I arrived in Kitwe on the 28Th of March 2011, after a long flight and
many hours waiting at airports, and then a long bus ride of six hours,
not to be confused with a bus ride in Canada.
Before the bus did take off a preacher came on the bus and started to
preach, something the people seem to be used to, he then proceeded to
pray before he got off, how wonderful to have that freedom.  When i
arrived in Kitwe I was picked up by the director of the VOH, who had
some of the youth with her from the VOH to help with the luggage;
something I was very happy about because the ground was one big mud
puddle after the rain; it was rainy season. I and my new room-mate a
young women from BC with whom i shared a house for a year were taken
to our home, there we were welcomed by our new Canadian missionary
neighbours who invited us for dinner.

After a day of rest I started my work at the VOH, my job was to work
with the 13 House Mothers, and their children, each house has
eight children, some go to school in the morning some in the afternoon.
I came along the the house mothers to encourage them to pour into the
lives of the caregiver, something that I feel is important, so that
they are able to keep doing the work that God called them to do as
they give of them self 24 -7

I started off by making my self become part of their family, not
someone who would be looking to find fault and to make changes; so I
swept and washed floors on my hands and knees when needed, washed
laundry by hand, older children do their own laundry, they did like
the help, as well as the moms; I spent time with the children we would
do crafts,draw, puppets, play outside with  juggling balls I had
brought, read with them, find waldo. I did teach the teens how to use my computer we would do memory games; did teach them how to draw and color on the computer.

After a few months I started to take those 14 and over into town for
an excursion, to become exposed to what that would be like as they are
very protected in the VOH.
I would take them to the post office and explain all that they could
do there, most of them had never been there; we would go to the bank
and the security guard was kind enough to explain to them what and
how things work at the bank; from there we would go to a atm machine
and there to the  security-guard would explain what to do with a bank
card.  We would go to stores they had never been in, and I would
explain about all the appliances, that they had never seen or know what
to do with; the store owners and the bank did know what I was doing as
I came around 13 times, they were kind and understanding. We would
have a ice-cream,o what a treat that was; at the end of our excursion
I would take take them out to a restaurant for pizza, out of all of
them maybe two or three had been in a restaurant; this too was an
education for them, they all wanted to try and eat with knife and fork
even though I explained that you can eat pizza with your hands. Outside
of the restaurant were street children begging and the teens did
realize that they had been blessed by God to be at the VOH because
they too could have ended up on the street.

I ran a group with the house mothers, teaching on numerous subjects, I was
able to bring juice and muffins, this was a treat for them; the
support of others made this possible. I did develop a very close
relationship with the mothers they became like sisters to me. The last
week of my time at the VOH I gave a message to all the children and
was able to speak a blessing over each child; God had laid on my heart
to do this.

I was honored to be asked to preach twice at the church
that I attended, and was involved in their intercessory prayer group,
that they just started; I was on the ministry team at one of their
conferences.

God has greatly blessed me by having called me to Zambia for a year.
And I am very blessed to be part of the Lakemount family for all their
prayer and  financial support.

Matt 25:40
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did
for me!!

Liz Marshall

Date: March 20-30, 2012

Mission Group: Canadian FTH partner, Victory Christian Center, Edmonton, Alberta

Partner Ministry: Victory Compassion/Homes for Haiti

Ministry scope: 9 villages and orphanages, approximately 2,000 people.

Food quotient: Assembled and distributed over 200 Family Food Paks (each containing 3 kilos corn, 1 kilo pinto beans, 1 kilo refried beans).  Additionally, delivered 45Kg bags of corn, beans, and boxes of hand sanitizer to 5 orphanages and 2 mission ministries.

Overall: Feed the Hungry is working with the right partner ministries in Haiti (Victory Compassion, Love a Child, Mercy and Sharing), accomplishing a needed and necessary work, reaching the neediest in the country.

During the 8 days of ministry we had on the ground in Haiti, we managed to prepare and distribute over 200 Family Food Paks (3 Kg Corn, 1Kg Pinto Beans, 1Kg Refried Beans), as well as deliver bulk food to 4 orphanage sites.  Victory Christian Center wrote a blog for their website of their experience of each day, http://www.vcc.org/#/haiti_gallery.

Each day began with assembling the food paks, according to the need for the day’s distribution.  From there we hopped in our fancy transportation – an open truck bed with wooden seats – and began to our first location.  Once we arrived at our destination, the team greeted the children for a few minutes and then set up for a time of ministry.  Each program was approximately 1 hour.  The team involved the children in group games, sang songs (they learned the chorus “God’s not Dead, He’s Alive” in Creole, which was a big hit in every location), performed skits, and told Bible stories.  They communicated through an interpreter because no one understood English, or even French…solely Creole.  After the program was over, the team gave out gifts to each child.  They brought a significant amount of gifts – and not just lollipops!  I have never seen such generous, organized, and thought out giving from a mission team before!

