Family and Friends,
Greetings on this fine day! Our God is amazing, and He has a wonderful adventure for each one of us...
Note: this post is part 6 of 6 in the OUR NEW VISION series.
Thanks so much to everyone who has participated in this adventure in big and small ways. We truly believe God has an amazing plan for each of you, marked by various adventures along the way, and it is our sincere hope that the little stories and encouragements you find on this blog will inspire you to live that out in a new and fresh way.
Speaking of new and fresh, we hope that the OUR NEW VISION series has helped you reconsider your concept of modern missions. Here is a brief recap of what has been said...
Part 1: Introduction
-God is leading faithful followers of Jesus to reform our approach to
missions
Part 2: What Failure has Taught Us
-We do not need to fear failure in missions. We are free to attempt
great things for God as He leads, taking great risks along the way.
The real risk is playing it safe.
Part 3: Finding Strength in Weakness
-God is most glorified when we operate out of weakness, not strength.
Globally, in the places where there is the most weakness, in a worldly
sense, there may also be a hub of great spiritual strength. Haiti is a
good example of this phenomenon.
MINISTRY NAME: H.I.M. Haitian International Missions
Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led
-The biblical example of leadership development empowers native leaders
to direct their own people, through the help of the Holy Spirit. Our
ongoing vision for ministry will spring from the hearts of Haitians, not a
comfortable American board room.
Part 5: God Ordained Facebook
-In this day and age in which we find ourselves there are unparalleled
tools and opportunities to reach the world for Christ. Not only that, but
we can forge true and lasting cross-cultural friendships with our fellow
servants around the world.
To round out the discussion, consider one final thought regarding our values and priorities, and after that we will preview what you can expect in the next few weeks and months on this blog.
FINAL THOUGHT- IT IS TIME TO TAKE MISSIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
The desire and design of this ministry is to bring about positive and lasting change in Haiti and beyond (truly allowing Christ's kingdom to reign), and we believe this requires a radical rethinking of the traditional approach to missions in this complex country. We cannot emphasize this enough. No matter how many books come out illustrating the potential for American (usually Christian) non-profits to do harm in Haiti (see "Killing with Kindness: Haiti, International Aid, and NGOs" by Mark Schuller) many of us blindly continue to approach the country as if a little compassion, a prayer, and some old shoes are all we need to change lives. Sadly, we can easily end up creating more dependency, long-term poverty, and weak spirituality than before our visit while somehow remaining oblivious to the reality of the situation. Instead, we will hold to these truths:
-We will relentlessly assess our ministry (or more to the point, allow the native
people to assess our ministry for us) for its effectiveness, basing our
success or failure not on traditional measuring sticks (budgets, buildings,
& butts as it were) but on changed lives, changed communities,
sustainability, and biblical faithfulness.
-We will embrace transparency and accountability.
-We will embrace creativity and ingenuity in the ministries we support.
-We will avoid and combat any type of condescension or pity towards
Haitians. We will interact with Haitians as equals at all times, fostering
true collaboration. Similarly, as God leads we be a voice for the
voiceless by approaching and challenging any entity or force that seeks
to dominate, abuse, or belittle Haitian people...whether that be
members of the Haitian government or elite class, Americans, or other
outsiders.
-We will not exist to facilitate so-called "vacationary trips." (vacation plus
missions) This sounds harsh, but if we don't say it, who will? Having
been on the receiving end of some teams who fit this description and
witnessed the questionable impact on local people, we believe this
practice must be thoroughly reformed. Obviously, another series of
blog posts is required at this point...
-Above all, We will relentlessly build relationships. This is priority #1. We
will strive to truly understand and encourage one another and in the
process grow closer to God our Creator. To that end we will not employ
passive supporters or utilize empty funds on the American side of things.
More on this later...
Again, we are aware that some of these statements can come across as being harsh or overly critical of what has been done in missions, so we want to reiterate our sincere appreciation of every American Christian who seeks to be involved in international missions, as well as confessing our own failings and mixed motives at times. However, we all must be more critical than ever of what we are doing and carefully consider the earth-shattering reality that we cannot take this calling to "Go into all the world" lightly. The spiritual destiny of countless people is at stake in Haiti, in the USA, and all over the earth! If we dare to take on that awesome responsibility, as we absolutely must, it cannot be done lightly. We must fall on our faces before the throne of God in true humility while simultaneously committing ourselves to being informed, educated, and trained for the task.
Would you decide on a whim to be a surgeon and attempt a procedure without going to
medical school and practicing in a laboratory?
Would you climb into a space shuttle with no previous instruction, assuming you will
figure it out as you go after launch?
Would you blindly open a daycare, sign up a few dozen kids, and assume the education,
nurture, and discipline will just come to you moment by moment?
Then why do we think we can engage in the incredibly complex task of international missions without in-depth and ongoing education, spiritual preparation, language training, cultural research, PRAYER, and familiarization with historical and current missional approaches and trends? If medical services, space exploration, and education require extensive preparation, how much more the winning of souls and the transformation of cultures!
HERE IS THE CHOICE: Judge ourselves critically on a daily basis through the direction of the Holy Spirit, repent, and put in the hard work required to do missions better every day... or just do what we've always done, fly by the seat of our pants, assume it will be good enough, and be prepared to be judged later.
WHICH APPROACH WILL YOU CHOOSE, FELLOW ADVENTURERS?????
Look for the following posts in the days/weeks/months to come...
"Introducing Zacharie"
(a 2 part series to help you get to know the awesome Haitian National Director of H.I.M.)
"Hurdles to Overcome: OUR CURRENT NEEDS"
(we will articulate how people can get involved currently from developing the non-profit
business to making connections with Haitians to pledging financial support, etc...)
"Concert of Prayer for Haiti"
(we will be launching a sort of traveling campaign for missions to be hosted by churches in
this region. People will come together for prayer, worship, and teaching on missions. We
will challenge our readers to facilitate these events.)
"Challenging American Norms and Conventions"
(No we are not in an argument with Cory's dad, Norm. Ha! Ha! This multiple-part series
will call into question many of the accepted practices of our culture which tend to
counteract our call to missions.)
"KOTAY LAKAY" (Where is home?)
(This is a series of novels Cory is writing based on a Haitian boy with a remarkable
destiny who is adopted by a family in Iowa. We are considering releasing the book(s)
in installments on the blog...)
Assess Your Adventure Today!
-the grimm family adventurers
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
OUR NEW VISION- Part 5: God Ordained Facebook
Family and Friends,
Note: This blog post is part 5 of a 6-part series. Just scroll down to read earlier installments. Also, be sure to sign up to be a member of this blog. The benefits are enormous. Okay, it really isn't a big deal, but our family and especially the amazing people of Haiti can use your prayers, and being a member of this blog will allow you to stay connected with the adventure!
God can redeem and ordain almost anything for His purposes. He used Joseph's brothers' attempted murder, selling of their sibling into slavery, and an unfortunate (and lengthy!) jail term to pave the way for an entire nation of His people to be able to relocate to a more fertile land during a period of extended drought. Then there was the time when the worst persecutor of the early church was transformed overnight into the greatest missionary. If you want the most vivid example possible, look no further than your own life. If you are like me, you understand Paul's words perfectly when he calls himself the "worst of sinners." If God can use me to do anything good in the world, who or what can't He use?
Throughout the history of the church there have been debates about the validity of utilizing technology in church and/or to further God's kingdom. Part of the reason for the Reformation was the established Church's reluctance to allow all believers access to Scripture via the proliferation of Bibles made available by the recently invented printing press. Technology was seen as evil, because it opened the door for people to interpret God's Word for themselves. Seems strange, doesn't it? But the trend to fear technology continues until this day.
However, God can use even technology for His purposes, and in these final days He is doing just that in order to reach millions with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, Facebook and other platforms have become readily available to people all over the world, and incredible connections are being made cross-culturally. We have experienced this phenomenon first-hand. Every day we engage with friends in Haiti, and we discuss everything from daily trials to jokes to the deep things of God and Scripture. In other words, we interact as true equals and in so doing fulfill some of the most astounding prophecies in Scripture.
This morning during family devotions we read Genesis 11, which includes the story of the tower of Babel. In that episode the people were rebuked for their desire to create a great city (with a great tower), because they had been commanded by God (twice...to Adam and Eve and later to Noah) to spread out and fill the Earth, not remain in one central hub. Why? God had an amazing plan to reveal his glory in unique ways to each culture around the Earth and later bring us all together to praise His name around the throne as one. This is a huge theme in the book of Revelation and other NT passages.
This plan of God, this sub-plot of Scripture, is so beautiful and so profound, and it explains a lot about why our world is the way it is. There are so many evil forces fighting racial and cultural reconciliation on Earth, and many of those forces have a strong foothold in the Church and in the lives of American Christians. However, God is in the business of breaking down those walls between us, and one important tool is technology. With the use of Facebook, Skype, Google-translate, and other tools we can truly get to know people form around the globe and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.
One of the key aspects of our vision and our values at H.I.M. (Haitian International Missions) is to develop and nurture strong personal connections between our supporters and the native missionaries we serve. In other words, we want Americans and Haitians to connect deeply online, sharing prayer requests, getting to know one another's families, and laughing/crying together as life happens. Then, when these parties have a chance to meet one another it will be so much more meaningful. And even if that never happens on this side of Heaven, people who cannot travel internationally for whatever reason can still participate on a personal level in the ministry we all are doing. With technology we can "Go into all the Earth" without leaving home.
God can use all things for His glory! We do not need to fear technology. We do not need to fear people from other cultures. We do not need to fear our own lack of talent, passion, spirituality, or ability. As our pastor mentioned recently, "Fear is really faith in the evil one." Strong words, but the truth is that God is doing great things in our world today, and the question for all of us is...
Will we join the adventure, or remain on the sidelines?
Log-on to the adventure today, friends!
