almost there...I STILL NEED YOU!!

If you missed the post on Adoption/Life Update be sure to check it out! 

First of all I need to say:

THANK YOU TO THE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO FAITHFULLY STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT ME MONTHLY!! 

I ASK THAT GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR KIND AND GENEROUS HEARTS!! THANK YOU FOR BEING A PIECE OF THIS AMAZING PUZZLE THAT GOD IS CREATING SO PERFECTLY IN HIS TIMING!! 

I still NEED YOU!!! I am almost there but I need more monthly supporters to help prove that I have an "income" and can afford this adoption!! 

Please help me find away to stay in Haiti and serve and be with the child God places before me so I can love on them daily during this adoption process. 

HOW?? Here is how you can make this all happen. Do you want to be apart of something amazing and awesome? Do you want to be a crucial part of changing a child’s life forever. Do you want to step out in faith and reach out to those who are in need? Do you feel God tugging at your heart saying ‘just do more’ or ‘just do something’ even if it’s something small? If so I have a perfect opportunity for you!! 

I am currently still in need of supporters to donate

the total of $1,000.00 a month! It sounds like a 

lot, trust me I know!!

BUT I KNOW THAT GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!!!  

Would you be willing to help me fight this battle and help me move onto the next step of this adoption process. I need all supporters to start donating by:

FEBRUARY 24th 

(thats next MONDAY!!)

God is big I know this can be done!! 

Remember in you commit to donating $40 or month I will give you a FREE piece of Haitian metal art--Your choice or you can custom design one yourself!! All for another great cause!! :) 

Please consider going to 

the DONATE NOW page and click on an amount in 

the MONTHLY support box. I promise YOU are 

making a difference!! 

(please have patiences with the website as sometimes it doesn't always work the first time.) 

***ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

**As part of the requirement by the US government--if you do decide to donate monthly I will need your email address and will email you a letter that you just need to fill in the amount you are sponsoring me for and for how long and will need you to email it someone at my agency.** 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR JOINING ME ON THIS JOURNEY AND SUPPORTING ME AND THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD THAT GOD PLACES BEFORE ME. MAY YOU BE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!! 

The start of something GREAT!!!

This could be the start of something GREAT!! 

About 10 months ago Ketia and little baby, Ketie, came into my life.
Ketia became a mom at only 17 years old.
Ketia has about a 2nd grade education.
Ketia doesn't have any close family in the area. Her uncle lives fairly close but only occasionally helps.
Ketia is on her own to take of her precious little Ketie.

Of course after they both came into my life I couldn't turn my back. So through the help of team goers and family and friends in the states. I was able to provide her with the basic needs for Ketie.  About a month or so after she was born I was asked to be Ketie's godmother! What a blessing (but what does that mean in Haitian culture!) After talking with Pastor Wesley and praying about it, I knew I had to accept. God was working on me, but I also knew He was working in the heart of Ketia as well. So Ketia is my godchild! :) I'm pretty darn lucky!!

 Ketia and Ketie soon became well known at Grace Village and everyone loved when they visited!
Ketia was employed at Grace Village for a couple months but it didn't work out. Lets just say being only 17 Ketia has a lot to learn about life and responsibilities.

In Haiti when you have something you share it and you always help out your family. So I felt like I was put in difficult position. Of course I wanted to help Ketia and provide her with everything she needed but many times I also had to say I'm sorry I can't or I don't have anything--even when I did. It broke my heart, but I knew I need to start working harder on Ketia and her being more responsible. I didn't want to teach her dependency on me.

God has put a few things on my heart in the last several months. Awhile back I asked a man in Titanyen to make me some frames. I was thrilled to employ him and get to know him better but also for all the possibilities I had with some simple frames hand-made by Alberto! He is so great and sweet!! As he says, "Jessica I can do anything, nothing is too difficult for me." :)

Some of the final pieces ready for the next step!! 

The work in progress....

So this is where I Ketia comes in and I thought it would be a great opportunity for her to get crafty. This was back in November. God had put this on my heart for awhile but I just never really knew where I could go with it. I'm not sure I still fully know where I can go with it, but I know that I'M GOING!! If I can create work for her and make her become more independent and learn to take care of Ketie on her own it will be a great day! God created me for this. I know I have a heart and passion for this, even if I'm not the most crafty or creative person myself...

GOD PROVIDES! 

A few of the pieces that we made!! Many of these are available at the Art2Heart boutique in Hamel, Mn

and one of my FAVORITES!!!!

I know it makes me excited to Ketie to think of all the possibilities!! 

