Posted: 23 Jul 2012 05:18 AM EDT

Greetings to you all. We have had a busy week on the NVM compound here in Haiti and we want to bring you up to date.

English Camp
For 3 weeks in July we conducted an English camp for 70 Haitian young people. The interns, led by Chris Bosma, did a wonderful job. The kids were not only learning English but also more about the Lord during the camp. Here are some shots of the graduation ceremony.

Pastor’s Conference
This past Saturday I conducted our monthly pastor’s conference. Each month we have approximately 65 pastors join us for a morning of worship, fellowship and learning from God’s word. We also serve them a hot breakfast at each session. This month we looked at lessons from the life of Jonah. We had a great time.

A Mass Wedding
Yesterday on Sunday afternoon, we were privileged to experience a very unusual event at the Onaville church. 40 couples were married at the same ceremony. It was spectacular. And 1500 of their family and friends showed up to help them celebrate. I had the great honor of giving the talk to the brides and grooms. The event went on for 3 hours but we would not have missed it for anything. Here are some of the sights.

Off to Dallas
We will be in Dallas for the month of August visiting with family and friends and raising some additional financial support for our ministry in Haiti. Thank you for your prayers and we will keep you posted.  We would also like to hear from you.

Jim & Cheryl
jim.warner@gainusa.org

Posted by Jim & Cheryl Warner, GAiN USA Missionaries: 16 Jul 2012 06:54 PM PDT

The Hempfield team left Saturday after a wonderful week of ministry. The reports are coming to us that they are had life-changing experiences. We are grateful for their time in Haiti.

The team from Crossroads Fellowship is going home tomorrow morning. And they had a wonderful last day. They spent the morning assisting the NVM staff at the English camp. This camp is in it’s third and final week. The team has had a strong impact on these young Haitian students.

And the team ended with a bang. They went with us to Onaville to conduct a vision clinic. It was a busy day! We saw 154 people in the clinic and 29 of them prayed to ask Jesus into their lives for the first time.  What a finish. They worked very hard today and we are so grateful.

This was a special team at NVM for another reason. Crossroads Fellowship is the home church of our very own intern Jordan Piper. Jordan has been with us for 6 months and he is going home with the team tomorrow. We all think the world of Jordan and he has done a wonderful service here in Haiti. He is loved by all. We will miss him but know that he is committed to following the Lord’s direction in his life. He will be attending Liberty University this fall.

We have had a great 10 days with these two GAiN teams. Please pray with us that God will continue to work in each of their lives and will multiple the work they have done here in Haiti.

By Jim & Cheryl Warner, GAiN USA Missionaries

This week we have two youth groups on the NVM compound. One from Crossroads Fellowship in NC and the other from Hempfield United Methodist in PA. And while their time here is drawing to a close they are finishing strong.

Both teams have been helping with a 3-week English camp for Haitian kids. And yesterday both teams were on board at the camp. They were helping with the classes and conducting one-on-one conversations with the kids. The kids are also learning about the difference Jesus can make in their lives. The camp is having a tremendous impact on their lives.

As always we thank you for your prayers. The lives of Haitians are being changed as well as the lives of the teams.

by Jim & Cheryl Warner, GAiN USA Missionaries

Greetings from Haiti. This is a full week on the NVM compound. Let us bring you up to date.

We have mentioned before that Cheryl’s new donkey Pepi will be used to raise funds for the Onaville church plant. We are offering a donkey ride for a $5 donation to the church. Well, on our first night we raised $75 for the church. Pepi will be a huge blessing.

We also have two GAiN teams on the compound this week. There is a group from Crossroads Fellowship from North Carolina and Hempfield United Methodist from Pennsylvania. They have been a huge blessing.

The Crossroads Fellowship group have spent their first few days sanding and painting on the buildings for the children’s home and the new hospital. We are coming ever closer to our grand openings.

And oh yes, Daniel and the boys have also been helping in the Kitchen.

The next post will feature the work of the Hempfield group. They have been working at the English camp. We are also taking them to Onaville this afternoon to conduct a vision clinic.

The week has already been a blessing. Please be praying for the team members and for those they will minister to this week.  Your prayers make all the difference.

Around 10 months ago I left for Haiti on what I thought was going to be a year long journey of stepping out in my faith to serve where God was calling me.  Little did I know that this "journey" was just the start of something so much more.  In the beginning I struggled with leaving behind everything "normal" and the reality of having so very many new things to learn.  Adjusting to life in a new country while learning a new language and having everything that was the "comfort of home" removed was quite interesting.  Once I got over the hump of being overwhelmed at the reality of my new life I found that each and every day I started to fall more and more in love with life here.  The things I missed from home started to dwindle (ok, everything but family and friends..that part is still difficult) and instead I realized that I actually couldn't imagine life away from Haiti.

