We're In!

Good News: We've been Accepted as Missionaries

Our application to become One Mission Society UK missionaries (focused on Haiti) has been approved, and we're now officially part of the OMS family. And it feels good!

(For what this is all about, read our previous post, Meeting of The Minds: Our Next Move from last month).

One of the biggest changes coming for us is that we will transition to raising financial support for our salaries, living and ministry expenses etc. OMS will work out how much we need to raise, based on where we're living and working, how often and for how long we're in Haiti, how often and for how long we'll be in the UK visiting churches there (all questions we don't have exact answers to yet). Even with years of experience in raising funds for the radio station, it's a daunting task to think about raising funds for ourselves. Daunting, and very humbling. But even before we'd even been accepted by OMS, one sweet lady we've ministered alongside recently said she'd like to support us. More than the money, she encouraged us!

Even as I write, I'm realizing more and more how much we have needed encouragement over the years - and still do (sometimes we don't realize we've missed anything until we enjoy the blessing of having it). Last night, friends who serve with The Seed Company (doing amazing stuff in Bible translation) came over for dinner and encouraged Storly that the work he's doing in the translation and production of the 5-year radio series Thru The Bible in Haitian Creole, is important work. The only systematic bible study, from Genesis to Revelation, available to so many people through the radio, in a country where about 80% of adults can't read or write well enough to cope with daily life. And it's broadcast every weekday on the two main Christian radio stations in Haiti. Yes, it's kingdom work, and it's good to be encouraged in it.

So, we're looking forward to linking arms with (existing and new) friends, and loved ones, individuals and churches so that, together, we can serve God and the Haitian people through Radio 4VEH.  And what does that 'service' look like?

This recent letter from a Radio 4VEH listener says it well.

It says: 

"4VEH, if I'm alive today, it's because you rescued me from Satan's hands. 

That's why I say that God help you to go further and never fall. 

Thank you! 4VEH, I love you in Jesus!" 

Best Bits: Rubbing Shoulders with Listeners

This is the second of our "Best Bits' from our recent time in Haiti. It's hard to narrow it all down, but this one is Best Bits: Rubbing Shoulders with Listeners.

But first, imagine being a doctor. You use your hands, all your senses in fact, to examine a patient and to treat them, perhaps by surgery or medicine. Hopefully, you get to see the patient become well again. From start to finish. Sickness. You give treatment. It helps them get well. You see them well with your own eyes. You know the difference you've made.

Now, picture yourself in front of a microphone in studio 6 at Radio 4VEH. Speaking out to an unknown number of unknown people in unknown places and unknown circumstances. Seeking to bring healing - spiritual, emotional, relational, and even physical - in the name of Jesus.

Add faith 

And now inject faith into the picture. Faith that God will use what you say to bring hope and healing to someone who is listening.

Charlotte's speaking in faith to young people during the summer youth programs

Faith that when you speak God's Word, His truth, it will have an effect, just like He said to the people through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah in this beautiful picture (chapter 55, v 10-11):

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Making a difference, really?

But do you really know if you're really making a difference in the lives of people who are listening every day? In the non-profit world, you'd ask "Are the intended beneficiaries really benefiting?"

The best time of year to answer that question is in June, at the Radio 4VEH Anniversary. A time to celebrate the ministry, its impact and, above all, God's faithfulness to it, since the first broadcast on 2 June, 1950. A time when listeners visit the station, wanting to meet and greet the people behind the voices that are part of their daily lives.  

It's a time to rub shoulders, shake hands, give and receive hugs with listeners, all the while trying to grasp the fact that the person standing in front of you is saying "thank you 4VEH", "I love you 4VEH", "I thank God every day for you", "chak jou, mwen branche" - every day, I'm listening. And then "I'm praying for all the staff" and they'll go on to name, one by one, the presenters they listen to...Pastor Jeremy, Pastor Witny, brother Elima, Pastor William, ....and many times, they'll add "and their family". "I'm praying for Pastor Storly and his family."

That's us. My husband and me, our children. Listeners praying for US. Mind-blowing-ly, humbling-ly lovely.

[Incidentally, we talked on the phone to Medson and Pastor Hérode today, and they gave us a quick report back from their trip last weekend to St. Louis du Nord to train pastors and laypeople in evangelism and giving out the solar radios. As Pastor Hérode finished his report, he said, "Oh, by the way, Pastor Storly, in the church where I preached last Sunday, people were giving me lots and lots of greetings for 4VEH, and for you and your family." Awesome to be greeted like that!]

Gertha called for me to come and meet Gusly.

Meet Gusly

This photo's going on the front of the next Radio 4VEH Transmitter newsletter, which I'm finishing up writing and design of this month. But you get to hear Gusly's story first. 

He's 17. He told me, "My mother warned me not to go to the witch doctor, even though that's what everyone else around me is doing. I've been listening to your programs, so I asked for help. I was thrilled when brother Elima (one of 4VEH's presenters) led me to the Lord." 

