Texas Tech & PV Teens in 2014 – Wednesday

Texas Tech Wesley Foundation

Helloooo this is Emily McIver!

It’s insane and almost scary how easy it is for me to fall in love with this place even more than the last time I was in Haiti. I can’t help but to think back to when I was here in June and realize that although I am so different, my God is still sovereign and faithful.

Today we woke up and ate breakfast (complete with Haitian coffee, YUM!). After breakfast we split up into our 3 groups. Kathryn’s group spent the morning physically serving God and the mission home by digging a foundation for a future church, Josh’s group (the group I’m in) and Al’s group took a 30 minute tap-tap ride to a nearby village where Al’s group went and did hut to hut evangelism and my group spent the morning putting on a VBS for the school kids!!

I was so encouraged by their smiling faces and eagerness to learn about our Savior. We told the story of David and Goliath along with Jonah and the whale, the children’s responses were great! They understood that without God is nothing is possible and that we must always be in tune with Gods voice. After the Bible story we played soccer, colored pictures, blew bubbles, and sang songs. During this time I was truly in my element, I could honestly picture myself doing something like this for the rest of my life.

After a sad goodbye to our new friends we came back to the Mole to eat lunch and afterwards we held our teen conference. We had worship and a sermon (which was spoken by Leah and Isaac) then we split off into guys and girls and then into older girls/guys and younger girls/guys. I am so blessed to be in the older girls small group, which consist of around 15 Haitian sisters, myself, Allison, Shannon, Ashlyn, Kathryn T., and Avery. During this small group time we discuss the sermon and answer questions that anyone might have. The conversations we have are truly fruitful and definitely make me love Jesus more.

–       I can’t express how much we all appreciate all of y’all’s love and support from back home. Every time y’all’s comments are read out loud I can’t help but to get a tear in my eye and to be reminded of the love our Father has for us. A special shout out to my family! Mom and Dad, I love y’all more than words can express. I am so blessed to have parents who support not only my dreams but also who trust whole-heatedly in the will of God. Grace and Moses, I hope you guys are being good and minding mom and dad! I love y’all SO MUCH (don’t get a ticket, don’t get lost, don’t go the wrong way)!! And shout out to my second families in Olton, at the Wesley, and my RSC sisters. I am so blessed to always be surrounded by a community who constantly shows me the love of God and who pushes me to be more like Him daily.

THANKS AND WRECK ‘EM!

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From PV TEENS

Cool. Cool cool cool.

Jordon Broadway

What an amazing week this has been! I have seen the Spirit move in so many ways this week. I am so worn out from everything we have done, especially the freedom drama that we performed so many times. My back is also sore from the trampling I’ve received from all of the little children. The biggest mistake I made this week was crouching down to talk to the kids and then having them all mob me and try to tickle me. I had at least four kids on each arm, and my body most definitely cannot support that much.

I saw the face of Jesus in the kids that we served today at the conference, especially the kid that is a miniature version of Michael Tate. After Bruce and I spoke today at the conference we told the kids that if they would rather stay and talk about Jesus than play soccer than we were there for them, and surprisingly we had several kids stay behind. Bruce and I prayed with at least ten kids and they all accepted Jesus into their hearts.

It was so exciting to be able to see the Spirit move through us and take over our actions. Earlier today we went out to “Map the Mole” and ask questions from the citizens of the Mole and see how we can pray for them. While my group had some of the expected responses one lady in particular stood out. Her name was Lacita, although I don’t know how to spell that, and she was the head of their household. While we were asking her about her family she told us that all of her family went to church and all were followers of Jesus, except her.

We asked why and found out that she saw voodoo do more works in the Mole than she has seen Jesus. We told her Jesus was present in her life but she wouldn’t listen. We invited her to come see the freedom drama in the courtyard and she seemed like she wasn’t that interested. When we were about to begin the drama KJ and I prayed that she would make an appearance but she did not show when we started. About halfway through, right before “Jesus” was crucified, she walked up.

