The Best News

So I’m thinking that I’ve written a lot of notes, stories, and thoughts so far on this blog, but I’m not sure I’ve said what’s most important. It’s really the best news.

First I want to start with the bad news. I am a sinner. In the short 25 years I have been alive, I have cheated, lied, stolen, lusted, been sexually impure, drank, hated, used God’s name in vain, and more. My sin completely ruined my life. It separated me from the very source of goodness and joy. My sin separated me from the one who created me and gives all life. I separated myself from God; a separation that ultimately leads to death. There was nothing I could do to close this separation. I could not go to church enough; I could not do enough good; I even could not come to Haiti and drill enough wells for dying people. Like if you take a bowl of clean water and add a few small drops of red dye, the whole bowl turns red. No matter how much more water I add, the water will still be red. I can not make up for my sins by doing good.

Now the best news! Because God loves me so much, He made a way for the gap between Him and me to be closed. Not by my good works, but by his. Jesus came to this earth and lived the perfect life that I could not live. Not only did He live the life that I could not live, but then He died my death so that I do not have to die! All sin leads to death. So Jesus, who was without sin, took my sin upon himself and died. Then He destroyed death, eternal death, by raising himself from the dead! He offers me his life, perfect, without sin, and free from death, in exchange for mine, which is imperfect and destined for death. All I have to do is accept his gift and believe in him. A simple prayer: God, I recognize I am a sinner and that I can not do enough good to erase my sin. I believe in you, Jesus, ask for your forgiveness, and give you my life in exchange for yours.

Believe IN him not OF him. For a while I think I was confused about the difference. Belief of God is recognizing that there is a god. Belief in God is trusting him with my life. The best way I came to understand the difference is this: My neighbor pulls up in his driveway in a brand new fire-red Ferrari, and I, stunned, ask him where and how he got that beautiful car. He excitedly tells me that the car dealer down the road is giving them away in exchange for whatever car you bring in, regardless of condition. I laugh and ask him where and how he really got the car. Again he says that the car dealer down the road is really giving them away. Now if I actually believe that what my neighbor says is true, I would be in my car and driving to that dealership as fast as I possibly can. True belief inspires action. Even the devil believes that God exists, but he doesn’t believe in or put his trust in God.

My relationship with God is the most important thing in my life. He has forgiven me and not because of good things I’ve done. It was his decision and his power that freely gave me my “brand new fire-red Ferrari.” All I had to do was to accept his gift of salvation and give him my life in return. And it is in response to his gift to me that I seek and desire to do good. My actions do not produce my salvation; they are a production of my salvation.

Exchanging a broken life of sin and death for a joyful life of love and eternity is the best news I have ever heard.

May Prayer Letter

Answered prayer and praises-
-no accidents or injuries at the shop or job sites
-pipe repairing work at the river is completed
-some of the unity issues within the community development team are being addressed
-it rained 2 inches the night before we left for PaP, and rained lightly yesterday
-we poured the floor for the pastor's house at Poste Métier on Wednesday
-our journey to PaP very successful, relaxing, and safe. We made it back home resupplied and in one piece.
-I purchased a mototaxi
-my times at night have been much more productive
-Praise God for the awesome boys that I met at an orphanage in Pap and that many of them are Christians
-Thank you God for all the blessings that you have poured out into my life!

Ministry Prayer Requests-
-endurance and wisdom as we begin to survey all the water systems in the area
-the speedy and safe completion of the pastor's houses
-wisdom on which design projects to tackle next
-continued prayer for relationships within the community development team
-the salvation of Boss Abe and Boss Howrd
-opportunities to share Christ with people
-"Jehu's Boys," the orphanage that I visited in PaP, that they would experience the love of God
-meetings this next week with Protos, a organization which funds some of our projects
-Work teams that are coming at the end of May and July
-Rain, rain, rain
-the language lessons that I have twice a week. That God would help them to be more consistent and that they would be an opportunity for discipleship and witnessing
-for a dam project, where we are trying to partner with Seattle University
-missionaries Dave and Phyllis as they prepare for their 1 yr furlough
-that this country would turn to God and that those trying to disrupt peace in this country would be stopped

