Thanks to all the kiddos at Meadow View Church in Frazeysburg (otherwise know as Crazeysburg!) Ohio!

They exceeded our goal of $500 for our school match savings program!

What is the program?

Invest Hope believes in helping people help themselves. 

Giving them a hand up and not a hand out.

We started with 10 children in the program last October. We made accounts for their parents to deposit money into throughout the year. Next month they receive double the money they put in (up to $50) to help pay for school and supplies for this school year.

Meadow View church was a partner with us for this program and their kids went above and beyond our expectations!

We can't wait to show the kids this picture of their brothers and sisters in Christ and their heart in helping others.

If you are interested in this program (we are enlarging it for next year) or any other of our programs, please email ginnyandrews@hotmail.com.

Rainbows

Our "Kid's Today, Adult's Tomorrow" program yesterday told the story of Noah briefly but then we focused on God's promises.

How He always keeps them.

How He gave Himself and us a reminder of His promise never to flood the whole earth again with a rainbow.

 The kids loved gluing sequins to make their own Rainbows.

 Our prayer for these kids is they hold tight to all of God's promises. Their lives are not easy but they have a big God to guide them through. We pray they hold on to these lessons all the days of their lives.

 Genesis 9:11-17 (NCV)

And God said, "This is the sign of the agreement between me and you and every living creature that is with you. I am putting my rainbow in the clouds as the sign of the agreement between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and a rainbow appears in them, I will remember my agreement between me and you and every living thing. Floods will never again destroy all life on the earth. When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and I will remember the agreement that continues forever between me and every living thing on the earth."

 So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is a sign of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth."

Drama on the mission field? Say What?

Yep it's true.

There is drama on the mission field too.

You would think that once you leave the states and go to a third world country that the drama factor would be significantly reduced...right?

I remember one job I had back in the states I worked with a group of mostly women and there was so much cattiness and drama that it became normal to come into work and ask what went on during the shift you had off. It almost seemed like I was working in a Soap Opera. It was ridiculous.

I took another position at that same pace of employment and when I would see my former co-workers they would start right up bringing me up to date on the current drama.

And the sad part is that I listened. And asked for further "dirt" and drama on some subjects.

So I am asking for prayer this week as sadly there is drama here too. Between Americans. Who came here to be an example to others. Who came here to serve. Who came here in obedience.

We can't stop those trying to pull us into their drama.

But we can chose not to go there. We can chose to be silent when others are being loud about us. We can look to the One above who went through lots of drama for us so we can be free of it.

Romans 16:17 (NCV)

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people's faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them.

Did you see what the last words said?

 "So stay away from them."  Stay away.

Paul does not say respond to the person. He does not say go around talking to other people about it. He says to stay away from those types of people.

Today I ask you to be in prayer for my mouth to stay closed, my heart to be guarded and for the Lord to direct my actions according to His plan.

Facebook Vacation

You're enough

You're enough

You're enough for me!

I love that song by Barlow Girl. It's one of those songs that, if you know it, you can' help but sing along when you hear it. Now that I have Hughes Net again I have access to Pandora radio here in Haiti. So of course I have it on the Natalie Grant station and get pumped up while working in the office.

It's amazing the power music has over my mood. I don't know if you're like that but man I am.

Play a sad, sappy break up song and tears start falling and I am moping around after a relationship that ended 10 years ago!

Whenever I hear a song that was played at my grandma's funeral, I feel that empty hole in my chest all over again. 

But play some uplifting, encouraging Christian music and I feel recharged and revived.

So when You're Enough for Me came on Pandora this evening I was belting it out. (Be glad you are out of earshot.)

I needed to hear it.

I needed to be reminded of my decision of giving my life over to the Lord.

I needed to sing it to Him.

He is enough. I know it. But do I live like it?

Hardly.

This is the hard time of year for me to be on Facebook. Looking at everyone's family vacation's and zoo visits and cook-outs. Seeing the fun your kids are having on their summer vacations. Seeing grandparents making memories and weddings of my friends and family that we am missing. VBS and church camp opportunities.

Life continues to go on back home...without us.

My favorite line of that song is "You are my reward, worth living for."

This life I live is the one God called me for. And I don't regret choosing to live it for one second. And He is enough for me. He knows my struggles.

So tonight I am closing Facebook.

Signing out.

Not because I think Facebook is bad (it is the only way I keep in touch with many people back home!). But it is sending me a discouraging message right now.

So I turn my head from those thoughts and look to my reward who IS worth living for.

You're enough

You're enough

You're enough for me!

During my Facebook Vacation I can be reached at ginnyandrews@hotmail.com.

