Thursday, April 05, 2018

One Life Story–A Result of Child Sponsorship

Nadege picNadège Lavaud grew up in a coastal town as far west as you can get in Haiti’s southern peninsula.  Opportunities were limited and her family’s resources were few.  As poor subsistence fishermen, they could not send Nadège  to school.  The church they attended had a C3 Partnership with a church in New Jersey and the national pastor, knowing Nadège’s family’s limited capabilities, put her name on the Hope for Kidz list of children in need of support.  Someone from that church in the US faithfully supported her and the education she received changed her life.

After graduating from school, Nadège moved away from her small, remote town to attend teacher training school.  After finishing that program, she returned to her hometown and taught kindergarten there for 4 years.  Then she moved to Haiti’s capital to attend nursing school.  Last year, the director of the school called her.  The kindergarten program was in disarray.  Would she consider returning?  She accepted the challenge, returned to her hometown and proceeded to organize the program.

Today, under her direction, the kindergarten is well organized and Nadège is thriving in her role as a teacher.  She is happy to be making a difference in the same school and program that offered her so much hope as a young girl.

This is just one of many life transforming effects of the Hope for Kidz child sponsorship program.  The Hope for Kidz program is providing HOPE today for many kids like Nadège.  Through sponsorship, they can have a future.


** Don’t Miss Out on the Blessing! **

It’s truly a blessing to be a Hope for Kidz sponsor!  Don’t miss out on that blessing.  If you are already a sponsor, now is the time to renew your sponsorship.  If you are not a sponsor, there are kids on a waiting list needing that hope that sponsorship provides.  The cost is $384 a year or $32 a month for 12 months.  Go to RMI’s website, www.RMIbridge.org to learn more and to set up your sponsorship online.

Tuesday, April 03, 2018

** Don’t Miss Out on the Blessings! **

It’s truly a blessing to be a Hope for Kidz sponsor!  Don’t miss out on that blessing.  If you are already a sponsor, now is the time renew your sponsorship.  If you are not a sponsor, there are kids on a waiting list needing that hope that sponsorship provides.  The cost is $384 a year or $32 a month for 12 months.  Go to RMI’s website, www.RMIbridge.org to learn more and to set up your sponsorship online.

One of the beauties of the Hope for Kidz Program is that if a sponsors goes with their church to visit their Haitian C3 partner church, they are able to  meet their sponsored child (ren).  These meetings are special to both the sponsor and the child.  Sponsors can see firsthand what and who their money is going for and the kind of help it is.  Here are a few recent such meetings.

children and sponsors collage

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

World Water Day, March 22

The statistics related to the worldwide lack of clean water is both staggering and sobering.getting-water-from-a-river-google-54

  • 100 million families are stuck in a cycle of poverty and disease because they don’t have access to safe water.
  • More people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war.
  • Water-borne diseases kill more children under the age of five than malaria, measles, and HIV/AIDS – combined.
  • In developing countries, as much as 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.
  • Women and girls spend up to 6 hours every day walking to get water for their families.
  • 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases.
  • Time spent gathering water around the world translates to $24 billion in lost economic benefits each year, furthering the cycle of poverty.

drinking-water-from-cupped-hands_thuWhat can YOU do? 

Even though you are “one” person, you can indeed make a difference.  RMI has immediate access to 100 filters that are available for sponsorship at $75 per filter. This specific filter is a ready to use filter that can provide up to 540 gallons of clean water a day!  We have “boots on the ground”, ready to install these filters. 

YOU can make a difference in one family’s lives with just one filter.  That’s less time spent walking to and from a water source to retrieve water.  That’s less illness, both minor and major, in the family and increased good health for everyone.  It means less school missed for the kids and more productivity for the adults.

Join us in showing the love of Christ in this practical and hands-on way.  RMI has set up a special water filter fundraising effort to get these 100 filters into the homes of needy families.  You will find it HERE.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Our Haitian Staff Needs YOUR Help!

Would you please consider a monthly gift to directly help our Haitian Staff?

Our desire is to give our staff a raise, as well as add a few more team members.  We can't do this without help. Can you help!

We need to raise an additional $4500/monthly.  We're just getting started, but so far, we've raised just over 8%.  We have a ways to go.

Maybe you've been here and have appreciated our Haitian staff?  They are the backbone of our ministry.

Can you help?  Click below to donate monthly, or with a special gift.  Choose "Haitian Staff".



Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Benjamin Altema: A Promotion to be Celebrated!

