Miracle Report and Adventure Stories.

It's a miracle report after my last update to be able to say that each and every student is covered for their outreach fees.  Each and every student has their passport.  Each and every student who needs a visa..... has it.  Can you say WOWOWOWOOWOWWWW!?!?  It's truly a miracle.  The hope for Haitians to travel to Benin to cut the ties of Voodoo between those nations will finally be able to happen.  In the past, YWAM schools in Haiti have attempted to get Haitians to Benin, but the difficulty in getting US transit visas has always prevented that from happening.  God's favor continues to blow us away in this discipleship training school.  It actually turns out that the woman at the US embassy who conducted the visa interviews, lives in the same neighborhood as us, she is a Christian, AND one of our staff members is almost completely sure that he has seen her slow down as she drives by our house during worship times to take a peek.  What are the odds?

EVERYONE is going out into the nations. Praise Jesus.  Seriously. 

Another miracle report...
Last weekend, Emily, my aussie bestie, and I wanted to go to Mont-rouis (another city in Haiti) with one of our guy friends to visit an orphanage I had visited and fell in love with last summer, but she had been stricken a few days earlier with staff infection on her right foot and could hardly walk.  Our speaker from that week prayed for her foot, and instantly the pain ceased and she could walk totally normal.  Healings can happen in real life, without a big hype-up... just some faith and some prayer.  Praise Jesus.

After her foot healed, we headed out for a little adventure.  Traveling in Haiti means being squished in a TapTap (back of a truck with benches and a covering) with as many people as you can fit, and finding ways to entertain yourself.  What else to do but SING!  We whipped out some good Creole worship songs and asked for God's presence to come.  One tatap ride Emily and I sat in the front with the chauffeur singing and praying with him.  After we stopped singing, he asked us to keep going!  It's beautiful that a few Jesus tunes can change the spiritual atmosphere and make people soften. 


After several hours of travel on taptaps, buses, and motos, we arrived with Jhud at his house in Mont-rouis.  A lovely meal of rice, beans, chicken, and herbs awaited us with our favorite Haitian soda, Couronne.  As we finished, we hopped on a moto to ride to Cannan.  I called it an orphanage earlier, but in all reality it is just a community.  The owners of the place have 67 kids, not up for adoption, that they train up in the Lord as nation changers.  Last year my heart was totally captured by this place, and I just remember it having such an overwhelming sense of peace.  I felt the same thing this year.  The woman leader, Gladys, is weary.  They have a school, are opening a medical clinic, and have many other aspects to their community.  With 67 kids, from babies to 17 years old, there are only 9 long term staff, and there are lacking in helpers for the clinic.  Pray for their mission.  It is beautiful, and all of their support comes in by prayer... they never ask for anything. If people come to them, they accept.  It's a beautiful testimony to God's faithfulness.

As we were talking with her, my friend, Jhud, felt that he was supposed to ask how their water situation was. As it turns out, they are struggling with salty water, and it is impossible to get water from the ground because the property is basically on a bed of rocks.  We started explaining about the water tanks we had been trained to build here in our DTS... rain water catchment systems that are above ground, and after one good rain can fill the tanks and provide ample water.  She was so interested, even asking if there was a waiting list.  It was a God appointment, and it looks like a few of us will be staying at least an extra week after DTS to help build a water tank for this incredible woman of faith. 

And after that, it was fun to get to spend the night living the real Haitian way.  As we made our way back to Jhud's home, there was no electricity anywhere, which makes it so dark you can hardly see your feet in front of you.  Thank goodness for cell phones in that sense :)  We made a few pit stops to visit some friends.  Arriving back at his house, we sat under the big Haitian sky talking.  We could see galaxies and zillions of starts.  Breathtakingly beautiful.  We changed our clothes by candle light and climbed under the princess canopy (aka - mosquito net) for a sweet sleep. 

Haiti is teaching me still the importance of relationship.  So there is no running water, no electricity, no toilet... but there is so much love.  There are people that care about you.  There is time to spend just talking.  There is community.  There is patience.  There are long conversations.  There are so many friendships.  People meet at a market and make the time to visit each other... to build relationship.  People are important.  People are valued.  It's a beautiful thing.  Haiti might have a lot of things that need change, but it has so much to teach us, too. 

Good times in the neighborhood.