-the grimm family adventurers
Note: This blog post is part 5 of a 6-part series. Just scroll down to read earlier installments. Also, be sure to sign up to be a member of this blog. The benefits are enormous. Okay, it really isn't a big deal, but our family and especially the amazing people of Haiti can use your prayers, and being a member of this blog will allow you to stay connected with the adventure!
God can redeem and ordain almost anything for His purposes. He used Joseph's brothers' attempted murder, selling of their sibling into slavery, and an unfortunate (and lengthy!) jail term to pave the way for an entire nation of His people to be able to relocate to a more fertile land during a period of extended drought. Then there was the time when the worst persecutor of the early church was transformed overnight into the greatest missionary. If you want the most vivid example possible, look no further than your own life. If you are like me, you understand Paul's words perfectly when he calls himself the "worst of sinners." If God can use me to do anything good in the world, who or what can't He use?
Throughout the history of the church there have been debates about the validity of utilizing technology in church and/or to further God's kingdom. Part of the reason for the Reformation was the established Church's reluctance to allow all believers access to Scripture via the proliferation of Bibles made available by the recently invented printing press. Technology was seen as evil, because it opened the door for people to interpret God's Word for themselves. Seems strange, doesn't it? But the trend to fear technology continues until this day.
However, God can use even technology for His purposes, and in these final days He is doing just that in order to reach millions with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, Facebook and other platforms have become readily available to people all over the world, and incredible connections are being made cross-culturally. We have experienced this phenomenon first-hand. Every day we engage with friends in Haiti, and we discuss everything from daily trials to jokes to the deep things of God and Scripture. In other words, we interact as true equals and in so doing fulfill some of the most astounding prophecies in Scripture.
This morning during family devotions we read Genesis 11, which includes the story of the tower of Babel. In that episode the people were rebuked for their desire to create a great city (with a great tower), because they had been commanded by God (twice...to Adam and Eve and later to Noah) to spread out and fill the Earth, not remain in one central hub. Why? God had an amazing plan to reveal his glory in unique ways to each culture around the Earth and later bring us all together to praise His name around the throne as one. This is a huge theme in the book of Revelation and other NT passages.
This plan of God, this sub-plot of Scripture, is so beautiful and so profound, and it explains a lot about why our world is the way it is. There are so many evil forces fighting racial and cultural reconciliation on Earth, and many of those forces have a strong foothold in the Church and in the lives of American Christians. However, God is in the business of breaking down those walls between us, and one important tool is technology. With the use of Facebook, Skype, Google-translate, and other tools we can truly get to know people form around the globe and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.
One of the key aspects of our vision and our values at H.I.M. (Haitian International Missions) is to develop and nurture strong personal connections between our supporters and the native missionaries we serve. In other words, we want Americans and Haitians to connect deeply online, sharing prayer requests, getting to know one another's families, and laughing/crying together as life happens. Then, when these parties have a chance to meet one another it will be so much more meaningful. And even if that never happens on this side of Heaven, people who cannot travel internationally for whatever reason can still participate on a personal level in the ministry we all are doing. With technology we can "Go into all the Earth" without leaving home.
God can use all things for His glory! We do not need to fear technology. We do not need to fear people from other cultures. We do not need to fear our own lack of talent, passion, spirituality, or ability. As our pastor mentioned recently, "Fear is really faith in the evil one." Strong words, but the truth is that God is doing great things in our world today, and the question for all of us is...
Will we join the adventure, or remain on the sidelines?
Log-on to the adventure today, friends!
-the grimm family adventurers
Friday, June 21, 2013
OUR NEW VISION- Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led
Family and Friends,
We cannot express enough gratitude for the outpouring of support and interest in these blog posts and the ministry we are beginning to do in Haiti. Praise God! Thank you so much! The past week we managed to take a 4-day vacation celebrating Cory's parents' 40th anniversary as well as relocate to Sioux Falls. Everything went well, and thanks again to the friends at ARC in Luverne for helping us with the move. Amazing servants!
Note: this is part 4 of 6 of the OUR NEW VISION series...page down to see the earlier posts
One key area of weakness, or even sinfulness, we humans all struggle with is the temptation to just do it ourselves. It applies to many areas of life...parenting, business, discipleship (of self and others), teaching...in other words, virtually any leadership scenario. When something needs finishing we tend to pull up our bootstraps, grab the reigns, and "get 'er done." Here in the Upper Midwest most of us are descended from ancestors who bravely carved out the prairie one row at a time, and a whole new life in the process, and the homestead could be a lonely place where "if it is to be, then is starts with me." That attitude, a necessity for survival in those difficult days to some extent, lives on in the modern era despite being largely outdated.
There are many pitfalls with doing it, whatever "it" may be, on our own. We miss out on training the next generation, gaining new perspectives and techniques from others, and sharing in the experience of fellowship. Most dangerously, perhaps, is the temptation to vainly believe we have a monopoly on the skill and knowledge needed to accomplish a given task. This leads to pride, burnout, and resentment of others who appear to us to be unwilling to help.
Conversely, collaboration is almost always harder, but the benefits can be spectacular. Jesus and Paul were both revolutionaries at this approach. One could even make the case that Jesus' whole ministry was geared toward minimizing his own impact in order to set the next generation of leaders up for success. He avoided overdoing miracles, turned the big crowds away, and allowed the disciples to carry out the day-to-day leadership of the ministry from baptizing to managing money. And what about Paul? Isn't it amazing to consider that all of his mission projects started from scratch and were fully-functioning churches with an autonomous native leadership structure in less than two years? Sometimes it only took 3 months! After that Paul would write letters imploring them to remember things he taught, but rarely flexing his authority and ordering them to do anything.
How can this be? How could Jesus and Paul allow such incredible freedom to early church leaders to fail and/or succeed? Were they not concerned that the church would crumble after they left? Were they not concerned that the leaders would sin and fail and disrupt the unity of the body? Were they not concerned with the biblical knowledge, or lack thereof, of the church councils?
Here is the key: THE HOLY SPIRIT!
One key tenant of the Christian faith is that upon repentance from sins, forgiveness, and placing one's faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, the believer is immediately indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who is the third member of the Trinity, or God himself. Simply put, whether a follower of Jesus is young or old in the faith, he/she has the most important tool needed to faithfully obey God...the Holy Spirit!
However, a case could easily be made, judging by the incredibly disunity among Christians worldwide, that we don't really believe this truth. We don't really believe other Christ-followers, with vastly different traditions or beliefs from our own, really have God in their hearts. At least we don't act like we do based on how we treat them.
No area of God's kingdom reveals this reality more than missions. Historically, international aid and even mission agencies have been some of the most condescending, control-happy, Spirit-squelching organizations around. We institute programs and policies designed to help the native people, assuming our enlightened perspective allows us to know what is best for them, but these ideas are often conceived in comfortable board rooms somewhere in the USA or another developed nation. We neglect the talent, the experience, the passion, and most importantly, the Spirit's inspiration, of the local folks who are more invested in the outcome. Sadly, such programs tend to lack impact or sustainability, leading to disillusionment on both sides of the "collaboration." This scenario has been playing out and continues to play out in Haiti every year.
Did you know the United States Government took over Haiti from 1915-1934, controlling the infrastructure and finances through the strength of the Marines? There were cases of abuse and condescension was prevalent, no doubt, but as far as foreign occupations go the USA graciously helped the Haitians move forward quite a bit. Roads and schools were built, the budget was balanced, and the country enjoyed a nice measure of peace, especially considering the year before the occupation five or six different presidents ascended and descended the ladder of power through various coups and assassinations. In the end, however, the military failed in one key area: collaborating with and empowering native leadership. The Americans ended up being withdrawn quite abruptly due to FDR's new policy in the mid-30s to reduce interference in the politics of Latin American nations. At that moment everyone on both sides suddenly realized Haiti wasn't ready to take over the various projects. Native leaders were haphazardly appointed and orientated to leadership positions, but in the end they simply did not know how to service the roads, or maintain the finances and administration, etc... The training that should have been occurring for the previous two decades was crammed into a few weeks and ended up failing to prepare the new leaders for success. The infrastructure of roads and bridges began to crumble, vividly symbolizing the entire newly appointed government. The Haitians were blamed for not taking care of the projects, and the Americans were blamed for not knowing how to utilize concrete properly in the Caribbean.
Getting back to the missions' side of things, one of the greatest quotes on this topic I have ever heard/read is this...
"Sometimes the people who put the most weight on being Spirit-led are also the ones who downplay the Spirit's leading in others..."
May this never be said of us! Here is the reality, people: There are great Christian leaders in Haiti doing amazing things for Jesus, and they have the vision, faith, cultural perspective, and even in some cases the education to do greater things in the future. The Holy Spirit is working in and through them, and if we truly love the people of Haiti and want them to have a great future in Christ, we must trust the leaders He has raised up and partner with them AND SUBMIT TO THEM! Every time we launch some new program of our own conception in a country like Haiti, not only do we risk failure, but we risk undermining what God is trying to do. This isn't about the greatness of the Haitian people (though that is another discussion) but the greatness of the Holy Spirit working through them.
To finish out the Native-led = Spirit-led discussion, we will just say that we do believe that Americans and other developed-nation members have a lot of wisdom to offer Haiti and other such countries, but the attitude surrounding the transmission of that knowledge means everything. It must be done within the context of trust and respect, and the insight must flow both directions. Do not go into Haiti with the idea of changing lives in less you are ready to be changed yourself! We simply believe that Haitian people are capable, due to the leading of the Holy Spirit, of rising up and leading their own people into a healthy future depending completely on Christ. Circumventing that basic belief by using our strength and resources to claim unwarranted leadership over the people will lead to continued failure and/or subverting God's will for these people to lead themselves.
This discussion could easily go on and on, but the best way to proceed is probably to share a shining example of what we have been talking about. We would like to introduce to you the first ministry we are partnering with in Haiti.
