I want to take a few moments and share with you all some things that he Lord has been burning in my spirit while being here in Haiti the last year. While being here in just a short year Lisa and I have seen life and death at a level most would never think of. We have seen things like a 3 pound baby fighting for its life while Lisa and others tried to help it. Attempting to help children that the roof of their school building fell in on them killing over 100 of them. I could go on and on of events that we have either seen or been apart of. It has truly been a incredible learning time for both Lisa and I and our own children.
The list of needs here in Haiti are endless it is truly mind boggling at times. It wears on you at times to a point that truly brings you to your knees, where all you can do is call out ABBA FATHER and try and find that quit place and just hang out with God and bask in His presence. { Probably right where he wants me anyway}
If you take a look at all the reasons why Haiti is in the shape it is in, you would find many reasons from corrupt government to lack of education,voodoo this list all so goes on and on, but there is one reason the Lord has really shown me that is reaping havic on Haiti and many others {including the USA} and that is Fatherlessness. This country needs fathers to take their rightful place the Lord has called them to take. The fatherlessness has broken down the family unit to a point that it may be in danger of going extinct. Haiti needs a man with a Fathers Heart to run it.
I recently attended and spoke at a youth retreat here in Haiti and what I seen and experienced their touched me so, it will leave a mark in my spirit for along time. The Lord had given me a message that was all about them becoming Sons and Daughters of the Living God and how they should embrace God as Daddy God. At one point I asked them to show of hands how many their were fatherless in one way or way or another and about 75% t0 80% raised their hands. At that point I heard the Lord say tell them I love them very much and want to spend time with them. As I shared this with them the whole atmosphere in the place changed God said tell them again so I told them again and again. I noticed 2 Girls in the front row crying and really beginning to weep, I looked in the back and noticed some more doing the same. We all just stopped and spent time with God . God moved in a mighty way most of the young people their had never been touched by God like that. One young man there with tears running down his face tried to explain what God was doing with him He said it was like he was setting in the Fathers lap with His arms rapped around him and it felt so warm and safe. After watching all this the Lord put on my heart once again that He is truly turning the hearts of the fathers to the sons and the hearts of sons to the fathers. He has called my family and I to Haiti to do many things, but the most important one is to love the fatherless. What a Honor It Is to be used by God to Love on His Children. Haiti can be a very hard place to live at times but it all is worth it when one of His children give you a big smile and hug and look at you and say thanks.
One real important thing must happen before we can truly become fathers to the fatherless we must first become sons to our creator the Living God needs to become Daddy God . I want to challenge all you fathers and men of God if you haven't all ready, to allow the Living God to come in that deep place in your spirit and allow Him to become DADDY GOD. My prayer is that as you do this it will forever change your life.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Newsletter: July-August 08
The Extra Mile
My morning run is my quiet time, alone with the Lord, a time I look forward to starting my days with here in Haiti . One morning recently ,as I felt pushed to run a bit further than normal, I felt the Lord clearly showed me, that many of us are in that extra mile.This is the place in our journey, that it takes that extra push of perseverance to endure to the end. I am reminded of our walk across the mountains of Haiti. This was an unknown journey to us, we had only heard of the path, commonly used by Merchants here in Haiti to carry their produce across to Port. Making the decision to walk, required a certain amount of faith in what we had been told by others, belief in ourselves, that we could actually endure it. And trust , that God would carry us through to the end. Just as many life circumstances find us, we came to a point in our journey, where our ability alone was not enough. We then would have the choice to trust in the Lord's ability through us, to bring us through.He promises to be with us in our journey, wherever that may take us. Just as God promised Joshua He would go with them, if they would move ahead as he directed, full of courage and strength and not turn aside. These were the conditions for success,the promise of the land would be theirs and God would be with them through it all, but the choice was still theirs to make, would they choose to go the extra mile? to endure to the end,even though it seemed impossible? Each of our extra miles may look a bit different.. For some of us, it is our jobs, our ministry,relationships, sickness, but His promise is the same for us all..EVERY place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I HAVE GIVEN YOU...........NOW PROCEED!!! I will be with you to the end!!
