Last night at about 8:00pm, Carly called from Haiti with a good report. It was only a three minute report because the team had bought one 20 minute phone card and were taking turns making 3 minute phone calls. But her spirits seemed high, she said her health was good, and she said God had been doing some really cool things with them there. I obviously couldnt get too many details out of her in three minutes, but praise God for the surprise contact.
Thanks for all of your prayers, folks. It's those prayers and the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit that keeps us going.
I will leave tomorrow for another four state road trip raising support that will finish with me picking up Carly at the DC airport Friday at noon. WAHOO!! Catch ya later, team.
-ZB
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Haiti Update
They arrived in Port au Prince, Haiti Thursday morning at roughly 9:00am only to find that 5 of their most valuable bags had been lost. One of the main focuses for this trip was to set up clinic to provide Haitians with prescription glasses restoring sight to the visually impaired. The bags that were lost contained all the prescription lenses and the other equipment used to set up this clinic. The team was terribly discouraged because this clinic was to be their ticket into the mountains and the villages. How could they show up and not provide the services they promised?
So Thursday was spent connecting with missionaries in Port au Prince and getting adjusted to the climate and culture. Many members of this team are 1st timers to Haiti and needed a little time to adjust. It was Friday morning before they could go back to the airport in an attempt to find their lost luggage. It's hard enough to reclaim lost luggage in the states, and almost impossible to do so in Haiti, but they had to try. With almost no hope at all, a couple members of the team went to the airport while the rest of the team set up a make shift clinic with only reading and sun glasses at the mission house/boys home where they were staying. They didn't have any prescription lenses and were terribly worried they would have to turn masses of people away.
We've heard it said that "nothing is impossible to God"....well, sometimes we don't really believe that until we are faced with a situation like this. But around 10:00am Friday morning, there were tears being shed and shouts of praising being sung to our God because the luggage had been found!! Praise God! We don't know how, but we know who!
I got an email from Carly late Friday night depicting the excitement, "but we didn't have the suitcases yet. Then, as the first person was beginning to be seen at our makeshift clinic, the truck got back. I was so scared to know the answer I didn't even go out and look; I just listened.....They got all 5!!! I was so happy I started crying and had to go to the back room pretending I was working on setting up."
So the team worked all day at providing glasses and loving on those who came to the clinic. Later, after dinner, the team began packing everything back up because today (Saturday the 24th)they are headed to the mountains bright and early. There wont be any more contact from them until the middle of next week sometime, but they have all the luggage, and a restored hope that it truly is God and God alone who is leading and providing for this trip.
Praise God for His direction and protection. Praise God for His immovable plans and unchangeable will. Praise God for His sovereignty and mercy. Praise God for...well, just for being God! Thanks for your prayers folks - keep em rollin!
With praise in my heart,
ZB
So Thursday was spent connecting with missionaries in Port au Prince and getting adjusted to the climate and culture. Many members of this team are 1st timers to Haiti and needed a little time to adjust. It was Friday morning before they could go back to the airport in an attempt to find their lost luggage. It's hard enough to reclaim lost luggage in the states, and almost impossible to do so in Haiti, but they had to try. With almost no hope at all, a couple members of the team went to the airport while the rest of the team set up a make shift clinic with only reading and sun glasses at the mission house/boys home where they were staying. They didn't have any prescription lenses and were terribly worried they would have to turn masses of people away.
We've heard it said that "nothing is impossible to God"....well, sometimes we don't really believe that until we are faced with a situation like this. But around 10:00am Friday morning, there were tears being shed and shouts of praising being sung to our God because the luggage had been found!! Praise God! We don't know how, but we know who!
I got an email from Carly late Friday night depicting the excitement, "but we didn't have the suitcases yet. Then, as the first person was beginning to be seen at our makeshift clinic, the truck got back. I was so scared to know the answer I didn't even go out and look; I just listened.....They got all 5!!! I was so happy I started crying and had to go to the back room pretending I was working on setting up."
So the team worked all day at providing glasses and loving on those who came to the clinic. Later, after dinner, the team began packing everything back up because today (Saturday the 24th)they are headed to the mountains bright and early. There wont be any more contact from them until the middle of next week sometime, but they have all the luggage, and a restored hope that it truly is God and God alone who is leading and providing for this trip.