So this all happened today...I'm not a business person or job creation person at all, but if you are or know someone who does!! Please contact me!! I'd love to connect and see how to make this the best it can be!! 

Now we just have to get creative about what we are going to turn all this great stuff into!! 

She came up for a couple hours and painted a few things for me. At the end I gave her a choice (now I'm not sure if this was right or wrong or good or bad, but I did it...if you know better please advise me!! I'm learning and need your input!! :) ) I told her I will give you $2US or you can chose 4 items out of a pile of things that I have. She was wise and took the stuff pictured below--$2 isn't going to get you far in Haiti! And I love it that she thought of Ketie while choosing!! 

       


How could I turn my back on these two amazing girls!! God will show me the way in which I can best help and support them!! 
                                           I'm so excited about what God all has in store!! 
                                         Please pray for wisdom and direction in all this!! 
                                                     It makes my heart happy!!  

ADOPTION/LIFE UPDATE

Adoption/Life update... 

Would you like to get one of these or any other piece of HAITIAN metal art for
FREE!!!?
You'll be supporting two great causes check out the end of this blog to see how!! 

So here I go....an update on the adoption and life....basically one in the same I guess. :) 

Praise note....remember that blog about Losing Joy....in the last month or so I can say that I have found my JOY! I honestly feel like a new person and ready to concern the world again! ;) Thank you so much to all of you who so faithfully prayed for me through that and those of you who reached out with encouraging words...You blessed me when I need it and I’m so thank for that...May each of you BE BLESSED! 

I’ve been living in Haiti for 1 year and 7 months....CRAZY right!! I know I can hardly believe it. God has stretched me, broke me, filled me and restored me. He continues to work on me daily and I am continually humbled by how He has worked so faithfully in my life and on this amazing journey He has me on. I know this is only the beginning (which is hard to believe) but He has GREAT PLANS and I’m excited about how He is going to continue to work and reveal Himself to me on this journey! 

Adoption update: I wish with all my heart I could say ‘I have all the finalized papers in my hand’, but not today. Today I can’t say that, but I know one day (God willing) I will be able to say that!! But until that day, I have work to do and God is continuing to work and teaching me along the way! Somedays are hard but I fully trust in God’s plan. I have had and continue to have lots of hurdles to jump through...it’s part of process. I think that God is trying to teach me patience in all of this. I should have been keeping track of how many times I have heard that word throughout this process...I’ll be honest at times I’ve wanted to look at them and yell, ‘do you know how long I’ve been in this process and how patient I’ve already been!!’ But I’m here and God is working, even when it doesn’t seem like it I know He is. I can’t share all the details but trust me GOD is WORKING...I pray that soon I can!! 

I recently submitted a new application to another agency. If you know anything about adoptions any time you have to submit even a preliminary application it’s LONG! But I know it’s worth it. After I submitted my application a few weeks later I got an email say, “sorry you don’t qualify.” WHAT!?! Seriously!! What do you mean I don’t qualify!!!? Apparently when you want to adopt a child the US government wants to make sure you have enough money....come on is it really that big of deal! ;) Ok yes I fully get it, but I have money saved and I have every intent of moving back to the states and getting a “paid” job and being able to support my child....apparently that’s not good enough. :) BUT I can still make this happen and continue to serve in Haiti, God willing. 

HOW?? Here is how you can make this all happen. Do you want to be apart of something amazing and awesome? Do you want to be a crucial part of changing a child’s life forever. Do you want to step out in faith and reach out to those who are in need? Do you feel God tugging at your heart saying ‘just do more’ or ‘just do something’ even if it’s something small? If so I have a perfect opportunity for you!! 

I need monthly supporters.  (Ok there I said it...I NEED...I broke down and let go of pride--see God is working!) :) I need to prove to the US government that I ‘make’ $20,000.00 a year. That means I need to prove that I have monthly supporters who donate at least a total of 1,666.66 (is it a little crazy that it’s 666 a number often associated with the antichrist or the devil?? Guess what God is bigger and greater and I know how much satan wishes to destroy all adoptions and attack the adoptive parents (trust me I’ve seen it happen) but guess what satan not now not this time and not with this momma!) 

Would you be willing to help me fight this battle and help me move onto the next step of this adoption process. I need all supporters to start donating by FEBRUARY 24th (thats 2 weeks from today!!) God is big I know this can be done!! 

Here’s what I need: 

5 people to donate $10 a month

10 people to donate $20 a month

10 people to donate $25 a month

5 people to donate $40 a month

6 people to donate $50 a month

2 people to donate $70 a month

5 people to donate $100 a month 

OR 

17 people to donate $1000 a month ( ;) hey God can move mountains!!)

