More Haiti

Sorry I haven't updated more. My summer is turning out to be busier then I thought.

The Haiti trip was really good and I was blessed to be a part of it. I expected to see poverty but not so much and widespread. This country is definitely still a mess in a lot of ways.

Like I mentioned in another post, we did a lot of work with kids. Some days we went into Port-Au-Prince and other days we made the journey out to the countryside. Often, after doing a mini-vbs kind of program with children at a small school we would go to peoples houses (really like a small hut) that invited us to pray with them. It was amazing to see how much Haitians wanted and respected prayer.

Back from Haiti

Just got back from Haiti a couple days ago. This is the crew that I went with from ICC. It was definitely a good trip. The next few weeks are going to be very busy for me but I'll try to post more soon. Thanks for your prayers.

Going to Haiti

Friday morning I'm off to Haiti for about a week and a half with Immanuel Community Church. Its the first official mission trip that ICC is doing as a church. We'll be working with Children in Need Haitian Project, doing some Bible School stuff with children, prayer and discipleship meetings, volunteering in a tent city run by Grace Village, and maybe some light construction work.

The plan is to be back in Queens July 4th. Please pray for God's light to shine. Oh Father, heal this nation.

Right Perspective

I've been reading this book called "Jesus Freaks" put together by The Voice of the Martyrs and dc Talk. The book is a compilation of many stories about the persecuted church since the time Jesus walked the earth.

Its really challenging me to change my perspective on life and try to maintain a changed perspective. As followers of Jesus, what are we really doing, how are we investing our time and money? Do we ever really suffer?

I recognize that I need to be more generous and encouraging, more life giving with my words and not allow myself to be angry or harsh toward my brothers and sisters. I assume those being persecuted for their faith aren't bickering with or being harsh with each other..

Murray Hill Food Pantry

My pastor at Immanuel Community Church, Mark Perri, is also one of the founders of Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA). It's an organization that provides services to the community and is supported by a few local fellowships.

The past few months I've been helping with the MHNA Afterschool Program as well as the Food Pantry on Saturday mornings. It's a blessing to be a part of both ministries and see how God is allowing us to impact this community. The pics are of the Food Pantry, we also give out some clothing.

Testing brings about....

I've been reading "Failing Forward" by John C. Maxwell. Its a good book about keeping a right attitude when you fail and about how your failing should to lead to success. In it he quotes Beck Weathers (a mountain climber), "you never know who you are and what you are until you've really been tested."

I guess I'm learning to appreciate the testing of the Lord more in my life. I am amazed at the tenacity of the both God and Satan. There seems to be a relentless battle over my soul and every soul I encounter. God wants to trust me more and give me an opportunity to persevere and succeed. I'm grateful for this.

Read James 1
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (1:2,3)
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (1:12)

Faith

I think that God is recently challenging and encouraging me to be a man of faith. But what does being a person of faith really mean or look like...? Guess I'm still learning.

"NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." - Heb. 11:1 (AMP)

It seems that throughout the word, God wants to see and reward faith. In Matthew 8 (5-13 NIV) it says that Jesus was astonished by the faith of the centurion. Jesus was a bit taken back by this man's great faith and the centurion got what he asked for. The centurion had faith, he chose to believe for the healing "as real fact" even though the evidence of the "senses" was not present.

The Bible is full of these kinds of examples, read all of Hebrews 11.

I think its clear that God wants us to chose to be faithful. These verses of Proverbs 2 speak about getting wisdom, take note of the words if and then. There is something about God's desire for our choosing the better way.

¹ My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

If...Then

So sad.

"With much weight on my heart I am writing this note...

I will back up a week. Last Tuesday we traveled into Manhattan to serve at Tompkins Square Park as usual. On our way in we were praying for the day and for our friends that we usually see there--for God to do a mighty work in their hearts. One of the girls on staff felt specifically led to pray for God's grace.. so she mentioned grace several times in her prayer as led by Holy Spirit.

We arrived and that day it was SO COLD outside. We were giving away coats and socks/gloves/scarves/hats/etc when I a woman that we have never seen before came to the truck. She was shivering so badly that she couldn't keep her hands/body from shaking. She was cold to the bone.. and much more it seemed.

Carol, who had prayed for grace on the way in, went over to talk with her. She gave her a jacket, we gave her hot soup, and offered to help in whatever way we could. Nearing the end of our time there, my friend Stanley (who has been homeless at times but has had an apartment now for the past few years) came and took her to stay with him for a few days. Her name was Grace.

Yesterday we were in Tompkins again when we found out that Grace had froze to death while sleeping on a cardboard box in the park just a couple days earlier. One of the guys that serve with us had read an article in the Daily News and came across that section, cut it out, and asked us if we knew her. We realized that this was the same woman we had ministered to just a week earlier. The article said that she had a 9 year old son and that she was a divorced victim of domestic abuse who struggled with alcoholism.

Please be praying for her son and her family and for those that knew her....

I sat in the truck serving food yesterday with a heavy heart... these things should never happen... could we have done more, Father?

I felt the need to write this to bring an awareness to you that this is real stuff that happens even in America....how much more we need to reach out to those around us in need... we never know how much time they have left. Oh my heart.

Father -- Compel us with your love."

- written by a friend of mine at Street LIFE Ministries

Carol (SLM staff) helping Grace with the coat

Father help us.