Wednesday, August 29, 2012

let go.

I grip tightly, not willing to let go. Eventually, I release it all to Him, knowing He holds it all. I feel the ease of giving my cares to Him. The God who loves me, who has a plan, the God who carries each one of my loved ones in His hands. 
Then, as slowly as I released it to Him, I quickly  grab it all back. My heart screams, don't take this from me God. If I hold them, I can control it. But that is not the truth. My being here, or going there, God will take care of them. He already is. I see the reaping of seeds planted long ago. Then the gentle father whispers "let them go darling daughter, let them go."

So, I let go again. I let go of the illness, I let go of their pain. I let go of worrying. They are not mine, they are His. 

Psalm 121:7-8 has carried me in this season and the Lord gave it to me, to hold onto. His word is all I can hold onto, but it is enough. The promises of Revelation, of a new heaven and a new earth, are enough. For them and for me.  

Thank you Jesus, for being more than enough. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Praises!

Yesterday I received a couple pieces of encouraging news!

I now have $625 committed per month! This is such a blessing and I am so excited to see how God is fulfilling this plan for my life. Keep the prayers coming! 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Official

In less than 3 weeks I take another leap in this journey as I leave for training in Colorado. These next few weeks will be a whirlwind of packing, seeing friends, paperwork and lots of emails. God allows me to keep the true goal in mind in so many ways though. Here is one way , I've officially made it to the HAFF Staff Page. Another surreal moment in this journey God is sending me on! 

Thanks again for your continued support, prayers and love! 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

trust and obey

Your job is to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. His job is to set your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). You don’t have to know the reason for everything, and there’s no requirement that you figure it all out before you complete your mission. You just need to trust and obey.
- Jon Walker via Daily Hope devotional

Thankful for this reminder to take things day by day. The Lord will show us which steps to take. 

Happy weekend!!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Why I need a cook in Haiti....


"You are faithful God." As I sit down to work on budgeting, I am overjoyed to hear these lyrics in the background. He is faithful!

I want to take a chance to explain a few things about my budget. There are a couple of needs that seem odd until you truly think about them. For example, I'll have a cook in Haiti. Moving to a third world country and having a cook might seem extravagant, but I'll get to that. I will also have someone to do my laundry and individuals helping me with language development. 

In terms of cooking, I have to to have help, seeing as...I have no idea what I am doing. I won't have a regular stove, and cooking beans and rice is much harder than boiling a pot of water and opening a can. Cooking in Haiti is so different than what we do here and meals are never prepared quickly. So if I were to cook most meals myself, I would have no time to teach or complete other tasks. The same goes for laundry, few of us in America have the faintest idea how to truly hand wash clothes. I will also have someone who goes to the market for me, or with me for a while. The market will be an overwhelming place when I barely know the language and have no idea what to buy. More importantly, Haitians can barter with Haitians far better than I can! 

Another initial monthly cost is a translator and language helper/tutor. Over time of course, these needs will decrease as I lean Creole. At first though, having a translator and tutor are necessary.

The most important things about these needs, regardless of monetary value is relationship. When a woman is in my home cooking and often sharing meals with me, we become friends. She invites me in and Jesus works in beautiful ways to break down walls. When I spend time with a translator day after day, he becomes my friend and the Lord gives me the opportunity to share with him. Over time, I become reputable in the community because of the relationships I have built. This is an incredible ministry outside of teaching and all the other work at HAFF. Building these relationships is actually necessary to make changes in the long term, it allows us to understand one another. This is the ministry of living and surviving in an unfamiliar place, with the people who know it best. The definition of ministry stretches much wider than we often allow it to. 

So, your $10 a month does not just pay the woman who does my laundry, it creates an income and it creates a relationship. The $75 a month that you commit, means that there will be a Haitian woman walking with me in the market and maybe together we can show a country seeped in voodoo that an American and a Haitian can become friends because Jesus is bigger than culture

I might work with people who are Christians, but often in a place like Haiti misconceptions run wild. Every chance I have to express the truth about Jesus and what He did for us, I will take. You are a part of that. As my support team, you are helping to build upon HAFF's foundation in the community of Bohoc. I believe a movement can begin in Bohoc that will spread across Central Haiti. For this to happen we must continue to work with, pray for and strengthen the Haitians. 