Would you considering being one of the amazing people that carries me through on this journey? 

**If you chose to donate $40 or more monthly I will give you a beautifully hand made piece of metal art--your choice or have a custom made one!

Your donations will also help this man and many other Haitians who make this beautiful artwork and your piece will be FREE if you donate $40 or more monthly!! 

Please consider going to the DONATE NOW page and click on an amount in the MONTHLY support box. I promise YOU are making a difference!! (please have "patiences" with the website as sometimes it doesn't always work the first time.) 

***ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

**As part of the requirement by the US government--if you do decide to donate monthly I will need your email address and will email you a letter that you just need to fill in the amount you are sponsoring me for and for how long and will need you to email it someone at my agency.** 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR JOINING ME ON THIS JOURNEY AND SUPPORTING ME AND THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD THAT GOD PLACES BEFORE ME. MAY YOU BE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!! 

Specific Need--Can you help?

Hello and Happy NEW YEAR from Haiti!!! 

One of the things that is the most challenging for me while I've been doing mission work is...you know it's coming....asking for support. Not just general support and prayer support, but financial support. I know, and I've often thought this of others in the past who are doing this 'work' "you got yourself into this situation how do you expect others to continually support you financially-figure it out yourself" I'll sadly admit that was me at one point. So don't feel bad if that thought has crossed your mind as well--I get it!

Today I'm asking if you would consider a financial donation--but for a specific cause. As this journey is continuing on longer than I anticipated, which I am blessed and humbled by, I'm in need of your help. Yes I need monthly supporters, but I pray that God will bring those along at just the right time. As I continue on here in Haiti I have a desire to really know the language. I have a pretty good understanding of it right now, but I mean I want to really know and be able to have those deep heartfelt conversations with people. I want to not only be the Hands and Feet of Jesus but I want to be able to speak it and speak it well! Loud and proud!

In order for me to be able to do that I need to take a Creole language class. This class would be held 3x a week. Because of my schedule I can't join another class so I need to pay for private lessons. I would love to be able to make this work! In order for me to take the class I need to raise $798.00. Would you consider donating to help me learn Creole fluently so I can continue to not only be the Hands and Feet but PROCLAIM the love of Jesus here in Haiti!

If you would be willing to contribute to this cause I would great appreciate it!
Here a few ways you can donate:

1). Go to http://sponsor.healinghaiti.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Jessica  and scroll to the bottom to make a donation.

2). A direct donation using paypal. Click on "Send Money" and type in my email address: "jeb1026@gmail.com"

Thank you for your continued prayers and support and walking along side me on this journey!

Be Blessed!! 

Unfailing love...

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

    your faithfulness to the skies.

6 

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

7 

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:5-7

Unfailing love...

What does unfailing love even mean? I don't think that my human mind can even understand that concept. But that's what God gives us everyday-no matter what. God is unfailing love. 


Tonight I went on a hike up the mountain behind Grace Village with one other missionary--it is after all January 1st so the resolutions start off strong ;)

As we walked up the mountain we took a moment to stop and look at the beauty around us. As we looked out we had mountains surrounding us, except for right in front of us was the big blue ocean. The vastness of ocean with the sun slowly starting to set was a beautiful site. It was another one of those things I couldn't get my mind around.





I could have sat and looked at it for hours in just pure wonder and amazement.

As we ventured up the mountain there were parts where we could see what the next turn would bring, but on others we had no idea what would be around the bend. Thats how life is. At times we can see what is right ahead of us and where we are going, but at 
other times we have no idea where life is going to lead. But when we get to the bend we can see a little further ahead once again. It always seemed that just around the next bend would be the tippy top of the mountain and we would be able to see the valley on the other side and the vast beauty. With each bend we turned only to see another bend winding up the mountain was discouraging and thats life. Just when we think we've made it through one difficult time, another one comes right back at you and then another one. But when you've reach the top of the mountain and you can see the beauty that God brought you to, even despite all the pain--it's always worth it!  







God's love is unfailing, even when were trudging up the mountain with no end insight; He is there. We need to lean on Him to help us the mountains and get around the bends. I can tell you that even as we walked up that mountain and it was one bend after another--we were surrounded by God's love and beauty on every side of us! He was there He was with us, we just had to take the time to stop and see it. 






I pray that as you start 2014 you take time to stop and see the beauty around you. That when your in a time of trouble and heartache lean on God. His love is unfailing and it is surrounding you!! His love is unfailing! 