JENELLIA’S VILLAGE

Our first stop was to the village of the girl who cooked for us during our stay.  The village had a small church (pastored by US missionary Donna Bryce, who has been there for 35 years), and a water well.  The whole village came out to watch the team’s presentation, and to receive the FTH food paks.  We distributed food to roughly 50 families.

C.A.D

We visited a government run institution in Fond Parisen, called CAD (Centre for Action and Development) 3 separate times.  It is a transitional home for child rescue victims (almost all have been severely sexually abused).  The government brings the children here until they are able to place them with extended family or a foster family.  Therefore, some children are only there a short time, while others can remain for years.  It is a heartbreaking place because there isn’t proper oversight or leadership, and not a completely safe environment for children.  Victory Compassion visits and ministers to these children twice a week, doing their best to bring the love of Jesus in every way they know how.  It is very difficult for them when they encounter situations of neglect or abuse perpetrated on the children, because they have no recourse to appeal to.  On Sunday morning, when we went for a service, I encountered a girl of about 10-11 years of age crying.  I then noticed that her hand was swollen like a balloon and causing her a great deal of pain.  I thought for sure it was broken.  Through the interpreter we were able to glean that her name was Karolina, and she came for the service from another orphanage (wouldn’t say which one) where one of the leaders had smashed her hand TWO DAYS PRIOR.  I was absolutely crushed that she had been in that kind of pain for 2 days.  I immediately prayed for her healing.  Nothing happened at first so, using my North American flawed wisdom, I began to ask the American mission staff if there was a medical clinic we could take her to.  Long story short – there was no medical intervention possible.  It was such a stark reality of how these children live, and I couldn’t fathom it.  So, as the service began I just sat with the girl and held her hand gently in mine and continued to pray quietly.  After about 15 minutes I noticed the swelling had gone down significantly.  I asked one of the team to verify this, and they agreed it was less swollen.  I began to ask her to move her fingers, and she could move all fingers except her thumb.  I continued to pray as the service went on.  At the end of the service we called her up for prayer, and the team and all the children stretched out their hands in agreement for God’s healing power to touch her.  By the time we left an hour later she could move all her fingers, including her thumb, and the swelling was down enough for me to check that no bones were broken, and there was no pain.  The following Wednesday we returned to CAD for another service.  After a few minutes I felt a nudge at my side, and there was Karolina, with a big smile and a perfectly normal, functioning hand!  God is good!

Another cool testimony from CAD is that the team’s give away for the girls was Barbie Dolls.  Afterwards we heard that the girls had been specifically praying for Barbie dolls, because it seemed like an impossible prayer!

MERCY AND SHARING

We were able to visit our long-time partner ministry, Mercy and Sharing Foundation, in Williamson – which was over a 2 hour drive from Fond Parisen.  We had a great day at the orphanage, although missed seeing some of the older children because they were having exams in the school on that day.  It was amazing to walk through the Special Needs Unit, and the Abandoned Baby Unit, to see the beautiful children who are being given a hope and a future through the ministry of Mercy and Sharing.  Every one of us was deeply impacted by the kids, who sparkled with life but had been discarded by their families because they had a disability.  And those orphans are so adorable it was hard not to stick one or five in my backpack to take home J  They cooked lunch for us at the orphanage, and we were able to eat and interact with the children for a couple of hours.  The team also ministered, playing group games, singing, and sharing bible stories with the children.   It was a great day!  I especially loved seeing Stefan connect with some of the boys who he’s been able to build a relationship with through previous trips.  He is an example to them of a loving father, and they are so very hungry for it!

NEW LIFE VILLAGE

We visited a small relocation village which was developed by one of the staff at Victory Compassion in June 2011.  It services 27 families that were displaced as a result of the earthquake.  The home structures were supplied by Samaritan’s Purse, and are constructed with a wood frame, tarpaulin walls, and a metal roof.  The little village has had many struggles, including vandalism and beatings, in their quest to rebuild their lives.  Their poverty is extreme.  Each family received 6kg of corn, 2 kg pinto beans, and 2kg refried beans.  They also received a box of hand sanitizer which came from FTH.  The team conducted a service, gave gifts to the children, and spent time playing with the children and praying with the adults. It was humbling to see the joy and gratitude being expressed by each one there.