As soon as we finished, KJ and I rushed over to her and had an interpreter ask her what she thought. Lacita said that she now saw that even the devil knows that Jesus is all-powerful for He can conqueror death and evil. We prayed with her and she accepted Jesus into her heart.

The pastor came over and invited her to church and she promised to at least try to go every once in awhile. Also at out teen conference, the boy from Preskul came back. We went to Preskul last Saturday and this little boy was so moved by us that he decided to come see us every day of our teen conference. He told us “he wanted to spend more time with the fun Americans.” It was so exciting to see that we made a difference in his life.

Earlier this week I met some Haitians that were around my age, these kids were furiously studying for their exams that were this week. I went over and asked them what they were studying and it turned out to be Haitian calculus. It wasn’t nearly the level of calculus back home, but I saw another way that I could make a difference in someone’s life.

Yesterday I spent almost an hour going through various problems and teaching them common denominators. I prayed for their exams and they were touched that a “blanc” would care about their lives. They took their test this morning and even got a copy of it to show me. They also thanked me so much for all the work I put in for them, even though I thought it was nothing.

Another moving thing this week was seeing the child that my family sponsors in the orphanage, it was an amazing experience to see him in person. Although it was heartbreaking to find out that he only likes Bruce and refuses to be held by me. Instead I am stuck with what I think is the “bully” of the orphanage. I watch him hit the other orphans and think this isn’t a cute kid that I want to hold. But Jesus told us that he came to save the sick and the lost. We aren’t here to love on the ones that feel safe, we are here for those that are insecure.

Although all of the orphans need our love I felt that I could make a difference in this little mean kid. Throughout the week I have visibly seen him shove less because we are there to guide him. On a less serious note, Jordon wants everyone to know that he gave me a clam.

Also KJ is still laughing at me for being so accident-prone. If anyone wants to know, I have spilt 34 things thus far (as opposed to everyone else’s like 6). And the other night we found a lizard and everyone posed for a picture with it biting them.

We have a picture of it hanging off of Chase’s ear, but Chase had a terrible idea for a pose for me. He wanted me to pose with it hanging right about my mouth, but of course it would let go and drop down my throat. Thankfully I spit it out very fast, but let me tell you that lizards here taste terrible. And mom, if I come home with an infection in a cut it is because Hannah Mellema cut my hand with her freedom drama sword.

I have seen the Spirit in so many ways this week, in the crabs scurrying on the beach, the lizards on the trees, the colorful sunsets, the swaying palm trees, and especially in the faces of every child that lives here in the Mole. I never want to leave here, but at the same time I can’t wait to return home and start my newly transformed life. See everybody soon!

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I just wanted to add my two cents to the blog for the week! I know a lot of you have been faithfully praying over this team and this trip for a while now and I wanted to let you know that God has done immeasurably more than we could have imagined this week!

Although things did not always go as planned, which usually happens in Haiti, God has led this team to the ministry He had in store for us. The boys and girls who showed up to our pre-teen conference outnumbered our plans (over 120 in both the boys’ and girls’ groups today!).

The people who wanted to know more about Jesus and be prayed with after the Freedom Drama overcame our expectations. And the kids who wanted to be held, hugged, and loved on overwhelmed our emotions. However, none of it overwhelmed our God. Everything that happened during this ministry-packed, emotion-filled, physically-draining week was within God’s control and His great and mighty purpose for this team on this trip.  I am so thankful that He brought this team together and that He allowed us to come play a small role in His crazy, amazing story this week in Haiti. Mesi Jezi pou tout bagay! See you all soon back in the USA.

Emily Spring

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PV teens are headed to PAP tomorrow to overnight so this will be their last blog. We want to thank everyone who has commented and loved on this group while they were here. They were mighty warriors – advancing the Kingdom daily – pouring themselves out fully – giving EVERYTHING they had to show the face of Jesus! Parents I say this most sincerely – I truly pray my children grow up to be like these grounded & outstanding young followers of Christ. – – -JODY CASTILLO

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