Benjamin Altema
Director of Field Operations
We are proud to share with RMI's followers and supporters that Benjamin Altema has been promoted from Field Administrator in Haiti, to the position of Director of Field Operations. Benjamin will directly report to Rob Thompson, Field Director, and the rest of the team (missionaries and Haitian staff) will now report directly to Benjamin.

Benjamin came to work with RMI as an administrative assistant in 2006 and his gifts of leadership and administration were evident in a very short time. Anyone who knows Benjamin and has worked with him over the years, knows that he is a Godly man of integrity and leadership. He has been a blessing to our American missionaries, Haitian staff, and our team members who have had opportunity to work with him over the last twelve years.

Benjamin has been married to his beautiful wife, Lucette, for seven years and they have four handsome sons; Jason and Jaden are six years old, Alan is five years old, and Ezechias is two years old.

Benjamin is thankful to be working in the environment of a great team here at RMI. He says, "My team makes me look good." He has stated that his position with RMI gives him "opportunity to influence the people I'm working with, and to transform more lives and build God's Kingdom through them."

We would ask you to keep Benjamin and his family in prayer as he transitions to this new position of leadership on the RMI team.  

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Two Stories of God at Work in Haiti

food and gospel given to tattoo guy feb. 2017RMI’s ministry is labor intensive.  Quite a bit goes into working in the field for the Lord.  The seed is planted.  It is faithfully watered.  And then comes the harvest.  [See the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.]  This principle was clearly seen and experienced by 2 different teams and one C3 partner church as God used each one of them in a different part of the process.  Early last year a team from Walloon Lake, MI went to visit their C3 partner church but were unable to reach the church due to political issues in the area.  So the RMI team took them to the Cote de Fer area.  While there, they delivered food to needy families, sharing the gospel at each home. 

On one particular visit they shared the food aid and the message of salvation with a young man who had just lost his leg as a result of being shot by the police.  [First picture]  food and gospel given to tattoo guy oct. 2017, man savedThis young gangster and his family listened as the seed was planted.  Afterwards, he and his friends were quick to say that they weren’t interested in accepting Christ.  After the team left, the pastor and the congregation ministered to him, and faithfully watered the seed.  In October, the Cote de Fer church received the first visit from their new official US C3 partner church from Ft. Myers, FL.  This Florida team spent time in yard to yard evangelism. The national pastor took them to see this same young man and his family.   [Second picture]  After sharing the gospel, he made the decision to accept the Lord!  Pray for Markenson as he cuts ties with the gang and grows in his faith in the Lord.  There’s no question that it is worth the effort!



Christian son, voodoo father 1In January 2017, a team from Lifehouse Church (Delaware) wanted to come to Haiti and simply serve God in whatever way they could.  RMI missionary, Lee Nunemaker was with them during their week in-country.  He shared that they visited the home of a young man, who was faithful in his service to God, and his family.  They gave them a box of food.  After talking with him for a while they realized that his father, Saint Clair (nicknamed “Ti Mayi” - little corn), in the green shirt,  was not a believer.  In fact, he was very involved in practicing voodoo.  He told them that he feels it is his responsibility to pay back his debts to the evil spirits on behalf of his family.  They shared the Truth with him, prayed for him, and left.  It broke his son’s heart that he knew his father would not spend eternity with him, if something would happen to his dad. 

Then in May or June of 2017, Lee had some vegetable seeds donated in his name that he needed to distribute. Perguens and Lee felt the need to take the seeds to this family.  They showed up, unannounced with a bag of seeds in hand.  Once again, they shared the message of the Gospel with him.  Then they went to see his fields where the seeds would be planted.  This is where God comes in. . . They noticed the field was already plowed.  When they inquired as to why, they said they plowed the fields, but didn’t have money to plant them.  When asked how much of the field the seeds would plant, they opened the bag, and after consideration, they said it would be perfect to do the entire field.  The other amazing thing is that when the guys were loading the seeds, they felt they should give him all the same seed instead of mixing it up.  And they felt like they should add an extra scoop.  God was working. . . .   They reminded them that this is the God that his son serves.  He knows your needs and provides for those needs in advance!  Again, they prayed for him.  Christian son, voodoo father 2But this time, he said he felt God tugging at his heart. 