Almost three years ago Cory met this family and became aware of their incredible ministry in southern Haiti. Laine Lucner and his family have accomplished much with little, and they have sought to address a nearly overwhelming need in Haiti...to support and educate disabled children. These treasures of God are usually neglected in countries like Haiti, where specialized educational training is nearly non-existent, and families can rarely afford to send children to such opportunities. In the midst of that struggle this native family has carved out an incredible ministry, with the main purpose of honoring and glorifying God, and we feel compelled to support them in their work and help them expand and sustain what they are doing.
Today the boarding school, located in the southern city of Les Cayes, serves about 25 students who come each semester to live with the other children and learn from the amazing teachers, mainly with the use of sign language. The deaf and downs syndrome children, and others with disabilities, all mix together and enjoy life and education in a healthy atmosphere. This is truly a native-led and Spirit-inspired ministry, and they have already accomplished great things. However, the need in Haiti is incredible, and everywhere one travels disabled children can be seen crawling in the streets or confined to never leaving home. The opportunity for ministry to these children, as well as their families and communities, is great.
This Fall we look forward to meeting with Laine Lucner and his wife and family and charting out a path for future involvement. Over the past few years we have become friends with them, supported them as much as we could, and prayed for God to direct our partnership together. Now the time has come to take the project up several levels and help the dreams and visions of both sides become a reality, and our hope is to discover similar ministries all over Haiti. This goal is becoming a reality as we speak.
Follow the Spirit today, fellow adventurers!
-grimm family
We cannot express enough gratitude for the outpouring of support and interest in these blog posts and the ministry we are beginning to do in Haiti. Praise God! Thank you so much! The past week we managed to take a 4-day vacation celebrating Cory's parents' 40th anniversary as well as relocate to Sioux Falls. Everything went well, and thanks again to the friends at ARC in Luverne for helping us with the move. Amazing servants!
Note: this is part 4 of 6 of the OUR NEW VISION series...page down to see the earlier posts
One key area of weakness, or even sinfulness, we humans all struggle with is the temptation to just do it ourselves. It applies to many areas of life...parenting, business, discipleship (of self and others), teaching...in other words, virtually any leadership scenario. When something needs finishing we tend to pull up our bootstraps, grab the reigns, and "get 'er done." Here in the Upper Midwest most of us are descended from ancestors who bravely carved out the prairie one row at a time, and a whole new life in the process, and the homestead could be a lonely place where "if it is to be, then is starts with me." That attitude, a necessity for survival in those difficult days to some extent, lives on in the modern era despite being largely outdated.
There are many pitfalls with doing it, whatever "it" may be, on our own. We miss out on training the next generation, gaining new perspectives and techniques from others, and sharing in the experience of fellowship. Most dangerously, perhaps, is the temptation to vainly believe we have a monopoly on the skill and knowledge needed to accomplish a given task. This leads to pride, burnout, and resentment of others who appear to us to be unwilling to help.
Conversely, collaboration is almost always harder, but the benefits can be spectacular. Jesus and Paul were both revolutionaries at this approach. One could even make the case that Jesus' whole ministry was geared toward minimizing his own impact in order to set the next generation of leaders up for success. He avoided overdoing miracles, turned the big crowds away, and allowed the disciples to carry out the day-to-day leadership of the ministry from baptizing to managing money. And what about Paul? Isn't it amazing to consider that all of his mission projects started from scratch and were fully-functioning churches with an autonomous native leadership structure in less than two years? Sometimes it only took 3 months! After that Paul would write letters imploring them to remember things he taught, but rarely flexing his authority and ordering them to do anything.
How can this be? How could Jesus and Paul allow such incredible freedom to early church leaders to fail and/or succeed? Were they not concerned that the church would crumble after they left? Were they not concerned that the leaders would sin and fail and disrupt the unity of the body? Were they not concerned with the biblical knowledge, or lack thereof, of the church councils?
Here is the key: THE HOLY SPIRIT!
One key tenant of the Christian faith is that upon repentance from sins, forgiveness, and placing one's faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, the believer is immediately indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who is the third member of the Trinity, or God himself. Simply put, whether a follower of Jesus is young or old in the faith, he/she has the most important tool needed to faithfully obey God...the Holy Spirit!
However, a case could easily be made, judging by the incredibly disunity among Christians worldwide, that we don't really believe this truth. We don't really believe other Christ-followers, with vastly different traditions or beliefs from our own, really have God in their hearts. At least we don't act like we do based on how we treat them.
No area of God's kingdom reveals this reality more than missions. Historically, international aid and even mission agencies have been some of the most condescending, control-happy, Spirit-squelching organizations around. We institute programs and policies designed to help the native people, assuming our enlightened perspective allows us to know what is best for them, but these ideas are often conceived in comfortable board rooms somewhere in the USA or another developed nation. We neglect the talent, the experience, the passion, and most importantly, the Spirit's inspiration, of the local folks who are more invested in the outcome. Sadly, such programs tend to lack impact or sustainability, leading to disillusionment on both sides of the "collaboration." This scenario has been playing out and continues to play out in Haiti every year.
Did you know the United States Government took over Haiti from 1915-1934, controlling the infrastructure and finances through the strength of the Marines? There were cases of abuse and condescension was prevalent, no doubt, but as far as foreign occupations go the USA graciously helped the Haitians move forward quite a bit. Roads and schools were built, the budget was balanced, and the country enjoyed a nice measure of peace, especially considering the year before the occupation five or six different presidents ascended and descended the ladder of power through various coups and assassinations. In the end, however, the military failed in one key area: collaborating with and empowering native leadership. The Americans ended up being withdrawn quite abruptly due to FDR's new policy in the mid-30s to reduce interference in the politics of Latin American nations. At that moment everyone on both sides suddenly realized Haiti wasn't ready to take over the various projects. Native leaders were haphazardly appointed and orientated to leadership positions, but in the end they simply did not know how to service the roads, or maintain the finances and administration, etc... The training that should have been occurring for the previous two decades was crammed into a few weeks and ended up failing to prepare the new leaders for success. The infrastructure of roads and bridges began to crumble, vividly symbolizing the entire newly appointed government. The Haitians were blamed for not taking care of the projects, and the Americans were blamed for not knowing how to utilize concrete properly in the Caribbean.
Getting back to the missions' side of things, one of the greatest quotes on this topic I have ever heard/read is this...
"Sometimes the people who put the most weight on being Spirit-led are also the ones who downplay the Spirit's leading in others..."
May this never be said of us! Here is the reality, people: There are great Christian leaders in Haiti doing amazing things for Jesus, and they have the vision, faith, cultural perspective, and even in some cases the education to do greater things in the future. The Holy Spirit is working in and through them, and if we truly love the people of Haiti and want them to have a great future in Christ, we must trust the leaders He has raised up and partner with them AND SUBMIT TO THEM! Every time we launch some new program of our own conception in a country like Haiti, not only do we risk failure, but we risk undermining what God is trying to do. This isn't about the greatness of the Haitian people (though that is another discussion) but the greatness of the Holy Spirit working through them.
To finish out the Native-led = Spirit-led discussion, we will just say that we do believe that Americans and other developed-nation members have a lot of wisdom to offer Haiti and other such countries, but the attitude surrounding the transmission of that knowledge means everything. It must be done within the context of trust and respect, and the insight must flow both directions. Do not go into Haiti with the idea of changing lives in less you are ready to be changed yourself! We simply believe that Haitian people are capable, due to the leading of the Holy Spirit, of rising up and leading their own people into a healthy future depending completely on Christ. Circumventing that basic belief by using our strength and resources to claim unwarranted leadership over the people will lead to continued failure and/or subverting God's will for these people to lead themselves.
This discussion could easily go on and on, but the best way to proceed is probably to share a shining example of what we have been talking about. We would like to introduce to you the first ministry we are partnering with in Haiti.
 |
| "Christian Educational Center for Disable and Deaf-Mute Children" |
 |
| Laine Lucner & Wife |
Almost three years ago Cory met this family and became aware of their incredible ministry in southern Haiti. Laine Lucner and his family have accomplished much with little, and they have sought to address a nearly overwhelming need in Haiti...to support and educate disabled children. These treasures of God are usually neglected in countries like Haiti, where specialized educational training is nearly non-existent, and families can rarely afford to send children to such opportunities. In the midst of that struggle this native family has carved out an incredible ministry, with the main purpose of honoring and glorifying God, and we feel compelled to support them in their work and help them expand and sustain what they are doing.
Today the boarding school, located in the southern city of Les Cayes, serves about 25 students who come each semester to live with the other children and learn from the amazing teachers, mainly with the use of sign language. The deaf and downs syndrome children, and others with disabilities, all mix together and enjoy life and education in a healthy atmosphere. This is truly a native-led and Spirit-inspired ministry, and they have already accomplished great things. However, the need in Haiti is incredible, and everywhere one travels disabled children can be seen crawling in the streets or confined to never leaving home. The opportunity for ministry to these children, as well as their families and communities, is great.
This Fall we look forward to meeting with Laine Lucner and his wife and family and charting out a path for future involvement. Over the past few years we have become friends with them, supported them as much as we could, and prayed for God to direct our partnership together. Now the time has come to take the project up several levels and help the dreams and visions of both sides become a reality, and our hope is to discover similar ministries all over Haiti. This goal is becoming a reality as we speak.
Follow the Spirit today, fellow adventurers!
-grimm family
Saturday, June 8, 2013
A Mission Trip to Sioux County
Family and Friends,
note: the OUR NEW VISION series will continue soon...but for now enjoy this story...
The following allegory is intended to poke fun at how all of us can easily project our own cultural expectations on others we visit on a mission trip. What if someone else conducted a mission trip to our community and tried to do outreach to us? What would that feel like? Enjoy!