An honest look at JOY; more so MY JOY--or lack there of...

An honest look at JOY; more so MY JOY--or lack there of. 

"For the joy of the LORD is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

JOY comes from the LORD--JOY can’t come from my circumstances, my relationships, my ‘work’, my money or HAITI. My JOY needs to come from the LORD. 

Here comes the brutally honest part and it’s hard for me to even write about but if I don’t and keep it all bottled up well that makes satan happy. The last several months I have found myself having several conversations with other missionaries around here about JOY. I’ve found myself being able to be honest with them and thus opening my eyes to the fact that I have lost my JOY. This is not to say that I don’t love living in Haiti-because I honestly do-challenges, frustrations and all, but something has been missing. Over the past 17 months I’ve never felt it like I do now. 

I have come to conclude that I’ve let life's burdens, life's circumstances, others peoples words and thoughts overcome me. I have been living after the flesh and the things of this world. I have been seeking approval, trying to do things the “right” way, not step on anyones toes, and trying to satisfy other people. I have let myself believe and have been overcome with the lies of the enemy about who I am and what I really am doing here in Haiti. Asking myself the questions ‘why are you even here Jessica?’ ‘Your not needed here.’ ‘You can’t afford to do this anymore.’ ‘What talents and skills do you really have to offer.’ ‘You’ve done your time, now it’s time to move on.’ It sounds crazy-even as I write them they sound crazy to me but it’s the truth and that is what I have let satan do to me. I have let him steal my JOY. I have let him get into my head with all these lies and he has taken my strength and continued to prey upon me. What I now realize is that I have taking my focus and eyes off of the one and only thing that can truly give me JOY-JESUS.

In Psalm 16:11, Jesus says He will show you the 'path of life' - the way of life. Jesus is all I need.  He is where I get my strength from, He is my life. 

The JOY of the Lord is a spiritual strength. When I am filled with His JOY, He gives me the physical strength I need to go about my day and do HIS work and fight the battle.  

I read something today that really convicted me it said, “You can't live off of the joy that you once had because at some point in time you have either given it away or let it go. Joy can give you strength ONLY when you possess or have it.” The last couple months I have been living off a past JOY of my life in Haiti. Now in this time of transition that past JOY has run out and I’m longing to possess that JOY again. 

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

Isaiah 12:2-3

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

John 15:9-11

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

The Lord longs for me to seek Him and to be filled with HIS JOY and HIS Strength. So in this time of lacking JOY, how do I get back to being filled with His JOY and being happy in all circumstances. 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall; 

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

So I have a choice, I can continue to have no JOY or I can choose to turn to HIM and get my life back in touch with HIM. I need to confess that I’ve lost my JOY and all my sins to Him and even the ones that I’m unaware of. I need to pray the prayer that David prayed when he had no JOY "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit" 

Psalm 51:12

It’s a hard to be away from family and friends during the holiday season but I am thankful it has made me more aware of how I’ve lost the JOY and my JOY shouldn’t be dependent on circumstances, but dependent on HIM. I am reminded of this daily in Haiti. I’m surrounded by people who are in a pretty crappy situation or circumstance, but yet they seem to be filled with JOY. They have even shared that JOY with me but I’ve been so closed off that it was hard for me to truly receive it or give it back! It has made me feel like a real schmuck at times. Haiti always has something to teach me-I just need to open my eyes to it. 

If your struggling with a lack of JOY I pray that GOD fills you with HIS JOY. But you too can choose to get that JOY back and not be stuck in a pit of no JOY. 

I know that satan has been gleaming lately because he thinks he has won the battle, but I KNOW THAT MY LORD AND SAVIOR IS STRONGER THAN ANYTHING EVEN THE LIES THAT satan TRIES TO FILL MY HEAD WITH. So today I’m starting the climb out of the pit of lies and getting myself back on the mountain top where I can shine and be a true example of what it means to LIVE for JESUS and be filled with HIS JOY! 

If you have a moment could you please pray with me about this. Your prayers are what have gotten me through the last 17 months and I am truly thankful for each and every one of them! I don’t know where God is leading me or what He is doing in my life during this season, but I was recently reminded by dear friend, ‘Know that God has a plan for you....’ and He has a plan for you too! He is in control and I need to let HIM lead me. My job is to follow HIM with obedience and faithfulness. 

May you be filled with JOY beyond measure today!! Be blessed!! 
(The photos are just a small glimpses into the things that bring me joy here in Haiti...the things that fill me up when I need it...but ultimately I need MORE JESUS)