Praise God for His direction and protection. Praise God for His immovable plans and unchangeable will. Praise God for His sovereignty and mercy. Praise God for...well, just for being God! Thanks for your prayers folks - keep em rollin!
With praise in my heart,
ZB
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
And she's off!
Well Gang, I sent my bride off to the airport today. I had lots of mixed emotions, but there was certainly an over-riding sense of assurance that God has ordained and planned this trip. I'm excited to see what He does with Carly and the team while they are in Haiti. They should be gone for about 10 days, and during those 10 days, they have asked that we all keep them lifted in prayer for protection and direction.
- Protection from anything the enemy would do to thwart God's plans for this trip. Protection from lies that will become easy to believe while there such as "I'm not making any difference." or "I should have never come." Lies like this will come up in the hearts of the team members. So please pray for God's assurance and steadfastness to anchor them in the purpose and vision for this trip.
- Direction from the Lord and open ears to hear His promptings. Direction for the team to know what to say and when to say it to be the most fruitful as possible in sharing Christ's love. Direction for the Haitians to find their way to the clinics set up in order to receive the medical and visual aid the team is bringing. Direction for the hearts and minds of the team members that they would be ever set on Christ, the great commission, and Jesus' passionate pursuit of His people in the country of Haiti.
I'll keep you posted when I hear that they have landed safely and do my best to let you know how you can be praying, but I'd say this is a good start.
Thanks for your interest in us and God's work in/through us. Thank you for your prayers and devotion to seeing His kingdom come.
Prayerfully,
ZB
- Protection from anything the enemy would do to thwart God's plans for this trip. Protection from lies that will become easy to believe while there such as "I'm not making any difference." or "I should have never come." Lies like this will come up in the hearts of the team members. So please pray for God's assurance and steadfastness to anchor them in the purpose and vision for this trip.
- Direction from the Lord and open ears to hear His promptings. Direction for the team to know what to say and when to say it to be the most fruitful as possible in sharing Christ's love. Direction for the Haitians to find their way to the clinics set up in order to receive the medical and visual aid the team is bringing. Direction for the hearts and minds of the team members that they would be ever set on Christ, the great commission, and Jesus' passionate pursuit of His people in the country of Haiti.
I'll keep you posted when I hear that they have landed safely and do my best to let you know how you can be praying, but I'd say this is a good start.
Thanks for your interest in us and God's work in/through us. Thank you for your prayers and devotion to seeing His kingdom come.
Prayerfully,
ZB
Monday, July 12, 2010
Back from the Carolinas
After spending over 3,000 miles on the road the last two weeks, I'm looking foward to having a week at home where I can reorganize and get my feet back under me. Support raising has been incredible, but it has been trying. Our faith and patience is being tested, but God has proven faithful over and over again. Please pray that the Lord would raise up a ministry team around Carly and I so that we might be able to commit more of our time to the ministry.
Speaking of ministry, today starts our week long Big Kick Soccer Camp that River Ridge is doing in the community. Instead of doing a Vacation Bible School, we're doing a soccer camp with the hope of reaching families and children in the community. Carly is the lead skills instructor and I'll be doing goofy skits and working with the kids through the week. We're really excited about it and are trusting God to use us as lights in our Jerusalem.
Also, as you are praying for us, please lift up Carly and the team she is helping to lead to Haiti next week. They will be gone for 10 days and hope to minster to people through grief counciling, by providing perscription and reading glasses, outreach among earthquake victims, and construction projects.
I can't tell you how much your prayers and support mean to us. All praise belongs to my King www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE check it out!
-ZB
Speaking of ministry, today starts our week long Big Kick Soccer Camp that River Ridge is doing in the community. Instead of doing a Vacation Bible School, we're doing a soccer camp with the hope of reaching families and children in the community. Carly is the lead skills instructor and I'll be doing goofy skits and working with the kids through the week. We're really excited about it and are trusting God to use us as lights in our Jerusalem.
Also, as you are praying for us, please lift up Carly and the team she is helping to lead to Haiti next week. They will be gone for 10 days and hope to minster to people through grief counciling, by providing perscription and reading glasses, outreach among earthquake victims, and construction projects.
I can't tell you how much your prayers and support mean to us. All praise belongs to my King www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE check it out!
-ZB
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