Some Christian celebrities and other millionaires from the community of Beverly Hills became aware of the growing trend of short-term mission trips, domestic and international, and decided to put together one of their own. They were determined to make a difference in the world and alleviate poverty for all people, or at least for one community at a time. Not considering a trip abroad to be anything special, due to their countless vacations to various resorts in the Caribbean and other places, they elected to pick a random town somewhere in the Midwest to help. Surely those people needed their help! With very little research they settled on the small community of Sioux Center, Iowa, and their million dollar charter bus arrived one hot summer afternoon.
Pulling up to what seemed to be the central park in town, and descending reluctantly the lushly carpeted stairs of the mobile 4-star Hotel on wheels, they were aghast to witness some sort of parade where various floats and truckloads of people were launching generous handfuls of candy into frantic crowds of eager children. Even some of the adults would catch a treat from time to time, laugh sheepishly, and share in the feast.
"How sad," one movie actor lamented. "They don't even know how to feed their children properly."
Confused, they could not understand how some of the floats appeared to be nothing more than a giant piece of farm machinery with a sign on it or a fire truck. Nevertheless, they knew it was important not to be judgmental, so they sat quietly as each local business representative passed by and waved to the crowd. A couple of progressive individuals in the group even tried a piece of candy, in order to truly immerse in the experience, but others were somewhat offended by this radical approach.
As the day wore on and the parade crowd dwindled, the short-term missionaries made their way out into the nearby neighborhoods to meet some families and individuals, with the purpose of finding the most needy person possible to bless with their testimonies, wisdom, sympathy, and service. They stopped abruptly in front of what seemed to them an impossibly tiny home.
"Surely no one could live there, could they?" One media mogul asked in horror.
A third generation oil company tycoon who got roped into the trip while vacationing at his LA condo burst out, "Absolutely not. It must be a garage or shed of some sort. But look there on the side where the narrow driveway ends. I see a tiny door with a handle on it. Could that be a single garage? And could the person who lives here have to physically lift the handle on the door to open it? I've never heard of a single garage before, have you? How do they live in this squalor? Where do they store all of their vehicles? Or..." There was an awkward and painful pause as the man drew in his breath before whispering the unthinkable, "What if they only have one car?" His voice trailed off as he choked up a bit.
They all stood motionless and silent for several seconds, and few even started to cry at the thought of such extreme poverty. Several in the group nervously fingered smart phones and sent off a few texts just to maintain a tiny connection to the comfort of civilized society.
Just then an elderly man, probably in his mid-eighties came around the corner sporting work gloves and pushing a trusty old lawn mower. Remarks were made among the mission team with regard to how the locals must not know how to treat "the help", keeping them working until long past the time when they should be allowed to retire. Apparently there was not only rampant poverty, but great injustice in this town.
The leader of the mission trip approached the man to find out more information about the situation. The local man switched off the loud machine and shook the visitor's hand. The sharply dressed man asked, "Excuse me, sir, but could you tell me if the owner of this home is here at the moment?"
"Well yes, he is." the older man answered, with a bit of amusement in his voice, and then he gazed curiously at the group of out-of-towners, curiously wondering where they might be from.
The trip leader piped up again. "Umm. Could I please speak with him. I would like to confront him on your behalf, because you deserve better. Gardeners should be allowed to retire just like everyone else!" There was much assent, and even a few "Amen's" among the team. Now they were going to get down to business and make a real difference.
The local man laughed. "I'm not sure what you are talking about sir, but before we all get too confused, I will just let you know that I am the owner of this house."
The mission team members were astounded. Finally one young, nationally known female fitness guru sympathized, "Sir, we are here to help you. To think that you are so poor that you can't hire a proper gardener or landscaping consultant. Some of us had to mow before God delivered us out of darkness, and we want to help you see the light as well."
The man, a financially stable farmer who had retired about twenty years prior, simply stated, "This may come as a shock to you, miss, but I actually choose to take care of my own lawn and my garden, too. I enjoy it! It keeps me active, and it is nice to be out-of-doors."
This was almost too much to take for the mission team. Things got even more uncomfortable when the man invited them in for lemonade. They were a bit torn about the offer, and many were reluctant to deplete the already meager funds of the nearly destitute man, but in the end they could not find a tactful way to say, "no." After filling the gaps in the shag-carpeted living room between the old couch and recliners with various card-table chairs and a wobbly piano bench, everyone was seated, and mismatched cups were passed around. Some of them said "Hardees", "Taco Johns", or "Pizza Ranch", but all were topped off generously with delicious lemonade.
The group felt it was time to lay out the basic gospel message, and they found themselves returning time and again to the simple themes of God's blessings, his promises of perfection in Heaven, and how we need not suffer in this life if we only have faith. The man patiently took it all in, and even asked helpful questions from time to time to assist them in staying on track. Finally, the group leader felt it was time to ask for a decision, and questioned the man as to whether or not he was ready to accept Christ into his heart and be delivered from his anguish.
The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully, lovingly placed his weathered hand on an equally worn Bible resting on the nearby lamp table, and began a brief but beautiful testimony of his own:
"Friends, I thank you for coming to our town and specifically to my home, and it means a lot that you are sharing your faith in God. I know God is pleased when we tell others about his love. I need that helpful reminder from time to time, just like all followers of Jesus. I hope you aren't disappointed, but I have been walking with the Lord for over fifty years. I was a late bloomer, though, despite attending church my entire life. I didn't really know God personally until after six of my seven children were born. At that time my wife, who has since passed away, almost died in childbirth with our youngest child, and it really shook me. God and I had some serious heart to heart talks, and I knew it was time to get on track. Life has not been easy, but God has been very good to me. I have 23 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, and they are all healthy. Yes, I miss my wife every day, but I can't complain. In fact, I would have to say that the harder times in my life actually led to growth in my faith in God."
The mission team left that day very conflicted spiritually and theologically. It just did not add up how a person could know God and yet live in such poverty. Surely his faith could not be real. Or maybe he was just ignorant about finances, education, personal health, or other areas of life. There had to be some explanation, but in the end the group assumed the man just did not "get it" when it came to knowing God and experiencing blessings in this life. If his faith was real he wouldn't be suffering so terribly, or at least he wouldn't be so ignorant of the true, abundant life. The week continued that way, and soon the team headed back west defeated. In the end it wasn't a total loss, though, because the members of their church were absolutely floored by the pictures of real poor people, and how the team had the extreme faith to boldly enter into the backward atmosphere of Iowa to do ministry.
We hope that was fun for you, and more importantly, we hope it makes all of us consider to what degree our understanding of the gospel is intertwined with our own cultural conditioning. The reality is that we all are guilty of projecting our expectations for life and our understanding of Scripture on others, but a good starting point is to become aware of that tendency and repent. After that we pray on our knees that God will help us discern how best to help others, when to leave them alone, and WHEN TO LET THEM HELP US!
Enjoy Your Adventure Today!
-the grimm family adventurers
note: the OUR NEW VISION series will continue soon...but for now enjoy this story...
The following allegory is intended to poke fun at how all of us can easily project our own cultural expectations on others we visit on a mission trip. What if someone else conducted a mission trip to our community and tried to do outreach to us? What would that feel like? Enjoy!
Some Christian celebrities and other millionaires from the community of Beverly Hills became aware of the growing trend of short-term mission trips, domestic and international, and decided to put together one of their own. They were determined to make a difference in the world and alleviate poverty for all people, or at least for one community at a time. Not considering a trip abroad to be anything special, due to their countless vacations to various resorts in the Caribbean and other places, they elected to pick a random town somewhere in the Midwest to help. Surely those people needed their help! With very little research they settled on the small community of Sioux Center, Iowa, and their million dollar charter bus arrived one hot summer afternoon.
Pulling up to what seemed to be the central park in town, and descending reluctantly the lushly carpeted stairs of the mobile 4-star Hotel on wheels, they were aghast to witness some sort of parade where various floats and truckloads of people were launching generous handfuls of candy into frantic crowds of eager children. Even some of the adults would catch a treat from time to time, laugh sheepishly, and share in the feast.
"How sad," one movie actor lamented. "They don't even know how to feed their children properly."
Confused, they could not understand how some of the floats appeared to be nothing more than a giant piece of farm machinery with a sign on it or a fire truck. Nevertheless, they knew it was important not to be judgmental, so they sat quietly as each local business representative passed by and waved to the crowd. A couple of progressive individuals in the group even tried a piece of candy, in order to truly immerse in the experience, but others were somewhat offended by this radical approach.
As the day wore on and the parade crowd dwindled, the short-term missionaries made their way out into the nearby neighborhoods to meet some families and individuals, with the purpose of finding the most needy person possible to bless with their testimonies, wisdom, sympathy, and service. They stopped abruptly in front of what seemed to them an impossibly tiny home.
"Surely no one could live there, could they?" One media mogul asked in horror.
A third generation oil company tycoon who got roped into the trip while vacationing at his LA condo burst out, "Absolutely not. It must be a garage or shed of some sort. But look there on the side where the narrow driveway ends. I see a tiny door with a handle on it. Could that be a single garage? And could the person who lives here have to physically lift the handle on the door to open it? I've never heard of a single garage before, have you? How do they live in this squalor? Where do they store all of their vehicles? Or..." There was an awkward and painful pause as the man drew in his breath before whispering the unthinkable, "What if they only have one car?" His voice trailed off as he choked up a bit.
They all stood motionless and silent for several seconds, and few even started to cry at the thought of such extreme poverty. Several in the group nervously fingered smart phones and sent off a few texts just to maintain a tiny connection to the comfort of civilized society.
Just then an elderly man, probably in his mid-eighties came around the corner sporting work gloves and pushing a trusty old lawn mower. Remarks were made among the mission team with regard to how the locals must not know how to treat "the help", keeping them working until long past the time when they should be allowed to retire. Apparently there was not only rampant poverty, but great injustice in this town.
