Spring 2015 Newsletter

Check out the latest news.  Excitement is mounting in the Nunemaker house!!

Excitement is in the air!

We now have a date!!  We are planning on leaving for Haiti the second week of July!  This means a ton of things have to come together in a very few short months. . . sell our house, purchase supplies, pack our container and so much more.  But GOD has this and we are excited to see how He brings it all together. 

Stay tuned for more details to come!

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Excitement!

There is an excitement in the air!  And not just because of the holidays.  This past Saturday we went to pick up two of the motorcycles we need for Haiti.  What an adventure!  With prayer, ingenuity, and the help of our good friend, Jake, the journey began.  It is surprising how many looks you get from people when you have a motorcycle strapped halfway in your minivan as you’re driving down the highway, in the rain.  And surprisingly, you really don’t get that cold and wet. . . unless your sitting in the backseat like Daniel ;)

A Time. . .

Not too long ago I (Lee) led the funeral services for my Aunt Joan and I spoke from Ecclesiastes Chapter Three.   Verse one states that, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Oh how I am learning that. 

Back in September we had the opportunity to travel to RMI headquarters, in Florida,  for a week of training.  This was a time of enlightenment and brain overload.  It was one of those trips where you try to mix a little “business” with some “pleasure”.  We had to leave early to make sure we took in LegoLand  (with four boys, it wasn’t even an option) and visit I-Tec (a Christian group founded by Steve Saint which aims to provide tools and technologies to God-followers in frontier areas to meet their needs.) This was very cool!  How often do you get to see a flying car first hand?  Yep, that’s right. . . I said a flying car!

We also had a wonderful time, although way too short, visiting with long time friends along the way. We even had the opportunity to participate in an outreach to children in the projects of Jacksonville. 

It’s always amazing to see how God works if we are looking for His hand in our daily life . . . God sightings is what we used to call it when I worked with youth on missions trips.  During the last leg of our journey, while eating breakfast, we met two wonderful ladies from Georgia.  Little did we know that before we would leave, they would give us a donation towards our Haiti support.  But the most exciting part of our time together was when we spent time praying together and giving each other teary-eyed farewell hugs. To us, they were angels, sent by God, to give us the encouragement we needed for the transitions ahead.    

Now here’s the great news! . . . and not so great news. . . While we were at RMI, we had a chance to discuss our future plans and finances, as well as, a timeline for getting us to Haiti.  The great news is that we have had a wonderful group of individuals, families, and churches  who have given faithfully so we have met our one time goal!!  Therefore, we have the money we need to go to training, pack our container, and head for Haiti.  The not-so-good news is that we don’t have enough monthly support to keep us there. So RMI suggested that if we raise 25% more (75% of our goal) they would allow us to go, with the hope and prayer that the remaining 25% would follow.  We would like to take the missionary training course we need in the spring, so we can be on the field by this summer.  In order for that to happen, WE NEED YOU!!  If you have not partnered with us, NOW IS THE TIME!  Or, maybe, like some others have graciously done,  you would prayerfully consider increasing your monthly pledge.  

We are close enough to see a new leg of this journey, just before us, and we look forward to seeing how God will enable us to begin this new time of transition. 

Reflection

I (Tina) just realized this afternoon that this week marks four years since I first stepped on Haitian soil. That thought caused me to go back to all the things that were going on in my heart and mind at that time. My first thought was the silent discussion that I had with God as our team stood before the Otterbein church congregation during our commissioning prayer on the Sunday before we left for that first Haiti trip. I left God know that I was not happy about leaving my four boys at home to go on this missions trip and whatever He did, I did not want him to call our family to Haiti . . . . I didn’t even want to go to Haiti for this week long trip. It didn’t take too long for God to start changing my heart and mind, as you can see from my journal articles just a week or so later.

 

July 15, 2010

Alright, we just spent our last full day in Haiti, or have we? God has really changed my heart about this country. Rob talked to Lee today about the possibility of our moving down here when RMI expands their staff. As hard as it is to think of leaving our family at home, I could really see the boys enjoying living here. It’s definitely something to take to the Lord in prayer, daily.

July 17, 2010

Almost 24 hours home from Haiti. Lots of mixed emotions!! What’s on the horizon? Is God doing something new in us? Can’t wait to see!!

Following this July 17, 2010 entry, we got readjusted to our life here in Greencastle and put the idea of returning to Haiti in the back of our minds as we jumped back into the ministry that we had here. It was about a year later before we would even begin to think much more about the possibility of moving back to Haiti . . . . but God continued to work in our lives.

Wow, my head continues to spin with the thought of all that needs to happen in order for us to make it back again. We said from the beginning, that if God wanted us there, He would work out all the details. Sometimes the wait seems unbearable . . . . but we are continually reminded that it is all about God’s timing, not ours.

It’s Been Exciting!

Where do I begin?  We prayed that God would open doors and He has!  Last week at Good News Camp was incredible!  I (Lee) got to teach a great group of students, Tina was a helper, Daniel and Josiah were Jr. counselors and Nathan and Isaac were campers. We also had the opportunity to share Haiti with over 175 students and adults during “Missions” time.   Their goal was to raise $700 to go towards one of our motorcycles.  It was the last day and we still had $200 to go.  The children were excited to see if we would reach it and they eagerly chipped in to help.  “Mr. Lee. . . Mr. Lee. . . I brought in thirty-five cents!  Do you think this will be enough?” a little girl asked.  Another boy excitedly chimed, “Check this out Mr. Lee!  I got all the new pennies out of my safe to bring in.”  Humbled by their generosity, I was reminded of the widow who gave all she had to God.  Soon it was time to reveal the final total.  With great anticipation, we began to count down from 10.  Before we got too far in the countdown, my family noticed I was already crying. . . they knew we had met our goal.  But not only did these campers and adults meet their goal, they almost tripled it.  We left Good News Camp feeling incredibly blessed not only with the financial increase toward our move to Haiti, but with precious memories of times spent with a great group of young people and adults.  God has this.  Once again, He smacked me upside my head and did more than I could ever hope or imagine! 

This week we are sharing during a Vacation Bible School.  Although there will be no monetary gains, our hopes are that God will use us to plant seeds into the hearts of these children. 

Next week we are off to speak at another summer camp.  It’s keeping us busy, but we are grateful that we are being used by God along this journey!

Thank you for your prayers, love and generosity!