A Glorious Sunday!

I love Sundays!  What a great day when the people of God come together to worship the Lord!  He is so good and worthy of all honor and glory and praise!  Let me tell you about my Sunday at Canaan!

Mornings are very early here.  I didn't think mornings started so early, but when you wake up to the sounds of the women next door singing praises very early and the many nature sounds, mornings do start very early!  And that is very good.  I have come to love my mornings!  After getting ready for church, I head down to the cafeteria for breakfast with the crew and have my morning cup of coffee....very strong coffee!

Sunday School with the young women is really challenging because it is all in Creole!  We studied the existence of Satan this time and memorized 1 Peter 5:8.  I enjoy the memorization part because they repeat the same words over and over again so I can learn new words and try to figure out what they mean in the context of the verse.

Church starts around 9 or 9:30.  Everything is in Creole and I find myself picking up more words and phrases every day!  After the opening time of each class reciting the memorization verse from the day, we sit on hard wooden benches and sing along from the hymnal--if we can catch which number they say.  (I went to worship practice on Saturday night so I was prepared!)  Some of the older girls sit close by so they can help with translation.  There are times of prayer following the worship songs, then the party starts!  Pastor Joel grabs the tambourine and it's praising time.  We all stand and clap and dance and sway and sing to the King!  How wonderful it is to be praising the Lord together!

We have more beautiful prayers and praises, then it is time for the special music.  Anyone who has prepared something gives the leader of the service a note before the worship time begins.  They call them up by name.  The little girls love getting up and singing in English or in Creole.  This Sunday, Sanite, Marthe, and I had prepared a song, so when my name was called we all went up and sang about who God is and our response: to adore Him!

The music is finished, now the preaching begins.  Many different people share about God's grace for us and how we need Him.  They share testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.  It is a beautiful time!  God is so good!  There is a call for the people of the church to pray for revival in their own hearts and in their churches, their communities, and in Haiti.  We committed to pray at 5am and 9pm for 5 minutes each time for God to send revival here!  It is the cry of the people here!

After church, there was a time of fellowship and rest...last evening though we watched the sunset from up the hill.  I couldn't help but sing praises to the King!  Creation reveals His glory in an amazing way....

So, a Sunday in Haiti.  Beautiful.  Wonderful.  Praise be to God.  Hallelujah!

The Smell of Clean Laundry...

After over a week here at Canaan, I am feeling comfortable in my surroundings--including my school uniform.  I definitely look like a teacher, although I am not teaching.  During school, I attend opening exercises where the children pray, sing one of the national anthems while the Haitian flag is being raised, and pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Bible; I work on my own homework so I will be able to help the students with homework; and work on a variety of projects whether that means sorting through or hauling books up a hill in very large and heavy bags or cleaning and organizing in an office with too many mosquitoes to count, a rat, a live and dead lizard, and many spiders...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!  :)

I am hoping that I am being a blessing here and praying that God will continue to give me patience for myself as I work to learn the language and figure out what my niche will be here for the next several months.  I know that He is faithful and I am trusting that He will continue to give me grace as I keep learning!

Speaking of learning, there are several different things come to mind.  I have learned:

• that the English language is crazy hard to learn!
• that going to sleep BEFORE the dogs start barking is KEY!
• that rats do not always get caught in traps... and they like to play on tin roofs...
• that it is so important to be willing to sound like a baby when speaking a new language...
• that it gets chilly here at night
• that I will always be learning and re-learning things about God!
• that the smell of clean laundry coming off the line was my favorite smell today.
• that cold showers DO feel good!
• that the grace of God is sufficient for me.
• that things aren't always as they seem, but God is always the same...yesterday, today, and forever!

Friends, keep praying for me and for the ministry of Canaan.  I'm still learning so much about the history and the people here and know that I am here to serve and learn with everything I've got!  Pray that I will continue to surrender daily and walk humbly with my God!  

Welcomed with Singing!

