Are you Ready to be Poured Out?

AM

This week has been a challenge on many levels.  A couple of days of suspect health, a dynamic, large and interesting team with lots of ideas of what they want to do, extra issues like resident parents pulling their kid out of the team for a private excursion, potential developing relationships, not enough time or place for Cathy & I to get things right when stuff comes up and of course just the daily work which is a challenge in itself.  Although I’m getting better used to the weather, heat and humidity, even the ocean this week was a drag, as it was crowded, loud, other issues with the local bar-goers next door, and the water was extremely cloudy - you couldn’t see even 6ft in front of your face, really - kind of milky white, possibly a cloud of silty runoff from some storms near Leogane a couple of days ago, perhaps something else like a chemical dump of some sort?  Who knows?  In any case a disappointment from what I was expecting and hoping for.

Perhaps the week has nothing to do with any of the above, and I’m just having a personal challenge going into our 6th week here.  In any case, this morning’s devotion from “My Utmost for His Highest” reminded me again of the work we’ve been called to and the need to lay aside every personal desire and expectation to allow Christ to shine through.  This work, and most of the work of devout and dedicated pastors, teachers, doctors, cooks, cleaners, secretaries, and missionaries... everywhere is a work of SERVICE.  Lord, help me in that task...  and as this week comes to a close with church, a major rice distribution then a trip back to the children’s church at Taino, I need to keep a good attitude, a helpful spirit and a willing heart.  A very definite challenge!

Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering?

“If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17 ).

Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well done.’ ”

It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased …” (Philippians 4:12 ). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket—to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.

.....To paraphrase the devotional, then, a question.  What is your attitude today?  ...allow the Lord to use you, use us, poured out in whatever work, whenever time He so chooses and desires, it will be a blessing for all...

Chris (:

PM

This evening we were blessed by the team sharing from their hearts their experiences to date, then having Marc & Lisa share their testimonies and the broader vision of Haiti Arise for the people and country of Haiti.  This team is very diverse in many way, but clearly the Lord has touched their hearts and they have made many connections to the people and children here.  I am sure the next few days will be both a great blessing and difficult for them as they finish tasks here then prepare to return home.

6 1/2 tonnes of rice waiting to be split and bagged

two competing assembly line, all in fun...

flour children

standing room only at church... waiting on the distribution

The rice distribution went off very well, as it was well-organized and controlled so that each family received a 5 lb bag of rice and most a 2 1/2 lb bag of flour.  It was a blessing to be a part of the whole thing, and the people were definitely appreciative.  

It was especially interesting to see the pastor from the HAM mountain church figure out a way to get his 4-55 lb sacks of rice back to his church.  From what I understand its motorbike to downtown, then loading onto donkeys for the considerable trek upwards to the church.  Not sure if the pastor and his kids are hiking or not, but apparently we're going to find out ourselves on the 19th when we get to join them for a service (James & Jim, bring good walking shoes...) in the mountains. 

Later in the afternoon the team went to the Taino Children's Church just up the road and blessed them with song, testimony and some notebooks and pens.  It still amazes me that the whole church there is essentially kids and young adults, but I don't think any over 20.  No teenage years trying to figure out what you want to do with your life here...

Finally we got back to base for a well-deserved rest and the team was blessed with a local tradition, we ran out of diesel and the power went out for several hours.  We managed with some candles and hastily-retrieved flashlights to make it a romantic evening in Grand Goave which I'm sure will be memorable highlight for many.