Jefferson, is our neighborhood friend.
I believe he has the biggest smile in Haiti.
He is 13 and desperatly wanting to go to school.
Johnny is going to school........
Charmaine chose Johnny as her birthday gift of education.............
Johnny is 13 and very excited about his chance to go to school this year.
My morning run is my quiet time, alone with the Lord, a time I look forward to starting my days with here in Haiti . One morning recently ,as I felt pushed to run a bit further than normal, I felt the Lord clearly showed me, that many of us are in that extra mile.This is the place in our journey, that it takes that extra push of perseverance to endure to the end. I am reminded of our walk across the mountains of Haiti. This was an unknown journey to us, we had only heard of the path, commonly used by Merchants here in Haiti to carry their produce across to Port. Making the decision to walk, required a certain amount of faith in what we had been told by others, belief in ourselves, that we could actually endure it. And trust , that God would carry us through to the end. Just as many life circumstances find us, we came to a point in our journey, where our ability alone was not enough. We then would have the choice to trust in the Lord's ability through us, to bring us through.He promises to be with us in our journey, wherever that may take us. Just as God promised Joshua He would go with them, if they would move ahead as he directed, full of courage and strength and not turn aside. These were the conditions for success,the promise of the land would be theirs and God would be with them through it all, but the choice was still theirs to make, would they choose to go the extra mile? to endure to the end,even though it seemed impossible? Each of our extra miles may look a bit different.. For some of us, it is our jobs, our ministry,relationships, sickness, but His promise is the same for us all..EVERY place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I HAVE GIVEN YOU...........NOW PROCEED!!! I will be with you to the end!!
Jefferson, is our neighborhood friend.
I believe he has the biggest smile in Haiti.
He is 13 and desperatly wanting to go to school.
Johnny is going to school........
Charmaine chose Johnny as her birthday gift of education.............
Johnny is 13 and very excited about his chance to go to school this year.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Brokeness
I first want everyone to know that we send these blogs to keep our friends and family up to date with what we are doing here and Haiti , but foremost and utmost, we pray that it will bring encouragement and bring a little bit of God into your life as we try to convey what he is doing in ours.
With this blog, I want to share with you some things that God has shown me about Brokenness and how he has brought more brokenness into my live while being here in Haiti.
I am sure if I asked 10 people what brokenness means to them, it is safe to say we probably would have 10 different answers, depending where we are all at in our walk with Christ.I will try to share some what brokenness means to me and how God has used situations here in Haiti to bring me to a new level of brokenness. Before coming to Haiti this time I really had no Idea the work God was getting ready to do in my life. Just living and being here, we are exposed to things that only God knows why, like, watching a man drink from the gutter that you or I would not even stick our finger in,like talking with a group of boys that have lived in and out of orphanages all their lives and they shared with me stories of how they were beaten, abused, and treated like slaves, all just for someone else's gain. I could see the pain in their eyes as they told me these things and I knew there was much more that they were not sharing. But one of the hardest things to be exposed to and see is the small children that are suffering and seeing the conditions that they live in and most of all the Hopelessness in their eyes, when you look at them, I have no words that describe how it grabs at your heart. except Brokenness.
I will never forget my visit to the County Hospital here and seeing what I saw, it was like walking through some real bad horror movie that left those everlasting memories in your head that you could not get rid of. I saw diseases, death, and health care, at a level I did not even think existed.
