Onaville Men's Bible Study

Two men from Saddleback Church (Pastor Rick Warren's church) from California, Brandon Hutchens, Clerice (NVM staff/translator) and myself started a men's Bible Study in Onaville. The study is called, "Being God's Man...In Leading a Family", by Stephen Arterburn, Kenny Luck, and Fred Stoeker. Onaville is an area that consists of roughly 500,000+ people; the majority of which were displaced into this area after the earthquake in 2010. We have a "satellite" church in Onaville (I have posted pictures on my blog of the new tent we put up earlier this year)...where about 500 or so people are attending, since the first service that was held in December 2011. I was very excited to start this Bible study...to build up the men of this community to be the leaders and righteous men we are called to be. 65 men come out to the first session; it was amazing seeing how involved these men were in the study. At the end of the session as we were packing things up, one man wanted to come up and share a little bit before we left. He told us all how thankful he was for us to start this study; they had never heard of accountability partners or been in small groups with other Christian men. He continued on to say that he had somewhat lost his faith or connection with Christ, but this study had gotten him fired up to be the man of God he knew that he should be; so that he could be a leader and positive influence for his family, friends, and community. This study is not only helping these Haitian men, but also Brandon and myself as we sit down each week doing the study ourselves, in preparation for our bi-weekly study sessions. If everyone could keep Brandon, Clerice, Pastor Jim Warner, and myself in your prayers, we would really appreciate it! Pray that God will use us as a tool for His Kingdom, to speak the words that these men need to hear in order to be leaders and positive role models amongst their families, friends, and community. I will continue to post updates about this study for the remainder of my time here in Haiti! Here are a few photos from one of our sessions:

The men split into small groups

My Bible, notes, and "Being God's Man...In Leading A Family" Bible study.

Clerice translating for me as I co-lead the Bible study with Brandon Hutchens

3 Month Update!

Today marks the 3rd month that I have been in Haiti! It is hard to believe that my time here is already halfway finished. It seems like it were only a few weeks ago that I was still in the States, preparing for this trip! Although, some days seem to go by slower than others-the weeks are over before I know it. I have had an amazing time here, thus far. I am beyond excited to see what God has in store for the second half of my time here at Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Chambrun, Haiti. I am thankful for all of the staff here at NVM that I work & spend time with every day. God is doing absolutely amazing things through Pastor Esperandieu Pierre and this ministry.  

I decided to throw together a video this afternoon, since I have not posted one since I have been here..and my time is halfway finished! I want to remind everyone of one of the main reasons why I felt God was calling me to serve here, for 6 months: the children. I absolutely love these children. The majority of this video shows a few events that we have had on campus here at NVM, dedicated to the children/youth of Chambrun and surrounding villages. After serving here for 3 months already, God has shown me the next step in my journey...I will be a first-year Sophomore at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) in the Fall of 2012, where I will be studying Youth Ministry.

Check out my video, and share it with your family & friends if you would like! I greatly appreciate all of the prayers and support from everyone!

 
Jordan's Haiti Ministry: 3-Month Update from Jordan piper on Vimeo.

Guezer "Clersondy" Clerveau Wedding

Guezer "Clersondy" Clerveau, Nehemiah Vision Ministries staff member and good friend of mine, was married on campus a couple of weeks ago! Clersondy is one of the most talented people I have ever met. He can play any musical instrument you can think of; is an acoustical engineer; does video & sound production;speaks Creole, French, English, and Spanish; does all kinds of handiwork; is teaching me how to play drums, bass & acoustic guitar; and most importantly, a man of God doing great things for the Kingdom. Here are some of the photos from the wedding:

One of Clersondy's brothers.

Bride and Groom First Dance

Cutting the cake!

Open up!

Mr. and Mrs. Guezer Clearveau

Brandon Hutchens (NVM Missions Team Coordinator, myself, and Clersondy!

NVM Field Day

We had another "field day" on campus after church two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I am just now posting the pictures! These "field days" are awesome...so great to have tons of kids on campus having fun!

