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 Home at last! This is a picture of Fabiola and I right after I returned. I was exhausted from my travels, but it didn't stop us from being extremely happy to be back together!

My first week back was crazy busy! We had a lot of guests staying at the school. One group from Ontario, Canada and another from Auburn, Alabama. Both groups were awesome! I had a lot of catching up to do on the financial work and still haven't made up all of the ground yet. I also had to do payroll and finish putting together child sponsor envelopes last Friday.

In Haiti the schools have off for the entire holy week. I'm very thankful to get a break after my chaotic first week back. It couldn't have come at a better time because I woke up this morning with a cold again and Fabiola also has a cold. I'm having a hard time staying consistently healthy here. Pray that I can figure out what I'm doing that is causing me to get sick so much.

One exciting development is that we are about to have our own personal car that we will share with my brother-in-law Max-harry. I traded in my taptap (It ended up not being a profitable business like I had hoped), Max-harry paid for 25% of the total cost, and Fabiola and I have to come up with the remaining $1,500. If anyone would like to be a blessing to us and help pay for the remaining $1,500 you can do so by clicking on "give" in the tabs above this blog, or clicking on this link: http://www.christianlighthaiti.org/joshua---fabiola-shappell.html

 It's a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero. It should do well in some of the rough driving conditions we are presented with.

In the past few days we just found out we will probably owe close to $3,000 in taxes from the donations we received in 2014. The disbursements that were made to us were reported on a 1099-misc. I didn't even know we would have to pay taxes, because we were originally told that it would be covered under a stipend. The board of Christian Light School then found out from a CPA in January of this year that they couldn't legally do a stipend. If anyone feels led to help us pay for these taxes it would be greatly appreciated!

Our financial situation has looked bad for awhile. I know that God is going to meet our needs somehow. I know He wouldn't have called me back otherwise. Please pray that I will have peace on these things and truly hand it all over to God. I think I mostly have, but every time another financial blow comes along it's hard on me. We are so thankful for those who have and are supporting us and I believe that God is going to grow our support. I look forward to testifying to this in the coming months!

God bless you all! We love you!

God's Plan is Better Than Mine

I came back to the States to find a job and I found one. It just wasn't one that I was expecting. On Saturday night the Lord called me back to Haiti! I was in my bedroom at my grandparents and I felt the power of the Holy Spirit upon me. He told me I need to go back and run the ministry at Christian Light School. After that I felt energy just surging through me and I got on the floor and started praising and worshiping the Lord! I'm not sure on the timing of the second part of the calling because Sherrie and Travis are currently co-leading the ministry, but God must have a plan that we are not able to see yet.

I'm so thankful that God provided direction and for His sovereignty in all things! I'm blessed to serve a living God that answers prayers! I think Fabiola and I are both relieved that we won't have to be separated.

Fabiola and I definitely need help financially and God has already started providing more funds. Before I came to Haiti last March I had already raised a good amount of one time support to help me get through the past year. That money is gone as you know from the last update. We really need more monthly supporters. Will you pray about supporting Fabiola and I? I know that God will provide. He wouldn't have called me back otherwise.

God Bless You!

The Next Chapter

It's been nearly a year since I set out on the journey of full time ministry in Haiti. I give thanks to God for His provisions and hedge of protection. I also thank Him for all He has taught me during my time in Haiti. I praise Him for the wonderful wife He has given me!

I have been in a season of seeking the Lord for what Fabiola and I are to do next. We currently don't have enough financial support to stay in Haiti. The money that is being disbursed for this month isn't even enough to cover all of our expenses. There isn't any known progress on Fabiola's visa. I've done all I can do in that area. It's in God's hands. No better place for it to be.

I believe I am supposed to come back to the States. I just don't know exactly where the Lord wants Fabiola and I to live, work, and serve. I'm currently in Plant City, Florida with my grandparents. I love the area and the church. It's also a climate closer to what Fabiola is used to in Haiti and would provide us an easier and less expensive way to visit Haiti. I'd love to live here if it be in God's will. I'm looking for a job. If I'm provided with a job that will meet our needs this will be our new home.

I return to Haiti on Saturday, March 21st. I do not plan to be there for long before I either fly back to Florida, or fly back to Pennsylvania. I'll mostly be making sure Fabiola has a safe place to stay, and trying to leave the office in as good of shape as possible. Please keep this in prayer because I really should decide what I'm doing by next week so I can order the ticket. Be also in prayer for the future of Christian Light School. The ministry was there long before I came along, but my departure will leave a significant hole.

If Fabiola can stay close to the school she will continue to serve at the school until she can come to the States. I will keep everyone updated on that. Even if I can get a job by April we are facing some near term financial difficulties. I don't have anything of major value anymore. I sold my car and other things of value last summer. I am starting with nothing. I don't think we even have enough money to pay our taxes for 2014 and pay off the credit card I've been using. It's not a fun place to be in, but we will get out of it. I'm at peace with our situation because I counted up the costs before I set out on this journey. I knew it wouldn't be easy. I knew it would require sacrifice that would make me uncomfortable.

I am truly grateful to everyone who has been apart of this chapter with me. Your prayers and financial support helped me get through it all. There is no telling how many lives were and will be touched because of your efforts and generosity.

We are living in the end times. We must be steadfast in our commitment to the Lord and His commandments. There are many people falling prey to false doctrines. Stay in the Word and do not stray from it. I pray that America will wake up. This is not a time to be sleeping. Make sure you have plenty of oil in your lamp!