Climate Change and Kingdom Treasure

With one month down and one to go in Haiti, we have found ourselves on a true adventure here where power is only available at random intervals throughout the day. It is a tough and humbling, yet exciting, challenge to not have unlimited access to power/computer/air conditioning and having to prepare to work when it's available and be patient when it's not.

Despite the challenging days of life (and travel) overseas, it’s been worth it to get the privilege of seeing God’s movement wherever we go. Transitioning from the slower pace (and cooler climate) of Kenya to the bustling compound of Haitian Christian Mission in the heat of summer has been an intense change. But ultimately we have found ourselves loved and welcomed into the community over the past month. River has been such a joy to everyone. He always gets big smiles and welcoming arms, and often returns the sentiment. We are so thankful for his presence with us as we believe God is using him to be a little life-refresher to those around him, including us.

We are thankful to God for the ways he revealed himself to us through his people in Kenya. Through them, he reminds us of his vastness, his infinite might and his goodness towards us. As we have witnessed the way they worship and pray with deep reverence, we are convinced that God is WORTHY to be praised because he is GOD. This perspective of a big God is something we carry with us in Haiti where our focus has turned to the Jesus who was present in the flesh among throngs of people in need. Never before has the significance of the son of God—being God himself but making himself nothing, humbling himself into human likeness and being obedient even unto death on a cross—impacted us as much as it does now. What we witnessed in Kenya as an expression of a Great God, we are witnessing in Haiti as a God who also suffers among us. Here, we see Jesus in the people, people who give their lives every day to be the very love of Christ in an environment that is so overwhelmed by need. In the endurance of believers here, we see the same willingness to be poured out that Christ had, for the glory of the Father and for the salvation of many, and it’s been so inspiring and challenging to behold.

As we spend time interviewing believers overseas and capturing their romance with God, we feel like we are harvesting Kingdom treasure that we couldn’t be more excited about bringing back as a gift to the church. We look forward to Mexico and India with great anticipation, as we believe that this work of gleaning how God is revealing himself through varying cultures is a beautiful, unifying one, and work that is much much bigger than us.

Here are some pictures from our time in Haiti so far:

Meeting with some of the staff at Haitian Christian Mission. We are in the process of creating several videos to highlight many of the ministries here at HCM.

Mom got to visit for a few days, and we spent some time with the wonderful family of Wholehearted Orphanage.

Trip to the beautiful coastline of Wahoo Bay with the Wholehearted family.

Visiting the new site of the future expansion of Wholehearted. This compound will one day provide family-style housing for 96 children.

Jenny came for a few days too, and we had some fun capturing medical footage/photos.

Lots of sunny rooftop views all around us.

Stormy views, too.

Livin' with kittens.

Day trip to a gorgeous waterfall for some nature footage.

Hard at work editing with a little apprentice. Until...

...Our MacBook charger met its end. We have been without a computer and means to edit video for nearly a week now, but thankfully, a new team is arriving at the mission on Friday who is delivering us a new one.

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Financial Support Update: Recently, we realized it was necessary to set a deadline for raising the remainder of the support needed if we are to complete our intended itinerary. Over the past 10 days we have been blessed with another 6% of our budget met, bringing it to over 75% met! At this point, we have raised enough to finish the trip through Mexico, and have a total need of $6,200 remaining to be able to finish the trip through India. In order to make the arrangements necessary to go to India after Mexico, the deadline for raising this is September 23.

We would like to humbly ask that you continue to spread the word to any friends you feel might be interested in partnering with us in order to see the fulfillment of these travels, the ministry of video that we are offering to the organizations who are hosting us, and the God-story we are telling through film.

To give, please visit www.wildbridgetravels.com/give. Donations may be made as a one-time gift, or set up to recur for the next 5 months, from September through January.

Also, don’t forget that 100% of purchases of original paintings go toward supporting our trip. Visit the Simple Sparrow online shop at www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleSparrowArt.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! †

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