This January, the team that came down to serve God in 2017, Lifehouse Church, who had become an official C3 Partner church was at their Sister Church for their first official team visit.  While they were there Perguens informed them that Ti Mayi, in the orange shirt,  willingly went to the special services the church had over the Christmas season.   As of today. . . we are told that he has been attending the church regularly for the last month or so!  Still not a believer, still has not accepted Christ, but God is at work!!  Please pray with us for his salvation.

Monday, February 05, 2018

Cross-Cultural Friendships

When you look at this picture, what do you see?  We see the joy of friendship.  It’s the pure delight and joy of 2 friends who haven’t seen each other for a year.  They do not speak the same language; they live over 2,100 miles, as the crow flies, apart – in fact, they don’t even live on the same continent and aren’t from the same culture.  Yet they have been friends for 4 years.reunion between old friends

Melanie is from Loomis, Nebraska and Madame Maxell is from Policard, Haiti.  They when Melanie’s church went to visit her Sister Church for the first time and put on a skit for the women’s group.  Each team member from the US church danced with one lady from the Haitian church and she happened to be paired up with Madame Maxell.  They’ve been friends ever since. 

Melanie shared, “I have been down to Haiti four times, three times to my Sister Church. I met her the first time we were down. Then her husband’s last name was Berendt. And last year when we were there she told me that he had passed away. This time when we went I found out she has been remarried.”  Upholding each other and praying for each other throughout these kinds of life’s ups and downs is a part of the types of relationships that are developed as a result of being in a C3 Partnership.

They are experiencing the oneness of the body of Christ.  The expression “brothers and sisters in Christ” really comes alive in the C3 Partnership Program.  This is what it is all about.  Developing relationships that endure through the years, relationships that weather storms, that bears one another’s burdens and prays faithfully for one another truly helps us exhibit Christlikeness.

If you are interested in life-changing relationships, consider an ongoing cross-cultural partnership with a church in Haiti.  Please contact us at info@rmibridge.org

If you are already a part of a C3 Partnership, could you share the program and your experiences with your friends and family?  There are so many churches who are desirous of hands-on ministry that will effect real change, but they don’t know where to go for it.  We need your help in getting the word out about RMI’s unique ministry.  We can equip you with materials and information to do that.  Contact us at info@rmibridge.org or call RMI at 239-368-8390.

Our staff are also happy to come talk to your church leaders or your contact from another church!

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Corail pastor 2It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our C3 Partner church pastors.  Yesterday, Jan. 17, 2018, Corail pastor Jean Claude Audoul was riding his motorcycle in Les Cayes, near the mission center, when a a bicyclist turned into his path.  He was able to swerve to miss him, however, he was thrown from his motorcycle into the path of an oncoming vehicle, and was struck and killed.  He leaves behind his wife and five children.  [The family picture was taken in 2012.]

New Pastor and Family, “Audoul Jean Claude”

He had served in the Corail church for approximately 6 years.  He had a dynamic ministry and was well liked by his congregation as well as respected in the community.  This comes as a terrible shock to his family and the congregation.

corail pastor 3The RMI staff will be making a visit to the Corail church and Pastor Audoul’s wife and children this week.

Pray for his wife and family as they grieve and begin to live life without him.  Pray for the church as they grieve and seek to fill the void he has left in the leadership of the church. 

Pictured at left with Pastor Audoul is Daniel Whiteman, the C3 Coordinator for Corail’s US C3 church partner, Hollywood Community Church, Hollywood, FL.

Dan shared, “We have lost a good friend, but know that he was greeted in heaven with the words, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant!’”

Friday, January 05, 2018

Record Breaking Ministry Impact Report

It has been a record breaking year for RMI.  Through your support and financial partnership with us we have been able to have a significant and life transforming impact in Southern Haiti.

The following is just a sample of what has been going on this past year.

C3 Partnerships
RMI Haitian Staff facilitated 40 team trips - the highest number of teams in one year ever
Our Haitian Partner churches and RMI teams registered over 520 salvations
Many hurricane damaged roofs were either repaired or replaced.  This includes churches, schools, parsonages and homes.