I had to smile through my grogginess when I walked from the plane to the bus because of the feeling of "home" I had and the little band playing and singing at the bottom of the stairs.  I loved that moment, even if it only lasted a moment.  After leaving the airport and spending time with a dear friend, I was picked up by the Canaan crew and was given a very warm welcome.

The last 36 hours have been an emotional roller-coaster with missing home, adjusting to a new place, being excited, unpacking, and wondering if this is what my life is going to be like.  I look out my window and see mountains and ocean.  I hear women singing in creole and many dogs barking.  I walk down the path and hear the lizards rustling in the leaves.  I am sweaty a lot of the time.  I see the faces of children laughing and learning.  I wonder "what am I to do here, Lord?"  Well, I'm sure I will find out and He already knows...

Friends, be praying for me!  I am still struggling with my cold and would really like to keep getting better.  Pray that I see God's face and plan as I keep seeking Him and walking down this path.  Pray hard!  Pray often!

Tomorrow, I will be helping out down at the school and hopefully learning the names of these beautiful people!  I am so thankful that God has brought me here!  To Him be the GLORY FOREVER!

On the Road...or In the Air!

I'm always so intrigued by people in airports.  There are those people reading their novels and looking up and around every once and a while whether that is to stretch their neck or see who is watching them.  Then there are the cell phone people who seem to be either whispering discreetly or yelling into their cell phones about a variety of topics from how often to walk the puppy they left at home or the tickets they left on the table.  The group travelers, the movie watchers--who are very entertaining when they chuckle out loud, the sleepers, the wanderers, and the computer people--this is the group that I am currently a part of in the Chicago airport (obviously).  

I can't believe I'm on my way down to Haiti.  This past week has been filled with last minute details, many goodbyes, and many more tears.  I am overwhelmed with the love and support I have been given by such a variety of people.  On Sunday, there was a "Send Off" party for me and I felt so blessed by the people who came to bid me farewell and show their support.  I got to see dear friends from the past who I never see enough, church family members, cousins, prayer warriors, and so many other people who have been a blessing to me!  Fighting back tears that day was a common occurrence.  I didn't know that trying so hard not to cry would be so exhausting.  Sometimes I succeeded, but other times the tears just flowed.  I couldn't help it!

People have been asking me if I am excited and ready for this new adventure.  The answer is--now that I am on my way--a resounding "YES"!  Two other words I would use to describe how I'm feeling about this change in my life are:  BLESSED and HUMBLED.  I don't know of a better way to describe this, but I know that God is blessing me so I can bless others and is keeping me humble so He gets all the GLORY.  I'm excited to see how He continues to work!

Single Digits!

No, I'm not just talking about the weather--although it is far beyond cold here in Minnesota!  In just a few short days I will be on a plane on my way to Haiti where it will no longer be in the single digits.  "So, Cassie, are you ready?  Are you packed?"

I don't think that I will ever be completely ready, but God has been preparing me for this my whole life.  He isn't done with me yet, but I'm excited to see how He continues to prepare me for GLORY!  I am trusting Him as I keep walking forward towards this and that trust is a choice I have to make daily.

I woke up this morning with a splitting headache after a night filled with crazy dreams and making a constantly growing "to do" list in my head.  I couldn't sleep.  I couldn't get my brain to stop thinking.  It's after a night like this that I realize that every single day I have to make the choice to TRUST God.  He does have everything under His control.  "He's got the whole world in His hands..."  

I find it odd and reassuring that when I am in need of a little nudge to urge me to keep going and not give up, God provides a shove that knocks me over with blessing reminding me that He is GOD!  How faithful He is!  Even when I only have a week left here with my family and friends, He shows me that I am on the right path through His Word and through His people.  All I can do is say "Thank You, Lord!"  Yes, I have things that will not be accomplished if I don't put some effort in, but I am working for the Lord and in the Lord's strength.  

Brothers and sisters, be praying for me.  Be praying that the things that need to be done will be done; that things that need to be packed will be packed; that all the goodbye hugs would be given in love; and that God would continue to be glorified in my preparing and--a week from now--in my going to serve Him in Haiti.

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.  Brothers, pray for us."

1 Thessalonians 5:23-25