What I love...

Though I OFTEN find myself humming..."Mama said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this Mama said."  I also find myself constantly writing a status or tweeting about how much I love the things that are going to take place (if God wills) on that day...
So I thought I'd share some of those things-

Monday: I am loving that our children attend Sonlight Academy and so starting the week, getting up and in their cute uniforms just blesses me as they wake up, eat breakfast talking about all that is going to take place in their day and then walking them to school!

Tuesday:  Tuesday and Thursday is when Terah's amazing and sweet French tutor Fiona comes over!  I love Terah flourishing academically but also getting to be mentored by an awesome young Haitian girl (other than her sweet sisters) with another local missionary's daughter in her class at school.  Seeing their smiles and hearing their laughs is a blessing!

Thursday: This day exceeds limits of excitement for the greatness it holds!  FIRST is discipleship with Ms. Gail in LaPointe!!! Then, we all gear up for Community Bible Study!!!  John prepares throughout the beginning of the week for what God would speak to us through His Word, we pray over the day and hearts and we never cease to be in awe of who God draws and what He is doing in this beautiful community of the body of Christ! YES!!!

Friday:  Family Fun Fritay Friday!!!
Oh yea...we have a dinner of Haitian fried foods, a cold coke for the week, project a movie as a family and bask in our blessings!
On this day we find ourselves humming the country song, "A little bit of chicken fried..."

Saturday:  Saturday morning is John's Men's Group of purposely Raising Modern Day Knights-Men of Honor, Respect and Integrity & it's also English Club in our court yard.  Some of our staff and students along with neighbors and friends gather to learn English!  It's such a blessing to empower minds through education and fulfilling to feel that a legacy is left in these ways!

Sunday:  Church!  We have not exactly found a "Home" church in PdP but we go where John is preaching at a local Haitian fellowship.   Though hot, we love the spirit of worship and prayer!  Often, our family and children sing and as all parents we are so filled with pride, What God is doing and the blessing of Him using us through worship.
Today was amazing as not only did our kids share a song they wrote BUT the church sang, "Further Along we'll understand why, cheer up my brother, live in the light, we'll understand it more by and by."
Whoa!  There is something powerful and surreal singing that particular song in creole with Haitians that understand the face of poverty and depths of brokenness much deeper than most in the U.S.
On this day we find ourselves humming, "That's what I love about Sundays..."
Sunday nights are Prayer group night and There is Power in Prayer so this is always a night that brings unity and victory through praying over eachother, family/friends/sponsors, Haiti, the world.

What I see...

I fondly call Fridays... Family Fun Fritay Friday.  I love Fridays.  We always have fritay for dinner; in Haiti that means some type of fried meat, usually chicken or fish, homemade french fries called pom de tet, fried plantane, fried bread called marianad and sometimes a beet salad with some piklis (hot and spicy cole slaw).  We have a cold coke or sprite for the week, project a movie and watch it together; with subtitles in french of course.  

This is going to sound funny but I have many surreal moments during these family nights that I cherish.  We watch all types of movies and I remember their responses to many of them.  

Inspirational ones like Courageous when they see the commitments of men wanting to be godly husband and fathers.  

Facing the Giants when the message of faith pierces their hearts and they are assured through this film that Nothing is impossible with God (we actually took this movie to our local Haitian church to share!)  Coach Carter when they learn from the coaching lessons and cheer for (literally out loud) the underdog team.  From this movie in particular one of our students shared at the September Family meeting that when we challenge them to live with kingdom excellence in order to be strong men and woman of God; to be disciplined and live in community as a family with compassion for all that it is like the basketball player that came off the street knowing how to play street ball, but the coach told him now he had to play by his rules if he wanted to be on the team because he knew how to win championships.  Learning to play by his rules meant that the game wasn't all about him; and it was hard for him to respect and accept this but he wanted it, he worked for it and he found victory.  After his example, he simply stated I want to play for the House of Moses team.  I want this.  I will work hard and I am trusting God for victory. 

One of my most memorable was October Baby when we all connected so deeply with the young girl who desperately wanted to know her true identity but mostly that she was wanted and loved.  Tears flowed, and our breath was at times taken as I prayed over every heart in the room as we somehow grew closer in our connection because of the love that God has put between us.

Last week was the movie Freedom Writers and inspiration was so thick you could have scooped it up.  The depth of the truth that giving experiences and opportunity created greater possibility and investing in lives is worth it.  Ah, I was completely wooed by the fact that I want to take House of Moses to Cap Haitian, to the Cidadelle (google it).  What an experience of Haitian culture and history that would be for them! The investment will be worth it someday but today we need to eat so that continues to be on the prayer list if God wills.