163 water filters were distributed improving the health of  those families and their neighbors
963 goats were distributed to provide sources of income for those families
3 new C3 partnerships and 2 new associate partnerships were begun

Hope for Kidz & School Education
2,366 children are now sponsored through Hope for Kidz
5,700 children received a daily hot lunch
16,796 children’s health were improved through the Hope for Kidz de-worming program

Haiti Operations Team
Processed 15 food containers - - that is 310 tons of food (which is 18,260 boxes of food - each one of which were handled at least 3 times - or 3,944,160 meals)
6 new Haitian employees were hired covering areas such as partnership facilitator, Hope for Kidz, mechanics and guard duty
Maintained 12 vehicles and 7 motorcycles to keep the ministry up and running
Acquired 4 “new-to-us” vehicles to augment our aging fleet

RMI USA
5 new missionaries: Joslynn Stakes and Janae Stork are teachers at the missionary children’s school and have been there since late August; Dawn Shoemaker will be going in March; Jeff and Christina Speel are on target to go in September; and Jim and April Starkey are just starting to raise their support, hoping to go in 2019.

____________________________________

Who are RMI’s “boots on the ground”?  Who is on the front lines, carrying out all these ministries?  These folks.  They are leaders, translators, guards, cooks, do cleaning and laundry, mechanics, chauffeurs, data entry, teachers, “go-fers”, IT specialists, gardners, agronomists, veterinarian techs, menu planners, purchasers, and photographers.  They are multi-taskers and multi-talented servants of God.

DSC_0504

collage of people

In December, RMI held an appreciation fun day for the entire staff.  It was full of festivities and included a great dinner – that they didn’t have to cook or serve themselves.  RMI president, Dan Shoemaker, RMI Board member, John Peterson, and RMI US employee, John Miner were able to be there to share with the staff and affirm each of them in their service to our Lord and to RMI.  They are the ones actually making ministry happen for their own people.  The day included a giant game of Jenga and multiple drawings for gifts that the US staff brought with them.  You can see all of the pictures from that day HERE.

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Happy 213th Birthday, Haiti!

There are many ways to bring in the New Year. Each country has their traditions and within each country, each family has their own way of celebrating. For Americans, the New Year frequently involves a party or gathering and fireworks...lots and lots of fireworks.

For Haitians, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day has an entirely different meaning. Jan. 1 is their Independence Day. Their preparations would have begun yesterday by going to the market to gather the ingredients, the meat (usually chicken, beef or goat), the many veggies (Haitian pumpkin-more like a squash than an American pumpkin, carrots, onions, garlic, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, root veggies like yanm and patat, parsley, celery, parsnip, turnips and others), spices (salt, pepper, scotch bonnet peppers, nutmeg to name a few) and the noodles.

370742The meat will be marinated for several hours and the cooking will begin tonight. Preparing it will be a family affair with everyone pitching in. Families will gather and spend a fun evening and night together as the giant pot of soup cooks.

When it is done, about 3, 4 or 5 a.m., they will all sit down and "drink" their soup. {In Creole you don't EAT soup, you DRINK it.} There is great symbolism in being able drink this pumpkin soup. [We actually call it "Independence Stew".]

As slaves in the 1700's, they prepared this delicacy for their French masters but they were not allowed to have any themselves. After they revolted and declared their independence on Jan. 1, 1804,, they made the soup and relished being able to drink it. Thus, drinking pumpkin soup, or soup joumou (pronounced joo-moo), symbolizes their freedom.

A Miami Herald article expresses it well. "For Haitians, this aromatic meal steeped both in tradition and vegetables is as much about celebrating the future as it is about paying homage to the past. New Year’s Day also happens to be Haiti’s Independence Day, which took place 213 years ago on Jan. 1, 1804."  You can read the rest of the article HERE.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

One Last Word

2017Only 1 1/2 days left in this year. It's hard to imagine but this year is almost over. Would you prayerfully consider making a year-end tax-deductible donation to RMI's ministry? Help us end the year with a boost that enables us to continue to transform lives through partnerships, food aid, child sponsorships, water filters, homes, goats, and so much more! Give a boost to one of RMI's missionaries and appointees! Or perhaps give a boost to RMI operations. Your donation can make a difference. You can give online HERE.


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

A Haitian Christmas Tradition

fanal - christmas lantern type house google 300 x 300A Haitian Christmas tradition are the "fanals". Fanals are miniature, lantern-like homes that are part of Haiti's Christmas tradition. A candle placed inside illuminates the fragile craft and creates a stained-glass effect. The size of either a shoe box or as small as a camera, fanals are often placed in windows to light the way. Many fanals emulate Haiti's yesteryear -- chiefly, the gingerbread homes, an architectural style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Creole word “fanal” meaning a ‘beacon’ such as a lighthouse beacon or a ‘lantern’ like an old railroad lantern has been applied to the cardboard and colored tissue paper luminaries made by Haitian artists at Christmas. These creations are so striking and memorable that they have more or less taken over the word "fanal". These are most often seen and sold in Port-au-Prince.

fanal google 1772 x 915

Some fanals are simple small houses, while others are larger and more elaborate houses like the one in the picture above.



fanal of national monument

Some are replicas of specific Haitian monuments like this one.  This monument is located in downtown Port-au-Prince not far from the National Palace.



fanal of national palace


This fanal is an elborate replica of the National Palace (before the 2010 earthquake).



fanal vendor google 300 x 294

This is a fanal artist selling his creations.  He’s created some in the form of houses and some in the form of churches.


