After a very long day of travel, we finally made it to the Mole! We landed in Port au Prince around 4 pm, and as we were leaving, security decided they needed to search FOUR of our checked bags, which was all VBS supplies. So we loaded everything on the bus and headed out.
After about three and a half hours of nice, paved roads we hit the unpaved, washed out dirt. Thinking it would be a bearable 5 hour finish, our dreams were shattered as we spent nine more hours bouncing around on already sore bottoms
We pulled into the mission around 5 am, and quickly went for shower or bed. We were back up for breakfast at 9:30 am. We sorted through our bags with supplies afterwards, brought them to the clinic and went to play with the orphans until lunch.
After our spaghetti and hotdog meal, we took a tour of the town and finished at the beach. When we came back up for dinner, Jody did our devotional/informational session to begin the week, and then we watched a movie in the cafeteria with the orphans.
The people of Haiti primarily practice voodoo. Every year the president dedicates the country to Satan. Their ways and their thinking are skewed, but that is why we are here. We are here to show them the power of Lord and His goodness.
Where we go, the Lord goes before us and no man can touch us. In the battle between good versus evil, we have to show them how good wins. A lot of times Haitians will cry out to their god and our God will respond. Us being here is one of the best ways for us to show them who has already won the battle.
Which brings me to a verse I want to share as we begin the best but most exhausting week of our lives: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
That is our prayer for this week. “Now to him who is able…” He is the Lord our God! Of course he is able. “…to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” Being a second-timer down here, I came to Haiti yet again with no expectations for the trip other than for God to work and move in our lives and the people we touch.
There are times when we may doubt, or times when we may not be able to speak, or times when we may not know what to do, but the Lord will squash our doubts and give us the words and provide for us in ways that we never know we’d need. “…according to his power that is at work within us…”
Being Christians and created in His image, we have the same power in us that Jesus and his disciples have. I mean, we are still his disciples, too, right?
And we should never be content in where we are at with our relationship with Christ. We should always want and strive to know the Lord more as his power ever changes us. “…to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
This ending phrase is fairly self-explanatory, but we are not here for us. We are here for the people of Haiti in God’s name. Not for our own bragging rights, but so we can return and tell everyone in the states what awesome things the Lord has done during this week. Not me, but Him.
Friends and family, I ask you to pray for the country and us this week. It is hot and uncomfortable down here, and there are only 8 out of our 30 team members that have been here before. So pray for joy in the uncomfortable-ness. Pray for boldness as we witness to the adults and children through the clinic and multiple VBS’s. Pray for rest so that we will not grow weary in doing what the Lord has called us to.
Pray for the people we encounter, that they will have open hearts and receptive ears to listen to the Good News. Pray that even if salvation does not come to any of them, we have at least planted a seed that the mission can continue watering.
Now, let us become what we behold – the power and the love of our gracious Father.
~Lindsay Schaum
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Please feel free to leave comments. Comments will be read each night at dinner.
YAY! My Texas pals have made it to the Mole! So excited for ALL that God will do through you and in you this week! PLEASE give all my friends and family there hugs! So yes, EVERYONE in the Mole! 🙂
Praying for God to move in you in ways that you cannot even imagine. May the Spirit lead and guide you. Do not let doubt and fear determine the course of this week. Walk in the boldness and power of Jesus! ahhh! I cannot wait to hear the stories that God will write this week!
Blessings!
Morgan
Holy cow you guys, my heart is bursting for y’all and what’s about to happen through Christ in the mole! Know that getting there is a triumph that empties you completely, only to be filled by the Lord. If this is your fist year, be comforted by the fact that you are not bringing Jesus to the Mole, you are getting to be a tool in his most sensational plan. Be bold, be open, be gentle. See the ones no one sees. Hug the unlovable. Hug EVERYONE! Praying you guys diligently ❤️ Linds, I’m so flipping proud of you! Chi Os you probably don’t know me but I love y’all to the moon and back!
Shannon (Tumy) Loustalot
P. S. Someone PLEASE hug Sondley for me!
Praise God!!
Lindsay, your words hold so much truth! I pray that you will bear the weight of that truth boldly this week, you are equipped to lead and I know that you will do it well. I love you!
I am so excited and expectant for God to move in each of you and through each of you this week, because he will! And Shannon could not have said it better – The Lord does not need us to display his goodness, his righteousness, his mercy, or his love BUT he chooses to do so. How awesome is that?! So I pray that you all will not only be vessels for others but that you also humbly allow others to do that to you as well. Spend yourself for the sake of the gospel this week. Depend on The Lord for your strength and patience. Hug all the lil nuggets. Be intentional with the teenagers. Talk with the adults. Show Christ’s love in all things.
Give Pierreson, Manu, Presley, and Mark a squeeze for me.
I wish I was there <3
Emily McIver
These photos and stories bless me so so so much! Absolutely love seeing you guys love on these kids. I pray you guys just fall in love with the place and the kids smiles. God is going to work so many blessings this week! 🙂 praying for you guys!!
