THINKING ABOUT A MISSION TRIP??

Have you ever thought about taking a Mission trip?  Maybe you are wondering what you would do on a mission trip. Well let me tell you how you might spend your time here on a short term trip to Port-de-Paix, Haiti!

You might spend some time in a classroom at a local school where they are making a HUGE difference in the childrens lives & teaching them about Jesus. Don't worry thinking...."I'm not a teacher" -You could read a book to the school children or just play a game of kickball. You could bring in much needed supplies & clothing for the children of Hope Vision & other local orphanages.  You can visit the hospital here & pray with the sick.  You may decide to sponsor a child at the orphanage, the school, or the House of Moses! You will get the chance to try Haitian food & transportation......who knows....you might even like it!!! :D  You may make new friends, the kind of friendships that last a lifetime!!! You could help purchase food for the kids at the orphanage, play with the kids & just share the love of Jesus!  You might see the Beauty of Haiti, take a hike, visit the market or even help build the new childrens home for Hope Vision.  Maybe....just maybe the trip would change a life.... Maybe even YOURS???

For more information on coming on a short-term mission trip to Haiti & staying with us please email us at lipscombsinhaiti@gmail.com

We put together a little video so that you can see what a great time you will have while here in Haiti!!

*Please share with your friends! We would LOVE to see you in Haiti! We are currently scheduling teams for Fall/Winter 2014! (September through December)

Good Morning

GOOD MORNING!!! I woke up this morning with all of this on my mind - I thought I would share!!! 

   The past few weeks in Haiti have brought so much Peace & Joy.  God is doing Great things.  Being here in Haiti is teaching me/us what I thought I already knew!! :D  It is easy for me to say "God is in control" or "His timing is perfect" but when you truly learn to KNOW & LIVE that -----> things really begin to change!! I thought that praying for the last few years about moving to Haiti….all the tears….the strong pull we felt to come here…..the doors not opening when we were SURE that they were…..the continued prayers….& just learning to WAIT on God had in some way taught me that lesson! HAHAHAHA, let me just laugh at myself now!! With God there is always something to learn. Kind of like reading a verse in your bible for years & knowing the meaning & then one day WHAM -God revealing that verse to you in a different way. I sometimes think it feels like that! 

 

  I look back some days & realize I am a totally different person than I once was. I once just went along with the flow, I wasn't overly organized, I was always happy & I was just totally laid back. Somewhere in life, I think as a defense mechanism, I became a person of Control.  NO, I didn't want to control others….well, unless you lived in my house, or it had anything to do with our family....but I thought I HAD to be in control in my life. I think this way I thought, no one could ever again "jerk the rug" out from under me, I guess you could say.  I would make the decisions, I would know WHAT was going on, & I learned to like controlling my/our life. Sometimes it was totally overwhelming, exhausting even BUT I learned to like the control.  Well, several years ago God totally changed my life….once again he set me on His Path. I have prayed for Wisdom, Guidance, & even Patience. God has slowly changed SO MUCH about me & I am thankfully learning to "let" God be the leader in my life.  I have learned HIS ways are ALWAYS best! HIS timing is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT & when you REALLY give your life to him & step out in Faith……when you "Get out of the Boat" he will not let you sink!!! A few times I have started sinking….or I felt like I was, that is when I realized that I had taken my eyes off Jesus & started trying to "fix" things myself…..AGAIN!!!!! Sometimes we have to get to "the end of our rope", "hit a wall" , etc before we STOP trying to do it all by our self & just say -God I need you, I need your will more than ever & I ask that you show me. God please help ......I do not know what to do!      As I sit here blogging this morning I am so thankful for the new friendships God has given us lately & the hearts he is mending.  I am thankful for those friends who are always here to uplift & encourage. I am thankful God has moved us to Haiti & is stretching us in every direction.....it has made me realize that GOD really is the one in control here & I can just RELAX & enjoy life!! Not to mention HIS plans are Always WAY better than mine.....dreams I could not even fathom!! NOPE....I do not have all the answers! YEP, there are things I wish God would let me know! (Sooner rather than later) :D BUT I do know that I am walking in a Crazy Peace I did not know I could have.  I mean a CRAZY CRAZY I have NO IDEA what is going on PEACE!!!! A Peace that says GOD is going to take care of ALL of our needs according to HIS riches in Glory (taken from Phil 4:19)  - I know he will light the path & show us his ways when HE wants to, he will provide each need when HIS timing is RIght & you better believe it will be so HE GETS THE GLORY!!! <3 <3

My prayer today is that if you do not have this PEACE that you STOP whatever it is your doing & just talk to God! It doesn't have to be some formal prayer, it doesn't have to be out loud, just talk to him like you would talk to your BEST friend about what you are thinking, what your worries are, & HE will listen & He will answer!!! Maybe long ago you were close to HIM, maybe it has been years since you talked to God ......guess what.....He is the ALPHA & the OMEGA, he is the beginning & the end....HE NEVER CHANGES....he is the same Yesterday, Today, & Forever.....All you have to do is talk to HIM! Don't let Satan the FATHER of ALL lies tell you that God isn't listening, SATAN IS A LIAR.....GOD CARES....NO MATTER WHAT you have done, No matter how long it has been.....ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU & Really ask him to change your heart & seek him.....I feel like this is for someone this morning.....God is a God of Love, Mercy, & Grace & I am so THANKFUL for that!!! IF I can pray for you PLEASE let me know!!