Every week as we split into groups and go evangelizing, you just never know what adventures await...
Jaques, one super guy in our group, felt we were supposed to walk down to a little river about a 5 minute walk from our house.  There, he had a picture in his mind of a specific house he felt we were to approach, and God told him there was one sick person living there.
So, as it's done in Haiti, we just made our way into the peoples' yard through a flimsy tin gate and were greeted by a handful of little kiddos playing in outside.  They asked us into their open air, cinderblock  home, and there was the sick man that God had told Jaques about.  We prayed for him.  Nothing crazy happened... but that's just the way it works.  Sometimes God chooses to heal immediately, sometimes it's later, sometimes the people just need to know they are loved, sometimes they just need to know God sees them.  We can't really know, but it's just so beautiful to see God lead us to specific people.

After finishing there, we walked along the river and just went into various homes, talking and praying with people.  Haiti is a beautiful country.  For realzies.  There are mountains surrounding the river, with the hot Haitian sky beaming in the brilliantly bright blue skies.  The little valley that the river flows through is breezy and wonderful. For the most part, people are hospitable and glad to have you come in their home. Yesterday we only encountered one home where the people were very resistant. 

But, my favorite funny story of the day is as follows....
There was a pregnant woman living with her husband and 4 children in one particular house.  We talked and found out that she was having some difficulties in her pregnancy, and she is 6 months pregnant.  The woman goes back and forth between Haiti and Fort Lauderdale, and was sure to inform us that Fort Lauderdale is bad... Haiti is good.  :)   I asked her if we could lay hands on her stomach.  To my utmost surprise, she WHIPS off her shirt (wearing no bra of course), and then told us to go ahead!  All a tiny bit shocked, held in any laughs that were surfacing... laid hands on the precious person and prayed for her and her bebe. 

Haiti is a lovely place.  The stories are never ending. 


Come visit and you will understand... :)

Time flies... stuff happens....update finally written.... hiphiphooray!

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind.  Our DTS group split into mini teams to set up medical clinics and build water tanks around the nation.  God continuously blew our minds.  Dozens of people were healed, a witch doctor and his ‘sidekick’ came to Jesus and renounced their voodoo ways, and one girl, after learning about the importance of forgiveness, decided not to kill the man who had raped her.  The stories go on and on. 

Then just about a week ago I found out my Great Aunt Mildred was soon on her way to see Jesus.  By God’s grace, and against all odds, I got home just in time to see her before she left for the greatest and most glorious place.  Hurricane Emily that was projected to tear a path through Haiti ended up only blessing us with a few days of incredibly cool weather, so all of the airline problems that were expected never occurred.  It’s only God’s timing that allowed me to be there 24 hours before she passed to pray with her and just tell her I love her.  With 93 years of bringing joy into the lives of everyone she knew, Millie lived a good long life that I’m sure prepared her an immaculate castle in heaven. 

SO… I arrived in Dallas Saturday night, and returned to Haiti Tuesday afternoon.  It was a crazy quick trip.  I only had time tore realize that having ample fresh fruit to eat was what I miss about the luxuries of America.  Sure, there was running water… but it’s weird to bathe in your drinking water!  Ha!  Oh how living in a third world country can change your mind set.  I couldn’t even shower without turning off the water between lather and rinse.  It was difficult remembering to put the toilet paper in the toilet instead of in the trash can.  The refrigerator actually made the food/drinks cold.  I really know this to be true – my season of life right now is Haiti.  It is God ordained without a shadow of a doubt.  I know that I know I belong here for this time and so by God’s grace, all of those little luxuries from the US don’t really matter.  God provides us with what we need when we need it.

Before I start talking about our students, I just want to remind you what Youth With a Mission is all about and what the outline of the school looks like.  The goal of YWAM is to know God and make God known, all across the nations.  There is major emphasis on getting young people all over the globe.  Loren Cunningham, the founder of the organization so desired to see young people in different nations, being able to expand their knowledge of the world as they spread the love of Jesus.  I am involved in the most basic YWAM school called a DTS, or discipleship training school.  There is a 3 month training phase and then a 2 month outreach phase.  It’s hard to believe that in about 3 weeks our DTS family will split up into 6 different teams that will travel all around the world doing deeds for Jesus; medical clinics, water tanks, evangelism, kids ministries, and whatever else the Lord leads us to do. 