I can not put into words the emotions that we go through in just one day of doing the things God has us do here. Many times I have had to fight back the tears seeing these things that I have shared with you, and some times I just go in my quiet place and let it all out. I tell you all this not so you will feel sorry and have great compassion for me and what God has us doing here, but to explain to you that by God allowing me to experience these things and go through some of the pain that I experience while being exposed to things, it has brought me to a place of brokenness that is unexplainable, Which only has drawn me closer to the Lord than I have ever been or known I could get.God has brought Psalms 51 alive to me and especially 51:17 I want to quote something out of a book that I recently have been reading and the author says this: Brokenness is the realization that life is too much for us, not just because there is to much pain but also because were too selfish. Brokenness is realizing He(God) is all we have. Hope is realizing, He is all we need . Joy is realizing He is all we want. This is where I believe God wants us, if we will allow ourselves to grab onto our brokenness, which will only drive us closer to God, which in turn will conform us more like Him. Then I can go to that group of boys I was talking about earlier and truly love on them as Christ would. Or maybe I would not be so quick to judge and gossip about my fellow brother in Christ, Or maybe I would learn to look past my fellow brothers faults and find the goodness God has put there. Or maybe I would learn how to put my relationship with Christ before and above all the other things that I think are so important, Just a few things to think about , I also believe that brokenness will enable us to have that rich and abiding communion with God that we all need and want.
What would our churches look like if they were full of broken people, who are hungry for God, who know what it means to sense the spirit moving within them as they speak with one another and co-labor with one another.?
I would like to close with this thought for you all to think on. It also is from a book that I have read recently, the thought is: maybe its time for us (the church) to dive into the unmanageable, messy world of relationships, to admit our failure, to identify our tensions, to explore our shortcomings. we need to become the answer to our lords prayer, that we become one the way He and the Father are one.
Its time to rise up church, and become a community of people who take refuge in God and encourage each other to never flee to another source of help, a community of folks who know the only way to live in this world is to focus on the spiritual life ( our life with God and others) . It won't be easy but it will be worth it Our impact on the world is at stake. I believe the first step to achieving this is being broken before God. I want to encourage you all, to seek God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and ask God to show you your brokenness.
Walking In His Blessings
Ted, Lisa, Charmaine, Caleb
With this blog, I want to share with you some things that God has shown me about Brokenness and how he has brought more brokenness into my live while being here in Haiti.
I am sure if I asked 10 people what brokenness means to them, it is safe to say we probably would have 10 different answers, depending where we are all at in our walk with Christ.I will try to share some what brokenness means to me and how God has used situations here in Haiti to bring me to a new level of brokenness. Before coming to Haiti this time I really had no Idea the work God was getting ready to do in my life. Just living and being here, we are exposed to things that only God knows why, like, watching a man drink from the gutter that you or I would not even stick our finger in,like talking with a group of boys that have lived in and out of orphanages all their lives and they shared with me stories of how they were beaten, abused, and treated like slaves, all just for someone else's gain. I could see the pain in their eyes as they told me these things and I knew there was much more that they were not sharing. But one of the hardest things to be exposed to and see is the small children that are suffering and seeing the conditions that they live in and most of all the Hopelessness in their eyes, when you look at them, I have no words that describe how it grabs at your heart. except Brokenness.
I will never forget my visit to the County Hospital here and seeing what I saw, it was like walking through some real bad horror movie that left those everlasting memories in your head that you could not get rid of. I saw diseases, death, and health care, at a level I did not even think existed.
I can not put into words the emotions that we go through in just one day of doing the things God has us do here. Many times I have had to fight back the tears seeing these things that I have shared with you, and some times I just go in my quiet place and let it all out. I tell you all this not so you will feel sorry and have great compassion for me and what God has us doing here, but to explain to you that by God allowing me to experience these things and go through some of the pain that I experience while being exposed to things, it has brought me to a place of brokenness that is unexplainable, Which only has drawn me closer to the Lord than I have ever been or known I could get.God has brought Psalms 51 alive to me and especially 51:17 I want to quote something out of a book that I recently have been reading and the author says this: Brokenness is the realization that life is too much for us, not just because there is to much pain but also because were too selfish. Brokenness is realizing He(God) is all we have. Hope is realizing, He is all we need . Joy is realizing He is all we want. This is where I believe God wants us, if we will allow ourselves to grab onto our brokenness, which will only drive us closer to God, which in turn will conform us more like Him. Then I can go to that group of boys I was talking about earlier and truly love on them as Christ would. Or maybe I would not be so quick to judge and gossip about my fellow brother in Christ, Or maybe I would learn to look past my fellow brothers faults and find the goodness God has put there. Or maybe I would learn how to put my relationship with Christ before and above all the other things that I think are so important, Just a few things to think about , I also believe that brokenness will enable us to have that rich and abiding communion with God that we all need and want.
