"Field Posts"

Every year, RMI “puts on” a retreat for all the missionary ladies at our Retreat Center.  This was the second year in a row that RMI missionary, Amy Long and I, planned RMI’s Ladies Retreat.  This year was more special for both of us:  it felt more relaxed and we really got to enjoy the retreat a lot more.  I think it’s because it was the second time we’ve planned it, we had a better feel for how our responsibilities were going to be divided up in preparation.  Overall, it just went smoother!  And that made it a lot more enjoyable for both of us.  The weather was great and you can’t get a better location than the RMI Retreat Center! This year we had 34 Missionary Ladies attend the retreat.  It was a great turnout and really encouraging as we had a good representation of many different ages, many different ministries, and  many different stages of life.  Here is our group all together! Our speakers this year were Gale Kernitz and ...

We just posted our latest periodic e-news update.  If you did not receive it, you can… Subscribe   |  View it Online

150+/- miles on a dirt bike over mountain terrain might tire out out my body, but certainly not my spirit!  In fact, God uses a trip like this to revive my spirit.  It puts thing in perspective. it reminds me of opportunity for the body of Christ to come together, to serve one another, to learn from one another, to love be another, to edify one another.  It lets me see the big picture. On Tuesday, Gary, Benjamin and I headed out to visit 2 more potential Sister Church sites.  Desriveaux (pronounced Dairy-vo) and Chardonette (pronounced Shardo-net) are both clearly off the beaten path.  To be fair, it's not hard to get off the beaten path here in Haiti. But nonetheless, these churches are certainly off the main roads, away from traffic, away from help... far away.  Desriveaux pictures here . Desriveaux Trip Track here . Desriveaux Waypoint here . Chardonette pictures here . Chardonette Trip Track here . Chardonette Waypoint here . Maybe later I will share...

One of the things I love about serving as a missionary in Haiti, is that we get to do this as a family.  There is no bigger joy than to see our kids serving, loving, playing with the people of Haiti. Every time we visit a church, we are guests and are expected to give a greeting.  Rob and I always have something in mind that we want to say.  We always encourage the kids to say “Bonjou” in the mic but never force them.  Usually Braden is the only one eager to talk in the mic, and he usually gets a great big laugh from the congregation.  Hearing a little white boy speak Creole is not an every day occurrence and it always brings much joy! The last time we visited a sister church, I asked Drew if he wanted to sing a song.  He has learned how to sing “Our God is an Awesome God” in English, Creole and German at school.  He quickly said no.  A few Sundays ago, as my alarm was going off, Drew was at the side of my bed saying “Mommy, I am going t...

We are sure things will change, but here is our schedule as it currently looks… 5616+ Miles = 98+ Hours of Driving…  Here we go! May 28th --   arrive Miami 3:40 PM, Drive to Fort Myers, FL May 28- June 10th--  Florida Work in the RMI FL office Dr. Appointments Shopping June 3 and10, Worship at McGregor Baptist Church Meeting with supporters and potential supporters June 4-8, VBS at McGregor Baptist Church for the kids June 10-13--   After Church leave for Family Vacation June 14--   Drive 11 hours to Canton, GA, Overnight with Supporter June 15 --  Drive 2 hours to Lookout Mountain, GA, Overnight with Supporter June 16-18--   Drive 6 hours to Charlotte, NC, 3 Overnights with Supporters June 17-- Worship at Hickory Grove Baptist Church (North Campus) June 19-21 --  Drive 7.5 Hours to Silver Spring, MD,  2 Overnights with Supporter June 21-June 28-- Spend time with Supporters and Potential Supporters in NJ June 24, AM Wors...

What we get to see transpire (often under the canopy of the mango trees) is truly unique.  We hear it all the time, often through tears of joy… “I have been on many mission trips, but what has happen here in Haiti in my life within this Sister Church partnerships, is truly different”.  There is something special that happens as brothers and sisters come together and apply the Gospel in one another’s lives.  Justice.  Concern. Edification.  Encouragement.  Love. Truth.  Heart change.  Is it measureable?  Not always.  Is it real? Definitely. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!t  It is like the precious sweet Mango juice on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” Alternate version of Psalm 133:1-2 I say to people all the time.  What happens here in Haiti is not easy to explain.  It’s not easy to quantify.  It’s hard to describe...

Recently, I had the privilege of being out with The Summit Church as they visited their Sister Church in Cote de Fer, Haiti .  We had a great time! Of the many memories I have of our time out there, was a special moment when The Summit Church Team prayed for the Cote de Fer Deacons and then the Cote de Fer Deacons turned around and prayed for The Summit Church Team.  I was privileged to experience the impassioned reciprocal prayers of brothers.  It was mutual love on display.  It was shared burdens.  It was empathetic.  It was sweet.  I believe God was listening. The reciprocal application of the “one anothers” is mandated by Christ, but we often miss the opportunity to give/receive.  We are too busy, too rushed, too lazy, too unaware, too self-centered, too disengaged, too engaged, too self-righteous, too ambivalent, too …  Here in Haiti, through RMI, I get to see it constantly.  The Body of Christ, the church is firing on all cyli...

From Rob's Favorites Haitian Proverb - " Men anpil, chay pa lou. " Many hands [make] the load light.  Maybe light-er is a better translation for us ;) Today, I won’t mention any names, but those on the RMI national staff (Haitians) here in Haiti are doing an amazing job.   If you have been here, you know some of them well.  There are many you don’t know working behind the scenes.  They are all brothers and sisters.  They are leaders.  They are comrades. They are wise.  They are able.  I believe in them. We currently have 29 national staff here working along side of us missionaries in RMI.  I love them. We are a team. We are a family. We are in this together. Honestly, we have been overwhelmingly blitzed with activity over these first 4+ months of 2012.  We have already seen 12 church teams come and go.  We’ve had 8 additional other weeks of groups here for other ministry opportunities.   Yes, that’s 20 group...

“Lion Chasers Manifesto” from “ In the Pit of a Lion on a Snowy Day ”. I read this book back in March 2008, but today came across this timely quote/reminder… “Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. B...