Thank you for partnering with me as I not only teach, but cook, wash clothes and learn a new language!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Haiti for $25 a month!

I wanted to take a moment and pass along some Haiti updates. I have wrapped up my teaching job and in the next month I'll continue to prepare, support raise and spend time with you! My flight for training at Mission Training international is booked and I'll be in Palmer Lake, Colorado September 10th-October 12th. I know God has a lot in store for this time and I hope to learn as much as I can!

My departure date for Haiti is still not finalized. Currently I have raised enough funds for training, but not much beyond that. After some work with the HAFF staff and board of directors my monthly budget is now roughly $1,800. There are moments when the task before me seems monumental but God leaves me with nothing but confidence in His plan and His power. 

I want to cast my support net as wide as possible. The more people on my team and the more people invested in Haiti, the better. Haiti and the town of Bohoc can grow to do amazing things. The Haitian American Friendship Foundation is going though many staff changes at the moment and an immense amount of  responsibility has fallen on a few people. God knew these changes were coming and He has a plan to rejuvenate the ministry. For reasons that are still beyond me, the Lord has chosen me to be a tool for Him in Bohoc, I consider this call a blessing. This amazing place has fought voodoo and is spiritually healthier than it was before HAFF arrived, but there is still much work to be done. Already HAFF and other ministries in Bohoc are reaching beyond their gates to improve the region, but I desire to see it go further. From schools, to medical clinics, to orphanage revivals, change can happen in Haiti. When the body of Christ joins together in community with one purpose, nothing is impossible. 

There are plenty of ways to get involved. Your prayers are powerful and I feel them. Thank you. There is nothing more important to me on this journey than your committed prayer. After some wise counsel and prayer, I have found a way to cast the support net the way I dreamed of. At a monthly budget of approximately $1,800 and already $350 a month committed, my support needs are $1,450 a month. If just 58 more people commit to $25 a month, then my goals are met. I love the idea of involving and connecting people in a doable way. Some of you might want to commit to less and some of you to more. I trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you in the way God wants you to give, if at all. Regardless, I want you to know these updates and feel informed about this journey. If you are receiving this email then in my 'first batch' of recipients, you are committed to Haiti and invested in my journey and you are the people I want behind me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea how much your prayers have been felt. If you do feel led to give, here is the link to donate and set-up reoccurring monthly donations (or one time donations): Donate to HAFF (Missionary Support: Lambiotte). To set-up a reoccurring donation you will need to set up a profile. HAFF is a 502(c)(3) organization and all gifts are tax deductible 

Thank you so much for being a part of my team. The life God has called me to would not be possible without the body of Christ partnering with me. I consider myself so lucky to be on this journey and to have each of you with me. You can check my blog for updates and you can also check the HAFF blog at: www.haffdetails.blogspot.
com (the HAFF website, www.haff.orgis going through some changes at the moment, so please me patient with us).

Love,
April

Monday, August 6, 2012

infectious joy


"Do you know how infectious fear can be…"

It was the middle of the week when I read this sentence in a book about entering the mission field. I stopped in my tracks, I knew that kind of infectious fear, I was enveloped in it. Every kind of fear. Fear of leaving. Fear of fundraising. Fear of what comes next. The tears began to flow, but I turned to my Father and I felt His comfort.

Then, later, that fear crept back up. My breath shortened and my heartbeat sped up. I tried stopping it, I tried to calm myself down. Months of preparation for a move to Haiti, I felt it all falling apart. I was failing. "What happens if you don't raise the money?" I've heard that question multiple times and in that moment, "failure" was the answer the enemy gave me. I wept, I begged God to change the circumstances. I was convinced that I had been making the wrong decisions for months. I had lost my mind. I would like to say that divine intervention calmed my nerves as I remembered my Father's promises. I didn't. I woke up with a headache and swollen eyes, but feeling less crazy.