  In these times I look around the room at the expressions on their faces...

Tonight the movie was an intense but real life story about Hope -the power of Hope.  

I truly don't know what each of you may see when you see the picture of a Haitian life part of our direct or extended family here in Haiti.  Lives that need support and sponsorship but beyond the picture they all have a story, some family, amazing hearts with strengths and insecurities and they are so worth everything this fallen world has to offer.  

We love them so much.  I am so honored to have them in our life.  I wish I could share, really share who they are with each of you and somehow it's during these "movie moments" with the blue tint of the movie reflecting from their faces that I smile knowing God is doing such a work in our of lives.

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John 

My heart aches to leave...

In the morning I leave what I have known for the past 7 months.  I remember flying into Haiti 7 months ago.  On our approach into Port Au Prince, I remember looking out the window thinking, “Seven months...what all will happen in the next seven months of my life?”

Little did I know that my life would be flipped upside down by a beautiful land full of communal people that know how to give love.

It isn’r really fair Christi Barnes...you were the one that fell in love with this place.  For several years I fought the call.  I came knowing God was calling but had no idea that I would be consumed so much by this place.

I have a thousand stories to tell, but I will share the one happened today.  

Kessy is our moto driver.  He has cared for our family the last seven months.  Whether it was trips to the market, the bank, the hospital, etc. he has been there for us.  

This morning when he came into the house, he began to tell us what happened to his mother.  His uncle broke into the yard and attacked her with a machete and she was badly injured.  We prayed for Kessy and his family and then I was encouraged by the Holy Spirit to share the following verse with him.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

Romans 12: 17-20 

He comes back this afternoon to tell us goodbye, in which I had no idea how much it would hurt.  I had no idea how much I had become one with this brother. 

He brought with him a paper with some verses on it and he asked, “Fre John, m’ bezwen ven souple.”  He needed 20 copies.  As I began to look at the paper, I noticed it was the scripture that I had shared with him earlier in the day.  

He saw inquisitive look and told me...”I need to share these Scriptures with many people.”  Are you serious?  A time when he could be focused on himself and his hurt, he turns it around for a chance to teach others about a concept in which is countercultural.  

I handed the finished copies to him and gave him a big hug and tears began to flow down both our cheeks.  I will miss Kessy.  I cannot wait to see how much he grows in his Christ journey while we are gone.

It is 6:28 pm here in Haiti and we are about to have devotionals, so I will stop typing.

In closing I want to challenge each one of you, DO NOT IGNORE WHAT YOU ARE BEING CALLED TO.  Sure it may be scary, stretching, trying, etc. but I promise you will never fully live until you step out and obey in the direction you are being called.

Christi, thank you for the way you were patient with me.  I now ask you to be patient with me as I weep for the place that has become my home.

God's work through a stolen DVD player...

Repentance is not only the key at beginning a journey in Christ, but so important in continuing a walk with Christ.

I want to celebrate a story of repentance from Saturday morning during our time with the guys around the table.

Each Saturday morning, the guys of the House of Moses along with a few others spend time going through the Scriptures.  Some of the topics we have dug deeply into are:

-  What are the attributes of a MAN following Christ?

-  What does God want for me in my future wife?

This Saturday, we took a look at Genesis 4 and the way God called out Cain in his anger, warning him of his soon to be sin, if he did not repent.  We then went on to share our temptations/struggles of the past week and then spent time in prayer.  WE were finished!

Two hours later a knock on the gate revealed a local pastor and one of the students that attend the Saturday morning bible study.  The pastor asked if he and the boy could sit down as the boy had something he wanted to share.  

As the boy talked, he revealed that while he was at our house he stole a personal DVD player.  Through brokenness he shared how wrong he was and wanted to seek our forgiveness.  The pastor followed up his story by saying that this young man came to him out of conviction of what he had done and wanted to return the DVD player.  

As I sat and listened to him, I began to rejoice inside along with the angles.  Check out this verse in Luke 15:7

You see, this is FRUIT of the labor.  The Holy Spirit is doing a work in this young man's life.  

I do not even see the item that was potentially stolen and gone forever, but I look at the greatness of the work of the Holy Spirit and how this young man is learning to hear and obey HIM.  

After all, didn't Jesus say that we should STORE up TREASURES in heaven...

Only Jesus...

