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

FALL IS IN THE AIR

Hello Everyone - Fall is in the Air (or at least that is what I read on Facebook) :D!!

No, Seriously...It has actually begun to cool down a bit here in Haiti too.  There have been a few nights that were down right AMAZING!!
 I really can't believe that October flew by so fast!! We have had a lot go on this month.  We were so Excited that we were able to purchase a small Freezer at a local appliance store just a day before a scheduled trip to Port-au-Prince to buy supplies! I had NO IDEA that Port-au-Prince (the Capital of Haiti) has a few Huge Grocery stores & you can purchase almost anything!! (as long as you have the Money) :D  - Since we are unable to fly home for Christmas I did what all kids do.....I asked my parents for money for Christmas! I have never been so Excited to spend $400 dollars on Groceries!! My kids of course made a list of things to look for....Bacon, Sausage, Pizza, Oreos, Doritoes, BBQ Chips, Cheese, etc...  I spent $398 Exactly at this massive 3 story grocery store & loaded up on things my kids Love....& a BIG Ham For Christmas!  We then iced down everything that needed to be kept cold in a Big ice chest & headed back to our side of the island! We (my friend Christi from The House of Moses, her intern, one of her sons, & 3 small children) traveled by a private Vehicle for the trip home.   Those of you that follow our Lipscombs in Haiti facebook page know that during this trip I also met up with a sweet family that is adopting two small children from Haiti.  The orphanage the children came from was being shut down by the government for several reasons & God intervened (because he is SO Fabulous like that ) & our family is keeping the children for them.  Their adoption is final & they are just waiting on their Visa appointment so I ask you all to Please Pray for this family & these sweet babies. I thought I had babies until a 2 year old & a 23month old were placed in our care.  WOW - am I that old?? How quickly we forget that things aren't "baby" proofed & man alive they are FAST MOVERS!! :D Also let me add that I am so thankful that everyone is taking turns with all the diaper changing!! lol

I guess we don't have babies anymore....but they will ALWAYS be Momma's babies! Our twins turned 4 on October 31st & we were so Blessed that all our friends came over & brought their children.
 We had a costume party, cupcakes, & lots of candy. (Thanks Christi & Carmen for the loot) God Really Blessed us with such a Sweet community of Friends here in Haiti!!  Check out this crew!

Please continue to Pray for all of us as we try to learn a new language but I do have to ask for special prayer for my older girls.  They are not only trying to learn Haitian Kreyol they are also learning French. My SarahBeth is a Freshman in High School this year & she is stressing about this A LOT!  Everyone else in her class has had French, & English since Pre-school & of course learned Kreyol from Birth.  I wish I could help her but sadly I can't.  I do encourage her & let her know that in NO time she will look back & be so very glad that she will be trilingual when she graduates from High school.

I know it is only October & it seems we just got here but because time is flying & people/ churches are asking.  We are scheduling our times to visit churches this summer.  I would like to ask Everyone that is reading this that if you would like us to visit your church or group this summer to please let us know when would be good for you!! At this time it looks like we will be in the US around June 16th.  We will be returning around August 10th .  We will be visiting churches in Alabama & Arkansas.  We will gladly add other states if possible.  We would LOVE to come share all about Haiti, Hope Vision, & all that is going on with our family on the mission field.  We can come share on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, & Wednesdays.....really, we can try our best to fit in any day possible!  Please contact us by email at lipscombsinhaiti@gmail.com so we can add your dates & Fill our calendar!!

