Hare Translation Journey

FAQ: Are You Guys Afraid to go onto the Mission Field?

2012-02-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Not usually. Whereas it iseasy to sit in our comfortable home in Texas and say that we are not afraid togo onto the mission field, we are nonetheless well aware that there are realdangers ahead of us. We are not naïve, butare instead are seeking to educate ourselves in how to prevent sicknesses inour family and handle emergency situations. That being said, when we are afraid, we consider that to be the sin ofnot trusting in the Lord and are typically quick to confess it and seek to workthrough it (although not perfectly!).

We do not believe that the default of the Christian’s mind is tobe one of fear, no matter how difficult his or her life might be. For instance, Proverbs 3:25 tells us, “Do not be afraid ofsudden terror.” Weare not to wake up wondering if terrorist are going to bomb our city or if menwith machetes are going to break into our home. We are not to let out minds dwell on hypothetical fears.

Why?

The next verse tells us, “For the LORD will be your confidence andwill keep your foot from being caught” (Prov 3:26). Whether we are in the jungles of Africa orsinging worship songs in our North American church, God is our confidence andour hope. He is always with us and ourhearts always have the opportunity to experience perfect peace as we thinkabout him and trust in him.

So, what then?

We are then freed up to do good, even whenthere is potential for danger. Proverbs3:27 says, “Do not withhold good fromthose to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” A Bible translator in Cameroon said that,after reading this verse, she committed her life to Bible translation becauseshe believed that she could bless a group of people with the good of the Bibleand therefore she should. In the sameway, we want to translate the Bible for those who are without the Word of Godand we are fighting to keep our minds thinking on “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever ispure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” (Phil 4:8) instead of the potential for “sudden terror.” We’dappreciate your prayers that we’d live up to what we know is true.

Learning to Deliver Babies at GIAL

2012-02-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

By Stacey

Several years ago I took a good friend of mine to the ER andas I was holding her hand trying to comfort her, I saw that they were drawingher blood. The next thing I remember waswaking up on a cot right next to my friend – apparently I had passed out. I wish that were the only time that hashappened, but alas it is not. I consistentlypass out when I get shots, have my blood drawn, etc. It’s a fairly inconvenient and sometimes embarrassingreality, but I don’t really know what to do about it.

Nevertheless, I signed up to take a health class at GIALthese past few days and I am happy to report that not only did I not pass out,but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very surprised the first day when theyhad us giving one another shots and taught us how to put in catheters (intomodels, not one another). What we alsolearned in this course was how to stint broken bones, how to react to emergencysituations, how to deliver babies, how to put in feeding tubes, how to treatdehydration, how to treat STI patients, and so on. It was absolutely fascinating (and some partswere also very traumatizing). The idea,of course, was not that they would train us to replace doctors and RNs, but insteadto provide us training for situations where there were no doctors or RNs. We had case studies where we had to give adiagnosis and treatment to patients based on their symptoms. I was constantly blown away how manyconditions were caused by vitamin deficiency (ie bizarre behavior brought on byZinc deficiency, blindness brought on by Vitamin A deficiency) and how many diseasescould be prevented by simple sanitation practices. One of my friends in the class said he didn’tknow if he’d every walk by a sink again without washing his hands – I feel thesame way!

Although the class was so fascinating, the best part was howthe teachers encouraged us to pray throughout every procedure and to pointpeople to Jesus. Clearly they did nothave a “god complex” but instead knew their limits and the limits ofmedicine. They knew that they needed torely on God to guide them and also to heal those they were serving. I praise the Lord for this class, and who knows? Maybe in a couple years I’ll get to write acool blog entry about how the Lord used what I learned in this class to helpsomeone.

Near Death Experiences and Other Encouraging Tales from the Field

2012-02-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

by Dave

One of the most exciting aspects of being at GIAL has been the fact that I am (literally) surrounded by experienced missionaries. All of the professors, administrative assistants, grounds keepers, doctors, cooks, and IT guys have been on the field and they all come with some great stories. Not just great because they are exciting, but great because they encourage me to trust Christ and teach me what it really means to be a missionary. Because they have been so encouraging for me, I thought I would share a couple with you.