The leader of the mission trip approached the man to find out more information about the situation. The local man switched off the loud machine and shook the visitor's hand. The sharply dressed man asked, "Excuse me, sir, but could you tell me if the owner of this home is here at the moment?"
"Well yes, he is." the older man answered, with a bit of amusement in his voice, and then he gazed curiously at the group of out-of-towners, curiously wondering where they might be from.
The trip leader piped up again. "Umm. Could I please speak with him. I would like to confront him on your behalf, because you deserve better. Gardeners should be allowed to retire just like everyone else!" There was much assent, and even a few "Amen's" among the team. Now they were going to get down to business and make a real difference.
The local man laughed. "I'm not sure what you are talking about sir, but before we all get too confused, I will just let you know that I am the owner of this house."
The mission team members were astounded. Finally one young, nationally known female fitness guru sympathized, "Sir, we are here to help you. To think that you are so poor that you can't hire a proper gardener or landscaping consultant. Some of us had to mow before God delivered us out of darkness, and we want to help you see the light as well."
The man, a financially stable farmer who had retired about twenty years prior, simply stated, "This may come as a shock to you, miss, but I actually choose to take care of my own lawn and my garden, too. I enjoy it! It keeps me active, and it is nice to be out-of-doors."
This was almost too much to take for the mission team. Things got even more uncomfortable when the man invited them in for lemonade. They were a bit torn about the offer, and many were reluctant to deplete the already meager funds of the nearly destitute man, but in the end they could not find a tactful way to say, "no." After filling the gaps in the shag-carpeted living room between the old couch and recliners with various card-table chairs and a wobbly piano bench, everyone was seated, and mismatched cups were passed around. Some of them said "Hardees", "Taco Johns", or "Pizza Ranch", but all were topped off generously with delicious lemonade.
The group felt it was time to lay out the basic gospel message, and they found themselves returning time and again to the simple themes of God's blessings, his promises of perfection in Heaven, and how we need not suffer in this life if we only have faith. The man patiently took it all in, and even asked helpful questions from time to time to assist them in staying on track. Finally, the group leader felt it was time to ask for a decision, and questioned the man as to whether or not he was ready to accept Christ into his heart and be delivered from his anguish.
The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully, lovingly placed his weathered hand on an equally worn Bible resting on the nearby lamp table, and began a brief but beautiful testimony of his own:
"Friends, I thank you for coming to our town and specifically to my home, and it means a lot that you are sharing your faith in God. I know God is pleased when we tell others about his love. I need that helpful reminder from time to time, just like all followers of Jesus. I hope you aren't disappointed, but I have been walking with the Lord for over fifty years. I was a late bloomer, though, despite attending church my entire life. I didn't really know God personally until after six of my seven children were born. At that time my wife, who has since passed away, almost died in childbirth with our youngest child, and it really shook me. God and I had some serious heart to heart talks, and I knew it was time to get on track. Life has not been easy, but God has been very good to me. I have 23 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, and they are all healthy. Yes, I miss my wife every day, but I can't complain. In fact, I would have to say that the harder times in my life actually led to growth in my faith in God."
The mission team left that day very conflicted spiritually and theologically. It just did not add up how a person could know God and yet live in such poverty. Surely his faith could not be real. Or maybe he was just ignorant about finances, education, personal health, or other areas of life. There had to be some explanation, but in the end the group assumed the man just did not "get it" when it came to knowing God and experiencing blessings in this life. If his faith was real he wouldn't be suffering so terribly, or at least he wouldn't be so ignorant of the true, abundant life. The week continued that way, and soon the team headed back west defeated. In the end it wasn't a total loss, though, because the members of their church were absolutely floored by the pictures of real poor people, and how the team had the extreme faith to boldly enter into the backward atmosphere of Iowa to do ministry.
We hope that was fun for you, and more importantly, we hope it makes all of us consider to what degree our understanding of the gospel is intertwined with our own cultural conditioning. The reality is that we all are guilty of projecting our expectations for life and our understanding of Scripture on others, but a good starting point is to become aware of that tendency and repent. After that we pray on our knees that God will help us discern how best to help others, when to leave them alone, and WHEN TO LET THEM HELP US!
Enjoy Your Adventure Today!
-the grimm family adventurers
Friday, June 7, 2013
OUR NEW VISION- Part 3: Finding Strength in Weakness
Family & Friends,
Note: This post is part 3 of 6 in the OUR NEW VISION series. To be sure not to miss out on the progression of stories, consider subscribing to the blog as many great people have already done. (see "join this site" tab to the right to get started)
You will start to see the phrase "Finding Strength in Weakness" quite often if you follow this blog and the new mission organization we plan to launch, because it will be our motto or basic vision/mission statement which accompanies our ministry name on all publications, etc... Speaking of which, now that we have nearly reached the halfway point of this series, it is probably time to unveil the name we have chosen! Here it is...
Haitian International Missions "Finding Strength in Weakness"
Of course the strength/weakness paradigm comes from the famous scripture written by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians (or probably at least his 3rd or 4th letter, as you Bible nerds know, but the second one in the Bible anyway):
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it (Paul's "thorn in the flesh") away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:8-10 (comment in parentheses and bold/italics added by Cory)
The first place in our lives where we started talking about how this verse applies for us personally was with the obvious application of Lynn's physical limitations, and how that struggle has sometimes allowed her to know God intimately and make Him known. She would often reference this Scripture, because as crazy and ironic as it sounds, going to Haiti allowed her to spread her wings in ministry for the first time. How is this possible, you may ask, when our family exchanged one of the most wheelchair-accessible countries for one whose roads and paths become impassable after ten minutes of rain? It was a miracle of sorts, but the people were simply drawn to Lynn and wanted to be with her. There was so much built-in ministry in Haiti for us, in and around our home, and now her role has continued with the help of Facebook, Skype, and other mediums of communication (part 5 of this series will break that down further...).
Lynn was not able to go out to the people in Haiti, but they were drawn to her, and in a country where jobs and entertainment are scarce, there was plenty of time to talk! In her weakness God was strong.
Taking a broader view, however, the main reason "Finding Strength in Weakness" has become our motto is that we have found some Haitian Christians to be the most inspiringly faith-filled people on the face of the Earth. They truly know the meaning of "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties," as Paul describes. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and it probably makes the top ten of all countries in the world. This country is way behind in education, economy, security, public health, and many other categories. Nevertheless, there are examples of individuals and groups of individuals following Christ with the zeal of Peter, the love of John, and the ability to suffer and persevere of Paul. As a whole Haiti is weak, but there are pockets of immeasurable strength, and we are on a mission to find those individuals and groups and partner with them in their work, because we believe this approach will lead to real and lasting transformation, both of individual lives and of the greater Haitian culture.
That will be the basic task of Haitian International Missions. We will seek out the most outstanding Christian individuals already doing great things for Haiti, and we will humbly approach them requesting the opportunity to provide them with needed resources to fulfill the vision God has placed on their hearts. This will allow them to multiply their ministry in scope and sustainability, reaching more precious lives for the glory of God. These partnerships will also create a network of accountability between various Haitian individuals and groups, and we Americans will serve as a support network of sorts, benefitting personally from exposure to the red-hot faith of these Haitians and the miraculous work of God displayed in their lives and work.
This last point taps into an even bigger perspective of what we believe God may be doing in and through the people of Haiti. This country and her people are truly unique, as the history books reveal. We have gone into greater detail previously on this blog with regard to those key events, but for the purpose of this post just know that the people of Haiti have intimate connections with various cultures around the world. Despite being around 94% "black" and of African descent, the people are a melting pot of sorts, culturally speaking. They have been exposed to African traditions of all sorts, Latin American influences, as well as the various cultures of the United States, Canada, and Europe, especially France. Haitians learn French, Spanish, and English as a part of regular school curriculum.
Above all Haitians know how to suffer, persevere, worship (passionately!) in the midst of trial, and make do with very little. That is why we believe they would be amazing candidates to be sent out to other places around the globe with the good news of Jesus Christ, and that will be our long-term dream. We hope to discover Haitian individuals to whom God has already spoken concerning this vision, and we want to partner with them, too, just as we will partner with native missionaries called to their own homeland. Thus the "international" in Haitian International Missions. This aspect of the vision was also a key part of the Bible School we tried to start previously, and somehow we can not let that aspiration go despite the fact that it will require overcoming countless unknowns in the future.
In the next installment of this blog series, "Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led", we will introduce you to the group of individuals with whom we have begun our first partnership! We will also lay out more of the biblical basis of our ministry vision and possibly challenge you to consider some of your previous assumptions about missions.
Finally, we close with this thought...
"Finding Strength in Weakness" is also a call to all of us to radically accept and implement Jesus' example of servant-leadership. Look at what our great Lord accomplished with His life by tenderly serving the people and putting their needs ahead of His own. Yes, he was confrontational at times, and his words could be sharp. But he took up His cross and died daily for them, despite their betrayals, and that is the calling for each of us who seek to follow Him. Can we do that for those we have been asked to lead? Our culture emphasizes charisma, expertise, confidence, self-assurance, authoritativeness, and top-down leadership models. But "Finding Strength in Weakness" means charting a different course, just like Jesus did.
PRAYER REQUEST: Our process of seeking non-profit status has begun! Please pray that this will go well and be completed in a timely fashion. Believe it or not, this task is much more intimidating to us than getting lost on the mountain paths of Haiti during a torrential downpour! That sounds like fun compared to dealing with all the red tape of obtaining the 501c3 status. PRAY!
May God be strong in the midst of your weaknesses today!