But seriously, I live in a house with nation changers.  The spirit of God is moving in big ways through our speakers, through worship, and through ministry times, and lives are being transformed.   It wasn’t until I was in Dallas… sitting at Starbucks with my mom, did I realize just how much I believe it all of the Haitian students here.   I couldn’t even talk to her about them without crying.  It is practically impossible to put it into words.  Many of the Haitian students have been pulled from ridiculously difficult circumstances, and their testimonies alone will impact countless lives.  One girl in our school, from the largest and most dangerous slum in the Americas, Cite Soleil, pierces darkness with her voice as she sings incredibly beautiful songs that she has written.  One man, a former witch doctor, is now out preaching on taptaps and sharing the testimony of God’s grace in his life.  One girl whose father died of cholera in December, is pressing into the hope and destiny that God has for her life.  One guy whose parents abandoned him and family rejected him is now birthing vision for an orphanage.  There are so many incredible, incredible people in this school.  I love each of them more than words do justice.  This outreach is only the beginning of the transformation they will not only bring their own nation, but to nations around the world.  You just wait for it.  Haiti is going to be a blessing to the nations. 

Just two nights ago we went into something we called a night of generosity.  Everyone prayed and asked God what exactly they could lay down at the cross for the good of their brothers and sisters trying to earn money for outreach.  From money to Macbook Pro laptops and iPods, to razors and sandals, people were laying down their rights to stuff to see God provide.  We had a $300 deposit deadline a week or so ago, and those that hadn’t quite met it had their name written on the board with exactly how much money they needed.  The total was a little over $3,000, and by the end of the night, every single person had that deposit amount covered!  It was the best example of the early church… everyone’s needs being met through the generosity from their brothers and sisters.  Miracle after miracle of God’s provision has been blowing us all away.  5 foreigners, including myself, felt God leading us to switch teams – from Africa team to Haiti team, that way the extra money could go towards sending more of the Haitians out!  So my outreach is now covered and I get to focus on trying to bring in more for my bros and sissys.

If any of you have a heart for Haiti or just for seeing young people spread Jesus to the nations, or know anyone that might, and want to support one for their outreach, just shoot me a message.  I can give you stories, backgrounds, amounts needed, or whatever it is you would like to know.  After that night of generosity I just have complete confidence that God will lay it on peoples’ hearts to give if that’s what needs to happen.  

I’m not sure if this really flows… but we have electricity and I need to get it out! WOO!  Praise God!

Blessings everyone!

Nicole

Almost done.... and there goes the electricity.

So I've been working on an update for quite some time.  Then just about each time I'm ready to post... BAM. Lights out and electricity gone.  The generator goes off in 60 seconds.  Just know... it's coming :)  All is good in Haiti! 
Bigger post tomorrow.  For sure! Finally!!

Home Sweet Home

Seriously.  Every time I sit down to draft a sweet and simple update to answer "What is going on in Haiti" my brain starts doing jumps and flips.  There are so many things to talk about... so many stories of what God is doing here, of the friendships that are forming, and the memories that are shaping.  I'll do my best to give an inkling of an idea..
First of all.. just want you all to know that I had the opportunity to bake.  Oh yes, and if you go to 'portauprincedts.wordpress.com' you will be able to see a lovely picture.  Myself and two wonderful women did all we could.  It was for the celebration of June birthdays.  Before presenting the cake I was sure to let everyone know the reason it looked the way it did.  God gave us creativity.  We were shooting for an abstract look, and look what we got!  A work of art, to say the least.
Last weekend we were free to do what we wanted, as all weekends are, and then Monday was a day at the beach in a small town a couple of hours outside of Port au Prince.  An allergy fit attacked me for a couple of days (which is weird since I don't have allergies), but after bunches of prayers and a booster from some drugs, I was back to normal in no time.  This past week our DTS family uprooted and moved to the DTS base in St. Marc.  It definitely had perks.  We could flush the toilets, and the water for showers came out of a spicket thingy hanging above our heads when we pulled down on a lever.  So running water was a treat. They also had a swimming pool worthy of swimming in!  But the St. Marc base is so much bigger than our house in PAP that it was hard to see everyone.  Just after a couple of days most of the PAP students were craving the crazy, crammed, community living we some how love here. It was like a big reunion when we got home. Home sweet home.  It's like a masterpiece how everyone's personalities work together.  There is hardly ever any strife.  People just loving people.  So healthy. So good.
Our speaker for the week, the YWAM director for the Caribbean, taught on the character and nature of God.  I'm learning more and more that God wants to reveal Himself to us.  It takes listening. It takes intimacy. It takes a desire.  When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.  My personal revelation for the week... that God wants to reveal Himself to me more than He wants to reveal all of my future plans to me.  It takes knowing Him better to live a life in line with His ways.
Well... the majority of students are gone right now.  One of the girls' sister is having a wedding as we speak and she took a crowd of peeps with her.  My kitchen duty called though, and so I got to stay behind.  I think it is a good time to go watch a movie on the roof.  :)
Bonuit tout moun.