Eve Rose

Eve Rose’s story was featured in one of the latest email blasts from the US office.  Although born in Haiti, Eve Rose spent over 26 years in the States.  She returned to Haiti on the day of the earthquake (not planned), and from that day forward determined to make a difference in the nation of her birth.  She has taken in 27 children, infant to 19 years of age, which she is raising as her own.  In fact, she was quite upset when we were there because one of the boys was in the process of being adopted by a family in the US (the birth father had given permission for this).  For Eve Rose it felt like she was giving up her own son.  She is also providing a free school for over 300 children in Fond Parisen who would otherwise not be able to get any education.  The school is very rudimentary – meeting in 3 large, open tents to provide some shade from the intense heat.   Eve provides a hot meal for all the school children every day, as well as taking care of the orphans in her care.  FTH has committed to provide the food for this daily meal, and Victory Compassion is committed to building proper structures for the orphanage and school.

Pastor Alexis

In order to visit the orphanage run by Pastor Alexis, we had to ride in an Army all-terrain vehicle because it was in such a remote area that the roads were not always accessible.  It was like being on a 1 hr roller coaster ride each way, complete with a splash section!  Pastor Alexis has an orphanage with 25 children, and also runs a medical clinic, church, and food distribution centre for the entire community.  The week before we arrived, the children had nothing to eat, and Pastor Alexis told them to pray for food.  The very next day they were contacted by Pastor Rod Baker because the container of food from FTH had arrived and he wanted to bring some to the orphanage.  Those children know God is real!

La Tonte*

Part of Love a Child’s Miracle Village is sectioned off for displaced fishermen of Lac LaTonte*.  These fishermen live a more tribal lifestyle, and prefer to be separate from the general population.  They needed to be relocated after the earthquake, because the lake has risen over 15 feet in the past 2 years, and flooded them out of their homes by the lake.  We were able to visit this section of Miracle Village and minister to 150 children, as well as bring Family Food Paks to approximately 75 families. *correct spelling unknown

Aritzma

We visited a small orphanage with about 15 children, and the team conducted a service that was attended by about 120 children from the community.  We were able to leave the orphanage sacks of corn, pinto beans, and refried beans, which they were so very grateful and excited for.

Overall impressions

For me, Haiti is a heartbreaking country.  It is not only encompassed by severe poverty, but is enslaved by an oppressive spirit of poverty I have not encountered in other impoverished nations I’ve visited.  Our interpreter said to me one day, “Satan controls survival, and God controls life.”  At first my head was tilted a bit, trying to understand it from my western mindset.  To me, survival automatically leads to life, therefore God controls life AND survival, right?  However, as I watched the people in Haiti throughout our visit, I began to understand what he meant.  The main goal for the average Haitian is to survive – at whatever cost.  Therefore, there is little safety for anyone, even within families, even for children.   The threat of vandalism, violence, and abuse is a constant reality.  And, because survival is the main goal, there were no dreams of a better life beyond survival.  Children weren’t encouraged to dream of being doctors or nurses or the President.  The only dream was to survive today.  It’s the vital message of Christ, and the truth that ABUNDANT LIFE has been made available to everyone that will bring the real change Haiti is hungry for!

January 3 – Feb. 15, 2012

Building bridges, prevailing grace, and supernatural breakthrough…these phrases combine to give a window into our assignment from the Lord to Asia at the beginning of this year.  Central to the four weeks in Sri Lanka was the Freed To Forgive Conference which our SL4Given team from Toronto co-hosted with World Vision Lanka.  It was in the second day that a moment of supernatural breakthrough came as the Spirit of the Lord hovered over the room while the 225 national and grassroots church leaders moved humbly among even leaders from the opposite ethnic group to repent and ask for forgiveness.  Then our SL4Given team came to the platform and began to ask leaders of the nation for forgiveness on behalf of the expat Sri Lanka living in Toronto.  This was the turning point of the conference and addressed a deeply felt resentment but less-emphasized wall that has developed during the twenty-plus years of civil conflict.

The pathway to that supernatural breakthrough really required prevailing grace!  It was becoming apparent even en route with so many unpredicted scheduling changes that we would need more than the usual grace; prevailing grace was made available to us at each obstacle.  For this we give thanks to the Lord and we so appreciate our faithful en route intercessors plus the prayer backing from Lakemount.  And, despite so much resistance, bridges were built among leaders, among generations, and among the expat community and Sri Lanka as a recovering nation.  Many breakthrough moments came in the many meetings during our month in that nation.

