Mission:Haiti Email Update MAY 2011

From the teacher’s desk:

Mission:Haiti – Geri Bass 05/22/2011

The Countdown:

99 Days until school starts at the Cite Lumiere Christian School!

Summer is just getting kicked off here in Florida, but my mind is already thinking of the adventure to come when I take on the school’s middle grades August 29th. It is GO TIME, and everything in my life is pointing toward preparation for teaching this awesome group of students.

The Latest on:

As of now, one time funding is at 81%! We are almost there! For the one time costs to be fully funded, only $2,414 needs to come in! PRAISE GOD, and thanks for your prayers and generosity already in this area. Please consider giving to close the gap to 100%!

Monthly Pledges – Where they stand

Currently, people have committed to 30%, almost a third of the support needed each month! Several more have verbally committed to give, as well. I’ve had really encouraging conversations with people who are praying hard for God to get me on the way to Haiti! In 99 days, I need to be 100% funded. 70% still needs to come in.

Please pray and ask God,

“What is my part to play?”

I hope that you will be obedient to His call, whether to pray, share, or give.

Monthly Pledges – by the numbers
Amount	Goal	Total
$200	1 church	$200
$100	3 people	$300
$50	15 people	$750
$30	10 people	$300
$25	10 people	$250
$20	10 people	$200
$15	10 people	$150
$10	10 people	$100
$5	7 people	$35
$2.50	5 people	$12.50
Totals	80 people	$2,297.50

Already, people are embracing the vision for Mission:Haiti – but I need your help to be 100% funded!

Would you prayerfully consider what your part is in Mission:Haiti?

Praises

• 5% gain in monthly pledges in one week!
• Learning so much during my long term music subbing job.
• Amazing, supportive, encouraging friends and family.

Prayer Requests

• Monthly pledge support to reach the required level by the end of May, in order to attend TCK-PFO training for 2 weeks in June/July.
• Transitions in all areas of my life.
• For me to get connected to the people God has in mind to be a part of Mission:Haiti.
• Finances and job situation. (Subbing ends 6/10, and my income will be reduced over the summer.)
• For my family to continue to grow closer to Jesus.

Thank you!

27 people have decided to partner with me on a monthly basis. Over 100 people have helped financially on the journey. Countless others are interceding fervently for God’s will to be reality in Mission:Haiti. Thank you for each prayer, encouraging word, story shared, and dollar given.This wouldn’t be happening without you.



Supporter Stories

When you decide to partner with Mission:Haiti, you are not just writing a check. You are along for the journey. Some of my current partners have shared their thoughts with me, and I wanted to share them with you!

"I have had the privilege of growing up with Geri through our college and young adult years- and I have always seen her heart for Haiti. She has prepared herself for years for the opportunity to teach there - and at the same time, the Cite Lumiere Christian School has an opportunity that needs to be filled. I know that Geri is a serious missionary that has a purpose in Haiti and am glad to support her."

“She has such a heart for the people of Haiti, and she has opened my eyes to the tremendous needs of that country, as well as the spirit of its people. I really believe in what she is doing, and I am honored to be a part of it. It has been a deeply rewarding experience helping her prepare as a missionary -- spiritually, emotionally, and financially as well. As I have watched her grow, I've noticed I've done some growing of my own!”

“The reason I wanted to help Geri out is because of her passion for the people of Haiti. She has spoken before about being an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Indeed, my life mission statement reads as follows:

“Placing myself in the service of others to benefit the last, the least, the forgotten and the lost; leveraging influence and skill set on behalf of the voiceless.”

Only with your help can I be equipped to live out this mission statement by serving the people of Haiti and the children of the Cite Lumiere Christian School. I believe God can do it, if people will pray and ask God what their part is. For the cost of a latte, or a night at the movies, you can affect the next generation of Haitian leaders who will be in my class.

Will you join me?

-Geri

Prayer Requests - Answered!

SO - these are my most recent prayer requests...

I don't know what you think about prayer, and if it works, but I know that prayer is powerful. Here are four reasons why:

Request 1. Figuring out what work looks like as the year progresses and Haiti gets closer.

God is providing in an awesome way for everything to come together, work-wise. It appears to be set up for a smooth transition, and my employers are supporting and encouraging me as I move closer to getting to Haiti!

Request 2. Continued spiritual growth and challenge, and that I’d draw closer to God in this season.

I hadn't really considered it, but the spiritual renewal I have been experiencing consistently has been since about the first week of the year. Which was when I posted this prayer request. Coincidence? I don't believe in those... :-)

Request 3. An increase in monthly pledge commitments.