If you would like to come on a Mission trip to Haiti PLEASE let us know!! We would be so glad to have you visit our family & everyone at Hope Vision. We have had people ask lately about bringing in a small family, large groups, or even a grandmother & her granddaughter for 2 weeks! We can do ALL of the above! Please contact us at the above email & we will send you information on coming to Haiti!! Did you know that coming on a Mission trip serves so many purposes?? Mission teams encourage Missionaries on the field so much.  You also aid in bringing in much needed supplies.  Mission teams help with all sorts of things from Construction, Vacation Bible Schools, athletic camps, or just daily help in day to day life here in Haiti.  One of the things no one ever told me about a short term mission trip is that the thing it would do the most......would be to CHANGE ME!!! I thought I was "going to serve", I was stepping out because when I read the WORD OF GOD it seemed to say....GO...HELP OTHERS....Put others before yourself!!! So I went, BUT.... I think much more than I ever helped anyone else on any mission trip before moving here.....it helped me! God used those trips to change my heart, to see people differently, to see a bigger picture, to realize so many things! PLEASE PRAY ABOUT COMING!! I Truly believe Everyone should go.....at least once!!

**One last thing!!! If anyone out there has any or can easily get the Transderm Scop Patch (you know the one people use on cruises....small circle that goes behind your ear) I could REALLY USE THEM!!! I have ALWAYS gotten sever motion sickness.  Here in Haiti is NO EXCEPTION!! Going through the Mountains is No pic-nick for me.....BUT when in Port-au-Prince a new Missionary friend gave me one of those to try.  I placed it behind my ear early the morning we were heading back on the 6-7 hour drive in the 5 passenger vehicle with 9 people in the '04 4-runner.  I NEVER EVEN FELT BAD!!! No sickness, NO drowsiness, NOTHING!!! BLESS WHO EVER INVENTED THAT PATCH & PRAISE JESUS!!! BUT I NEED SOME OF THOSE!!! PLEASE, Help a sister out!! :D

We can now receive letters!!! Our friends at the House of Moses get mail here & let us receive mail with them!!! WE CAN NOT RECEIVE PACKAGES! ANY PACKAGES ARE DELIVERED BUT THEY ARE $1 PER POUND!! AS MUCH AS I WISH I COULD PAY THAT & GET STUFF HERE.....WE CAN NOT AFFORD IT! :(  But we can get letters, Christmas cards, etc!! :D HERE IS THE ADDRESS!! (it takes a bit & comes by Air)
Missionary Flights International
#Moses  (Lipscomb family)
3170 Airmans Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34946
(772) 462-2395

**LOOK for the Lipscombs in Haiti October Newsletter today!! If you are not on our email list & would like to be just let me know by email or inbox on Facebook!!

Many Blessings- Angie Lipscomb

I FOUND MY TREASURE

Today I want to share so much.  I really have no idea how to begin!  First I should start by telling you about a TV Evangelist I saw a few years back.  I cannot for the life of me remember who it was BUT I DO REMEMBER HIS MESSAGE!! He was preaching/teaching (often called Treaching) :D from Matthew 6:21....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  What he said was "FIND YOUR TREASURE"...."& YOU WILL FIND YOUR FIELD!!".....He was teaching on Finding GOD's Will for your Life.  It was an Awesome Message & it stuck with me.  Burning in my heart since then have been the words....."when You find Your Treasure then you have found YOUR FIELD".....the field God has called you to!!!  Well I am SO VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT AT 38 YEARS OLD ANGIE SIMMONS LIPSCOMB, Wife, Mother of 7, Sister, Nurse, Friend has finally Found MY TREASURE.  I have finally found "my field".  MY HEART IS ON FIRE, IT'S ALL CONSUMING..........MY TREASURE, MY HEART, IS IN HAITI.  This is so very Hard to explain to so many......but others seem to grasp it right away.  To me the Best way to explain it is IT IS A GOD PLACED DESIRE/FIRE.  Some may think I have "lost it", or not understand.  They may not see what I see when I am in Haiti.  Maybe I'm even looking through Rose colored glasses.  That's ok by me.....I think God placed them there!! Every Day in Haiti is Beautiful to me, the people, the trees, the breeze, the food, every sunset, the simplicity of life, I really could go on & on. HERE IS THE BIG NEWS..... My Husband & I have applied to be Missionaries to Haiti.  To work & Teach at an Amazingly Wonderful School called Sonlight Academy in Port-de-Piax, Haiti.  Hopefully throughout the next week or so I will find the time to share about the Wonderful people we met on our trip last week & about the school itself. 
After much prayer I realize God never said doing what he calls you to do would be easy.  But he did say he will Always be there & Never leave us.  Over & over lately I keep reading about how God says we are the SALT & the LIGHT of the WORLD.........What would the world be like without salt???? We can't even imagine our lives without Light!!!  I do believe God wants my family to be the Salt & the Light in this world.  To Love the Haitian people......to share the Love of Jesus.