Fanals are a fun, festive part of a Haitian Christmas.

Tuesday, December 05, 2017

The Angels are singing

The angels are rejoicing and singing.  Why?  Because 57 people recently gave their lives to Christ in an open air service in Dame Marie, Haiti.  Because 57 people’s lives were transformed that night. 

PB121474Pastor Guy Glass of Myakka City, FL was in Dame Marie with his church, Bethany Baptist Church, visiting their C3 partner church.  Each time they visit they hold an open air service in the town square for the people of the community, but this time the deacons took them to an entirely new area.  The service drew quite a crowd.  Pastor Guy shared his sermon through an RMI staff translator, sharing the plan of salvation at the end.  As he prepared to give the invitation, he turned to the visiting team and asked them to pray.  At first it seemed like no one was going to respond.  Then one man came forward.  Then another.  A couple more people came forward, then several more and by the end of time, 57 people had come forward to give their lives to Christ. 

PB121449Pastor Guy and the team shared that it was an amazing time – and how overwhelmed they were at the response!  God answered their prayers in a big way.

It was especially encouraging that the next day 54 of those 57 people who came forward showed up at the church to begin their follow-up and discipleship classes.  These folks were serious about their commitments!  And the deacons of the church got right to work.

We at RMI are humbled and excited to be a part of the big picture of transforming lives in Haiti…. lives in Haiti and lives of people on teams. 

One team member recently shared…

“Throughout the trip, teams members and others often asked me if I would come back to Haiti. My answer was always the same: "Ask me when the trip is over." During our time there, I was fairly certain that I would never, and I mean NEVER, do this again. But in retrospect, I realize that God, through moments of great joy and great heartbreak that we all witnessed, changed my heart and my head while in Haiti. I cannot deny the blessings that God has poured out on me since coming home, and I KNOW it is because I did what He wanted me to do. In short, I will definitely be back.”

It’s very special to be a part of God’s work.

Monday, December 04, 2017

Deworming through Hope for Kidz!

The Hope for Kidz (HFKz) Deworming Initiative is one of my favorite times of the year!  It's may be just a small part of our HFKz child sponsorship program, but it has a huge impact. A small portion of the sponsorship funds covers this program. The exciting part is that it doesn't just effect the individual sponsored child, but we are able to treat every child in every HFKz school. We hope and pray that this enables all the students at each school to have improved health and therefore be better equipped to learn! This year, we've been able to include 15,365 people in this program!


Intestinal worms is always an ongoing health issue here in Haiti, yet prevention training and treatment is not complicated! Kids who have intestinal worms generally have poor nutrition (as the worms rob them of any vitamins they ingest), malaise and weakness, chronic cough, lack of focus and concentration and overall poor health. You can imagine how this affects a child's ability to learn and thrive in a school setting!

This past week, we hosted all the HFKz school directors at our office for a general HFKz meeting as well as the annual training and medication distribution for the deworming program. We give them educational materials that teach worm prevention (through good hygiene) and ask that each class receive this training each year. In addition, each student and teacher receives a yearly pill that eradicates any infection they may have. We teach each school director how to run a distribution clinic and they are all required to keep a record of each student who receives medication each year. Each school director is sent home with the medication and supplies necessary to ensure each child at each school is treated.

Worm prevention education and one pill a year doesn't sound like much, but it has a huge impact in a child's life and overall health, leading to a child who has an increased ability to learn. If you sponsor a child through the Hope for Kidz program, thank you for your part in this program that not only affects your sponsored child's health, but the health of all kids in his/her school.

To us, that's a win-win!

Becky
Hope For Kidz Liaison

Saturday, December 02, 2017

Merry Christmas

Jwaye Nowèl

A little something different for this Monday.  Instead of a Haitian proverb, here is a Christmas greeting to share with your friends.

