Where He leads...

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!!

From October to December I had the opportunity to return to a city I dearly love—New Orleans. It's been over 7 years since I lived and worked in New Orleans as the ministry site coordinator for MissionLab at NOBTS. I still have such fond memories of my time there and many friends who are still living in that unique city.

In May of 2014 I was at a dinner with friends in Haiti and met Roger, a researcher from England who was doing a project in Haiti about the earthquake. He mentioned that his next project would likely take him to New Orleans to research the effects of Hurricane Katrina and lessons that can be learned. I gave him my email address and told him to let me know if I could help him in any way. Fast forward to the fall of 2015 and I accepted the opportunity to be his research assistant for his three month trip to New Orleans.

For the bulk of his research, Roger needed to conduct interviews of those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and others who played a role in helping communities recover. I helped him make some of those initial connections for the interviews to get the doors to open for his research. It was great to be able to reconnect with several homeowners I knew from my time with MissionLab. I'll always say that my job with MissionLab was one of the most fulfilling I've ever had. I loved the opportunity to drive around the city, learning about what was needed, and then sending in teams to be able to help meet those needs. So it was really special to be able to see some of these individuals and families again so many years later and hear how they have continued to recover and rebuild after the storm.

I certainly can't and won't spoil any of Roger's research findings by commenting much on the project itself. But I will say that it was a privilege to sit with these individuals and hear their stories. I'd heard so many stories before from living in New Orleans and I had certainly seen the destruction firsthand, but to hear dozens more stories at length—the raw emotion that still exists as they talk about what they lost—and even worse who they lost, and to be back in a city that is still very much recovering from such a devastating event, it was a very meaningful three months that I will never forget. I could easily fill my own book with all that I learned from those interviews, but I'll let Roger publish his own and then we can all read it. :)

Some of my 2006 and 2007 photos from the Lower 9th Ward

Photo taken by a resident in the Upper 9th Ward who did not evacuate

Photo taken by a resident of St. Bernard Parish after returning to assess the damage

A memorial on the outskirts of St. Bernard Parish in honor of those who died from the storm and flooding. We heard the heart-wrenching story about three of the names from their grieving family member.

Even now, over 10 years later, there are still homes that bear the mark of Katrina—and homes that haven't been touched since they were gutted out years ago.

Trees on the campus of University of New Orleans that were bent (and stayed that way) from the force of the winds from Hurricane Katrina. We heard several stories about New Orleans' residents who were rescued and dropped off on UNO's campus—which offered much appreciated dry ground (though little else).

Malik Rahim, one of dozens of individuals I had the honor of meeting during my time in New Orleans. Malik has spent his life fighting against racial injustice and co-founded Common Ground Collective, a grassroots organization headquartered in the Lower 9th Ward.

And I also want to tell you about Trachell. This precious little girl is the daughter of my new friend Regina. I was driving around the 9th Ward one day and saw Trachell being unloaded off the school bus. I then watched as her mother carefully dragged her wheelchair backwards up the steps to their house. Obviously this is something the mother does every day—multiple times a day. I felt led to meet this family and talk about the possibility of getting a wheelchair ramp built for them. I visited the family with a pastor from the area and we were able to pray with Regina and encourage her. She has been struggling in many ways. We are in the process of figuring out permits and costs, etc. But I hope this is a project that I can soon share with you so we can come together and provide a ramp for this family. Please join me in praying for Regina and Trachell and their sweet family. This little girl is an inspiration to all who know her!

I will forever admire the resiliency of those who have lost so much yet still find the strength to begin again.

“Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all... As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.” (G.K. Chesterton)

While at a thrift store recently I passed by a teacher's companion about October. It was a thick book filled with dozens of pages of creative ideas and activities for teaching about this colorful month. I can still remember learning about the seasons in elementary school. Our teachers would adorn the walls with decorations representing each month. I'd head home after school, ready to proudly display my collage of leaves we'd collected outside and glued to the paper. I couldn't imagine a day in class that didn't include some creative learning activities.

As I've spent the last decade traveling to and living in countries where the majority of children do not share the same privileges I had growing up, I've realized that one of the main things I've taken for granted throughout my life is my education. And growing up in a town with a good public school system, my education was essentially free. For 13 years I was able to attend great schools, with trained and devoted teachers, learning everything from geometry to physics, poetry to French, and even clay and ceramics. For free. While I mostly enjoyed school, I know I had my "But I don't want to go to school, Mommy" days. I had no idea what a privilege my education was.

Let's consider Haiti. You can google "Haiti education statistics" and find a list of sad figures:

50% of children are not enrolled in primary school
Less than 1/3 of those children will reach the fifth grade
1/3 of girls over the age of 6 never attend school
More than 50% of children enrolled in school are overage
Less than 5% of students graduate high school (I've seen statistics as low as 2%)

And one survey indicates that "Haitians who are 25 years and older received on average only 4.9 years of education and only 29 percent attended secondary school".

When I think of the incredible education so many of us have had, my heart breaks for the kids I've passed on the streets of Haiti who've had to trade their pencils for a broom. Instead of putting on a brightly colored uniform like other kids in their community, they stay home and help cook, clean, and fetch water. Granted, most Haitian kids whether in school or not help with household chores, but too many kids in Haiti are missing out on an education because their families can't afford to send them to school. School in Haiti is not free. The majority of schools in Haiti are privately managed and the fees per child per year range from $125-180. Parents are also expected to purchase a school uniform and dress shoes for each child. When you consider that 75% of Haitians live on less then $2 a day and 50% of Haitians live on less than $1 a day, education becomes a luxury that many families cannot afford. In my experience, this is a common reason many parents surrender their children to orphanages. I think of Maxolyn who I met in 2012 and how she approached me about giving her boys to my friend's orphanage because she wanted them to have an education that she could never afford. That conversation is what triggered the school sponsorship program that I've been heading up each summer since then.

1st row: Debora, Jeff, Samuel

2nd row: Snaïder, Dialine, Djoubens

3rd row: Esaie, Dave, Marisol

4th row: Verley, Joulie, Christele

For $200 you can give the gift of education to a child in Haiti. Your gift will pay for school enrollment and provide a uniform and pair of shoes for the school year. There are twelve kids I need to find sponsors for this year. You can see their photos and names above. If you would like to sponsor a child for the 2015-2016 school year you can send a check made out to Hannah Sterling to P.O. Box 4878, Maryville, TN 37802 or you can make a donation via Paypal by clicking the button below. I'll be taking the school sponsorship money with me on my trip to Haiti July 14th so I need to receive your donation by July 10th. Feel free to include the name of the child you would like to sponsor, otherwise I will choose one for you. Once all the children are sponsored I will send you more information about your sponsored child.

I want to thank many of you who have helped these kids over the years. Several of you have been repeat sponsors. Thank you! And thanks to my sweet friend Kylie's 6th grade class at Maryville Christian School, one child out of these 12 has already been sponsored. So only 11 to go! Thank you for considering giving the precious gift of education to a child in Haiti! What a difference a gift like this can make in the life of a child and for the entire family!

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