A GREAT TAX DEDUCTION...(OR, A SHAMELESS PLUG)

Hi everyone, i hope you had a great Christmas. I was blessed to spend Christmas Eve with my family, and then enjoyed a wonderful church service on Christmas Day, followed by visiting my grandmother in Spencer.

As we look forward to the New Year, there is a dark presence looming in our near future. I am of course talking about the Tax Man!

April 15^th will be here before you know it, and I wanted to take this opportunity to offer a small way to help ease the governments bite, and to help a worthy cause at the same time. All donations made to help support my service in Haiti are tax-deductible, and if you act in the next couple of days, you can even deduct it from your 2011 taxes! What a great way to help send a Worker into the Field, and keep the IRS out of your pocket! So, if you would like to take advantage of this tax savings, you can click on the following link: Help Support Justin in Haiti

Or you can visit www.nwhcm.org, click on the “Give” tab, select “Missionary Support” from the left side of the screen, and then click the link with my name.

OK, seriously though, as I have sought my place on the mission field, one of the things that I have been most concerned with is the thought that I would have to raise support for my work. This was a very big hurdle to overcome, because I do not like asking for help. And I really don’t like asking for money, especially in this economy.

After much studying, praying and some very wise counsel from fellow Christians more knowledgeable then myself, I now realize a couple of truths:

1)      We are all commanded by scripture to proclaim the good news of Christ’s salvation to the entire world. Matthew 28: 18-20 says “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2)      We are all gifted differently. According to Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

So therefore, we can all use our specific gifts, to the glory of God and the reaching of the lost! I have a passion to serve, and I have found a place where they need my skills and talents. A place where I can use my passion and gifts to help the people of Haiti, as well as the other missionaries on the ground in Haiti.  I can and am ready to go to Haiti to serve, but I need willing people to partner with me. You can help me serve the people of Haiti through prayer, through giving and through many other ways. The important thing for all of us to search for the way in which we are called to serve, and serve!

If you are called to partner with me, I would love the chance to speak one on one with you about my calling and future service in Haiti. I can be reached via email at servinginhaiti@yahoo.com just drop me a line so we can set up a time to talk.

I thank you all for reading, and continuing this journey with me. I encourage you all to stay strong in the Lord, and I pray for all of you to have a wonderful and blessed new year!

Justin

Are You Sure ?

Ever since I first announced my plans to join the mission field in Haiti, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. Some strange, some funny but probably the most common has been “Are you sure?” A couple of good friends have asked “are you sure you’re being called, and not running away?”

Believe me, this is a question I have asked myself a lot, as this year has been very hard for me. I lost my sister Michelle in February, and I still struggle with her loss every day. I’ve had many times where I pull out my phone to talk to her, and even start dialing her number, then i remember. On top of that, my wife and I divorced this summer. I wont go into any specifics here, but suffice it to say that mistakes were made on both sides, but the ending is not what I wanted, and the pain and loss I feel are deep to an extent that I wouldn’t have thought possible.

Now please, let me pause here for a second to recognize that there are many, many people whose lives are much harder, and have faced greater loss this year than I have. I’m not trying to whine, just telling my story.

I have battled depression many times in my life, been down into dark pits where words like “Hope” and “Joy” lose all meaning. My mom lost her battle with Leukemia when I was 16, and my father passed away 7 years later. I’ve spent most of life hiding, ashamed of my weight, certain I was no good to anyone or for anything.Throughout the years, when my despair was at its worst and the pain unbearable, something always brought me back and started me on the climbing out of the pit. I never knew what it was, but I always felt something there. I know now what it was then, and what still gives me strength when times get tough. God’s love.

God, who sent His perfect son to die for all of us. God, who never turns His back on us, even when we turn ours on Him. God, who is always there, we just need to be still and let Him lead us.

God has blessed me more greatly than I can ever deserve. I have great friends who truly care for me, wonderful Christian role models who are my support when I am in need. I have family that loves me. I have been blessed to travel to many distant lands, to serve with amazing Christians from around the world. I have been blessed to see God at work in the lives of many people.  I have been blessed with a place to God and man, a place where I can use my gifts and talents.

Throughout this experience, I have felt God moving in my life. I know that I am moving how and where He wants, and I am anxious to see what He has in store for me. I know that no matter what comes, God has plans and a purpose for me. As it says in Roman’s 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” So... long story short, the answer to the question “Are you sure?”is a heartfelt and resounding YEP!

Until next time,

Justin

Haiti or Bust

Last week, I was finally able to get with the staff at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission in Zionsville to confirm my plans to join the mission field in Haiti next year. After a few tests and several meetings, i came away with not only the answer to most of my questions, but with a renewed sense of peace about what i’m meant to do and where i’m meant to go.

I will be traveling to Haiti on or around March 30 of next year, to begin a 7 month internship with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission at their main campus in St. Louis Du Nord. I’m very excited to serve with and for the people of Haiti, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.

As i continue the process for preparing to serve, i have a lot to do and figure out. Not only do I need to begin fundraising and seeking prayer support, but I also need to investigate health insurance options,  make plans for what I need to take with me, and just generally figure out how best to prepare for service.

As I prepare and learn, I again invite you to join with me and share my experiences, both here and in Haiti. I look forward to sharing with you, but I also invite you to ask me any questions or tell me any thoughts or suggestions you may have.

Until next time,

bondye beni ou!

Justin

Welcome

Hello everyone,
This is my first attempt at blogging, so I ask that you bear with me as I stretch myself out into the 21st century :-)
I have created this blog as a way to share my thoughts, feelings and experiences as I seek to answer God's call and plan for my life as I go to Haiti to serve. In upcoming posts, I will strive to share with you how I got to this point, where I'm going, and see what the future brings.
I invite you to join me on this new adventure!