Personal Prayer Requests-
-pray Colossians 3:12-14 for me
-for the ability to memorize scripture
-an increased knowledge of the Creole language and that I can use it for God's glory
-for wisdom and patience in deciding what to do after the end of this 6 months
-for a deeper joy at the wonderful salvation and Saviour I have in Jesus Christ
-my health and safety
-for my family
-the possibility of my dad coming sometime in June
-continued closeness with God
-pray for my Home Team, Prayer Partners, and my wonderful home church COS.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. It is so important that people pray in order to recognize that it is God's power which brings about all good for His glory alone. As someone recently reminded me, we do not put our faith in prayer, but we put our faith in the One we pray to!

My New Hog

Harry: "Where'd you get that?"

Lloyd: "I traded the van for it back in town--straight up. I get 70 miles to a gallon on this 'hog'"

Harry: "Lloyd, just when I think you can't get any dumber you go and do something like this....and totally redeem yourself!!!"


I bet none of you pictured me a biker guy. Well, take a look at my new set of wheels.




We picked up this bad boy (commonly referred to as a mototaxi) in Gonaives on our trip home from PaP. It’s a Honda Super Cub, 50 cc Std complete with a plastic windshield for my knees and fancy red foot thingies. For any daredevil who’s brave enough to ride along with me.



Look, Mom, safety first! I’m wearing a helmet!

Jehu's Boys

During our week of resupplying, I had the awesome privilege to visit Jehu’s Boys, an orphanage run by a seminary grad named Jehu. I love these boys. They were all smiles and full of energy. I went with two other missionaries, Cindy and Phyllis, who go every week. Since the boys don’t get much interaction with males, Cindy asked me to lead the study time during my two visits. The first time I shared my testimony and the second time I taught from David and Goliath. It was such a privilege to share and talk with these boys. After study time and singing some worship songs, we played a bunch of games and just hung out. It was mainly a time to love these boys and have fun with them. One of the afternoons we folded origami birds; they seemed got a kick out of that. Below are a bunch of picts of these great kids. The first is a picture of their yard and the orphanage. Be sure to be praying for these boys.



















I also have a great video of these boys singing. I would love to show it to you all when I get home!

Safely Home

We have returned home from the bustling metropolis of Port-au-Prince to quiet village of Passe Catabois (PC). While Our stay in PaP was extended a little as we waited for a new generator to be made ready, it was very enjoyable. After the conclusion of our retreat in the mountains, we stayed at the seminary campus in Bolosse, a neighborhood of PaP. Most of our days in the week following were spent in meetings and resupplying. It was really a bit of an adventure. Gun fire at night was fairly frequent, and you had to call ahead before you went to some place in the city to make sure that there was no trouble. A couple of times our plans had to change do to “manfistations.” Due to the grace of God, we never ran into to trouble and were able to get everything that we needed. We left the seminary on Saturday and went to stay at a mission compound outside the city while we waited for our generator. It was a great time to relax and read.

The generator we took back to PC with us is a huge ton and a quater hunk of metal. We dragged it on a two axle trailer through river and over pot holes the size of my Honda civic. Fortunately we made it all the way to within 3 miles of home before having any problems. Unfortunately we broke one axle, popped a tire, and bent the other axle. We were able to make it home on the one axle going about 1.5 mph and pouring water on the tire that was rubbing against the metal trailer so it didn’t catch on fire. Praise God we made it home safely and with the generator!



A picture of the President’s Palace I took on one of our excursions. Not seen in the picture are the numerous UN tanks and gun-mounted trucks that were in the area.


A beautiful view of PaP from the seminary that we stayed at in Bolosse.



The guys flipping the trailer over in the shop yard to fix the broken axle.