Day 11 | Mark

We had another great day today as we were blessed to be able to worship with our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ. In the afternoon we went to the waterfalls and I quickly learned that is no fun being old, fat and slow! Tomorrow will be another good day I’m sure so please continue to keep us in your prayers. It is really neat seeing the excitement building among the kids (and adults), as they anticipate being able to take a ride on Noahs Ark. Keep praying that God will be glorified.

Day 10 | Mark

We had an absolutely great day today! We had a wonderful time during our devotions as we quickly recognized that the “deacon” was singing Power in the Blood in French Creole, so we were able to join right in worship our Lord in song. I want to encourage everyone to be sure and read Shawn Hunters blog as she had a very special day. We continue to see several people coming to watch us every day and the kids can’t wait to get in the “Ark”. I am excited about preaching tomorrow evening and I ask everyone to remember us in pray as we will be praying for services at GBC. Everyone has worked very hard but it truly is a labor of love. By the way , B TEAM ROCKS!! Gina, I had to give the hat a haircut!

Day 9 | Mark

Today was our groups first full day of work on the playground and I must say that it was a great time! It is so good to see a group of Christian folk work together as well as our group has, I know that this has been a good witness to the local residents who have come every day to observe us. A quick shout out to Gina Stalnaker: the hat is alive and well and still very much in use! Thanks for leaving it behind. Also word has reached us that we are the “B” team coming off the bench, is that right Hannah? Listen bugger if we had come down the first week we would have finished it!! Just kidding, but it will be a thrill to get the job done so that God will be glorified! I thank God for delivering our first group home safely and pray for us as well. Thanks for all your prayers thus far and please don’t stop.

Day 8 | Mark

It was exciting for me to return to Haiti and see the improvements that have been made in the last 23 years. It only reassures me of the just how mighty and powerful our God is and that there is no problem or disaster that is too big for him! We had a great trip coming down and I remembered a very important rule about mission work, STAY FLEXIBLE! Keep us in your prayers that we would represent GBC well but more importantly that we would be ambassadors for Jesus that please and glorify him.

Day 3 | Mark Stump

Today is the first full day of clinics. Everyone is excited about meeting the people that we will be working with. The mission team has already gelled nicely and works together really well. It began yesterday with the morning worship service together held at a local church. I certainly enjoyed preaching and had a wonderful translator by the name of Samuel. I will be preaching this morning at the mission site to those who are attending the clinic. The local pastor said there could be as many as 1500 people for the week. Continue to pray for us that Christ will be shared and glorified. Oh yes. The weather is very nice.

day two Israel

Today was awesome! Our schedule was very busy, but we were able to see so much! The fruit and vegetables here reminds me of the grapes Joshua and Caleb carried on their back when they returned from the the promised land. I'm not sure of everything we have eaten, but it has been very very good!
Even before breakfast, Mark was dared to take a "dip" in the Meditteranean, and, of course, he did!
Then we went to Caesarea Philippi early today and saw a Roman temple, the palace of Herod the Great, and a newly excavated hippodrome (where they had chariot races). We also went to Nazareth and to Mount Carmel where we could look over into the Jezrell Valley and see so much of the Bible come to life in a even greater way!
This is our second night here, and we are now in Tiberias near Galilee where we will go in the morning. We could tell you so much more, but it is 10:00 p.m. and we were up at 3:00 a.m. this morning (The time is 7 hours ahead of our time) Our bodies are still getting adjusted.
Thank you again for this gift of love that we will never forget. It's already been great!
We love you family, friends, church family, and 5th graders. (Be good for Mrs. Reese!)
I'll see you on the 24th.

day one Israel

Hey everybody, we finally made it to Tel Aviv after some interesting travel arrangements. It's 10:30 here on sunday nite which is 7 hours ahead back home. After we arrived at our hotel we had supper, (not sure what all we ate) and then we had a worship service and got to meet all the folk on this trip. we then went for a walk by hte Mediterraen Sea, in about 85 degree warmth(yeh, no snow anywhere imagine that). Everyday is going to be very busy, i'm looking forward to tomorrow as i have been asked to speak on Mt. Carmel where Elijah defeated the Prophets of Baal. We will also be going to the Sea of Galilee. Pray for Darlene and me that we will be forever changed by this experience. I don't know if i will be able to report each day as we will be staying in a variety of places but we will do our best.
FOR HIS GLORY
pastor mark and darlene