"M swete ou yon jwaye Nowèl!" = I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Pronunciation help: "M swe-tay oo yoh ZHWA-ye no-WEL"

Friday, November 03, 2017

Meet RMI’s Newest Missionary Appointees

Jim and April Starkey joined the RMI family this month as our newest missionary appointees.  They are from Ohio and have been serving at their local church, Community Bible, for 8+ years. Jim is involved in a men’s leadership group, helps with the sound ministry and children’s ministry. He is also very involved as a leader in their church’s youth group. He has a special handshake he does with each kid in the youth group and doesn’t mind at all making a fool out of himself to connect with the kids and make them laugh. He’s a big Ohio State Buckeye football fan and loves to read. April helps lead worship at their church and is one of the Bible teachers for the children’s program. Her passion is music and singing. She is currently learning how to play guitar. She loves the mountains, nature, reading, blogging and board games. Jim and April are high school sweethearts and have been married for 12 years. They have 3 boys: Isaac, 7, Micaiah, 4 and Ezekiel, 1.  April is currently homeschooling Isaac and Micaiah.  They have both been to Haiti for short-term trips and are eager to return and serve full-time, making Him known and serving in whatever way is needed.

They are currently raising support to go to Haiti full-time. Their arrival date depends on when they are able to get all of their monthly support needs (besides salary, this includes health and medi-vac insurance, taxes, social security, a Board mandated 401k and a modest business account) as well as their one-time needs (household set-up costs, shipping their goods, their flights, visa costs, transportation needs, and many other expenses). Pray for them as they begin their support raising. They are needed in Haiti as soon as possible. If you would like to be a part of their ministry, you can do this online HERE. You can contact them at jim.starkey@rmibridge.org or april.starkey@rmibridge.org to arrange for them to speak at your church or small group.  They can be found on Facebook and you can read their blog and much more on their website HERE.

Starkey's prayer card picture 2017 (2)

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

Provide a Thanksgiving Meal

Provide a Thanksgiving meal to a needy Haitian family

during this limited-time holiday special.

Provide a case of specially formulated, nutritious food packets to a needy family at a discount.  Each case contains 216 meals – so you’re actually giving much more than 1 meal!  The more cases you donate, the better the deal! 

IMG_71311 case of food                 $25.00
2 - 10 cases of food        $23.00 each case
11-25 cases of food        $21.00 each case
26-100 cases of food      $20.00 each case
100+ cases of food         $18.00 each case

You can donate online HERE.

Or send a check to:

RMI

5475 Lee St., Suite 301

Lehigh Acres, FL  33971

Don’t miss this opportunity to bless a Haitian family with food that can literally save their lives.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Photo Update from RMI...

Our Fall Food Sale is on NOW! Visit www.RMIbridge.org to donate today.


from Reciprocal Ministries International

Monday, October 30, 2017

Photo Update from RMI...

Haitian proverb of the week: Bel dan pa di zanmi. Translation: Beautiful teeth don’t say friend. Meaning: Just because someone is smiling at you doesn’t mean they’re your friend.


from Reciprocal Ministries International

Friday, October 27, 2017

eleve8: A Story That Tells Why (5 of 5)

A simple story that communicates the spirit of eleve8...

A couple of years ago, one of the RMI pickup trucks pulled into the parking lot at the office.  As the driver exited the vehicle, he started talking with another team member there by the side of the truck.  That other team member immediately noticed a wet rope that was left in the bed of the pickup overnight.  It had gotten wet from the rain the previous night as it laid disheveled in it's place.  Here in RMI, we value order and stewarding what God has given us.  The rope should've been wrapped up and put in the back of the truck so it was ready for it's next use.  Once he noticed the rope, he reached in and grabbed the rope to put it away. The driver who was ultimately responsible for that rope, asked, "Wow, why can't I see what you see?".

Why can't I see what you see?  What a great question!  It's about training.  The one team member had been trained to have open eyes, to take initiative, to look for opportunities to change things and to have an impact where God put him.  The other team member had simply not been taught to have open eyes.  We want all of our team to have open eyes.  We want to have a "take initiative" kind of culture.

Today, that team member who asked the simple question, "Why can't I see what you see?", is now the one with open eyes.  He is now the one teaching and leading others.  He is now the one taking great initiative to change things.

This is the spirit of eleve8.  It's about multiplication.  We all need to be passing on what we've learned along the way, as well as learning more from the others God puts around us.



Keep watch as we roll this out in an 5 post series...  Next up...