There are many moments...days...living Haiti adventures that I have "only Jesus" moments- Surreal moments where you know that there is no place else that you'd rather be and nothing makes sense to have that feeling; it can only be from God.

Those are the moments like yesterday; walking 2 miles plus with 2 five year olds, Terah, big HoM kids and lots of neighborhood kids in the middle of the afternoon heat through mud from the weeks rain, to go watch our church play futbol (soccer).  Sitting on the ground full of bugs (literally, ants, spiders, crickets, mosquitos, flies - they all came out to feast!) with Jordan and Ava on top of us because they don't want to be with the bugs and we couldn't be happier...As we listen to people from our church chant and sing, watch our kids play futbol (our team won by the way) that's an only Jesus could do this moment.

Today, heat beaming down on a tap tap full (and I mean FULL) of people because nobody can find gas.  It's the end of the day, we are exhausted from walking all over PdP looking at houses, hungry, so dirty, Terah sick to her stomach (just threw up), Ava is heavy and it smells; we all smell...piled on top of each other, loud-Bob Marley playing and everyone seems happy.  We are all bobbing our heads, dancing (if you had to stand) and singing and as I sing, "Everything's gonna be alright" (No Woman, No Cry) I look at a beautiful sunset over the ocean and think, Only in Jesus is this an awesome moment.

I wonder how many times Mother Theresa had those moments - That's peace...contentment.
Maybe that's what Stephen felt when being stoned and by Luke's account it says, after he forgives his murderers, as Christ did on the cross, that he fell asleep.  Fell Asleep?  Being beaten? But that is peace.

Jesus moments that can only be explained that God's love is consuming and our finite human lives get to be a part of His kingdom's work and there is no other place to be than with him there - in Haiti, the U.S., India...all over the world; wherever God has called you, whatever He has you doing for His glory  do it with all your heart and find true joy!

4 lollipops, 2 kids, and 1 lesson

Yesterday, I had promised Jordan and Ava that we would go on a walk and buy 4 lollipops after their nap.  As soon as Ava arose from her nap, she quickly reminded me in a tone that woke Jordan that we had a mission to accomplish.

What I thought would be a short walk down the road, turned into a journey with a lesson.  We ventured from merchant to merchant asking the same question, "Do you have lollipops?"  After the 5th merchant and at least a mile of walking, we had struck gold.

From there, we decided, or I decided,  to sit down and watch the world go by.  As I was sitting there, God was telling me that this was a great opportunity for a solid lesson from the Scriptures.  

The dialogue went something like this:

"Jordan and Ava, what do you think God wants you to do with these lollipops."  

Ava responded quickly, "Dad, he wants us to eat them."  In which I agreed.

But I responded, "But you guys each have two lollipops..you can only eat one at a time!  Do you think God would want you to give away one of your lollipops to a kid you see on the street?"

Jordan broke the brief silence by saying, "No, I think he wants us to eat both of them."  

Isn't the unadulterated honesty so great!  

I responded with, "In the bible it says that we should do to others as we would want them to do to us.  Don't you think you would like for someone to give you a lollipop if they had an extra one."

Immediately, Jordan gets up and walks about 20 yards and hands a little boy his lollipop.  Ava on the other hand, takes the lollipops out of my pocket and looks at both of them.  She then glances at me and then at the lollipops and slowly gets up and takes one lollipop to a girl close by.  

The whole point of this little story is to remind us all how easy it is to teach our children lessons from the Scriptures.  Tangible lessons that will stick close to their heart.  Lessons that they will remember, because it involves them immediately responding in obedience or disobedience.  

Reminds me of what God told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:5-7

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."

Don't miss those great teaching moments that God allows you with your kids.  

ON a side note, the answer is "No, I would not have made them give their lollipops away.  This is part of the lesson too."

House of Moses Update

“Obedience to God does not always mean a happy ending.  But why do we think it should?”  -  Charles Colson 

A dangerous quote in which we all live amongst in the journey as followers of Jesus.  We do not like quotes such as these but the inherency in which they are true in our own lives, cause them to resonate. We know the things we should do, but if we step into these obediences the cost MAY affect our lives.  We may be ignored, rejected, ridiculed..

In the last few weeks at the House of Moses, we have lived out an obedience in which we are just recovering from.  Discipleship, as we are learning, is a very unique journey that we all are on...NO ONE has ARRIVED even though some may appear this is true.  