-the grimm family adventurers
Note: This post is part 3 of 6 in the OUR NEW VISION series. To be sure not to miss out on the progression of stories, consider subscribing to the blog as many great people have already done. (see "join this site" tab to the right to get started)
You will start to see the phrase "Finding Strength in Weakness" quite often if you follow this blog and the new mission organization we plan to launch, because it will be our motto or basic vision/mission statement which accompanies our ministry name on all publications, etc... Speaking of which, now that we have nearly reached the halfway point of this series, it is probably time to unveil the name we have chosen! Here it is...
Haitian International Missions "Finding Strength in Weakness"
Of course the strength/weakness paradigm comes from the famous scripture written by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians (or probably at least his 3rd or 4th letter, as you Bible nerds know, but the second one in the Bible anyway):
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it (Paul's "thorn in the flesh") away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:8-10 (comment in parentheses and bold/italics added by Cory)
The first place in our lives where we started talking about how this verse applies for us personally was with the obvious application of Lynn's physical limitations, and how that struggle has sometimes allowed her to know God intimately and make Him known. She would often reference this Scripture, because as crazy and ironic as it sounds, going to Haiti allowed her to spread her wings in ministry for the first time. How is this possible, you may ask, when our family exchanged one of the most wheelchair-accessible countries for one whose roads and paths become impassable after ten minutes of rain? It was a miracle of sorts, but the people were simply drawn to Lynn and wanted to be with her. There was so much built-in ministry in Haiti for us, in and around our home, and now her role has continued with the help of Facebook, Skype, and other mediums of communication (part 5 of this series will break that down further...).
Lynn was not able to go out to the people in Haiti, but they were drawn to her, and in a country where jobs and entertainment are scarce, there was plenty of time to talk! In her weakness God was strong.
Taking a broader view, however, the main reason "Finding Strength in Weakness" has become our motto is that we have found some Haitian Christians to be the most inspiringly faith-filled people on the face of the Earth. They truly know the meaning of "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties," as Paul describes. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and it probably makes the top ten of all countries in the world. This country is way behind in education, economy, security, public health, and many other categories. Nevertheless, there are examples of individuals and groups of individuals following Christ with the zeal of Peter, the love of John, and the ability to suffer and persevere of Paul. As a whole Haiti is weak, but there are pockets of immeasurable strength, and we are on a mission to find those individuals and groups and partner with them in their work, because we believe this approach will lead to real and lasting transformation, both of individual lives and of the greater Haitian culture.
That will be the basic task of Haitian International Missions. We will seek out the most outstanding Christian individuals already doing great things for Haiti, and we will humbly approach them requesting the opportunity to provide them with needed resources to fulfill the vision God has placed on their hearts. This will allow them to multiply their ministry in scope and sustainability, reaching more precious lives for the glory of God. These partnerships will also create a network of accountability between various Haitian individuals and groups, and we Americans will serve as a support network of sorts, benefitting personally from exposure to the red-hot faith of these Haitians and the miraculous work of God displayed in their lives and work.
This last point taps into an even bigger perspective of what we believe God may be doing in and through the people of Haiti. This country and her people are truly unique, as the history books reveal. We have gone into greater detail previously on this blog with regard to those key events, but for the purpose of this post just know that the people of Haiti have intimate connections with various cultures around the world. Despite being around 94% "black" and of African descent, the people are a melting pot of sorts, culturally speaking. They have been exposed to African traditions of all sorts, Latin American influences, as well as the various cultures of the United States, Canada, and Europe, especially France. Haitians learn French, Spanish, and English as a part of regular school curriculum.
Above all Haitians know how to suffer, persevere, worship (passionately!) in the midst of trial, and make do with very little. That is why we believe they would be amazing candidates to be sent out to other places around the globe with the good news of Jesus Christ, and that will be our long-term dream. We hope to discover Haitian individuals to whom God has already spoken concerning this vision, and we want to partner with them, too, just as we will partner with native missionaries called to their own homeland. Thus the "international" in Haitian International Missions. This aspect of the vision was also a key part of the Bible School we tried to start previously, and somehow we can not let that aspiration go despite the fact that it will require overcoming countless unknowns in the future.
In the next installment of this blog series, "Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led", we will introduce you to the group of individuals with whom we have begun our first partnership! We will also lay out more of the biblical basis of our ministry vision and possibly challenge you to consider some of your previous assumptions about missions.
Finally, we close with this thought...
"Finding Strength in Weakness" is also a call to all of us to radically accept and implement Jesus' example of servant-leadership. Look at what our great Lord accomplished with His life by tenderly serving the people and putting their needs ahead of His own. Yes, he was confrontational at times, and his words could be sharp. But he took up His cross and died daily for them, despite their betrayals, and that is the calling for each of us who seek to follow Him. Can we do that for those we have been asked to lead? Our culture emphasizes charisma, expertise, confidence, self-assurance, authoritativeness, and top-down leadership models. But "Finding Strength in Weakness" means charting a different course, just like Jesus did.
PRAYER REQUEST: Our process of seeking non-profit status has begun! Please pray that this will go well and be completed in a timely fashion. Believe it or not, this task is much more intimidating to us than getting lost on the mountain paths of Haiti during a torrential downpour! That sounds like fun compared to dealing with all the red tape of obtaining the 501c3 status. PRAY!
May God be strong in the midst of your weaknesses today!
-the grimm family adventurers
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
OUR NEW VISION- Part 2: What Failure has Taught Us
Family and Friends,
*This is part 2 of 6 in the "OUR NEW VISION" blog series detailing our plans for reengaging in ministry in Haiti after 16 months hiatus*
Failure is a great tool for learning and building character. Many of you have probably seen the recent Steven Spielberg film, "Lincoln", which details the final weeks leading up to the passing of the 13th Amendment of our Constitution. That important document guaranteed the end of slavery in the United States for all time. Lincoln struggled and sacrificed greatly to achieve victory against almost impossible odds, but his intense resolve and unwavering drive to succeed came from a place one might not suspect, I believe. Was it his faith in Christ and a belief that God created all humans equal? Yes, of course, but there was more to the story.
Who hasn't heard of the many failures of that famous president before he somehow managed to obtain the highest office in our land, not to mention successfully navigate our country through quite possibly the most troubled time in our history? He lost many more elections than he won along the way, but he had a vision, and the trials and humiliations only made him stronger and more determined. Failure made Abraham Lincoln who he was. Many people have strong faith, but few are willing to utilize that faith to the utmost limit until failure occurs. Fewer still are willing to travel that road and plummet over that cliff multiple times in life.
In fact, it might even be said that failure or failing is the only way to be sure a person has reached his/her fullest potential. If you could take a snapshot of that moment right before the failure occurs, you would see yourself functioning at your absolute limit, your best, your most daring. Without being willing to fail, you would never have reached that point of extreme exercising of your faith, brief though it might have been. The highest success cannot exist without failing, or at least the risk of failure.
But how many of us live our lives that way? Don't we normally choose a much safer path, preferring to be "in control" if possible? In a society where the mitigation of risk is shamelessly sold as a line of products guaranteeing future security and even happiness, are we truly willing to lay everything we are and have on the line to follow Jesus? And if we do fail in this life, does it lead to a hunkering down of sorts, a withdrawal from risk, and a life characterized by timidity or even fear?
Sixteen months ago we experienced a heartbreaking failure when our relationship with the mission organization we were serving quickly deteriorated, resulting in our resignation from our position as missionaries in Haiti. On that day we lost so much either temporarily or permanently: our friends in Haiti, our home, our ministry, our dream of building a Bible School in a developing country and the finances already donated to achieve that goal, our personal income, our identity, and our trust in most American Christians.
Probably the most disturbing part of the whole experience, however, is how deeply we allowed ourselves to be hurt. That was the true failure. We did hunker down and withdraw. We did become risk-averse. Indeed, here we are 16 months later just getting back to what we have known all along was our true calling. We have missed out on a lot, no doubt, yet God is gracious and He has taught us many lessons in the midst of our failure. Below are two key examples:
LESSON #1- It takes a great deal of sacrifice, discipline, and faith for "normal" American Christians to engage in international missions.
Finding ourselves no longer missionaries to Haiti, we looked around and realized we had to try to piece together some sort of life in this country for the time being. Not sure where else to start, I began combing the want ads for a job. It would have been preferable to find a job "in ministry," no doubt, but those opportunities take a minimum of 4-6 months to land and we had bills to pay and nowhere to live. Also, we knew deep down that it wouldn't be right to take a long-term, full-time ministry job while harboring the hope of continuing as missionaries again as soon as possible.
After a couple of weeks I was offered a job as an "operator" at an ethanol plant near Ashton, Iowa. I truly had no idea what the job required, and the schedule seemed quite odd (rotating nights/days as well as weekdays/weekends, not to mention 12-hour shifts). I needed a job and nothing else was opening up, so I took the offer. Over the course of the next year I made some great friends, moved up to Operations Supervisor, and most importantly, reconnected with the difficulty of living everyday life in the United States.
I also had the chance to take a position leading worship in Luverne, MN, at the American Reformed Church, which has been a great blessing. The kids were busy with school and other activities, and Lynn held the fort down at home while keeping us all focused and on-schedule. She also maintained contact daily with our Haitian friends and made new international acquaintances as well. It was a busy year and we came to understand how easy it is to neglect God's call to reach the nations when it requires almost every ounce of energy we have just to accomplish the tasks of daily life.
So all of that to say, we truly appreciate everyone reading this blog, praying for us and the people of Haiti, contributing to our work, or even travelling with us to Haiti at some point. We now have been vividly reminded how difficult it can be to squeeze out the extra time to fulfill those commitments, and we want to do everything we can to make it worth your while when you take that important step of faith. This is partly why we have re-envisioned our approach to missions in order to make the most impact possible. More on that in the posts to come...
LESSON #2- Following Christ is worth the risk of failure.