** send me an email - lipscombsinhaiti@gmail.com - I just wanted to add a picture of our family (except for Tyler who is in college in Arkansas) & a picture of the beautiful city of Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Thank you for praying for us & for God's will for our family!! We are Blessed to be serving here in Haiti!! 

**If you would like to join our prayer team or receive our email updates please inbox me on facebook or send me an email to the email address above!!

 Thanks so much! Angie

Hello Everyone

Well hello everyone! Many times over the past week or two the thought has crossed my mind ...."I need to blog about that!" I just have not had the time to do so! So today when thinking back over a few things I decided to sit down & share....if only for a few minutes!

 The two Mission teams that were here for Hope Vision left after a Great trip on January 6th.  I was thankful to meet new friends & even get to meet some of their teenagers that were here on the trip! I am looking forward to seeing them again & am glad to now be "Facebook" friends!! I will admit that at times.....I simply want to Delete Facebook for so many reasons! You know...the junk you see, the time that is wasted, the way things are perceived wrong, etc... BUT one thing is true....it is the BIGGEST way I keep up with so many friends & family back in America! We are able to share about all that goes on here, pictures of our kids, & it really shows you parts of our lives!! It just helps us not seem so far away!! ANYWAY...... :D
   I have spent almost the last two weeks subbing at Sonlight Academy here in Port-de-Paix.  This is the school our children go to.  We do not have any teams coming this month & the 8th grade teacher had gone to visit family in the U.S. for Christmas & had gotten sick.  He was not able to return as scheduled so I was Excited to be able to help!! I will be honest I LOVED IT!!! :D I never thought I would enjoy a group of 19 teenagers like I have! I always thought Elementary kids would be easier....but now I am not so sure!! Those friends of mine that have known me longest know that when I first went to college I wanted to be an elementary school teacher.  I spent about 3 years at Southern Arkansas University as an Elementary Education / Early Childhood development Major!! Although I have always enjoyed Nursing I have wondered through the years if I made the right choice!! So helping here was like the best of both worlds!!  I enjoyed getting to know them through some creative writing as well as teach them!! I have also enjoyed hearing our friend Rob Shoaff (another new missionary to Haiti this year) teach Bible to these kids!! I am so glad to see what my kids are learning while at this school & see what a GREAT education they are getting while surrounded by Spirit filled teachers!! Here are a few pictures I wanted to share!

boys have to be cool & not smile in Haiti too :)

TEST Time! 

Mr. Rob brining the WORD!! Such a Great teacher!

While teaching I have also gotten to spend more time with my kids....in the mornings, we walked to school together, they would stop by the room to see me at times, & we all walked home together!! I really enjoyed that time. One day as we were walking my Meredith was holding my hand & skipping along & she looked up at me, smiled & said "momma, I'm so glad we moved to Haiti.  I just love it here!" - It caught me completely off guard & I wanted to cry! It was so sweet!! I said, " I love it too MerMer, doing what God wants you to do really does make you really happy!!" - she just gave me that Big ole Grin like only she can do :D <3  - LOVE HER!!! Another day my Levi came in my room & said..."Hey momma, does Mrs Irlande (e-lon) work for us??" - I wasn't real sure where he was going with that so I said, "well son, she helps us by cooking for our family because momma doesn't know how to cook all the Haitian food, so yes, she does." Levi then said - "Do we pay her every day??" - I was kind of worried where he was going but I just answered "we don't pay her EVERY day, but we pay her at the end of the month for every day she has worked." - My sweet boy then smiled really big & said "I THOUGHT SO....I WANT TO GIVE THIS TO MRS.IRLANDE FOR HELPING US" then my sweet boy reached out his hand & gave me his 25goudes (the equivalent of 5 Haitian dollars or .58cents American) he had been saving from the tooth fairy!! <3 <3 He could have bought himself a coke, or some cookies but he wanted to give his money to the sweet lady who he has grown to love that works in our home every day!!!  - I am so thankful for my children & how they are growing.  I love their little hearts!!!

I am thankful for all the blessings & little things like that because I have been struggling with a few other things & God has been just showing us Love.
Just this week our Tyler started college at Southern Arkansas University.  He is now all moved in to his dorm room & his first 2 days of college are behind him!  He turns 19 this Sunday & well......I have cried a few times already!! Moms should move their kids to college & be at Birthdays....right?? I have to realize kids grow up & it's ok....but my heart misses my Tyler!!! I am glad to see that he is LOVING it but sad that the little stinker hasn't sent me any pictures!!! BOYS!!!! Teenage boys at that!! HA - I am a very proud mom & I know he is going to do Great! I can't wait to see him in June!! *So here is a pic of my cute boy & my niece Leslie who also started college in August!! Praying for God's will in their lives!! (these 2 grew up waaaay to fast)

Lots of other things going on but that is all for now! Please remember us in your prayers & we will pray for you! I HAVE A VERY VERY SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST FOR A FRIEND BACK IN ALABAMA....PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR HER & HER FAMILY!!! GOD KNOWS!!

Looking forward to seeing some of you soon!!
Much Love -
Angie