What would our churches look like if they were full of broken people, who are hungry for God, who know what it means to sense the spirit moving within them as they speak with one another and co-labor with one another.?
I would like to close with this thought for you all to think on. It also is from a book that I have read recently, the thought is: maybe its time for us (the church) to dive into the unmanageable, messy world of relationships, to admit our failure, to identify our tensions, to explore our shortcomings. we need to become the answer to our lords prayer, that we become one the way He and the Father are one.
Its time to rise up church, and become a community of people who take refuge in God and encourage each other to never flee to another source of help, a community of folks who know the only way to live in this world is to focus on the spiritual life ( our life with God and others) . It won't be easy but it will be worth it Our impact on the world is at stake. I believe the first step to achieving this is being broken before God. I want to encourage you all, to seek God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and ask God to show you your brokenness.
Walking In His Blessings
Ted, Lisa, Charmaine, Caleb
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Pressing In
Dear Family and Friends,
I want to take this time to thank everyone who has been praying for us, your prayers mean so much, please do not take praying lightly. I believe because of your prayers God answered them on Sunday night and protected Lisa and I and gave me the instinct to know what to do. Believe me I have had no training in how to get away from robbers or kidnappers especially in the rain at night. And it was God who gave me the courage to get away and find help, it was not that I am some really brave man, because the truth is I was as scared as I ever want to be.
I just want to take a minute and share some thoughts with you all. First I believe that all things that happen to us are father filtered, meaning anything good or bad, God has the say on allowing it to happen and when. The book of Job is a great example of this. So for reasons we do not know yet and some we already know, God allowed what happened to us Sunday to happen. One important thing that God has done through this already is, He is building my faith more and I hope He is doing the same for you. This situation also has helped me to know that I know God has lead me and my family here, even more than I already knew. I know that the enemy does not like what we are doing here and would love to bring in fear and doubt in, and I also know that if I let fear come in and take over my thoughts then I might as well pack up and go back to the states. So the way I see it is we have a choice to make either buy into the lie the enemy is putting out, or draw closer to the lord. So we are taking this opportunity and drawing closer to the Lord and getting more in His presence.The one thing I know as we draw and press into His presence, this where we will find direction and wisdom for our lives. As it is explained in a book that I have been reading the author calls it the upper room experience, so please join us in the upper room.
We are praying that God will show us the things, if any, that need to be done to make things safer for Our family, Rod and Brittney and all the children and the staff here at M.D.L. I hate that we even have to take this time out to evaluate our security and that now when I walk out the gate I see things a little different , it truly is a sad day, like our good friend John McHoul said to me one time. It is because of sin that we have to have razor wire , high walls, security guards, and all the other things we do to be safe here in Haiti and once again because of sin we have to take time out of what God has called us to do and do things like evaluate security, spend money to fix a truck ( which I am believing for 7 fold back on every penny it takes to repair the truck). So I would like all of you that have been praying to join with us and pray that we can quickly get back on track doing what God has called us to do here in Haiti, serving these children here at M.D.L. and the people of Haiti.
And please be encouraged that all your prayers count and are truly powerful, that on a rainy Sunday night God answered your prayers of protection for us and we the Hojara Family just want to thank-you one more time, but most of all we thank the Lord for answering those prayers and now join us and rejoice in what God has done and is continuing to do.
