lots of changes

When I look at this blog, I am amazed at how much can change in one year. I am getting married....on April 17, 2010....to a woman who is a gift that shares my heart for Haiti. Here's how we met...

In early July (2009), Josh, Clay and I went to eat supper at Applebees. We don't usually go to Applebees to eat, but it was a good decision on this particular day. After being seated, I was relieved to find out that we had a good-looking waitress...I hate getting the chubby, friendly guys. While eating, I mentioned several times that our waitress was cute....hot.....smokin' hot.....you know. To top it off, her name was Vanessa....sexy name.

We enjoyed the meal. We laughed....we enjoyed the food....we paid our bill. Clay worked at Applebees sometime ago, so he casually told me that this Vanessa girl was pretty cool. Though in time, he must have been annoyed with my frequent comments about our hot waitress (ugg, newlyweds are so monogamous...lol), so he said, "Why don't you just ask for her number, Mark?" My exact response was, "Nah, what's the point? What's the odds of a girl like that wanting to move to Haiti?"

Clay thinks for a moment. Then Clay remembers something that may have changed the course of history....ok, at least my history. Clay says, "Wait a minute. She's been to Haiti. I gave her money to go to Haiti. You guys need to talk." Eventually, Vanessa came back to offer our lingering table some more drinks. Clay told her that I have been to Haiti and that we should talk about it. I asked Vanessa some general questions about Haiti and within a minute she told me that she wants to move to Haiti to start a girls orphanage. Pure craziness. At this point, Josh and Clay started to laugh. The connection was too perfect. So...I figured Vanessa needed my Creole language learning program, so that was my door to get her phone number :). And she gave it to me.

That was in early July. The past months have been some of the best days of my life. She is a smokin' hot girl that loves the Lord....pretty dynamic combo.

since Feb

Wow....it's amazing how much can change in 6 months or so. I am now living in Winona Lake, Indiana and working for Lifeline Youth and Family Services. I'm enjoying life and my job and sense that my current job will be excellent preparation for my work in Haiti.

My goal is to work for 4 - 5 years and save enough money to buy a home and vehicle in Haiti. I have also began to study Creole since my last posting. I've spent over 100 hours with a language learning program called BYKI, which stands for before you know it. It is excellent software that has been a tremendous help.

God is blessing me....I look forward to our next post....

life at home

Much has happened since my last blog. I have returned to the U.S. and have decided to return to university admissions, preferrably in the Columbus, Ohio region. I am living with my eldest sister, Debi, and her family. I am blessed to be able to spend time with them and take my time in looking for a job. The economy is in recession, but I trust God will provide when/if he desires.

My goals in life? (Thanks for asking.) My plan is to spend time working and adding value to an admissions team for several years. I would like to save a substantial amount of money and return to Haiti to buy a home and adopt children. There are so many orphans in haiti. Haiti's population is about 9 million, and 300,000 of those people are orphaned children. I realize that I cannot help all of them, but I hope to radically change the lives of a few of them. Not by money and americanism, but by hope and love.

I am so thankful for the things I learned in Haiti. I will return with a knowledge of the country and a confidence that I can navigate the systems and culture. My time home has (so far) been one of spiritual challenges and hardship. I've had to come to grips with sin in my past and reconcile those issues with the person I am and hope to be. I am thankful that the love of Jesus is greater than all my sins.

team and things

Canaan is a buzzin’! We have a team of 32 people arriving tomorrow and lots of preparations are in the works. Rooms, food, facilities, construction, and excursions are all being prepared. The men at Canaan have spent the past 2 weeks working feverishly to get the new dorm ready for the concrete roof to be poured by Team 32.

Steve Mossburg (a missionary from Columbia City, Indiana) and Boni Roth (a missionary from Washington?) have also arrived during the past week. Steve has been a great encouragement to me since his arrival. He is really wise and I enjoy talking with him. He also helped me finally get a cell phone. To provide beds for Team 32, I have moved buildings and now live in Steve’s house. It’s been nice staying somewhere that is more “home-ie.”