Call it thicker skin, callousness, increased resolve, or stronger faith. Whatever it is, or whatever combination of that list of things, we now have a healthy dose of it, and we are more willing than ever before to take risks and dream big dreams for Christ. Most importantly, we have discovered we cannot be at peace, because the love of Christ continues to flow into our hearts for our friends in Haiti. We need to continue to follow Jesus, and that means going to Haiti for us...and that means risking failure. But like Lincoln, failure has been good for us, or at least God has used it for our good. Over the course of the sixteen months our hunkering down gradually transformed into a time of recovery and re-imagining what is possible with God's help, and in the midst of it all fear began to diminish. Now we plan to push this ministry to the limit, actually believing that lives and cultures will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We plan to test those limits and fearlessly toe the line of failure in everything we do.
Helen Keller says it well...
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as
a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Most importantly, we need to continually remind ourselves of what is at stake...the glory of God, the redemption of his lost children, and the sanctification of believers as we participate in this grand narrative with Christ. What failure(s) would be too much to risk to achieve these goals? And if and when we fail, we are still better off than those who never tried. People often talk about the sacrifice of missionaries, but we missionaries all privately laugh at those comments. Those who choose not to participate in the adventure make the real sacrifice.
In the coming posts we will comment more on the nuts and bolts of what we are attempting to accomplish through the mission organization we are planning to launch. OUR NEW VISION actually does contain practical steps we will be taking to impact Haiti, the US, and the whole world. Today, however, we hope our simple story of failure will inspire you and help you understand that God is not looking for ability, but availability, as the saying goes.
May you follow Jesus until you fail today... and then may you get up tomorrow and do it again!
-the Grimm Family Adventurers (failures)
*This is part 2 of 6 in the "OUR NEW VISION" blog series detailing our plans for reengaging in ministry in Haiti after 16 months hiatus*
Failure is a great tool for learning and building character. Many of you have probably seen the recent Steven Spielberg film, "Lincoln", which details the final weeks leading up to the passing of the 13th Amendment of our Constitution. That important document guaranteed the end of slavery in the United States for all time. Lincoln struggled and sacrificed greatly to achieve victory against almost impossible odds, but his intense resolve and unwavering drive to succeed came from a place one might not suspect, I believe. Was it his faith in Christ and a belief that God created all humans equal? Yes, of course, but there was more to the story.
Who hasn't heard of the many failures of that famous president before he somehow managed to obtain the highest office in our land, not to mention successfully navigate our country through quite possibly the most troubled time in our history? He lost many more elections than he won along the way, but he had a vision, and the trials and humiliations only made him stronger and more determined. Failure made Abraham Lincoln who he was. Many people have strong faith, but few are willing to utilize that faith to the utmost limit until failure occurs. Fewer still are willing to travel that road and plummet over that cliff multiple times in life.
In fact, it might even be said that failure or failing is the only way to be sure a person has reached his/her fullest potential. If you could take a snapshot of that moment right before the failure occurs, you would see yourself functioning at your absolute limit, your best, your most daring. Without being willing to fail, you would never have reached that point of extreme exercising of your faith, brief though it might have been. The highest success cannot exist without failing, or at least the risk of failure.
But how many of us live our lives that way? Don't we normally choose a much safer path, preferring to be "in control" if possible? In a society where the mitigation of risk is shamelessly sold as a line of products guaranteeing future security and even happiness, are we truly willing to lay everything we are and have on the line to follow Jesus? And if we do fail in this life, does it lead to a hunkering down of sorts, a withdrawal from risk, and a life characterized by timidity or even fear?
Sixteen months ago we experienced a heartbreaking failure when our relationship with the mission organization we were serving quickly deteriorated, resulting in our resignation from our position as missionaries in Haiti. On that day we lost so much either temporarily or permanently: our friends in Haiti, our home, our ministry, our dream of building a Bible School in a developing country and the finances already donated to achieve that goal, our personal income, our identity, and our trust in most American Christians.
Probably the most disturbing part of the whole experience, however, is how deeply we allowed ourselves to be hurt. That was the true failure. We did hunker down and withdraw. We did become risk-averse. Indeed, here we are 16 months later just getting back to what we have known all along was our true calling. We have missed out on a lot, no doubt, yet God is gracious and He has taught us many lessons in the midst of our failure. Below are two key examples:
LESSON #1- It takes a great deal of sacrifice, discipline, and faith for "normal" American Christians to engage in international missions.
Finding ourselves no longer missionaries to Haiti, we looked around and realized we had to try to piece together some sort of life in this country for the time being. Not sure where else to start, I began combing the want ads for a job. It would have been preferable to find a job "in ministry," no doubt, but those opportunities take a minimum of 4-6 months to land and we had bills to pay and nowhere to live. Also, we knew deep down that it wouldn't be right to take a long-term, full-time ministry job while harboring the hope of continuing as missionaries again as soon as possible.
After a couple of weeks I was offered a job as an "operator" at an ethanol plant near Ashton, Iowa. I truly had no idea what the job required, and the schedule seemed quite odd (rotating nights/days as well as weekdays/weekends, not to mention 12-hour shifts). I needed a job and nothing else was opening up, so I took the offer. Over the course of the next year I made some great friends, moved up to Operations Supervisor, and most importantly, reconnected with the difficulty of living everyday life in the United States.
I also had the chance to take a position leading worship in Luverne, MN, at the American Reformed Church, which has been a great blessing. The kids were busy with school and other activities, and Lynn held the fort down at home while keeping us all focused and on-schedule. She also maintained contact daily with our Haitian friends and made new international acquaintances as well. It was a busy year and we came to understand how easy it is to neglect God's call to reach the nations when it requires almost every ounce of energy we have just to accomplish the tasks of daily life.
So all of that to say, we truly appreciate everyone reading this blog, praying for us and the people of Haiti, contributing to our work, or even travelling with us to Haiti at some point. We now have been vividly reminded how difficult it can be to squeeze out the extra time to fulfill those commitments, and we want to do everything we can to make it worth your while when you take that important step of faith. This is partly why we have re-envisioned our approach to missions in order to make the most impact possible. More on that in the posts to come...
LESSON #2- Following Christ is worth the risk of failure.
Call it thicker skin, callousness, increased resolve, or stronger faith. Whatever it is, or whatever combination of that list of things, we now have a healthy dose of it, and we are more willing than ever before to take risks and dream big dreams for Christ. Most importantly, we have discovered we cannot be at peace, because the love of Christ continues to flow into our hearts for our friends in Haiti. We need to continue to follow Jesus, and that means going to Haiti for us...and that means risking failure. But like Lincoln, failure has been good for us, or at least God has used it for our good. Over the course of the sixteen months our hunkering down gradually transformed into a time of recovery and re-imagining what is possible with God's help, and in the midst of it all fear began to diminish. Now we plan to push this ministry to the limit, actually believing that lives and cultures will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We plan to test those limits and fearlessly toe the line of failure in everything we do.
Helen Keller says it well...
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as
a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
In the coming posts we will comment more on the nuts and bolts of what we are attempting to accomplish through the mission organization we are planning to launch. OUR NEW VISION actually does contain practical steps we will be taking to impact Haiti, the US, and the whole world. Today, however, we hope our simple story of failure will inspire you and help you understand that God is not looking for ability, but availability, as the saying goes.
May you follow Jesus until you fail today... and then may you get up tomorrow and do it again!
-the Grimm Family Adventurers (failures)
Monday, June 3, 2013
OUR NEW VISION- Part 1: Introduction
Family & Friends,
What an overwhelming response to our first post on this blog in nearly 16 months! People came out in droves, and many also took the time to contact us or speak to us with much support. God is good...and the adventure continues with both new passion and new participation!
Last Sunday as I headed home from Church in Luverne (Lynn was not feeling well so she and the kids stayed home), I picked up a hitchhiker just north of Sioux Center. Okay, that is not exactly true. Actually, he was just some dude walking sadly through a drizzly rain in the direction of the town of Hull, about 8 miles away. At first I failed the test. I kept driving and turned toward home at the gas station on the edge of town. The Holy Spirit kept poking my ribs, however, and I relented and turned around to do the right thing.
My soggy new friend was a Hispanic fella who spoke pretty good English. I asked where he was headed and whether he needed a ride. He was happy to get in and only needed to return to the Country Home Motel just a mile and a half north of town. To be honest I had forgotten all about that place despite the fact that I have driven past the A-frame room along the road thousands of times. How easily we become blind in this life to the everyday things right in front of our faces!
We got to talking and it turns out he and some others from Chicago have been working on the new hospital being built east of town. His crew specializes on the framing and drywall work, and most of the guys headed back to the city for Memorial Day weekend, leaving him with no vehicle.
I dropped him off and he asked how much he owed me. I laughed and said, "Nothing." Later that day I decided to go to Walmart and get some groceries for the family, and it dawned on me that the soggy man might need a ride to get supplies as well, especially if he wasn't scheduled to work the next day as it was a holiday. I pulled up to his temporary A-frame home and knocked on the door. The man answered the door and invited me in. Inside was a distinguished, gentlemanly-looking older Hispanic man whom I had not yet met. There was something inside of me that said, "This is the guy you are supposed to meet."
I asked them if they would like to go to Walmart. The younger man, whom I had met first, agreed and both were very thankful for the offer, though the older man decided to stay there. We were soon on our way and a great conversation ensued. The younger man's name was Carlos, and the older was Sebastian. It turns out Sebastian was once a successful and somewhat well-known businessman in Mexico before his business fell through, at which point he was forced to take work as a manual laborer in the US in order to provide for his family back home. In fact, his fifth grandchild had been born just a few days previously, and his only option was to check Facebook daily in the hope of seeing pictures of the new child. Carlos reverently remarked, "Sebastian is the most honest man I have ever met."