Life here is hard and yet it has so much purpose.  Most days are emotionally overwhelming when I list out the facts of each situation in my head and yet when I step back and let God take over and truly place my trust in Him I am amazed at just how possible each and everything is.  I love that God has put me in a position to meet countless women who are pregnant and others who have a line of children already.  I love that I have the ability to tease and rub on the pregnant tummies and that I get to see that mother month after month in the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp.  After she has had that little baby she comes searching for me, at the next camp, to show him or her off and to also let me know if my prediction of a boy or girl was right.  I feel blessed that God has given me the boldness to look a mother in the eye and say that I know this pregnancy wasn't planned, but that God has a plan for this child, this child is a gift, He will provide, and that I will pray for her and her family.

My favorite moment of each day is when I walk into the village and hear the children yelling my name while they race to see who gets the first hugs and kisses.  My little friends have a way of making me feel like I am the most cherished and special person they have ever met and it melts my heart each and every time.  The women greet me with kisses and are always quick to pull out a stool or chair so I can sit and visit at their homes while the children jump on and off my lap.  I cherish each afternoon I have in the village simply "being" with my friends.  Most importantly, I feel blessed because God has given me a heart for each person He has placed in my path.

For all these stories and so many more I've decided after much prayer that my time in Haiti won't be up in September as originally planned.  I have committed to serving here with Nehemiah Vision Ministries for another year (ending September 2013) or until I am called to serve elsewhere.  As overwhelmed as I am with the reality of living in Haiti longer, I am completely confident that this is where God has called me for now.  In order for me to live and serve here I need your support through prayer and financial assistance.  Below are specific areas where you can help.

*Prayer:  I truly believe God has called me to serve here and that the prayers from you are what not only keep me safe and encouraged but are also making a huge impact on the people I serve.  Please pray for wisdom that through each situation I will step back and allow God's plan to reign.

*Financial support:  I need your financial support in order to live and serve here.
-One-time gift.  Please write all checks to: Nehemiah Vision Ministries (tax deductible).  In the memo line write Intern 3 (my name can NOT be anywhere on the check) and mail to: Debra Smalley 7014 W. Yant St, Silver Lake, IN.  46982.  To make a one time gift online, please read below (monthly support) and follow the directions but instead of selecting monthly you will have the option of selecting one time gift.

*Monthly support:  I am committed to serving here with NVM for the next year, but also know that I will remain wherever God calls me until he redirects my path.  If you are interested in supporting me financially on a monthly basis please go to the following website http://www.nehemiahvisionministries.org/donationtype.aspx?t=missionaries and follow the steps.  Or you can go to http://www.nehemiahvisionministries.org and click (top left of screen) "donate now" and then select "missionary support" from here you will be able to select my name and fill in the remainder of the information.  If you have any questions please let me know.

*How to stay involved:
-Stories and pictures: Through my blog brookesmalley.blogspot.com or Facebook (Brooke Smalley).
-I am also planning to send a newsletter with updates every 3-4 months to keep those of you who aren't able to follow the blog up to date and involved in the work that God is doing through your prayer and financial support.
-In order to personally remain spiritually and emotionally fueled I plan to come home to Indiana every 3 months for a short break.  Serving here is hard on different levels and I feel that taking time to step back and be refueled myself will hopefully help me be better able to serve in the long run..and I have some amazing family and friends that I miss like crazy!  This all being said, I will have time to come and speak with your small group, church, women's group etc. if you are interested.  Please contact me at (brookes_00@yahoo.com) for more information.

I cannot thank you enough for joining me on this journey.  Your support through prayer and finances is what makes it possible for me to serve.  I love that God is using you to further His kingdom here in Haiti!

by Jim and Cheryl Warner, GAiN USA Missionaries

Today marks the beginning of an exciting 3 weeks on the NVM compound.  We are conducting a camp to teach Haitian young people how to speak English, more about the Bible and their relationship with Jesus. It will be great fun!

40 young people registered this morning for the 3-week event. Each student received a tee shirt and a bag full of school supplies.

They have chosen to use an Olympic theme for the camp which the kids love. Haiti will be represented in the Olympics this year. So they started with an opening ceremony where everyone said their name while the Olympic theme played and then sang both the Haitian and USA national anthems. It was great fun.

Each morning the campers will receive a snack and a good lunch.

And of course, there will be class and practice time to learn English. Youth teams from the Untied States will be helping with the entire process.

Please be praying for this English camp. Pray that the kids will learn quickly, have a good time and be drawn closer to the Lord. This 3 weeks could change their lives and your prayers will make it all possible. Thank you. We will keep you posted as the camp rolls on

Jim & Cheryl