I thought he'd be glad to meet Pastor Jeremy, who was in the live studio doing the afternoon music request show. Pastor Jeremy, known as JB, likes getting visits in the studio too. So I introduced Gusly to JB, and their conversation began. Gusly's story. Where he lives. His family. Songs he likes listening to. A sweet connection from listener to presenter and back again. Now, JB will greet Gusly on his afternoon show, extending that encouraging hand along the journey of faith that this teenager has just begun. 

OK, time for more photos. 

Just as our group was climbing into the back of the truck after the Anniversary church service, Storly called me back down to take this photo. This man had come from Ouanaminthe (a couple of hours away in a tap-tap minibus) for the sole purpose of being part of 4VEH's Anniversary service. (By the way, not smiling is the proper Haitian way of having your picture taken. Storly's smile is just too big to hide). 

And in the village of Kayemit, as we talked with people about Jesus, and gave out solar radios, we met this family who asked for prayer. So we went inside their home, (and they covered their heads), and we prayed for them and for their 5-year-old daughter/grand-daughter Dieulinda who is sick (problems with her eyes that the doctors haven't been able to find an answer for). I made sure to make notes, and passed it on to Gertha and Dadie at the station, the ladies who present the noon-time prayer program, lifting up to the Lord needs like this one from listeners all over.  

Rubbing shoulders with listeners. Hearing their stories. Their needs. Their joys. Hearing their words of encouragement to us. Hearing that they're praying for us. 

And taking them by the hand and connecting them with another person who is part of the body of Christ, the church. Someone else who will encourage them and build them up. 

It's a Best Bit. 

Squeezing the Calendar

Hard to believe it's September already. Time to flip over the calendar (ok, a few days late....) and start into those busy months (especially with fundraising and some more travel) leading up to the end of the year and beyond.

With a couple of trips to speak at different churches, a couple of visits from our mothers (mother and mother-in-law both coming to visit in the next few weeks, not at the same time though), a two-week Fall Break with the girls off school (and we'll still be working), and Storly going to Haiti in October, I'm feeling a bit worn out just thinking about it. But the thought of a 2-night break away with Storly (without the kids!) thrown in the mix brings back a smile.

And then I just realized that what I thought was a 5-hour trip to a church over a September weekend, to speak Saturday night and Sunday morning, is actually an 8 1/2 hour trip (really, Google Maps?). Urgh. And it's just a day after mother-in-law leaves, and a week before we head to northern Ohio (4 hour trip) for another weekend away at our good-friends-more-like-family, Dave & Marilyn Shaferly. We'll be sharing at their son and daughter-in-law's missions team meeting about the radio ministry & solar radios.

The UPside

But, here's the upside. We LOVE having the opportunity to go and share stories - with people in churches, Sunday classes, small groups, and during conversations in church hallways(and restrooms) - of what God's doing in Haiti. So, yes, the traveling will be exhausting, but it is sooo worth it. Worth it to meet people who love the Lord and want to hear what's going on around the world, and yes, in Haiti. People who have never met us, but extend a hand of friendship to us, and always love on our girls. (By the way, I think "love on" is one of those American expressions that I love and try to use often. "Y'all" is another one, and that usually gets a laugh from those who hear me say it, though I haven't perfected the Paula Dean accent yet.)

And the traveling is so worth it because just maybe we'll be planting a thought, an idea, a seed that will grow into a step of faith, a new attitude towards helping those in need, a greater passion for the world that Jesus died for.

And it's so worth it when we can see others getting passionate about the ministry that we get to be a part of every day. It's a good reminder of what a privilege it is to serve God and the Haitian people through Radio 4VEH.

Bumping Through

So, now we know we're going to be bumping through the months of September and October (oh, and I forgot to mention I'm also speaking at OMS Headquarters chapel in a couple of weeks too). Must be time for some serious juggling or just plain planning ahead. Though working from home has its advantages, it doesn't mean we get all the laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and other essentials done during the week. Nope. We work. Which means all those other jobs get done (if they get done at all...) on the weekend, Saturday especially. And with September looking like it does already, I need to be thinking ahead. Not my best skill, especially thinking ahead about laundry...

Thankfully, Hannah and Esther usually handle the travel demands of our work pretty well (apart from the occasional so-exhausted-from-not-enough-sleep and too-much-time-in-the-car meltdowns, but who doesn't have those from time to time...). So, we're very thankful that we can live this life we're living.

Sorry, no photos to go with this post. You didn't really want to see photos of laundry or over-tired meltdowns, did you?

So, why I am telling you all this? To ask you to pray for us, if you would. For clear minds as we prepare what to share. For safe travel. For passion when we're sharing about the ministry. For minimal meltdowns and maximum God-connections with people. We'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much!

P.S. 

If you'd like us to come and share with your church or group, just send us an email: kmichel@radio4veh.org