Youth Seminar II

Just a quick update, not many photos-- maybe later. 

This year we have around 235 youth from 24 churches enrolled with nearly all of them attending. 

I want to thank you all for praying. We sense a better atmosphere this year than we've had before. It's seems like the staff of 25 or so from various churches are working together very well also. Amazingly, we have, for the most part, stayed on schedule even with the meals with only one exception and that was only 10 minutes or so that we waited. 

It feels like a more serious environment and the youth are comparatively respectful. We are getting good solid teaching on regeneration, moral purity, and how God works in our lives. One of the speakers, Pastor Leader had to leave today because of the death of one of his aunts. That has precipitated a bit of shuffling, but I trust with your prayers it will turn out to the furtherance of the gospel. 

Two more days...

Please continue to pray. 

-that we will have energy,

-that we will continue to work together to the glory of God. 

-that the powerful Word of God will touch hearts to affect lasting change. 

Third year of the Youth Bible Seminar

We are in the second day of our five day youth seminar. Please pray that God would work in the lives of the youth in Fond Parisien. We have 234 registered students from 24 churches.

Subjects for this year:

• Moral Purity
• Regeneration
• How God speaks to, and works in, the lives of His children.

Taking notes.

Teaching.

Alter and Mackenson marking "present" as the students enter at the front gate.

Question time. The youth love to ask questions.

A competition. Each church must answer three questions from the day's classes.

Marylis is doing a super job at organizing and facilitating meal preparation. 

WATER girls, Jana and Laura, washing dishes.

Rose faithfully cleans the church and bathrooms, helps prepare food, and washes the dishes. Rose has worked for the mission as school janitor for many, many years.

Merzantan, a seminar speaker and Pete.

Visiting, eating, and looking over notes.

Breakfast time.

Prosper handing out drinks.

Renald and Solius working with the other support members to set out all the filled plates.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support that make this youth seminar possible. Most of all we thank God for the work He is doing in our lives and the lives of the youth here in Fond Parisien.

Youth Seminar

Our 5 day youth seminar begins tomorrow morning. We expect about 200  youth to participate.  Please pray for us as we make final preparations. Pray for the pastors and teachers that are giving the lessons. Pray for the students that they would have hearts prepared to receive the Word, that it would take root deep in their hearts, changing this generation of youth. We covet your prayers. 

Cleaning the bathrooms. 

Meeting with support staff to finalize plans. 

Cleaning up the yard. 

Soccer- Haiti's favorite pastime

Matthew Byler from Bonners Ferry ID is here at the mission for a month in a program of Sharon Mennonite Bible School called WATER (World Awareness Training in Evangelistic Responsibility). 

Among the other more menial things, he is involved in providing meaningful activities for some neighborhood children. 

Welcome and Goodbye

The only constant is change. Today we said goodbye to Levi Kauffman who has served here for the last two years. We will miss him a lot, but we are confident of the Lord leading him in his life. 

We also are glad to welcome Andrew, Andrea and Isaiah Byler to the mission team, they will be serving as directors of the Children's Home.  Please pray for them as they integrate into life here. 

     God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:10-12 NASB)

Church building project

When they added on to the church building a number of years ago they made a room below the main level. Since the building sits on a hill it is kind of like a walk-in basement even though the door into it is a little below ground level. This room was unfinished and unused since that time, until this week when the deacons, having saved up enough money, hired a mason and inspired the youth in the church to volunteer their labor in order to put a door and windows in it and finish the inside. It has been a great project and it is a blessing to see them use their own resources and energy  to make something happen.