Listening for the Whispers

A fun filled teaching on sexual purity this morning ended our time with Pastor D and Chase.  It was so special to have them here.  Makes me miss Texas accents.  Makes me excited to go back to the MVMNT in a few months and have to meet a thousand new people because God is exploding in the hearts of Texas' youth.  Coolzies.
Pastor D hammered home on hearing the voice of God this week. On Tuesday afternoon we gathered in groups for outreach, and were totally blown away.
Two guys felt we should walk to a specific entrance into our neighborhood, and I had a picture of a red bright red shirt.  The treasure hunt began.  We walked to the entrance and the very first person we saw was a man with, yes, a bright red shirt walking right towards us.  Even though he was busy, he invited us to his home and we will follow up this weekend.  Chase felt like we were supposed to pray for someone with red shoes.  As we meandered down the dusty Haitian roads we saw a little boy with tiny red converse in an open field a ways off.  We prayed God's favor and blessing over him.  That he would be a light for his family and for this nation.  God just kept confirming that we were hearing his voice.  Emily and another lady heard the voice of God that lead us to a man who ended up wanting to accept Christ.  It's incredible how God will use us when we just make ourselves available. 
This is just a taste of the wonderful things going on here.
And the moment we have all been waiting for finally arrived this week. All of the DTS students and staff were split up into our outreach phase locations.  Before I came to Haiti, I knew that Benin (West Africa), Jamaica, and Haiti were options for outreach, but they also added Brazil as an option. 
Long story short, I ended up choosing Benin.  God gave me peace about going there, and no where else.  Funny thing is that there were enough people to split the Benin team into two separate teams.  The staff leading one team also felt called to France.  Turns I got chosen for that team!  Because we will be going to France, there will be a little bit more cost than was expected because of the airfare.  The outreach phase will now cost no less than $3500.  This means I will need at least $500. But God has shown himself so faithful already, and has done the same for so many, that there are absolutely no worries.  He is our provider. Good thing God has all the money in the world and He's on our side.  Our speaker from week one is our contact in France, Dudley Weiner.  He is an inspiring, incredible man of God.  10 days in France will lead us to a longer, 40 days in Benin, and then end our outreach with 10 days in Togo. 
There are 10 students on my team and 2 staff (including the African Princess Chimene). 
In addition to praying for Haiti, if you want to lift up Togo, Benin, and France, that would be wonderful!  Please pray extra hard for the Haitian students... that God would grant them favor in receiving visas and passports, and that he would place people in their lives who will be generous in supporting financially.
Thank you all for everything you've done!  Love you tons.

Sunday June 26 --

Got up this morning at 5:20 for work duty in the kitchen.  Made pancakes for 80 people with Erika and the African Princess Chimene.  A group of us took a five minute walk over to the tent city in our neighborhood and had a church service!  A few days ago as we were meandering through the tents, talking to our neighbors.  So many of them said they couldn't go to church because they don't have the proper clothes, so we brought it to them.  Such a special time.  Ended the day with long talks and worship time on the roof.  I love this place.

OH. AND....  

It's pretty special that my crazy awesome youth pastor, Dustin Bates, and his crazy awesome wife, Jamie Bates, are virtual family with the leader of my DTS (discipleship training school).  Pastor D is our speaker for this week and flies into PAP tomorrow afternoon.  Visitors in Haiti?  Who would've thought.  And then in just a month, 3 of my favorite people will be here too!  My meemshke, my fave teacher/friend/mentor, and blanc fou protector Pastor man will be here.  Good times. Good times.  

Gearing up for another incredible week, and can't wait for more of what God is going to do through this school.

Bon Bagay

Hi everyone!
I have been trying so hard to think about what all to put in this very first update, and the famous creole words 'Bon Bagay', meaning 'Good Things', is what keeps coming to mind.  For now, I am just going to talk more focused on what life is like as a YWAM student.  When I have more time I will elaborate on some of the deeper topics we've gotten to discuss.
I am living in a house with over 70 people.  People who want to be here.  Who want to know God more.  Who are hungry for more of Him.  Bon Bagay.