Week 4-5

Hello! Sorry we haven't updated in a while! We have been running around like crazy lately. We got the opportunity to go to Santo Domingo for a few days to pick up a missionary. It was a very nice and unexpected vacation! We got a little bit of American food and a lot of relaxation. We even spent our last night at a resort! (compliments of G-daddy Ensminger...don't worry if you're a supporter, we didn't use your money!) Although it was a blast and we probably spoiled ourselves a little too much, we definitely needed it. We were starting to get slightly emotionally and physically drained the week before, so we were very thankful for the break. BUT, God also used this time in a different way that we did not expect...
Ever since we got to Haiti, we feel like we've been more spiritually focused than ever. Obviously, being on the mission field has made us more mission minded. We see every opportunity to share the Gospel with people we meet, and we rarely miss a chance to show love to the people here or hug on a little one. We've been praying that when we return we would have the same attitude and the same urgency to witness to others and to be used by God wherever we are. This "spiritual high" has allowed us to dream big and get excited about what the future holds for us when we get back to the states, but it has also blinded us to many things that the world is going to throw at us back home, difficulties that just aren't issues here in Haiti. In the Dominican Republic we were smacked in the face...with materialism, all kinds of idolatry, and the depth of our selfishness. While we were there, we didn't look for any ministry opportunities. In our very excited states of mind, we were solely focused on where we could eat, what we could buy, and where we could go for ourselves. Though none of this in itself is a bad thing, it was for us because we put our desires above recognizing the needs of others. We really believe the Lord had different plans for our mini-vacation. He knew we needed rest, but he knew even better that we needed a reminder of the struggles that lie ahead for us. We needed to be warned that coming back from an experience like this is going to be far beyond difficult, and that we're going to need even more prayer when we get back. A Dominican pastor we heard last sunday urged his congregation to "not have the American mindset." At first this kinda shocked us (and embarrassed us, as we were the only white people in the room), but his point had some validity. With evidence of growing materialism in the DR, they should be on guard not to adapt this mindset. Because, as it did to us that week, it becomes all too easy to forget that our ultimate goal as believers is the make much of Christ in the world, not ourselves. We don't want to be too greedy in asking for your prayers :), but please pray that when we get home, we will keep the same heart we have here.
In two days, the Immanuel College Group gets here! We are so pumped! Basically because Nathan is bringing Betty's cookies :) But for real, it's gonna be such a relief to see familiar faces...and what's even better is we will be leading them up in an area an hour from here called "Light on a Hill"...But the name doesn't do it justice..it's literally on top of a mountain overlooking the ocean and the city...probably the most beautiful place we've seen since we've been here..and we will be sleeping in a tent on the roof of an old missionary house! We'll be working with the group doing everything from cooking and cleaning to discipleship, ESL, and Vacation Bible School. Please pray for the community and the group coming, as this is the first project being done in the area. The most incredible part is how God is already moving there. Junior, the local Haitian pastor and leader of the community, is a modern day Paul. His church has been growing and has recently had many men step up to lead. (Church administration is going to be one of the main focuses of this group's task) But the thing that's so special about Junior is that he is so focused on the spiritual needs of his community, he won't even accept offers for physical needs such as medical attention and house building in the area. If you could see the poverty in this area (naked children, trash-filled streets, cardboard roofs, and rampant malnourishment) you would understand just how much faith this man has. He knows that without God is the community, no change will last and no real hope will be given.
As a side note, we had three girls (Casey, Abby, and Kimberly) come in this week. It's been so refreshing to have girls close to our age here to hang out with. (and has given me a break from Jordan :)) This one chick Abby had to one-up us and come here for 6 months, at the age of 19, by herself!!..show off!!! Just kiddin, please pray for her as she begins a VERY long journey...

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support. We really do pray for you all and thank God for you every day.