Always remembering the safest place we can be is in the center of God's will.
Walking in His blessings,
Ted, Lisa, and Charmaine and Caleb
I want to take this time to thank everyone who has been praying for us, your prayers mean so much, please do not take praying lightly. I believe because of your prayers God answered them on Sunday night and protected Lisa and I and gave me the instinct to know what to do. Believe me I have had no training in how to get away from robbers or kidnappers especially in the rain at night. And it was God who gave me the courage to get away and find help, it was not that I am some really brave man, because the truth is I was as scared as I ever want to be.
I just want to take a minute and share some thoughts with you all. First I believe that all things that happen to us are father filtered, meaning anything good or bad, God has the say on allowing it to happen and when. The book of Job is a great example of this. So for reasons we do not know yet and some we already know, God allowed what happened to us Sunday to happen. One important thing that God has done through this already is, He is building my faith more and I hope He is doing the same for you. This situation also has helped me to know that I know God has lead me and my family here, even more than I already knew. I know that the enemy does not like what we are doing here and would love to bring in fear and doubt in, and I also know that if I let fear come in and take over my thoughts then I might as well pack up and go back to the states. So the way I see it is we have a choice to make either buy into the lie the enemy is putting out, or draw closer to the lord. So we are taking this opportunity and drawing closer to the Lord and getting more in His presence.The one thing I know as we draw and press into His presence, this where we will find direction and wisdom for our lives. As it is explained in a book that I have been reading the author calls it the upper room experience, so please join us in the upper room.
We are praying that God will show us the things, if any, that need to be done to make things safer for Our family, Rod and Brittney and all the children and the staff here at M.D.L. I hate that we even have to take this time out to evaluate our security and that now when I walk out the gate I see things a little different , it truly is a sad day, like our good friend John McHoul said to me one time. It is because of sin that we have to have razor wire , high walls, security guards, and all the other things we do to be safe here in Haiti and once again because of sin we have to take time out of what God has called us to do and do things like evaluate security, spend money to fix a truck ( which I am believing for 7 fold back on every penny it takes to repair the truck). So I would like all of you that have been praying to join with us and pray that we can quickly get back on track doing what God has called us to do here in Haiti, serving these children here at M.D.L. and the people of Haiti.
And please be encouraged that all your prayers count and are truly powerful, that on a rainy Sunday night God answered your prayers of protection for us and we the Hojara Family just want to thank-you one more time, but most of all we thank the Lord for answering those prayers and now join us and rejoice in what God has done and is continuing to do.
Always remembering the safest place we can be is in the center of God's will.
Walking in His blessings,
Ted, Lisa, and Charmaine and Caleb
Friday, February 29, 2008
February Newsletter
Febuary Newsletter
This letter comes to you from Haiti. Where we have been living and serving for almost two months now.
We have so much to share with you, it's hard to know where to begin. Our lives here in Haiti stay very full, the days are not typical, as at home in America. The golden rule on the mission field is flexibility , which is required to even stay reasonably at peace in a country of such instability.
Our decision to come to Haiti in January, came when we got word , that our dear friend Susette Mannesarro was diagnosed with cancer and in need of Chemo treatment in the states. The news was shocking, as we had just been in Haiti with Bill and Sue back in Nov.
The Manesarro's have founded 2 home's for street children. Maison De Lumiere,( House of Light or Lighthouse), which now house 31 boys and 16 girls. These children all have one thing in common, they each worked the streets of Haiti, day and night, begging, in order to survive.before being rescued by this ministry.
A House of Light, is exactly what it is for these children. A place of refuge and hope. Ted & I remember when we first met the kids, a little over 3 years ago , the boys were rough, untrusting and violent. Today if you were to meet these same young men , you would probably argue the fact that they were once like that. It almost brings me to tears, when each day they greet me with a hug and kiss on the cheek.. These are the same boys that once chased Bill with a machete and locked their house parent in a room after chasing her with a knife, just few short years ago.