At an increasing percentage, people are getting involved with Mission:Haiti! And the people who want to partner are sometimes coming out of nowhere, and even approaching me! It has made it obvious to me that I clearly am not the One calling the shots on this. :-)

Request 4. For my family. :-)

This request was intentionally vague, for a lot of reasons. But God knows what all this includes. And I have seen fruit and change in several areas.

So, in conclusion, if you are on the fence, or think that prayer is hokum, I think you should test God in this. I mean, He is NOT Santa Claus, but if you are praying for things which are in line with God's desires, then He will be faithful to bring them to pass. So, what do you have to lose? Regardless of what you are praying about, you have the potential to grow closer to the God of the universe! Sounds like a win/win to me!

-Geri

Oswald quick thoughts

From Jan 25th My Utmost

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him-to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.

THAT WOULD BE ME!!!!! OOPS!

God, may I have you as my singular focus...

May I "Keep [my] life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. [May I] live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides."

Amen.

Thanks for your prayers - keep them coming!

Just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your prayers for me, in any capacity.

Today, while driving, I lost control of my car coming off an exit ramp I've driven literally thousands of times. I still can't figure out what exactly happened, but it was probably a combination of things. I went over a curb rather than fully turning into the merge lane, and my car went across a couple of lanes before I had control and could pull off to make sure that the car (and I) were both okay.

The lanes I went across were University Blvd, in between I-95 and Philips Hwy (US-1). This is already a busy area, during any time of day, and this happened at the beginning of lunch time. It is RARE to come off of that exit and not have to fight traffic to get over to the left lane.

But, today, as my car went over the curb, and my brain grasped what was happening, I looked out of my window (perhaps to look impending disaster in the face?). And...there was nothing. There were no cars as far as I could see. I was able to safely slow the car and cross back all the way to the right lane so that I could pull over.

Once I took a couple of minutes to check the car and calm myself, I pulled back on the road. I was immediately in traffic at the nearest red light - the one which had been deserted minutes before.

I am fine and the car seems to be okay (other than needing tires, which I am getting next week-ish).

I just keep thinking, "God, I could have died today! Thank you for preserving my life. Thank you for my life."

I have said to many people asking about my safety in Haiti, "I am safer in the middle of the will of God while serving in Haiti (or anywhere, for that matter) than I would be while not in the will of God, sitting on my mom's living room couch."

That is not to say that I am impervious to hurt, pain, or suffering. And when those come, I will do all that I can to lean on God to see me through, so He can use those events to draw me even closer to Him.

But events like what I experienced today serve to remind me that God has called me to where I am, and where I am headed. He is not finished with me yet.

So, if you have been praying for me, in any capacity, thanks. God chose today to preserve my life. I'm pretty excited about that. :-)

Great things are happening!

It has been a fantastic week/weekend!

God is doing great things - and I am excited to be a part of it!

First off, I have been reading Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, and it has really been challenging me. The last few days have talked about where, in Isaiah 6, we read of Isaiah essentially overhearing God asking, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responds with a sentence that many of us may remember: "Here am I, Lord, send me."

I was challenged by how Oswald looked at this situation. God was not saying, " Isaiah, will you go for me?" Instead, Isaiah essentially overhears God and when he hears of the need, Isaiah responds. How many of us take the time to listen for the calls that God puts out there? Are we eager to answer, no matter the call, "Here am I, send me"?

This whole idea challenges the idea of only certain people being called (to whatever, not just ministry/missions). The reality is that if we follow Jesus, we are called to serve Him with our lives. May we explore that today, and learn just what all that looks like and encompasses in our lives.

UPDATE: Walk of Hope for Haiti on Saturday-

News sources reported an attendance of 200. That was bigger than I thought! It was a GREAT group, and we had a good walk. I had my niece with me, and I think this was a good first 5k for a purpose experience for her, so that was fun to facilitate and watch. After the walk, we heard from Haitians familiar with the current state of their situation, as well as musicians sharing songs of hope, both in English and Kreyol. I also met a fellow missionary who I spoke with for a few minutes about her experiences serving as a nurse post earthquake. I hope to help her get back over there sometime soon to help more.

UPDATE: New Partners!

Just this weekend, several people committed to partner with me!

I have been praying for more people to pray, and that prayer has been answered in a big way already - I handed out about 7 prayer cards just today, to folks excited to pray for and with me, and for Haiti!

Also Mission:Haiti gained has gained three more monthly partners just since the last update! And someone also partnered with Mission:Haiti with a one-time gift!

Coming Soon [really, now]: My Birthday Wish on facebook -

Click here to find out more.

I am going to be 28, so I'm asking you to consider helping me meet my Birthday goal of $500 by donating $28, or any amount! Thanks for helping!

Official percentage updates will be coming soon!

Well that is the latest! My bed is calling! :-) Thanks for reading, praying, sharing, giving... and walking this journey with me!