So I am totally stealing a blog from my housemate Thomas Garner. (www.thomasgarner.myadventures.org) It’s all about our community in Haiti
I love these people!!! Brothers and sisters in Christ! A motto we have here is “Unity builds Community.” Hoooo-rah! They do a great job of cultivating the right kind of community here. 
I told the AIM staff here I would give them shout-outs, and so here goes… Paige – probably the smartest young woman I’ve EVER met. She was my first contact here and has blown me away with her testimony and her understanding of the gospel. It’s truly her life, and she walks in that wisdom and truth. Seriously. Seth and Aaron – two covenant brothers who stand boldly for Christ and lead our community. I love their camaraderie in the Lord. Neil – straight up walks in the fear of the Lord! It’s also notable that while on The World Race he acquired the nickname “demon-hunter.” HAHA. Everyone should know a Neil. Troy – a kindred spirit to me. I love how we process the Word similarly. Steph – a quiet, confident sister who knows her identity in Christ. She’s key. Katie – believes God. Doesn’t just believe in Him, but believes Him, and at His word too. A rare quality. Toya – she breaks the mold by being a black female foreign minister here. No one, I mean no one, draws more attention, inspiration, motivation, and respect from the Haitians here than her. Period. Ben – seminary student putting the sugared doctrine on hold to serve. Smart guy. Christiana – best smile ever, who pursues the Lord with great eagerness. Mark – soft-spoken, but fearless leader here as a veteran. He gives great direction and advice. Marcio – young believer, wild at heart and growing in the Lord faster than a magic beanstalk. Kelsey – a passionate believer who loves on us constantly. A super genuine person. Ryan – one of the most modest and humble people I’ve met, but never modest about who God is. He’s got an abundance of faith brewing in him. Sarah – a very insightful encourager. She’s been enthusiastic in getting to know everyone and she loves to be a servant. Clinton – reminds me of my older brothers because he’s wise and very collected. Whenever he speaks everyone stops to listen. He’s the elder brother here and a pastor/father figure, already having lead a church for 9 years back in the states.
AIM, they’re definitely on target… it’s mercy in motion.
Everyone here is mission-minded and determined to see tasks carried out in the best possible manner. Truthfully, I’ve never seen a ministry run this well, and I’ve served with the IMB (International Mission Board) and Campus Crusades for Christ abroad before. There’s also a passionate sense of urgency due to both the obvious need here and the call on everyone’s heart for the gospel to be made known.
So, to be specific, AIM (Adventures in Missions) is empowering the people here to do the work the Lord. I literally mean empowering. We don’t give handouts, splurge ridiculous gifts on them, or carelessly leave them with more than they can handle leading them to any kind of dependency on outside help. All the supplies (i.e. tarps/wood/tents for make shift homes, rice/water for food and drink, baby supplies for the young ones, medicine, etc etc anything they really need) is bought at markets or shipped in while video documenting the process and how funds are spent. All those supplies are then responsibly disseminated to local pastors/community leaders to use for meeting all their needs. We usually deliver the goods in the middle of the night to prevent problems. I don’t think the people figure out that the stuff their church leaders give out was given by us (I could be wrong), but we emphasize to the pastors that what is given is God’s provision, NOT our extra gifts to leave to them. All the while, our volunteer groups are going in daily to pray for needs, teach bible lessons to kids, move rubble, paint walls, repair roofs, etc. etc. etc. By funneling the work through the people we are really empowering them. It’s been beautifully successful. That enablement has been a blessing to witness already. Change is starting, successfully.
I told the AIM staff here I would give them shout-outs, and so here goes… Paige – probably the smartest young woman I’ve EVER met. She was my first contact here and has blown me away with her testimony and her understanding of the gospel. It’s truly her life, and she walks in that wisdom and truth. Seriously. Seth and Aaron – two covenant brothers who stand boldly for Christ and lead our community. I love their camaraderie in the Lord. Neil – straight up walks in the fear of the Lord! It’s also notable that while on The World Race he acquired the nickname “demon-hunter.” HAHA. Everyone should know a Neil. Troy – a kindred spirit to me. I love how we process the Word similarly. Steph – a quiet, confident sister who knows her identity in Christ. She’s key. Katie – believes God. Doesn’t just believe in Him, but believes Him, and at His word too. A rare quality. Toya – she breaks the mold by being a black female foreign minister here. No one, I mean no one, draws more attention, inspiration, motivation, and respect from the Haitians here than her. Period. Ben – seminary student putting the sugared doctrine on hold to serve. Smart guy. Christiana – best smile ever, who pursues the Lord with great eagerness. Mark – soft-spoken, but fearless leader here as a veteran. He gives great direction and advice. Marcio – young believer, wild at heart and growing in the Lord faster than a magic beanstalk. Kelsey – a passionate believer who loves on us constantly. A super genuine person. Ryan – one of the most modest and humble people I’ve met, but never modest about who God is. He’s got an abundance of faith brewing in him. Sarah – a very insightful encourager. She’s been enthusiastic in getting to know everyone and she loves to be a servant. Clinton – reminds me of my older brothers because he’s wise and very collected. Whenever he speaks everyone stops to listen. He’s the elder brother here and a pastor/father figure, already having lead a church for 9 years back in the states.AIM, they’re definitely on target… it’s mercy in motion.
Everyone here is mission-minded and determined to see tasks carried out in the best possible manner. Truthfully, I’ve never seen a ministry run this well, and I’ve served with the IMB (International Mission Board) and Campus Crusades for Christ abroad before. There’s also a passionate sense of urgency due to both the obvious need here and the call on everyone’s heart for the gospel to be made known.
So, to be specific, AIM (Adventures in Missions) is empowering the people here to do the work the Lord. I literally mean empowering. We don’t give handouts, splurge ridiculous gifts on them, or carelessly leave them with more than they can handle leading them to any kind of dependency on outside help. All the supplies (i.e. tarps/wood/tents for make shift homes, rice/water for food and drink, baby supplies for the young ones, medicine, etc etc anything they really need) is bought at markets or shipped in while video documenting the process and how funds are spent. All those supplies are then responsibly disseminated to local pastors/community leaders to use for meeting all their needs. We usually deliver the goods in the middle of the night to prevent problems. I don’t think the people figure out that the stuff their church leaders give out was given by us (I could be wrong), but we emphasize to the pastors that what is given is God’s provision, NOT our extra gifts to leave to them. All the while, our volunteer groups are going in daily to pray for needs, teach bible lessons to kids, move rubble, paint walls, repair roofs, etc. etc. etc. By funneling the work through the people we are really empowering them. It’s been beautifully successful. That enablement has been a blessing to witness already. Change is starting, successfully.
Toya, I think you are the first person to have ever called me quiet! 🙂 Thanks for the shout out!
oh wait…ha ha ha ha ha…it’s thomas’