God allows things to come into our lives to refine us.  But isn’t it awesome to know it is not just for “refining sake” but to make us holy as HE is holy.  Once again, the reasoning for holiness is that we are complete in Jesus.  When we are complete we secrete fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, etc.  The cool thing is, if these “fruits” are being secreted this must mean our hearts are in peace, or contentment, wherever the journey is taking us.  Take a closer look at how Paul explains it in Philippians 4.

We say all this, to say, oh how GREAT is our GOD in the midst of each journey at the House of Moses.  The beauty of transformation that is happening brings us to our knees in HIS overwhelming work amongst us all.

Now for a quick update of what is happening at the House of Moses:

Exams, exams, and more exams 

Currently as I write this update, the students are diligently studying for their quarterly exams.  Each student has an average of 11 tests.  If you were walking around the house you would see many of the students in deep study for these exams.  We are so very proud of them.

Something new for all you SPORT’S FANS 

A new tradition is happening at the House of Moses.  The students love participating in a X-Box soccer tournament on Friday nights.  Needless to say, we are up very late for these tournaments.  

An update on Vanah 

Praise God for technology.  We are able to SKYPE weekly with Vanah which brings joy to both Vanah and all of us here.  Vanah is doing so well.  She made an “A” on her first math test and was the highest grade in the class.  She is having so much fun meeting new people and we are so thankful for the community that has welcomed and loved on her.  Also, thanks to Rodney and Debbie Payne, she has been introduced to Whole Foods where she can buy plantains, which are a staple in Haiti.  Continue to pray for Vanah as she adjusts.

Children’s Ministry 

Okay, I was not ready for this to happen so quickly but the students have officially taken over this ministry.  Yesterday I was upstairs studying Kreyol when I heard a beautiful choir of children’s voices singing.  I thought to myself, is it already Monday.  This is so cool to see how they have not only taken it over but are diligently seeking God on what to do each Monday night as they pour out to our community’s children!

Thursday Night Bible Study 

Humbled and so thankful in what God is doing amongst this community.  As we are taking on Kingdom topics, the house gets fuller each week with those hungering for the Scriptures.  In the next few months, Jocelyn will be teaching one of these nights.  Excited to see him do this as we believe in allowing students opportunity to grow by being thrown into the “fire”, so to speak! 

Look at your calendars 

We, the Barnes’ will be in America from mid May - early July.  We are already planning dates to share the journey of the House of Moses with churches, small groups, etc.  Please keep us in mind and contact us via barnesinhaiti@gmail.com if you would like us to share.   We could also use any help in any form to do our annual donor appreciation gathering, and this year we are going to host a Haiti House of Moses Golf Tournament to raise funds for a vehicle!  If you are interested in hosting or helping with food, invites, etc OR you’re a golfer - PLEASE let us know!

Student of the Month

Jocelyn is the student of the month at the House of Moses.  He brings so much joy to our house in the way he is always smiling and humming/singing some worship song.  On most Saturdays you will find him visiting his sister and his nieces and nephews.  Although he loves to eat, oatmeal and porridge is two of his least favorites; but you will never hear a complaint, just an empty plate.  Jocelyn longs to be a Pastor/Missionary and has a great handling on the Scriptures.  He has had several opportunities to preach at our local church and looks forward to more opportunities in the near future.  We are so thankful for Jocelyn and the light he brings to the House of Moses. 

Praises 

-  Growth in the students as disciples 

-  Overall health for our family and students at the house 

-  Our local church that feel just like family

-  March will be the month of visitors, which is always an encouragement for us 

Prayer 

• Our marriage, that it will be an example of Christ’s love  
• Wisdom on continued discipleship and refining of the students...and US! 
• Wisdom on the exact school and location God wants the House of Moses in 2013-2014 
• Preparation for our time in the U.S., prioritizing and scheduling as God opens doors and provision for the next year’s mission support, rent and needs.  

Intimate Encounters

John and I sat down yesterday with the Ferguson's book, Intimate Encounters to evaluate our marriage. It challenges three areas of needs:  Emotional, Spiritual and Physical...

   As we began the evaluation from the book everything that John thought we were strong in; I thought we were weak in and what he thought needed work - I thought was good.

 We decided to answer the questions from the "evaluation" today as our communication was just not cohesive yesterday.  John's about to get back from devotions at the trade school and we'll see where we are today!  LOL - We laughed as this revealed to us once again the deep truth of the beauty of brokenness that Haiti shows us every day. 

Our reflection of Christ is revealed in our need for him.

Our testimony is not manifested through perfection but redemption.

Our worth lies not in an ability of any kind but our availability to His Will and His love daily.

