Bonjou!
This is our first week away from Haiti. We have eaten lots of American foods and enjoyed sermons in English! Starting again we want to thank you all for your prayers. We have been still focused on and desire to win souls to the Kingdom of God, no matter where we are, which is first and foremost important!
Justin breaks out in Creole usually at least once a day for a time period and i follow, occassionaly Kevin will give it a try too! It usually becomes a fun thing for us as well, as the rest of the family around us gets a kick out of trying to figure out what we are saying.
Along with the above information, this week has been a week of adjusting. We have unpacked and done a TON of laundry, with much still left to do!
Tonight we will meet with Pastor Chuck so we can look at the month of August and all the plans we have: plans ranging from church events that we need to attend, preparing for presentations and trips of where to show the presentations, finances to date for the ministry, setting up and preparing for insurance and doctors appointments for Stitch and much more! We won't be bored waiting for our move back to Haiti, that has become evident and we couldn't be more excited about all we have going on for our King!
Again, thank you always for your prayers and love! We ask for prayers of focus; Justin and I are both closer in our walk now than we have ever been and desire to keep growing and not be distracted by the things of the world, particularly the comforts of American resources!
Bondye Beni Ou!
The White Family,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The States
Well, we made it back to the states. But we will start from the beginning of the week. Monday through Friday were pretty eventless days. We tried for some pomdetet (potatoes) at the market the first couple of days, but by the end of the week we surrendered and decided to mac and cheese it until we left on Saturday. We spent a lot of time cleaning and packing and also getting in the most we could in speaking and listening to the language (Creole).
Saturday we left Mole St. Nicolas to fly to Port au Prince. Everyone enjoyed the tiny puddle hopper plane. Until the landing when Stitch decided we don’t like landing planes! But we survived! We then went to the Haiti airport and were able to find Creole Bibles!! We had been on the hunt for them since we got to Haiti and the day we left we found them! Now in the churches in Haiti they preach from the French translation Bibles; however, we figure to reach the untold, uneducated people of Haiti who know no French we should be practicing the Creole translation! Finding these was a praise. We were able to get two bibles for about the price we would pay for 1 English translation Bible in the U.S., which is also a huge praise for being sold in the airport.
So Saturday evening Pastor Kennan’s son, Emory, picked us up from the airport. When we got to the house and we were asking Emory to take us back to the airport at 6:00am the next morning for our flight back to Arkansas. Then Emory told us to call my dad from ‘the box’. He pointed to a fed ex box on the table. We were a bit confused, having no phone to call with and not knowing what was in this box. When we opened the box these are the contents we pulled out: 2 pickles (for stitch), socks (for bobbi), a go phone (for all, mostly Justin) with minutes already put on it as well as text messages with pictures of our family, pages from a photo album when the Sackman family had gone to Disney World years ago, and then a stack of papers. The paper contents were confirmation letters for the following: A rent a car convertible, a gift card with money for food and gas, a 3 night stay in a hotel outside Orlando, and 3 -2 day passes to Disney World! All of us were first upset because we so badly wanted to see our family, then we were incredibly humbled. We knew this was not something we deserved or even earned in anyway. Then we recognized and completely praised the Lord for His blessings in our lives and of course the last two days have enjoyed venturing around Disney World. Therefore, I’d like to apologize for the delay in our blog this week. I tried to connect to the internet in our hotel, but we were unable to get through and the second two nights we fell asleep as soon as we got to our hotel.
The biggest blessing in the whole experience and gift that we had received was to see how much we had grown and continue to grow in our walks with the Lord. Kevin still is boy and a kid, he has become slightly more grateful, but may have the most trouble coming back into a society where everything is at your fingertips (please keep his in prayer for this). Justin was able to share his testimony so many times and throughout the whole experience he used every opportunity we had to bless someone else! I was surprised at how verbal I was to talk to people and share our testimony…I had no intimidation to talk to people, whereas before I was always worried about intruding into someone’s life, now I realize how sacred and special each life is and how important it is not to interrupt it! This past 9 ½ weeks and 3 days have been amazing for each of us as individuals as well as a family. God has done and we know will continue to do so much to bring glory to Himself and we look forward to seeing His glory!
As a side note: it is difficult when walking around a theme park with people speaking several different languages, to figure out which language you should be speaking (Creole or English) hahaha. It was fun to even watch Kevin take a minute to answer people when they spoke to him in English, because he had been so use to Creole questions.
Thank you all so much for the blessings you are in our lives. Your prayers of encouragement and love allow our hearts to be focused on the King and winning souls to His kingdom. Thank you for your love, prayers and support.