The same trio of grace, bridges, and supernatural breakthrough carried us into our two-week assignment in Bangalore, India.  There we were blessed to come alongside some very cutting edge leaders as they are breaking new ground.  A highlight for me was to teach a workshop for several hours among intercessors from several different churches who have been coming together “on assignment” for their city.  We also marveled at the grace of the Lord empowering the release of the prophetic word preached among the churches in both nations.  Thank you, Lakemount, for declaring His glory with us among the nations!

Jack & Peggy Kennedy

Click on the Following Links for highlights from the trip

Reynold Mainse and Mattie Harbridge took to Haiti

Reynold Mainse in Haiti

Reynold Mainse – Just Back from Haiti

Reynold Mainse – Just Back from Haiti 2

Reynold Mainse – Back From Haiti 3

Reynold Mainse – Just back from Haiti Day 4

Assumptions don’t always pan out to be facts.   There are so many things in life we make choices about based on our personal assumptions.  Assumptions about what people are like, how our day should run, what churches look like, who God is, how He should act….and the list goes on.  Faith assumptions can cause us to assume things about God that are not necessarily in His character.  It also causes us to sometimes doubt God when we see a situation turn in a direction we assumed a ‘good God’ would never allow to happen.  Get into a discussion with a few people about third-world poverty, fallen evangelists, and the way the church should be, and you’ll soon find that many of us have assumptions we picked up along the way.  If we really value a personal relationship with a supernatural God, then it’s important to be willing to lay aside our assumptions and ask God to reveal who he is.  Those of us who have been brought up in the faith have to struggle with our eagerness to ‘predict’ God’s plans, just like we tried to predict that there would be snow.  Instead, we ought to be proclaiming God’s truths about who He is and His character.  Descriptions of a wonderful God are easy to find if you go to the Psalms, or any scripture.  It’s as we proclaim the truths about God’s character and love for us, then we can be eased of the worries, and replace our assumptions with a confidence in the One who is sovereign over all.  Afterall, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”  (1 Corin. 2:9).  Thankfully the Spirit gives us glimpses into the heart of God, like promising snow clouds in the distance.  However, we are humbled by the truth that until the fullness of His purposes are made known we are left knowing ”in part”, with the hope and sureness that someday we will “know fully, even as (we are) fully known” (1 Corin. 13:9,12).

What assumptions are holding you back from experiencing all that heaven has to offer God’s children?  Can you surrender them to a loving, perfect God, despite your ability to predict His plans?

I see snow clouds hovering in the distance.  Maybe more snow is on it’s way.

We’re in the season of experiences which seem to be in conflict with prevalent glittering images all around us. Home comings, celebrations, giving, receiving, and births seem to be marred by deaths, heartaches and disappointments . Having come to the stage in life when there have beene “quite a few” Christmas seasons, the search through the “memory bank” rapidly produces images which fit into each of these words. There’s not enough space to paint a word picture of each one. For this BLOG I’ve chosen to think about what’s being stored in the “memory bank” for 2009.

I have just had the privelege of participating in the annual “Christmas Hamper Distribution”. Each year Lakemount Worship Centre joins the local food bank in delivering significant food and gift hampers to those in need. For those of us who have the joy of delivering these hampers there is often a keen awareness of the difficult journey of the recipient. Our prayer is that in the giving and receiving there will be a “connection” with the One who came to meet each one of us at our point of greatest need. In the midst of all that you and I experience we must never forget the reason for Jesus coming.

This brings me to the scripture which came to the foreground the other day as I was “surfing Facebook”. The post/link by my sister stood out above the others. To confirm it’s significance our worship leader on Sunday lead us in the song based on Isa. 40 – “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord”.

So here it is … “the reason for the season – memory for 2009” -
.28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

John Hiebert – Pastoral Care LWC

One of the joys of Christmas is the saturation of the air waves with the music of the season. I have found myself humming along as I have picked up the extra milk at the grocery store, waited in the line at the check-out for the great pre-Christmas sales and walked through the mall looking for the kiosk where I might purchase a gift card.

 I love the bouncy rhythms of the Caribbean style carols and the winter songs but yesterday, as I sat for a coffee in the Food Court, I began to sense afresh the nearness of the one whose birth we are celebrating. The old, familiar, repeatedly dramatized words of Away in a Manger, originally published in 1885, came tumbling from my lips.

 Hidden amidst the din of frantic shoppers and tired pre-schoolers, I began to sing

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky                            
And stay by my side,
Until morning is nigh.

 Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

 Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the thought of what it would be like if HE were not near. How could I ever face a day without knowing His awesome presence? I remembered the call of James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  I recalled that just last week I had seen, in the 73^rd Psalm, how being in the presence of God helps us to bring our struggles into perspective. The psalmist discovers that nearness with God is his strength. He writes, “…I am continually with You … You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth … God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vv. 23-26).