A couple of my friends and myself!

This is only a small portion of the kids that were on campus.

What is a field day without basketball?

The kids ALWAYS like to take pictures with my camera. This one ended up looking pretty cool!

One of the nicest kids I have met since I've been in Haiti.

Posing with the basketball

"Yeah, this is my horse. Whassup?"

The lovely Sherlonde dancing!

Cute little guy on the slide!

View More Pictures by Clicking Here:

Faince; our warehouse manager and an amazing man of God.

Work in Onaville

A couple guys from the GAiN team and myself added some final touches yesterday to the new NVM "satellite" campus church tent in Onaville! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of the kids showing off their skills. Love these kids in Onaville!

Don't Lose Your Sight in the Rear-view Mirror

You're probably wondering what I mean by the title of this post, "Don't Lose Your Sight in the Rear-view Mirror". Let me explain...When you are driving along in your vehicle, what is more effective; looking AHEAD at what's in front of you or looking in your rear-view mirror at what is BEHIND you? I think the majority of you will answer the correct choice of looking ahead at what's in front of you. Although, the things behind you are important, you should never allow them to take your eyes off what lies ahead of you (for an extended period of time). Now, let's apply this to our lives: don't become solely focused on past occurrences (what is traveling BEHIND you), so that you may concentrate on what is facing you (in your future).

I personally have struggled with letting go of things in my past; whether it being past relationships, sports, cars, etc. It is something that each and every one of us have had to deal with and/or ARE dealing with. I believe that Satan uses our past pessimistically, in order to stray us off the path that God wants us to take, that leads us to a life of righteousness. Maybe you don't necessarily MISS a particular event/time in your past; maybe there is something that you are ashamed of. Satan also uses these types of events to restrict us from letting go of it all; restricting us from letting the blood that Jesus Christ shed for the sin of ALL humanity do what God intended for it to do: CLEANSE us.

If you, like myself, have struggled and/or are struggling with this; I greatly encourage you to put your PAST behind you, where it belongs. I also encourage you to spend time in the Word of God, and to also check out a book titled, "Chasing Daylight", by Erwin Raphael McManus. Here is an excerpt from this book, that sparked me to even write this post:

 "One moment in the past continues to haunt every moment of your life. A moment in your history that steals from you all the moments in the future. Is there a moment you keep reliving again and again? To relive the past is to relinquish the future. If you are willing to let go of the past, then you are ready to step into the future. When you choose to remain stuck in a moment, you become incapable of seizing divine moments."

I will end this post with encouraging verses from Scripture: 
 

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3: 12-14

Fight the Good Fight

I was sitting in church this morning, like a typical Sunday...When God spoke to me and had thoughts churning through my head. Decided to take a note of what I was thinking:
  
"If we do not die to self and as a result die to sin, we will continue to live in the darkness in which we are currently consumed. I have lived in that darkness. It is a place that I shall never return to. Basking in God's light is where I will be; for all of eternity. It is not an easy process. Escaping from the darkness does not happen overnight. You will fail; it is inevitable. However, how you RESPOND to those failures determines your trust in God, to provide and shine in your inefficiencies. I encourage you, from one sinner to another, to take up your cross daily; fight the good fight of faith. This is the only fight that if we die, we are victorious. Therefore, will you ignore your arrogance and pride, to give your life to the One who sent His only Son to die for OUR sins; or will you continue to be swarmed by the norms and ways of the world? The choice is YOURS. Be humble. Let the Holy Spirit work in you; to lead you from where you are, to where God wants you to be."

I greatly enjoy writing...especially when God puts things like this in my mind and in my heart. I love the feeling of "zoning out" and letting my pen scribble the words that God wants me to share. I plan to start sharing more posts like this on my blog. I pray every single day and night that God uses me as tool for the Kingdom in any way/shape/form that He wants. If simply sharing these posts on the internet can help benefit the Kingdom, and/or encourage a person who needs guidance....then I am all for it.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

        Matthew 16: 24-28