Bondye Beni Ou – God Bless You!
The White Family,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch (who has been very content with the American foods we have selected lately!)
Saturday we left Mole St. Nicolas to fly to Port au Prince. Everyone enjoyed the tiny puddle hopper plane. Until the landing when Stitch decided we don’t like landing planes! But we survived! We then went to the Haiti airport and were able to find Creole Bibles!! We had been on the hunt for them since we got to Haiti and the day we left we found them! Now in the churches in Haiti they preach from the French translation Bibles; however, we figure to reach the untold, uneducated people of Haiti who know no French we should be practicing the Creole translation! Finding these was a praise. We were able to get two bibles for about the price we would pay for 1 English translation Bible in the U.S., which is also a huge praise for being sold in the airport.
So Saturday evening Pastor Kennan’s son, Emory, picked us up from the airport. When we got to the house and we were asking Emory to take us back to the airport at 6:00am the next morning for our flight back to Arkansas. Then Emory told us to call my dad from ‘the box’. He pointed to a fed ex box on the table. We were a bit confused, having no phone to call with and not knowing what was in this box. When we opened the box these are the contents we pulled out: 2 pickles (for stitch), socks (for bobbi), a go phone (for all, mostly Justin) with minutes already put on it as well as text messages with pictures of our family, pages from a photo album when the Sackman family had gone to Disney World years ago, and then a stack of papers. The paper contents were confirmation letters for the following: A rent a car convertible, a gift card with money for food and gas, a 3 night stay in a hotel outside Orlando, and 3 -2 day passes to Disney World! All of us were first upset because we so badly wanted to see our family, then we were incredibly humbled. We knew this was not something we deserved or even earned in anyway. Then we recognized and completely praised the Lord for His blessings in our lives and of course the last two days have enjoyed venturing around Disney World. Therefore, I’d like to apologize for the delay in our blog this week. I tried to connect to the internet in our hotel, but we were unable to get through and the second two nights we fell asleep as soon as we got to our hotel.
The biggest blessing in the whole experience and gift that we had received was to see how much we had grown and continue to grow in our walks with the Lord. Kevin still is boy and a kid, he has become slightly more grateful, but may have the most trouble coming back into a society where everything is at your fingertips (please keep his in prayer for this). Justin was able to share his testimony so many times and throughout the whole experience he used every opportunity we had to bless someone else! I was surprised at how verbal I was to talk to people and share our testimony…I had no intimidation to talk to people, whereas before I was always worried about intruding into someone’s life, now I realize how sacred and special each life is and how important it is not to interrupt it! This past 9 ½ weeks and 3 days have been amazing for each of us as individuals as well as a family. God has done and we know will continue to do so much to bring glory to Himself and we look forward to seeing His glory!
As a side note: it is difficult when walking around a theme park with people speaking several different languages, to figure out which language you should be speaking (Creole or English) hahaha. It was fun to even watch Kevin take a minute to answer people when they spoke to him in English, because he had been so use to Creole questions.
Thank you all so much for the blessings you are in our lives. Your prayers of encouragement and love allow our hearts to be focused on the King and winning souls to His kingdom. Thank you for your love, prayers and support.
Bondye Beni Ou – God Bless You!
The White Family,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch (who has been very content with the American foods we have selected lately!)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Last Week coming
Bonswa!
We are about to start our 9th and final week here for this trip!
Well, we spent the last 3 ½ days in Bombard, Haiti. That was a wonderful experience. First of all we can’t express how thankful we were for the cooler weather! The house we stayed in was covered by shade trees! We also experienced throughout our stay the battle of giant moths and lizards (it was amusing)! Pastor Kennan took us with his family to Bombard for an annual church conference. We had morning and evening services as well as classes during the day. Justin had the privilege of speaking to adults on sexual education. Most of them were shocked that sex is very open in the United States (using sexual innuendos in advertisement, public schools teaching kids about safe sex, etc…). However, he did wonderfully and I had never been more thankful that I needed to watch Kevin and did not have to use what little Creole I knew to teach such a topic
I told Kevin we weren’t going to be able to take any toys with us to Bombard, but it would make him learn to appreciate his toys that much more (it sure made me appreciate his toys that much more!). Eventually though with the lack of nothing to do, Kevin carried around Justin’s Creole Made Easy book and studied and had a blast learning the language. He even quickly (quicker than me) picked up on the different vowel pronunciations and was pronouncing things correctly! However, this was a huge praise. We just made it back to Mole this evening as well and Kevin had already asked for and is looking through the Creole Made Easy book, even with his toys at his convenience! PRAISE THE LORD!