When we returned to the motel I asked Carlos if the two of them would like to come over the next day for Memorial Day hamburgers, etc... They gladly accepted, explaining that any chance to get out of the motel room for a few hours was a welcome reprieve. The next day turned out to be memorable as well. I spent most of the morning helping Lynn's sister Cora and her husband Marlon (see post "A Pleasant Surprise: PART 1" http://ouradventuresinhaiti.blogspot.com/2011/03/pleasant-surprise-part-1.html and check out "PART 2" and "PART 3" to read the rest of that story) tear out carpet from their flooded basement. After that we all met for lunch at Lynn's folks' home, and I did have a chance to pick up the new friends, who were dressed quite formally for the occasion.
Carlos and Sebastian seemed a little uncomfortable among so many strangers, but they appreciated the meal and remarked several times about how big the house was. Upon hearing about the flooded basement, they insisted that we head back over and complete the job. I drove the guys home for a moment to change into work clothes and we drove to Orange City to tackle the job, and tackle it they did! Those guys tore into the work like a bulldog might approach a T-bone, and we were finished quickly. I think they were very thankful for the opportunity to reciprocate for the simple kindness they had been shown.
Afterwards I took the guys back to their temporary home and we sat outside for a bit talking about life. I was anxious to find out more about Sebastian, yet a bit reluctant to appear like I was prying. However, we did agree that it would be fun to get together again sometime soon, and I believe the end of that story is yet to be written...
So why did I choose to share that story as a part of this post? Because it is our firm belief and experience that when we engage in what God is doing globally, He will open our eyes to what we have been overlooking and give us the courage we need to live for Him locally. That is why we are asking you to read this blog, to pray for us, and to participate in our mission work to Haiti. We believe that as you do so God will bless you personally and present you with more opportunities in your everyday life to live for Him.
Over the next several posts we will lay out the basic framework of what we believe God is calling us to do in Haiti. This series will be called OUR NEW VISION, and here are the parts you can expect to read in the near future:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: What Failure has Taught Us
Part 3: Finding Strength in Weakness
Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led
Part 5: God Ordained Facebook
Part 6: Conclusion
As is often the case in vision casting, the model we will be describing is neither "ours" nor "new." Rather, it is a return to the early days of Acts and an attempt to remain faithful to God's Word as we humbly attempt to bring Scripture to bear on our current age.
Martin Luther and the other reformers turned the church upside down at the end of the Middle Ages by recapturing these basic truths:
In the same way we believe many Christ-followers around the world have been busy about the business of recapturing God's original design for global missions and in the process may very well be reforming the Church once again. Millions are coming to faith each year, though in most cases the expression of that faith may be quite unfamiliar to us in the United States. Nevertheless, the Spirit is a raging fire violently consuming the chaff of injustice and sin, and we all must make the choice whether we will courageously draw near to that dangerous flame or remain motionless on the chilly sidelines.
There is much debate these days concerning the validity and effectiveness of both long-term and short-term mission efforts. Add to that the fact that the American Church is deteriorating rapidly and many are asking, "Should I even be thinking about non-believers around the world when my coworkers, neighbors, and family members don't even know Jesus?" The entire situation can be a bit overwhelming to the soul, yet we believe God has a divine strategy at work and a compelling plan to utilize each one of us in both settings if we are willing.
So how can we get involved in what God is doing around the world, including our own backyard? That is the very question the "OUR NEW VISION" series will seek to answer, because ultimately what matters is not what our family accomplishes but what we are able to inspire others to attempt for Christ, by God's grace and for His glory. Our goal is that the "Our" in "Our Adventure" would including all of you, our friends in Haiti, and others from foreign lands as well.
So keep reading, keep hoping, and keep "adventuring" if that is a word. It is now!
Also, please remember us in your prayers this week as we pack up our belongings (again!) and prepare to relocate from Sioux Center to Sioux Falls. Many thanks to our new friends in Luverne who will be helping us make the move possible!
MANY BLESSINGS!
-The Grimm Family Adventurers
What an overwhelming response to our first post on this blog in nearly 16 months! People came out in droves, and many also took the time to contact us or speak to us with much support. God is good...and the adventure continues with both new passion and new participation!
 |
| Kester (9), Alexandra (6), Elizabeth (8) outside home in Sioux Center |
My soggy new friend was a Hispanic fella who spoke pretty good English. I asked where he was headed and whether he needed a ride. He was happy to get in and only needed to return to the Country Home Motel just a mile and a half north of town. To be honest I had forgotten all about that place despite the fact that I have driven past the A-frame room along the road thousands of times. How easily we become blind in this life to the everyday things right in front of our faces!
We got to talking and it turns out he and some others from Chicago have been working on the new hospital being built east of town. His crew specializes on the framing and drywall work, and most of the guys headed back to the city for Memorial Day weekend, leaving him with no vehicle.
I dropped him off and he asked how much he owed me. I laughed and said, "Nothing." Later that day I decided to go to Walmart and get some groceries for the family, and it dawned on me that the soggy man might need a ride to get supplies as well, especially if he wasn't scheduled to work the next day as it was a holiday. I pulled up to his temporary A-frame home and knocked on the door. The man answered the door and invited me in. Inside was a distinguished, gentlemanly-looking older Hispanic man whom I had not yet met. There was something inside of me that said, "This is the guy you are supposed to meet."
I asked them if they would like to go to Walmart. The younger man, whom I had met first, agreed and both were very thankful for the offer, though the older man decided to stay there. We were soon on our way and a great conversation ensued. The younger man's name was Carlos, and the older was Sebastian. It turns out Sebastian was once a successful and somewhat well-known businessman in Mexico before his business fell through, at which point he was forced to take work as a manual laborer in the US in order to provide for his family back home. In fact, his fifth grandchild had been born just a few days previously, and his only option was to check Facebook daily in the hope of seeing pictures of the new child. Carlos reverently remarked, "Sebastian is the most honest man I have ever met."
When we returned to the motel I asked Carlos if the two of them would like to come over the next day for Memorial Day hamburgers, etc... They gladly accepted, explaining that any chance to get out of the motel room for a few hours was a welcome reprieve. The next day turned out to be memorable as well. I spent most of the morning helping Lynn's sister Cora and her husband Marlon (see post "A Pleasant Surprise: PART 1" http://ouradventuresinhaiti.blogspot.com/2011/03/pleasant-surprise-part-1.html and check out "PART 2" and "PART 3" to read the rest of that story) tear out carpet from their flooded basement. After that we all met for lunch at Lynn's folks' home, and I did have a chance to pick up the new friends, who were dressed quite formally for the occasion.
Carlos and Sebastian seemed a little uncomfortable among so many strangers, but they appreciated the meal and remarked several times about how big the house was. Upon hearing about the flooded basement, they insisted that we head back over and complete the job. I drove the guys home for a moment to change into work clothes and we drove to Orange City to tackle the job, and tackle it they did! Those guys tore into the work like a bulldog might approach a T-bone, and we were finished quickly. I think they were very thankful for the opportunity to reciprocate for the simple kindness they had been shown.
Afterwards I took the guys back to their temporary home and we sat outside for a bit talking about life. I was anxious to find out more about Sebastian, yet a bit reluctant to appear like I was prying. However, we did agree that it would be fun to get together again sometime soon, and I believe the end of that story is yet to be written...
So why did I choose to share that story as a part of this post? Because it is our firm belief and experience that when we engage in what God is doing globally, He will open our eyes to what we have been overlooking and give us the courage we need to live for Him locally. That is why we are asking you to read this blog, to pray for us, and to participate in our mission work to Haiti. We believe that as you do so God will bless you personally and present you with more opportunities in your everyday life to live for Him.
Over the next several posts we will lay out the basic framework of what we believe God is calling us to do in Haiti. This series will be called OUR NEW VISION, and here are the parts you can expect to read in the near future:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: What Failure has Taught Us
Part 3: Finding Strength in Weakness
Part 4: Native-led = Spirit-led
Part 5: God Ordained Facebook
Part 6: Conclusion
As is often the case in vision casting, the model we will be describing is neither "ours" nor "new." Rather, it is a return to the early days of Acts and an attempt to remain faithful to God's Word as we humbly attempt to bring Scripture to bear on our current age.
Martin Luther and the other reformers turned the church upside down at the end of the Middle Ages by recapturing these basic truths:
- Sola Scriptura - By Scripture Alone
- Sola Gratia - By Grace Alone
- Solo Christo - By Christ Alone
- Sola Fide - By Faith Alone
- Soli Deo Gloria - Glory To God Alone
In the same way we believe many Christ-followers around the world have been busy about the business of recapturing God's original design for global missions and in the process may very well be reforming the Church once again. Millions are coming to faith each year, though in most cases the expression of that faith may be quite unfamiliar to us in the United States. Nevertheless, the Spirit is a raging fire violently consuming the chaff of injustice and sin, and we all must make the choice whether we will courageously draw near to that dangerous flame or remain motionless on the chilly sidelines.
There is much debate these days concerning the validity and effectiveness of both long-term and short-term mission efforts. Add to that the fact that the American Church is deteriorating rapidly and many are asking, "Should I even be thinking about non-believers around the world when my coworkers, neighbors, and family members don't even know Jesus?" The entire situation can be a bit overwhelming to the soul, yet we believe God has a divine strategy at work and a compelling plan to utilize each one of us in both settings if we are willing.
So how can we get involved in what God is doing around the world, including our own backyard? That is the very question the "OUR NEW VISION" series will seek to answer, because ultimately what matters is not what our family accomplishes but what we are able to inspire others to attempt for Christ, by God's grace and for His glory. Our goal is that the "Our" in "Our Adventure" would including all of you, our friends in Haiti, and others from foreign lands as well.
So keep reading, keep hoping, and keep "adventuring" if that is a word. It is now!
Also, please remember us in your prayers this week as we pack up our belongings (again!) and prepare to relocate from Sioux Center to Sioux Falls. Many thanks to our new friends in Luverne who will be helping us make the move possible!
MANY BLESSINGS!
-The Grimm Family Adventurers
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