll be heading to Brussels, Belgium this summer to work with refugees! From May 15th to August 7th I'll be serving as part of Antioch's Engage The Crisis internship program. Those three months will be filled with meeting needs, making disciples, and mobilizing workers. You can visit www.engagethecrisis.org for more information about the mission and purpose of Engage The Crisis as a whole.

As you know, the current displacement of people throughout Europe and the Middle East is like nothing the world has ever seen. People from all around the Middle East are being displaced from their homes and families because of terrorist organizations, fragile governments and violence. In the midst of all you are seeing on the news you may not be hearing about all that God is doing! Every week there are reports from around Europe and the Middle East of refugees walking into churches asking about Jesus, Mslms being baptized by the dozens and people having encounters with God during dreams in the night. In this time when the nations are shaking I believe that God is shouting His love and salvation to all the hurting and broken.

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

Psalm 9:9

One thing I love about this trip is that my team and I can't do it alone, and I want to invite you into two big ways you can be part of engaging the crisis:

Pray: Please pray for our trip and believe with us for a mighty move of God around the world!

Give: My individual trip cost will be $7,000 all of which will be raised through financial support. If you would like to donate toward my trip you can do so online here. You'll choose my name from the drop-down list.

I’ve been praying since I returned from Haiti that God would open a new door of ministry for me. I’m especially excited for this opportunity as I’ve met many Antioch missionaries in Haiti and Namibia and consider it an honor to serve with this ministry in Belgium this summer!! Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey!

Prayer requests:

Unity for our team in preparation for the trip
Wisdom in how to best serve the refugee population and make disciples
For refugees to experience God’s love and be open to the Gospel

I was able to get down to Haiti for two weeks this month. I've been wanting to make this trip to be able to check on the kids at Hope For Life Children's Home and the other families I've gotten to know over the years. Of course two weeks was way too short but we managed to get a lot done and have sweet time with my precious friends there.

This trip was especially neat because I was able to bring my friend Lauren along. Lauren is a young lady at my church who has been to Haiti twice on trips with my church. Not only has she already developed a heart for Haiti, but she has known for years that she wanted to serve as a missionary full-time. This was a great opportunity for her to get a deeper sense of what it's like to live on the mission field and be immersed in the culture more than just a few hours a day. We stayed at the children's home several days, sharing sleeping space with two of the older girls, eating what the kids ate, and experiencing what it's like to have limited power and amenities. Lauren handled everything like a champ—even when she had to share shower time with two giant cockroaches. :) She is heading to Papua New Guinea this summer and I know she would appreciate your prayers as she prepares for that new adventure.

The kids at the children's home are doing well. They are still as adorable and spunky as ever. I'm continually amazed as I think back to four years ago when I first met them and saw their harsh living conditions. Oh what the Lord has done these past few years to bring them to a better place! I spent time walking the grounds, picturing what it used to look like, and thanking God for the progress He has allowed to take place. I can see it in the eyes of the children—the hope they have for a brighter future because of the love and care they are receiving in that place. In a perfect world, I wish they could all live in intimate families with a mom and a dad to call their own. Some of them may have the opportunity to return to this, but many will know their Hope For Life family as their family for life. I'm thankful for the heart of Pastor Jean Marc and Mama Lisette and how they are literally giving all they have to take care of these children. Thank you for your prayers for these kids and thank you who have played a huge role in improving their lives in tangible ways. Continue to pray for their spiritual growth and that their relationship with Christ will have roots that won't be shaken. Life in Haiti is hard. Even with this loving home, there are many challenges they will face. I'm thankful that our hope in Christ is an anchor for our souls! (Hebrews 6:19)

Check out their new dorm! What a blessing that these kids finally have protection from the elements and a safe place to rest their heads each night! This trip was the first time I've seen it since they moved in. What overwhelming gratitude I have to God and those of you who gave toward this huge project!!

We were able to see the newest project on the property—a clinic built by Freshwater Community Church and Chamberlain School of Nursing. It will be staffed throughout the year with visiting teams and nursing students and staff from the nursing school in Leogane. The clinic will provide basic medical care and check-ups to the kids at the children's home and the students at the school. What a great blessing this will be to the kids and the community!

We spent time with Evenson's family. Lauren made necklaces and colored with the kids. I checked in with how Evenson and Marisolin's businesses are doing. I was encouraged to hear that both businesses are doing well. Evenson's bakery is still going strong. Both he and his wife have been able to open up savings accounts and they've used that money for emergency medical expenses and to purchase a goat. Even with these successes I know it is still a struggle for them. And despite their efforts to not have another child, Marisolin is pregnant once again. It is difficult for families like theirs to receive effective family planning. Come April, a seventh child will be added to their family. Marisolin already has medical issues from this pregnancy and asks for prayers for a safe delivery.

We visited with my friend Geddy and her family a couple times. Geddy is the mother of Smerelda, the little miracle baby who at 13 months weighed barely over 7 pounds. With lots of prayer and effort, she is now a healthy toddler. I can't describe what joy it brings my heart each time I see her! I wish I could give a more successful report about this family, but they are still struggling in many ways. Just days after the team and I left Haiti last July, Geddy's son Tipom drowned in the river. I had helped Geddy start a business selling soaps and detergent. All of that money had to be spent on burying her son. Once again she found herself at rock bottom—a young mother with three children to care for. Knowing she couldn't do it on her own, she sent two of her children to live with her mother in a neighboring village. She still gets to see them, but this is not what she wants and is a harsh reality for so many families in Haiti. I helped her start her business once again and I'm praying that she can finally get ahead with that.

Josh and Tipom, July 2015

This little guy became my new buddy at the children's home. I named him Champ. He was one pathetic, scrawny little thing when we first got there. I gave him lots of extra attention and food and in just the two weeks we were there he already looked like a completely different pup. Hopefully he will survive and thrive there, but it's such a hard life for dogs in Haiti—even at the children's home where they tend to have more respect for dogs than most.

And of course we can't forget about my sweet pup Atau. She is still doing well at the guesthouse. I miss her like crazy and I think the feeling is mutual considering the excited greeting she always gives me. But she's got a good life there and the guests sometimes take her for a walk in the sugar cane field which keeps her happy. :)

This picture represents something I miss the most about living in Haiti. These kids are woven into my heart. When they hurt, I hurt. I miss being able to see them regularly, to be a consistent source of love and support for them. Although I don't always pick them up when they fall down, there are times when I know one of the kids really needs to be held and loved and comforted. And I miss being there for them. I pray that they can always find comfort when they're hurting. I pray that the staff is proactive in giving them the emotional support they need. And I pray that their relationship with Christ will be such that they can find strength and comfort in Him whenever they need it.

This is certainly just a brief snippet of an incredible trip. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to return to this country I love so dearly. I certainly wrestle with not still being there. I've invested so much time there, learning the language and culture, and so sometimes I wonder why I'm not still there. But I know without a doubt that God has led me to exactly where I am right now. And I'm trusting Him every step of the way. He knows how my heart beats for Haiti, but He also knows that ultimately I want to follow Him wherever He leads. I'm thankful for the many friends I have who are still serving in Haiti. They send me regular updates and I'm able to keep in touch with what is happening there. The pastor and I communicate regularly and so I know what's going on with the kids and how I can be praying specifically. If they have needs, I hope I can continue to help meet them. I'm thankful for all of you who have followed along with my journey, who have been praying for me and supporting me and the ministries in Haiti that I've been involved with. I couldn't do any of this without God's help through you. Thank you! And stay tuned for an update about my next adventure!!

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