It took a few days to realize the root of my fear. Obviously, it was an attack of the enemy, but there was a slow onset too. It came from this seemingly harmless statement, "This is April, she's moving to Haiti!" For over a year, this is how I am introduced 95% of the time. I am the girl moving to Haiti. Without this intention, I began to feel like a trophy. 

I had lost my identity. I was a walking expectation, who knew that on her own, she could not deliver. God would deliver, but His plan could be different. What if I let everyone down? I fear failure most of all. This fear was stopping me from fully trusting God, from letting Him do His work. 

I have had to take a step back. My identity is in Christ. 

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
I am a girl moving to Haiti. I haven't gotten there yet and only God know when I will. In the meantime, I am thankful for encouragement and the faith others have in me and in Christ. 
The Lord knit me together in my mother's womb and He has not led my life into failure. There is nothing to fear. He has surrounded me by the right people and His timing is going to be more amazing than we can imagine. I am not filled with infectious fear but infectious JOY. 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

August Newsletter

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I want to take some time to share with you where God is leading myself and the Haitian American Friendship Foundation in Haiti. I am so excited to share the news that I have raised the support needed to attend Mission Training International in Colorado. I will spend September 10th-October 12th in valuable cross-cultural studies and learning language acquisition techniques. I know that God has a plan for this time and I ask for your prayers as He prepares my mind and heart to serve Him in Haiti.

After my return from MTI, I hope to leave for Haiti as soon as possible. Currently, I do not have a departure date set. As it stands I have not raised the financial support to enter the mission field with the Haitian American Friendship Foundation (HAFF). Along with the HAFF staff and board of directors, I have been able to revise my budget. After re-working some numbers, my monthly budget is approximately $1,800. I hope to raise support for at least nine months, in order to be in Haiti through the school year.

I come to you asking for your deepest prayers as the Father fulfills His plans for my life. In surrendering to His call to be a missionary I am learning so much about trust and hope. The process of giving up control to Him is stretching but oh so rewarding.

Haiti and the town of Bohoc have the potential to be and amazing tool for Christ. Currently, HAFF is going though many staff changes and an immense amount of responsibility has fallen on a few people. God knew these changes were coming and He has a plan to rejuvenate the ministry. For reasons that are still beyond me, the Lord has chosen me to be a tool for Him in Bohoc, this call a blessing. This amazing place has fought voodoo and is spiritually healthier than it was before HAFF arrived, but there is still much work to be done. Already HAFF and other ministries in Bohoc are reaching beyond their gates to improve the region, but I desire to see it go further. From schools, to medical clinics, to orphanage revivals, change can happen in Central Haiti. When the body of Christ joins together in community with one purpose, nothing is impossible.

I ask you to meet me in prayer. Prayer support is what makes this journey and life possible. Scripture tells us in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.“ Please pray that God would provide and the flood gates of provision would open. I ask that you pray over the plans God has for me in Haiti. I also ask that you pray for HAFF and all God has planned for it. Haiti is a country filled with hope, please pray that her hope and determination would carry Haiti into a bright future. If you would like to contribute, one time donations can be made online at www.haff.org. Follow the prompts “Donate” and “Donate Now“, where you will see my name listed. A monthly commitment can also be made online at the above website. In addition, donations by check can be made to HAFF and marked “April Lambiotte Support”
HAFF
P.O. Box 3421
North Ft. Myers, FL 33918
HAFF is 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and gifts of support are tax deductible.

Thank you so much for being a part of my team. The life God has called me too would not be possible without the body of Christ partnering with me. I consider myself so lucky to be on this journey and to have such wonderful people walking with me. I will keep you updated here on my blog and you can also check the HAFF blog at: haffdetails.blogspot.com. Please be patient with the HAFF website, it is undergoing a bit of 'construction'. 

Please do not hesitate to email me (a.m.lambiotte@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

Love,
April