Personally, the past week has been a struggle. There has been a lot of little problems and conflicts and I am wrestling with several different things at Canaan. Priorities. The Spirit of Christ. Inconveniences. Purpose. Delegation. Classroom attendance. Time. Impatience. (I hope you enjoy a little mystery.)

It’s the little things that have kept me going this past week:

A Haitian teacher that received his first appreciative note from a student. JOY

A note from a 6 year old that simply says, “Dear Mark I love you.” LOVE

A bitter girl that apologizes to me. FORGIVENESS

Reuniting with a boy that I met during a hike 3 months ago. FRIENDSHIP

A Haitian guy that treats me as a friend. COMMUNITY

Craziness in Haiti

Yikes! So I showed up to the church service 30 minutes late today (to avoid lots of singing in 90 degree temps) and slipped into the back, hoping to go unnoticed by young and old alike. Almost immediately, the song leader asked me to pray for the message. Not a problem. When I asked who is preaching, the song leader said, “you are.” Completely unprepared, I rolled my eyes and went forward to pray. As I walked to the front of the room, I thumbed my way through my Bible wondering what on earth I would say. I saw Jeremiah 17:7-8 highlighted, with the word “Rooted” written next to it. Works for me. And fortunately, my heart was ready to let the Spirit speak. I am constantly challenged with how Haitian believers rely on the Spirit to work through them. I want to be more willing. Maybe someday I won’t roll my eyes.

All is going well here at Canaan. We are remembering the school near Port-Au-Prince that collapsed killing 84 people a few days ago, but we have no immediate connections there. Thanks for those of you that are praying for that situation.

Some quotes that have challenged me this past month:

“If you have two coats, one of them belongs to the poor.” - Dorothy Day (and Luke 3:11)

“Live simply so that others may simply live.” - Old Proverb

“The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away.” - Unknown

grace, grace

For the past week, we’ve had 5 Grace College (master’s degree) students visiting Canaan. It was a great week for them and our community here. They served and loved the children like few teams do. On Friday, they made a significant journey to deliver hundreds of bags of food to people still suffering from the September hurricanes. They also painted dorms, bagged food, relaxed at Club Indigo, visited another orphanage, and went on a significant hike to a natural spring.

There’s just something different about Grace (college that is). Canaan welcomes lots of teams over the course of a year (probably near twenty different teams). The two Grace College teams that have come during the past 3 months have been different. The teams have interacted with the kids and lowered themselves unto service more than other teams. Coming from an office (GC Admissions) that constantly tells people Grace is different, it is exciting (and relieving) to know that it actually is! Grace students serve others naturally and quite well.

All else is going pretty well here for me. There have been a few ‘speed bumps’ during the past month, but all in all, things are progressing and I am adjusting. Many thanks to those of you that are praying for my language learning - I have definitely had an increased desire to learn during the past couple weeks.

On another note, it has been interesting being in Haiti during the election back home. I do read about it, but I am not bombarded with the news as I am sure you all are. I look forward to the election results and the possible new direction for America. Regardless of the outcome, may we all pray more justice, less debt, and no war from Washington.

Following Jesus doesn't make sense

Jesus came not just to prepare us to die but to teach us how to live.
-Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution

I think one of the most important things I do during the week is speaking in chapel every Wednesday morning (which is a challenge being one hell of a sinner and all). Every week I have spoken about the Kingdom of God and I have been so challenged with just how radical the Kingdom is. I’ve talked to the kids about loving our enemies (and nonviolence), about storing up heavenly treasure (and giving to others), and about becoming great in the kingdom (through service). A lot of values that aren't logical. Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus wasn’t a missionary to the homeless…he was homeless. I think following Him is much more wonderful and difficult than I’ve ever imagined. I’ve been reading some radical books (like the Irresistible Revolution) and its challenged both the kids and myself. I want to start living less for earthly kingdoms (and nations) and more for the Kingdom of God.

Canaan is buzzin’ with visitors and stuff happening. This week we have a medical team of eleven people here and then the Grace College team of five comes on Friday. The kids are enjoying the visitors and the clinic helped over 100 patients today.

It’s hard to believe that this week marks 2 months in Haiti for me. Things are going well.