( Oh yeah, like the other person said but can someone please loooove on Markendy and Mano for me? Those kids stole my heart 😊)
Yay! Y’all made it. I am so excited to see what the Lord will do in each of your lives this week, how you will grow and how your perspective will change through this experience. The Lord has great things in store for you. I know most of y’all don’t know me…but for those who do, I AM SO JEALOUS IM NOT THERE WITH YOU! I guess that’s what graduating does. 🙁 Anyway, hug those Castillo kids for me. Tell them crazy face misses them. And give extra hugs and loves to all those precious babes. Be bold in your faith. Be fearless in your love towards people. Don’t be afraid to just love on people while your there, get after it and remember that if you’re not falling into bed every night, you’re not tired enough. Give 200% everyday. I love you all. Praying for you all. Keep your hearts and minds open. Lindsey, Emily, Al, and whoever else is on this trip hugs and kisses to all of you. Peace and blessings
Lindsay,
Love your sweet words! I can almost taste the spaghetti and hot dogs as we speak! Countiue to be a light and love all those people were you are there! Y’all, Haiti is the best place in the world and I’m so glad you get to experience love in such a pure form there. RT what Shannon and Emily said too! Miss you all in the mole very much. as always.
Wreck Em (for the sake of the Kingdom)
Love,
Averie
Wow! Wow! We are so happy y’all made it to Mole! Haiti is blessed to have all of you….you’re short term sacrifice and commitment will provide long term benefits to all the lives you have touched! God is doing his work thru each of you, and we are praying for all of you to experience a blessed week! We love the photos….
Love,
Tom, Colette, Ben, Jacob & Luke Mathiasmeier 😘
Hey yall it’s Ty! I am praying for yall and love yall so much! For all you first years, I’m going to ask you to jump in. God does some amazing things when we truly surrender. I can’t wait to hear more.
From Belize with love, Ty.
So proud of these young adults. We love you so much!
Mom of Sara Rodriguez Xoxo’s
I’m so grateful for this blog so I can see what this amazing group is doing. In my youth, we had a phrase that came from a song, and it comes to mind as I read your words. “You’re the only Jesus some will ever see”. Go out and be his hands and feet.
I’m glad to see you made it. God be with you.
Your post and pictures brought tears of joy to our eyes. What a blessing to be able to serve God in such an incredible way. We are diligently praying for each and every one of you to share Jesus fearlessly with everyone you meet and that you will come back completely changed men and women of God. We love you, Clairebear, and miss you terribly. Love on those kiddos!
Love, Claire’s Mom and Dad
We are so thankful for this blog! We have shared it with so many of those that are wanting to follow Kelly and the team on this journey that God has called you all to be a part of! So many people in Monahans and Lubbock are praying without ceasing for God to move in mighty ways. I must confess that when I first heard that communication with Kelly was going to be extremely limited, a good friend of mine reminded me that “There is no safer place to be than in the WILL of God!” Amen to that! What an honor for you all to be His ambassadors of His love there in Haiti! We love you, Kelly, and are so anxious to hear about all of the amazing things God was able to do through you all! Much love and prayers, Mom and Dad:)xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
HELLO FROM RAIDERLAND!!!!!
It’s so great to know you all made it safely and survived the bus ride from hell…yes, i said the word hell, I have heard about the horrible bus ride. Praise God for the work you are all doing there and so thrilled how you listened to God’s call to go and serve the Haitian people. I am praying for you all and loved the words Lindsay wrote so we all know what is going on there and to know how to specifically pray for you all. I love you all and special shout out to Tyann, my beautiful niece, I am so proud of you and the rest of you…continue to be His hands and feet! Blessings, Penny
Two paragraphs in and I knew it was you Linds! Love you, we’re thinking about you and all of the Wesley kids. You’ve already missed a great story…
Oh! And she is inducing a week early, tomorrow (Monday) night!
What a blessing you all are bringing to people who need your love and testimony. Keep the faith and know that many people are praying for you. Sweet Clairabelle, you get an extra prayer from your great auntie.
Praying for the entire Texas Tech team continually! So proud of all of you and the sacrifices you have made. Praying for your strength and comfort as you spread the word and love of Jesus. My all you meet see the light of the Lord shinning brightly! S/O to Ty! Love you bunches!! Jodie
Hello from Illinois!! I hope that Day 2 was rewarding and hopefully you even got a decent night of sleep after your long journey of Day 1. It is awesome to read about the great things that you all are doing for the Haitian people. Love you Doodle!!
The Christopherson’s
Thanks for all the pics and the detailed news. Love seeing all the smiling faces. Prayers are with you all!
Hello from Illinois!! Thank you so much for the posts so we can see the great things that you are doing for the Haitian people. Hopefully Day 2 was rewarding and hopefully you even get a decent night of sleep after your long Day 1 journey. It is awesome to see that this group of young adults have decided to spend their spring break spreading the word of God. Love you Doodle!!
The Christopherson’s
Lifting you each up daily before the Throne of God! May His strength sustain you daily as you step out to share the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way to the people of Haiti! Blessings! “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NASB
We and those in our Sunday School class here in Georgetown are praying for you. Thank you for your updates as they allow us to know how to pray for you and it encourages us to know that you are serving the Lord there. The Zimmermans