God has completely transformed their lives and there is no denying it.
The Manesarro's have done an incredible job , not only providing a safe place for these kids, but discipling them teaching them God's principles and above all else, loving them unconditionally. A perfect example of Christ's love for us and living proof that , love truly does cover all....
We have never felt so confident that we are walking in our purpose and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where God wants us to be. One thing we have found to be true, is when we are obeying God in what we do, it is not a sacrifice at all and the blessing is truly ours.
We continue to stay in awe of His blessings and mostly His grace over our family and this minsitry. This ministry is just another extension of our family in the Kingdom Of God. We feel honored to be positioned in a place of being a blessing to these children and in a position of recieving so much more than we could ever give.
We are trusting God, in our decision to stay , helping Bill & Susette with this ministry until they are able to return, prayerfully later this year. We are believing God will provide the way for this to happen,as there is still much uncertainty as to when they will be able to return.
We are learning to trust God in ways we never imagined, not only trusting Him with ours and the children's daily needs, but trusting Him with every minute, every breath, every decision we make..every day...He is so good! to give us all we need....
we so appreciate, your prayerful and financial support of our family.
The Hojara family
we send weekly updates,with pictures, sponsor opportunities and needs. on our website at www.heartofjonathan.com
"The call of God is essentially, an expression of His nature,when I recieve His nature, I hear His call. Service to Him is the outcome of what is fitted to my nature, it is the overflow of superbounding devotion to Him, that I may serve Him in ordinary ways of life,out of my devotion to him"
Heart of Jonathan Ministries
P.O.box 2845
Cartersville,Ga.30120
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Wedding
. here we go.. off to church and only minutes away, when thump.....thump.....we hit something, every white person in Haiti know, if you hit something you are in BIG trouble and you will pay BIG $$$.not only did we hit the extra large PIG...we ran completley over it. All I could think is ,were late , the bride is crying and I'm NOT stopping, so we gun it full speed into the church parking lot, hoping and praying we are not being chased down.not having a clue what anyone else was thinking or saying, because not one spoke english. I sat there in shock, half laughing and half crying, unable to speak, when I remembered, I need to go take the wedding pictures, so I gather myelf together shaking from head to toe and do pictures. The wedding was beautiful, the reception eventful. Now were pretty sure we know why we and the lynch's were the only white folk brave or stupid enough to go. It seemed no one had seen food or drink in a decade , when a brawl almost started as they served, and the security guard had to sit on the cooler of drinks, the funny thing is they had asked us to serve, thank goodness some Haitian ladies volunteered, because we would have been eaten alive I'm certain. All I know , Is I was glad to hit my pillow and look forward to a new day...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
God is Still God!
When the answer is NO...........
Sometimes I'm finding the answer has to be No.....for me probably the most difficult answer to give someone, especially when their desperate for you to have a solution to their problem. I am reminded daily that God is God and I am only man....and God IS still God , even when the answer is No...and even when everything in me wants the answer to be YES....even when it seems, impossible to say NO. He is still God......................
This week I found myself lying awake at 3 am, thinking about and seeing the faces of those that I had to say NO to. A little girl, 9 years old, who has no one to care for her while her Mom's in the hospital. A teen Mom, with a 14 month old, who is homeless with no family and for 3 weeks now, the answer has been NO. I just don't seem to have the right answer....or should I say the answer that I would prefer. What I find myself asking is, do I really believe that God is big enough for these people? do I trust him enough to care for them? am I in tune with him enough, that I give the right answer? All I know for certain is that Yes!!! God is still God and he loves these people even more than I do(which is a whole lot!!!) and Yes he is BIG enough to meet them right where they are at , even if it's not my way, I know His is best.......and am learning to trust him with evey decision, every minute of the day.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