What was happening at 3am? One of my professors (Lynn Landweer) was a surveyor for SIL for a number of years. This means that she would trek all over Papua New Guinea and meet people from tribes that do not yet have the Bible and try to learn as much as she could about their language to see if it would be a good candidate for a Bible Translation. On one such trek she and two other "green" (brand new) surveyors were having a fairly cordial conversation with a man from a particular tribe. Suddenly a man from that tribe jumped up holding a spear aimed right at Lynn. She said she was confident that this man was possessed by a demon. She said a million things went through her head at that moment including: what are these "green" surveyors going to do when I am dead? Just as it appeared he was going to throw the spear at her another man stood up and grabbed it and told Lynn and the others to leave. A cool enough story of God's protection. But it gets even better. A month later (since that was how long it took to get correspondence back then) Lynn received an letter from her sister that said "What was happening at 3am on such-and-such a day? I woke up with an unquenchable desire to pray for you!" Of course that was the exact day and time that Lynn had a spear pointed at her head. Moral of the story? Lynn said, make sure you have people who are committed to praying for you. As you are reading this, would you say a prayer for our family?
How long Oh Lord? We had a guest speaker in one of our classes named Tom Headland. He had been a missionary for a number of years in the Philippines among the Agta tribe. He and his wife labored among this people group, learning their language, helping them develop an alphabet, and finally translating the New Testament for them. Someone in my class asked how many of the people were using the Scripture when they left...and his response? None. None of them. A couple of people had become literate in their time there and a few more had expressed interest in Christ. But at the time, none of them were using the Word that they had labored so hard to translate. He added quickly, "but we never were discouraged." I thought, "What?! Never!?" Tom said he did not go there to do great things, he went there to obey the Lord and play whatever role in His kingdom that He wanted. And if this was his role? Praise the Lord. What an amazing attitude. That was a great lesson for me to learn. Tom said, "Be patient. God is working in His own timing." The Headlands have gone back many times since they moved out of the Philippines and at some point in the 1990s Tom said that there suddenly was a desire among the people to be able to read. And so the parents started to teach their children how to read. On one trip back a man came and asked if they had a copy of the New Testament that he could have. He said he would be happy to sell him one. So the man went away and brought back some money. Tom turned to his wife and said, "21 years after we completed the New Testament, we just sold our first one!" Today he estimates that about 25% of the people have come to know Christ! And much of it just from people reading God's Word on their own and with their fellow Agtas. Tom said he was glad to have played the role God gave him and he was glad he was patient.

Well, there are other stories I could tell you. And I probably will. But for now if you are dying to read more about our family, check out the newsletter we just sent out :)

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"Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1

To Those who Love Greek and Hebrew...

2012-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

by Stacey

Do you love tough theological issues? Do you have a desire pull your hair out at all hours of the night? Do you want to be in academics for the rest of your life? Would you like to give an entire people group the opportunity to worship Christ forever?…

How about Bible Translation!

When we were in seminary, the Greek and Hebrew classes seemed to be among the most popular (and the most feared!). Yet applying the languages to Bible translation seemed to be the least popular (yet still the most feared!). Why would this be? If you are among those who love the languages, what other profession will have you using the languages as much as Bible translation would? As you consider what to do with the great love you have for the languages, we ask you to…

1. Consider Making Bible Translation your “Default”

Most people say that they’ll stay in North America unless they feel a specific call to go overseas. We challenge this and ask you to consider going overseas unless you feel called to stay in the US (I mean, why not?). Your appreciation and knowledge of the languages is insanely unique. You must be among the .01% of people in the world that have your desire and your education in the languages. Steward this gift well and consider using it to serve a Bible-less people group.

2. Consider the Need

If you’ve spent any time browsing through our blog, you’ll have noticed that we consistently bring up the tragic imbalance of resources. Since 1990, Americans have translated or revised 29 versions of the Bible into English. We have multiple different versions of the Bible, Bible software, Bible commentaries, Bible covers, Bible highlighting pens, Bible apps, multiple Bible schools…and all the while there are 2,100 languages without ANY portion of the Scriptures. Most do not have seminaries, VBS’s, healthy churches, and so on. We have been so that we can be a blessing.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16

We challenge you to leave what is potentially prestigious and comfortable and translate the Bible for those who are living in complete darkness.

3. Consider your Impact

When you die, what will you leave behind that will continue to serve your fellow man? How can you impact generations for possibly thousands of years when you are only on this earth for 60-70?

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25.