Saturdays aren't are days off anymore!

This past Saturday was filled with Invest Hope work in Peredo. We went out mid morning to check on the work at Job's house. 

 

 As you can see, it's coming along. David has been way more involved in this project than I have. He has negotiated fees, transported materials and kept in close contact with the "Boss" in charge of the building. You can see their current house in the background of where they are building now.   

All the work is done by hand...in the heat.

 

I like this picture b/c you can see how high up their land is. All the materials and water for cement have to be carried up by hand. Their neighbors have been helping them do this but mostly it has been the family who has carried materials up and down in the hot sun, WITHOUT complaint. Some people's strength is amazing.

Even little Job is carrying up sand in a bucket his size. Sorry about the cheeks shot-this is the way of life in Peredo ;)

Saturday afternoon we worked with the Children's program,

 "Kids today, Adults tomorrow."

 

 The older kids are working on learning to cross stitch.

The younger ones colored while I told them the Jesus letting the little children come to him. We sang Jesus Loves the Little Children in Creole and they are learning it in English.

They also practiced saying the colors of the crayons in English.

Matthew 19:13

  Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so he could put his hands on them  and pray for them. His followers told them to stop,  but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children."  After Jesus put his hands on the children, he left there.

Can't wait for this coming Saturday!

The Vows

For those of you interested in reading here are the vows David and I wrote each other for the wedding. We read them in English and Creole for the benefit of everyone there. It's hard doing a bilingual wedding ;)

My vows to David:

David,

I promise to walk through life holding your hand down whatever road the Lord leads us.

I promise to love and respect you on days filled with sunshine and on dark days.

David, I am looking forward to having more adventures with you that living in Haiti brings, the adventure of raising Odessa together 

and most importantly, the adventure of growing old with you.

 

David's vows to me: (note-David is learning English and I am typing them out exactly how he wrote them. He did a great job especially since he had just finished his first English course)

Gin,

I was take a long time to know you. I was take a long time to have you and I know I will have a long time to continue to show you how I love you.

Gin, I don't say I am the best man in this world, but I know you will have the best husband that exists in this world.

I promise to be near to you and Odessa everyday.

In front of God and your parents and your friends, in front of my mom, my family and my friends. I say, "Yes I love you and no one can stop my love with you. I love you."

 

(note-if you are getting sick of the wedding posts-bear with me...this is the last one...I think.)

We're hitched!

 Here is the beautiful property of Joy In Hope Mission in Jacmel, Haiti where we got married.

 

  

 My brother, JW, played "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles as I walked down the aisle

 Groom and ring bearer (nephew of the groom)

 Jw and Sarai (David's sister) read Ecclesiates 4:9-12 in English and Creole respectively.

Odessa, I and Andreline, my maid of honor

The in-laws

Us and the Maid of Honor, Andreline and Best Man, Genio

 

So we're hitched...two 32 year olds from different countries and cultures are starting a new life...this isn't how it happened in my dreams...

It's SOOO much more.

Thank you to everyone who was here and helped make this day so enjoyable for David and I. 

Thank you to everyone back home who sent cards and gifts...it made getting married away from home a little easier :)

Let the building begin!

 Job chilling in the shade.

He is the reason Invest Hope was made aware of his family's situation.

Today we started buying the supplies to build Job's family a new house. 

Click here to read the story of how a fire destroyed their home.

 

 I'm not sure how well you can see this pic but it is our truck coming up the narrow back road to Job's family's land. People started coming out of the jungle areas and gardens (which is a good thing as there was lots to unload!)

Thank you to everyone who donated towards this project. It is something new for Invest Hope and I am truly happy to be a part of it for this deserving family. Haiti is a land of asking...most people are so poor and so used to begging that I get asked at least 3-4 times a DAY for money/food/etc. But this family, who lost their house and everything in it, has never once (since the house burnt in Sept 2010) asked me for anything. They are living in very bad conditions.

This is one family who is hard working and humble and very grateful for this opportunity to rebuild their home.

I wish you could meet them.

Once again...I get the fun job. I get to be here and work on the project and with the family and share with you all how you are helping one little family in one little village in the name of our Lord.

On a side note...I had to take a picture of Job's father's shoes. This is the third time in one week I have met with him and every time he is wearing his "work" shoes. And he is out working HARD in the garden. This is not to make you feel sad but to show you how some people are living day to day.

Quick and Happy Update!

Quick picture I know you're going to love...

It's Mita! She is doing well back with her family and is now a part of our "Kids Today, Adults Tomorrow" program. She had a great time at the School's Out Party last Sunday.

Click here and here if  you want to read Mita's story.