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."