This week we will still be practicing Creole. We still need to go to the market, with only macaroni and cheese and roman noodle soup left! Then we also have a lot of cleaning to get done before we leave. We have been extremely blessed with the opportunity to stay with Pastor Kennan and his family while learning the language. Please continue to pray for us that we will have the patience to practice our Creole without actively speaking Haitians surrounding us in the States! We have been speaking to each other off and on in Creole, however, when you can’t find the words for a whole sentence it becomes easy to default to English!
Stitch is looking very forward to having some American foods soon! In Bombard Stitch was spoiled with bread, BBQ beef and ground beef!! It is such a crazy change to go from living in a country where beef is almost a stable food, to a country where you are excited to get beef!
We look very forward to seeing everyone! We have been so blessed already on this trip and I have no doubt the Lord intends to work in this last week as well! Our prayers have been with you all and we are thankful for your prayers for our family and the Lords work.
A testimony from a young girl this weekend: (background: in Haiti the Catholic Church does not teach that Jesus is the way to Heaven and often times are the gateway to Voodoo) A young girl came forward for prayer. She was having some trouble financially for food in her life, but found joy in her salvation knowing the Lord would provide. This young girl has a physical handicap with little control over her physical movements. The catholic priest found pity on her and came to her one day and told her that he wanted to help her and support her, but she would need to get baptized in the Catholic Church first. She told him that her salvation was not worth trading for food. She said that she trusted the Lord to provide for her. What a praise and wonderful thing to hear!
God Bless you all! Bondye Beni Nou!
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
We are about to start our 9th and final week here for this trip!
Well, we spent the last 3 ½ days in Bombard, Haiti. That was a wonderful experience. First of all we can’t express how thankful we were for the cooler weather! The house we stayed in was covered by shade trees! We also experienced throughout our stay the battle of giant moths and lizards (it was amusing)! Pastor Kennan took us with his family to Bombard for an annual church conference. We had morning and evening services as well as classes during the day. Justin had the privilege of speaking to adults on sexual education. Most of them were shocked that sex is very open in the United States (using sexual innuendos in advertisement, public schools teaching kids about safe sex, etc…). However, he did wonderfully and I had never been more thankful that I needed to watch Kevin and did not have to use what little Creole I knew to teach such a topic
I told Kevin we weren’t going to be able to take any toys with us to Bombard, but it would make him learn to appreciate his toys that much more (it sure made me appreciate his toys that much more!). Eventually though with the lack of nothing to do, Kevin carried around Justin’s Creole Made Easy book and studied and had a blast learning the language. He even quickly (quicker than me) picked up on the different vowel pronunciations and was pronouncing things correctly! However, this was a huge praise. We just made it back to Mole this evening as well and Kevin had already asked for and is looking through the Creole Made Easy book, even with his toys at his convenience! PRAISE THE LORD!
This week we will still be practicing Creole. We still need to go to the market, with only macaroni and cheese and roman noodle soup left! Then we also have a lot of cleaning to get done before we leave. We have been extremely blessed with the opportunity to stay with Pastor Kennan and his family while learning the language. Please continue to pray for us that we will have the patience to practice our Creole without actively speaking Haitians surrounding us in the States! We have been speaking to each other off and on in Creole, however, when you can’t find the words for a whole sentence it becomes easy to default to English!
Stitch is looking very forward to having some American foods soon! In Bombard Stitch was spoiled with bread, BBQ beef and ground beef!! It is such a crazy change to go from living in a country where beef is almost a stable food, to a country where you are excited to get beef!
We look very forward to seeing everyone! We have been so blessed already on this trip and I have no doubt the Lord intends to work in this last week as well! Our prayers have been with you all and we are thankful for your prayers for our family and the Lords work.
A testimony from a young girl this weekend: (background: in Haiti the Catholic Church does not teach that Jesus is the way to Heaven and often times are the gateway to Voodoo) A young girl came forward for prayer. She was having some trouble financially for food in her life, but found joy in her salvation knowing the Lord would provide. This young girl has a physical handicap with little control over her physical movements. The catholic priest found pity on her and came to her one day and told her that he wanted to help her and support her, but she would need to get baptized in the Catholic Church first. She told him that her salvation was not worth trading for food. She said that she trusted the Lord to provide for her. What a praise and wonderful thing to hear!
God Bless you all! Bondye Beni Nou!
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Monday, July 5, 2010
2 Weeks Left
Bonswa!
