Here's to celebrating 3 years of HoM! As we start our fourth year we reflect on so many fruits of discipleship, growth in leadership and impact!  Two current alumni (Vanah -aviation engineering in U.S./ Nolphky -medical school in DR), five Philo (Senior) students, five upcoming Philo (Senior) students, and more continuing to successfully persevering through High School as we faithfully serve our community and neighbors...

 Our beautiful family never ceases to bless and amaze me...from 2011 to now, we have grown so much!

 Couldn't be more proud of these 5 Seniors - In a recent Worldbank.org article it stated that only 22% of students are enrolled in secondary education and even fewer graduate.  It also stated that over 85% of teachers are unqualified to educate.  Join us in prayer and support of these leaders as they pursue their dreams and who God created them to be!

Preparing for our sabbath vacation - year of the Shemittah

I just want to share what God has shown me lately as I prepare my heart and our home for vacation.

Many of you who know John know that he cherished Sabbath.  

By official definition: 

sab·bath

ˈsabəTH/

noun

1. 1. 

   a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.

Simple Biblical definition:

Sabbath [N] [E] [S]

The origin of the Hebrew sabbat [t'B;v] is uncertain, but it seems to have derived from the verb sabat, meaning to stop, to cease, or to keep. Its theological meaning is rooted in God's rest following the six days of creation ( Gen 2:2-3 ).

John knows in order to pour out, we have to be fed: -Spiritually -Physically & Emotionally 

Me: I Know God says BE STILL and KNOW that I am God so when we're busy trying to work everything out our own way; we are not only tired but usually not trusting God for HIS purposes vs. our plan  AND he created us to be Human BEings, Not Human DOings...

Well, last year we ran ourselves crazy, almost into the grounds traveling to six states and 36 visits whether churches, groups, etc  while barely getting to see extended family and friends; not to mention get to soak in our home church or community without being responsible for or leading anything.

 This year God had already laid on our hearts to be still, enjoy people and relationships and NOT do so much traveling but to REST.

Then, a precious older lady visiting our neighbor said, this is the year of the Shemittah in the Jewish Calendar.  

The year of the Sabbath.  Every seven years the jewish people were told to observe some very specific things in their Shemittah or Sabbath year...

1. Waive outstanding debts -  Give your friends a break

At the end of seven years you will make a release. And this is the manner of the release: to release the hand of every creditor from what he lent his friend; he shall not exact from his friend or his brother, because the time of the release for the L‑rd has arrived. (Deuteronomy 15:1–2)

I'm struggling right now with someone who won't return the electric guitar we lent him and our Haitian pastor at our church wants to use it. I need to be at peace with whether he returns it or not and pardon his debt...

I've been frustrated with a friend who hasn't yet returned a radio; pardon debt

2. Take a Break from Farming - TRUST God

This is their primary way of income and life sustaining support; they had to completely trust the Lord. Whatever their land produced was not only their provision BUT total community property free for anyone to take; that's crazy huge sacrifice and relinquished "rights" - beautiful.

For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in its produce. But in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest, a Sabbath to the L‑rd; you shall not sow your field, you shall not prune your vineyard, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth of your harvest . . . And [the produce of] the Sabbath of the land shall be yours to eat for you, for your male and female servants, and for your hired worker and resident who live with you . . . (Leviticus 25:3–6)

We have five seniors going to university and two in university; one without a true and consistent sponsor.  Does it make sense not to run ourselves crazy all over the globe, jumping at every chance and opportunity to share their stories, or the gospel?  NO! It doesn't.  Most would say that fundraising is our income as well; life-sustaining support and yet God has said to trust him...

3.  Refocused on God - Restoration/ Revival

During this holy year the Jews were expected to concentrate more on our spiritual mission in life, and a less on our material pursuits. More on why we are needed, less on what we need. More on faith in God, less on faith in personal talents and pursuits.

I too, don't want to become weary Gal. 6:9...Therefore, I deeply desire during this vacation to not be caught up in the mission BUT on WHO the mission is about!  That HE is our sustainer and apart from him we are nothing.

And if you should say, “What will we eat in the seventh year? We will not sow, and we will not gather in our produce!” (Leviticus 25:20)

Yet those who put their trust in God were richly rewarded:

I, [God,] will command My blessing for you in the sixth year, and it will yield produce for three years. And you will sow in the eighth year, while still eating from the old crops. Until the ninth year, until the arrival of its crop, you will eat the old crop! (Leviticus 25:21–22)