 Francis Frangipane, in a recent email release says this ‘…the strength of our walk does not originate from within ourselves; rather it comes from our relationship with Christ. Our virtue, if it can be defined as such, is that we have learned to prioritize seeking God; our character is the offspring of our oneness with Jesus. By this I mean, Jesus is not only first on our list of priorities; His influence rules over all our priorities. He inspires love in our relationships; His voice becomes the conviction in our integrity. God has made “Christ Jesus” to be to us “wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).’

 Lord, this day I acknowledge my most amazing times are those spent near to You. When my heart is near to You, I am partaking of the nectar of life. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay….

Ruth Teakle

This Sunday afternoon during Kidz Choir practice, we took a few moments to allow the children to listen to a new song.   I strategically  dimmed the lights, and had everyone close their eyes so they could focus on the words of the song.  Okay, I admit there was another reason I dimmed the lights.  It was because the kids had become a little ’squirrely’ and now they needed an opportunity to sit quietly.  During the song, I noticed one of our smallest choir members was laying on the carpet with her eyes close.   A few minutes later when the song was completed, the same little girl came up to me and asked for a cookie.  As I passed her the snack, she whispered in my ear “God was talking to me.”  Expecting to hear a long story, I asked “When?”   She replied, “God was talking to me when I was on the carpet listening to the song.”  My heart stopped.  I excitedly said, “What did he say?”  The blonde little girl with her cute glasses whispered “It’s a secret!” I wanted to push further to hear the words of truth a child would hear from the Father in a moment of silence.  I asked one more time the same question and with her hand next to her lips she said ”I can’t tell you.  It’s secret!”  Her grin was from ear to ear, and she ran happily back to her seat.

It came to me last night, as I reflected on the event, that sometimes God whispers secrets in our ears.

How could I question a little girl’s statement when just three weeks earlier I had the same thing happen to me during a corporate prayer meeting?  What began as intercessory prayer for the next generation, soon turned to a proclamation by the Spirit over our children.  Protocol states that an interpretation was in order, and I uttered one statement twice “God is calling His kids to Himself”, and then felt supernaturally hushed in my spirit.  That wasn’t all that God was revealing, but that was all that was necessary to be heard at that time.  Several minutes later, a respected intercessor came up to me and said “I have the interpretation for the word that you gave.”  And he began to uncover the same truths that God had been whispering in my ear during the proclamation.   Then he added, “But I felt I wasn’t to say it out loud, at the time.” 

You see, God’s timing is not necessarily our timing.  And sometimes God whispers things in our ear, that will be of benefit to you and perhaps others in the future, but for whatever reason He trusts you to just “hang on to it.”  I love the scripture that says, But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).   I am sure that the encounters Mary had in those early days were spectacular (including a visit from the angel, and entire groups of shepherds confirming the Saviour’s birth).   While the shepherds left the manger scene spreading the news of Jesus, Mary treasured the secrets God Himself had revealed in her heart, knowing even greater miracles were yet to come.

What secret is God whispering in your ear?  What passions of His heart has He entrusted you with, enough to whisper them into the very core of your being?  Is it a compassionate heart?  A gift for serving?  A justice for the those treated unjust?   Cherish it.  Ponder it.  And then be ready to act on it, when the Spirit says so.

Michelle Mercer

Family & Children’s Ministries

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Rev 5:5 

“Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered”

This past Sunday Pastor Matt brought a powerful word that Jesus is the Lion, and he is roaring over this house!  It has been an incredible month as we as The Body of Christ are rising together joining the ROAR of  Jesus Christ.  He alone has conquered sin, death, and the enemy.  We are standing on His promises and choosing to pursue His presence, in the midst of sickness, and anything else that may be happening in our present circumstances. 

In our Faithworks course this year, we are working through a devotional book called “Igniting Faith” by Steve Blacklund.  It has proven to be a powerful tool teaching us to change the way we think.  Our thought life controls so much of our outlook on life and how we choose to deal with circumstances.  Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”

The best way to do that is by getting into His Word, hearing what He has to say, and then start to declare His promises over your life.  It’s so much more than just positive thinking, these are promises God has given to us and we have access to.  You need to raise your level of expectancy and call forth the miracle God has for waiting for you!

Here are some declarations that you can start to claim today!

“I am what the Bible says I am. I have what is says I have. I can do what is says I can do.  I increasingly possess in my experience the promises of God.”"

“I have a sound mind”

“I have great favor with God and man”

“I am healed”

“I have abundant provision”

“I am blessed and protected”

“I increasingly know who and what I am in Christ”