Mark 16:15 - ...."Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

This will not be a quick process.  We will be here another year as we prepare.  With a family this size we will need lots of prayer & support, but we have NO DOUBT this is what God has called us to do!
Love to ALL,

Angie & Gordon

A Ticket To Heaven

Today I would like to tell you how VERY Proud I am of my children. I am such a Blessed Mom to have 7 wonderful kiddos. Yes, they still make mistakes as we all do. Yes, I still get frustrated like all parents.  Knowing that my children are trying to live for Jesus & find HIS WILL for their lives makes me overflow with pure Joy!!!! Outside of their Salvation, finding HIS WILL is the Most Important thing to me. Today I wanted to share with you about my daughter Sarah Beth who will be 12 this Friday 4/29.  Last year when Sarah Beth arrived home from church camp she proudly told me that she knew what God wanted her to be.  She told me without a doubt that she was going to be a Missionary.  We talked alot about Missions, different places in the world, and how God places different calling's on people & how God gives people different gifts.  We talked about friends we have that are Missionaries...... the McMath's who are going to Spain, the Jacob's Family in Nepal, & several friends in Haiti. She has continued talking about this off & on since last Summer.  OK, so fast forward to Easter Sunday (2 days ago)........ 6 of my children were riding in the van with me as I was going to see a patient.  Unable to make it to church because of work we were having a BIG discussion in the vehicle during our 30 minute drive!!  We were talking about Jesus dying on the cross for us & how much he loved us.  I wanted to make sure they understood how he suffered for us.  He gave up HIS LIFE for all of us.  They were EXCITED to talk about His Resurrection, what that meant, & how that changed our Relationship with him!!!  Sarah Beth looked up scriptures & read from the Bible to share with her younger siblings as I drove.   (another Proud moment as a mom) :D  When we were finished with our discussion Sarah Beth had gotten quiet, she seemed to be in deep thought.  After a minute or two she said, "Mom, I had a really weird dream last night."   I asked her if she wanted to talk about it.  She smiled & said "it was really really weird!!"  I laughed & said "people have weird dreams all the time."  So she began to share......... We were all in an airport & had lots of luggage with us.  I think we were leaving the country.  The weird thing was there were a lot of people who didn't want me to go.  They all kept trying to give me stuff & Promise me lots of things if I would stay.  Being a Mom I asked the BIG question....."do you know who it was???"  Sarah Beth said "No, I couldn't see their faces, but I think they were friends. People who loved me.  They were trying to give me Candy, they were promising to take me on trips & buy me anything I wanted if I would stay."  So then that is when my Sweet SarahBeth said to me  "I asked them if they could give me A Ticket to Heaven."  The people said "No, we Can't."  She said "well, I'm sorry I have to go!! This is what God wants me to do!!!  She said that's when she picked up he luggage & started walking toward her plane & then she woke up.  I HAD CHILLS ALL OVER & WAS TRYING TO FIGHT BACK THE TEARS as the 11 years old said "isn't that weird mom, but it seemed so Real."  WoW!!  That is when I took the opportunity to talk about the many ways God talks to us and about following God even when others don't understand, even family & those who love you most! THANK YOU LORD FOR THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH MY CHILDREN!!!

This is a picture of SarahBeth & I from a field trip to New Orleans yesterday!! The day after our Big discussion!     Lord what do YOU want me to do? (Ac 9:6 NKJV)