Engaged and Engaged

Life has been very busy since I returned to Haiti on August 11th! Three days after my return, on Thursday, August 14th, I asked Fabiola to marry me and she said YES! Now we are in the process of figuring out wedding details. I believe we have decided on Saturday, December 13th as the date of the wedding. We still have to make a final decision on the venue.

After the engagement I got to work. My first few nights sleeping in the heat were very difficult. I was really struggling to get sleep. Thankfully my body readjusted and I've been able to sleep at least half decent since the first week back. I anticipated a pile of work upon my return and my anticipation didn't disappoint. The last two weeks have been some of the most difficult weeks I have had working at Christian Light School. There have been a number of tough decisions made. There has been quite the burden placed on me. I am also teaching which has added an additional responsibility to my plate. I don't consider myself much of a teacher, but hopefully I can help prepare our 12th graders for University in some small way.

Despite all of the recent challenges I have found peace and comfort in knowing I am where I am supposed to be. I am here to help improve Christian Light School so that this ministry can continue until the Lord comes back. I'm not sure how long the Lord wants me to stay here, but I can only hope that I'll leave behind a legacy and policies that will carry on well after my time at Christian Light School has ended. 

I work with some great people. The CLS missionary staff has grown considerably and there are still others in the process of coming! God has brought us all here for His purpose. If we can work as His body and truly support one another in an effort to realize a better Christian Light School, I see a promising future ahead. Each person here has a role to play. I look forward to seeing everyone fully utilized according to the capabilities God has given them. 

Please pray for us. Pray that we will earnestly seek the Will of God in all that we do. Pray that we will continue to press forward regardless of the difficulties that lie ahead. Pray for the transitions taking place. Pray that we will be a reflection of Jesus to all the children and everyone else that we come into contact with. Pray for Fabiola and I on our engagement and upcoming marriage. 

I almost forgot to mention that Fabiola is now working at the school as well. She is helping teach our youngest children in the 3 and 4 year old classes. It's such an important job and I'm so proud of her! It brings great joy to me to have her working at the same ministry that I've poured so much of my life into!

Thank you for all of your love and support! 

My Stateside Visit/Support Update

I can still remember leaving Haiti on Friday, July 11th and flying into Ft. Lauderdale airport. It was incredible just flying over the orderly layout of an American city. I was amazed at how nice everything looked! Despite all of the issues and our people trying their best to remove God from our country, America is still a great place to live. I don't know how much longer it will be a great place to live, but it currently is a marvel to me. It was wonderful to slip into my comfortable bed in an air-conditioned room. It was an incredible feeling just to get behind the wheel of my car and go wherever I wanted on smooth, paved roads. There are some things I will miss more this time than last time because I now know what I'm headed back to. I'm ready though and I will adjust again in time.

I've had a great time during my visit. There certainly hasn't been any grass growing under my feet! It's been great visiting with friends, family, and supporters. I had a productive visit to Alabama where I received some additional training to help me perform my bookkeeping duties more efficiently. I've met some fantastic people who are either already involved with Christian Light School or would like to get involved. The weather has been excellent in Pennsylvania. This is one of the coolest summers temperature wise that I can remember. Maybe it just feels cooler compared to Haiti...haha.

Many people have asked me how I'm doing support wise since I've been home. I took the time today to figure out exactly how much money I currently have and where I'll be at the end of the month if everything goes according to plan. If I add up all of my savings and checking accounts along with my account at CLS I have about $8,626. $3,400 of that is in the CLS account. I should have my car, toolbox, and handgun sold before I leave this coming Monday. The sales from those items should give me an additional $5,750. After subtracting $3,400 in expenses for this month (which includes $2,200 I've spent on my cards since I got home on discretionary items to be revealed at a later date, clothes, travel, going out to eat, etc.), I should have at least $10,976 in liquid assets.

Nearly $11,000 sounds like a decent amount of money, but that is all I will have to my name besides the taptap I own in Haiti and my retirement account (which should be left alone). My recurring monthly support has been ranging from $400-$800 (averaging out to about $600 per month). I also get about $250 per month in revenue from the taptap. I need at least $1,200 a month to continue living as I currently do in Haiti. Ideally I'd like to have $1,500-1,750 per month in income, especially once 2015 starts.

I am willing to stay in Haiti as long as the support is there, my health allows me to complete the tasks I've been called to do, and it seems like I'm fulfilling what God wants me to do. Thank you for your continued financial support and prayers! So many people have been a blessing in my life. I know many of you give or have given in order for me to serve. I know many of you pray for me on a regular basis. I can't express how much that means to me! May God continue to bless you for your faithfulness to me, the people of Haiti, and Christian Light School!