Mercy, Grace and Faith is real and raw when lived out in desperation for a Mighty Savior.

His love is shown in and through us when we have received it, our filled by it and overflowing...

HE is made strong in OUR weaknesses...

Poverty has such a beautiful way of revealing our inability to do anything apart from Christ and Haiti has a unique way of challenging us to "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God!"  

To love with reckless abandonment.  To listen and yield to the Spirit of God...

Oh, this faith journey - 

Not too Different...

Leadership, Discipleship and just plain having a large family is not just unique to Haiti but lately has shown me would be really similar if we were in the U.S. with our bunch...
  
Okay, honestly I've been working on these two blogs from last week's very inspiring experiences.  I've been working on the perfect, eloquent ways to share the way God moves among us and in the House of Moses... And then, today happens and right now I am humming, "Mama said there'd by days like this; there'd be days like this Mama said" in my head!

     Last week was my first week home after the amazing experience of dropping our first HoM graduate off at college in the U.S.  I missed our family so much and came home to an incredible reunion week of not only seeing God's mighty hand at work but also getting some sweet time with our board president and friend.

     The start of this week has held a different scene.  You see, every day in Haiti holds new adventures and experiences.  Today reminded me that we not only have 13 children but 10 of which are in high school and these hold new "opportunities for growth."  First, Home school was L--O--N--G today.  Focus for one of my kindergartner's was a challenge and it's getting hotter by the day here so it's easy to feel tired.  Then, a police car shows up at our house, which is not an uncommon occurrence since our brotherhood birthed from jail ministry.  I went down to say hello to the officer only to realize that it was not a social call but it was one due to our son causing a moto accident.  Well, mom freaked out, and as we waited for our son to get home John calmly reminded me that this is what having grown boys includes.  I thought about this through dinner and by the time family night devotions started God had spoken not only peace but joy into my heart.

     You see, the biggest issue I had with the accident was not the poor decisions because an accident is just that...AN ACCIDENT and I was just thankful that everyone was okay.  BUT, he did not stop to check on the other driver he swiped by AND the irony was that they were just coming home from taking medicine and praying with a sweet employee and a sister of one of our students who was in a moto accident yesterday without the man who caused it having any regard or care to her well being.  So as after John had spoke with him, I also expressed my disappointment in his choices and how long it would take to pay us back for the man's hospital bill and broken moto. I was probably also disappointed that the $20 it cost to settle the issue was what John and I were going on a date with Saturday (Hee hee!)
    Then, as we sang precious creole songs and I looked at our full living room of full bellies, Ava's fresh beautiful braids from one of her big sister's and truly beautiful family, I was humbled.  Then, God made us all laugh because our Haitian director and Bible College student that John disciples shared during family devotionals that he needed to confess before his family (us) that he accidentally drove by a man coming home from seminary and made him fall down and he was soooo convicted that he did not stop to see if he was okay!  I cracked up! Maybe our boy wasn't the big heathen I made him out to be after all... We all prayed for each man "hit" by an HoM member today and then prayed for our sister healing from her moto accident.  As devos closed I couldn't help but smile knowing I am learning how to be a mom of high school students and I'll take the foolishness and problems that come with them because the blessings far outweigh them.  Writing this line, one of our girls asks to make a copy of her church chorus songs, and another turns in her weekly English worksheet as Terah and John go to the porch for their nightly Bible time.  Life is Good.

     I have to giggle though because two weeks ago one of our boys got scammed by a digicel phone scheme.  That cost him and he learned a hard lesson and then today's incident both could have very well happened in the states.   High school students get their first tickets, first accidents, cost their parents because of foolish use of their cell phones, and you know what...I'm just glad that we have the family we do to learn, grow, and share these times in.  That's what family does and the peace and love here is consuming.

Overhearing from what is being told to me!

Okay...just a spill over of what God is talking to me about today.

Paul talks about in Philippians 4 that he learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed, or hungry, living with plenty or in want...

Do you want to be there?  Do I want to live in this kind of peace?

Contentment is defined by the ability of not "losing it" or being "still" internally, no matter what is going on in the external environment you live within.  We want that, right?  I mean who likes the roller coasters of the ups and downs based upon the peaks and valleys we experience.  

How do we do this?  How do we rest in this?

A great friend has reminded me often, that if you are follower of Jesus, you are already in that existence, just rest it in.  (THANKS TED)  Learn what it is to "let go" of control and rest in the PEACE that is given to us.

A little hint on how to continue to walk in it.  Paul sheds some light in Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."