Here we are, only 2 weeks from going back to the states! Ahhh!!! In our shoes the view is only 2 weeks left to become more confident and fluent in Creole!
This last week was more eventful than the previous and the next week, well, I am not even sure I am prepared for what is to come.
Over this last week our family has grown closer to the Lord and Kevin is growing in learning the importance of obedience! He started the week off again not really wanting to play with any children here or be involved with anyone; then He actually slowed down and listened to the children and has even become less agitated and more patient in listening to us speak Creole to him. We are praising the Lord for his growth! Please continue to pray for Kevin and I though as we will apply Creole to our schooling this fall. We will be speaking it in the states regularly in Creole; however, applying it to school could be frustrating at times and we would both love your prayers!
After being use to all the adjustments to a third world country (cooking, shopping, long periods with no electricity, etc…) I almost forgot we were somewhere different. Then I have to share with you that a 4 a.m. battle with flashlight in hand against a Haitian lizard to win the toilet reminds you quickly that you aren’t ‘in Kansas anymore’! There are many humbling events of being overseas!
Justin was able to speak to the youth this week in Creole. He did a great job and had it all prepared and written out in Creole. However, after he finished he decided the next night (last night) when he was going to give his testimony to the church in Creole that he wouldn’t write it down. He did a great job! He spoke for several minutes and the church was very responsive. Their favorite part after he listed all his sin he was living in, was when Jesus saved his soul and changed his heart! (That is my favorite part too!) He is doing so well with his Creole…in fact; Pastor Kennan’s confidence in him is allowing Justin to also speak to the adult this coming week in Bambard on Sexual Education. No pressure!
Stitch and I are doing great. As always we don’t like the heat, but we are really pushing through the days and I am feeling confident of where I am in Creole so far. I know I have so much further to go, but I also know that the Lord will continue to work and one day I’ll be fluent!
This week we are going to join Pastor Kennan and his family in Bambard for a yearly conference where he will be preaching. We will be there from Thursday to Sunday. Then Pastor Kennan will take madam and go to Port au Prince Monday and come back to fly out of Mole with us the following Saturday morning! Busy busy busy! Praising the Lord that I won’t have a ton to pack seeing as we can leave the things for permanent residents in the country!!
God Bless you all! - We love you!
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Here we are, only 2 weeks from going back to the states! Ahhh!!! In our shoes the view is only 2 weeks left to become more confident and fluent in Creole!
This last week was more eventful than the previous and the next week, well, I am not even sure I am prepared for what is to come.
Over this last week our family has grown closer to the Lord and Kevin is growing in learning the importance of obedience! He started the week off again not really wanting to play with any children here or be involved with anyone; then He actually slowed down and listened to the children and has even become less agitated and more patient in listening to us speak Creole to him. We are praising the Lord for his growth! Please continue to pray for Kevin and I though as we will apply Creole to our schooling this fall. We will be speaking it in the states regularly in Creole; however, applying it to school could be frustrating at times and we would both love your prayers!
After being use to all the adjustments to a third world country (cooking, shopping, long periods with no electricity, etc…) I almost forgot we were somewhere different. Then I have to share with you that a 4 a.m. battle with flashlight in hand against a Haitian lizard to win the toilet reminds you quickly that you aren’t ‘in Kansas anymore’! There are many humbling events of being overseas!
Justin was able to speak to the youth this week in Creole. He did a great job and had it all prepared and written out in Creole. However, after he finished he decided the next night (last night) when he was going to give his testimony to the church in Creole that he wouldn’t write it down. He did a great job! He spoke for several minutes and the church was very responsive. Their favorite part after he listed all his sin he was living in, was when Jesus saved his soul and changed his heart! (That is my favorite part too!) He is doing so well with his Creole…in fact; Pastor Kennan’s confidence in him is allowing Justin to also speak to the adult this coming week in Bambard on Sexual Education. No pressure!
Stitch and I are doing great. As always we don’t like the heat, but we are really pushing through the days and I am feeling confident of where I am in Creole so far. I know I have so much further to go, but I also know that the Lord will continue to work and one day I’ll be fluent!
This week we are going to join Pastor Kennan and his family in Bambard for a yearly conference where he will be preaching. We will be there from Thursday to Sunday. Then Pastor Kennan will take madam and go to Port au Prince Monday and come back to fly out of Mole with us the following Saturday morning! Busy busy busy! Praising the Lord that I won’t have a ton to pack seeing as we can leave the things for permanent residents in the country!!
God Bless you all! - We love you!
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
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