We don’t want people to remember “Dave and Stacey Hare” we want people to know and remember God. And the way in which they will know God is through his Word. His Word remains forever. It is such an honor to think that every verse we translate into our target language will never be erased or undone. It will remain forever. What a joy and an honor to be a part of something so much bigger than us.

You might be thinking…

I can use the languages as a preacher. This is true and awesome! And God calls and uses many men here in America, who have taught us so that we can go out. However, please remember that the people in your congregation are able to read their own very accurate English translations and also listen to gifted preachers online. On the contrary, there are thousands large people groups that do not have that privilege.

I can serve the Kingdom by being a professor. Our professors have shaped our faith and our thinking in countless ways and we praise God for them. If you are still in school, take an informal survey of your peers. How many of them are planning to teach in schools in the States vs. teaching overseas? Our experience has been that most students pursuing a career in teaching are planning to stay here in the US, and many are having a hard time finding positions because the market is so flooded. On the contrary, there are 2,100 language groups still waiting to receive the Word of God in their language. The Bible translation market is far from flooded. Let’s try to even things out a bit.

Please don't miss the point, don't pick apart our arguments. We know and understand that there is a need right here in the US for teachers and pastors. We know that if it were not for the teachers and pastors in our lives we would not be able to translate the Bible. If God is calling you to be his faithful servant to the United States, please obey him! But if you love the biblical languages, desire to use them all throughout your life, take a moment and ask the question, “Why would I not be a Bible Translator?”

Well, that’s our appeal to our fellow Greek and Hebrew students. Feel free to post a comment to balance us out or bring up a point we’ve overlooked. :)

General Update on the Hare Family

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Praise God that this is a season of joy for our family! This has probably been the most fun, bonding, wonderful season that we’ve had as a family and we are so grateful to God. Everyone is in good health, the kids seem to be listening to us more, and everyone’s disposition seems to be one of happiness. Here are a couple more specifics…

Kaden – As can see our 2 year old son is nice and healthy. He easily out-eats his mom and when I asked him if he was going to grow up and be as big as his mom he said, “No, Daddy” (as in, he is planning to be as big as his dad.) We wouldn’t be too surprised! And in addition to his large size, he is doing very well. He asks “why” a lot which really leads to some wonderful discussions. He asks, “Why did Jesus rise again?” “Why did Jesus die?” and every other “why” question you can think of. He talks A LOT.

Makrya – Many of you have been praying for the Lord to soften Makyra’s heart as she has most often been our most hard-hearted, defiant child. And, for a stretch of a few months, we’ve really seen a lot of growth in her. We might even now define her as “soft-hearted.” (There is nothing impossible with God!). She is quick(er) to obey and seems to really really love her parents right now. We are very happy about these changes. :)

Elias – This little man was attacked by allergies when we first arrived in Texas and was miserable. However, since we’ve put him on allergy medicine, he’s been one happy camper. He consistently asks to use the potty probably because he sees his older brother and sister using it. I think I’m about to work up of the nerve to let him try to potty train. We’ll see how that goes.

Zoey - This little girl just grows and grows into more and more of a delight. She has such an adorable high strung personality. Dave calls her “the honker” as even the way she talks sounds more like a “honk.” She is learning to talk a little more and both she and Elias are in toddler beds now. Both of them are 18 months old. She and the rest of her siblings enjoy watching Disney movies in French (to prepare for Cameroon).

We’ve also started leading the kids in memorizing the “ABC Gospel” which is been really wonderful. If anyone wants Scripture for young kids to memorize, help yourself!

Dave and Stacey – Dave’s school is very rigorous but he loves it. He is learning all sorts of nerdy (yet helpful!) things. His professors are very animated. For instance, one of his professors dressed up as a pirate because he was teaching on “arrrgg-uments.” The materials he is learning here will be invaluable on the field. Further, we are prayerfully looking for a church and Stacey is enjoying learning French and making “adoption books” for the kiddos. We often go on walks as a family and visit our animal neighbors...

Our llama neighbor

Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. – James 5:13

Longing for Louisville…or Heaven?

2012-01-14T14:35:00.000-08:00

By Stacey

We have been in Dallas a whole two weeks now and have thoroughly been enjoying our time here…and yet it just does not feel quite like “home.” Louisville is home. Immanuel Baptist church is home. Southern Seminary is home. A Woman’s Choice Resource Center is home. Home is where our friends and loved ones are…right?

We listened to a sermon a couple months ago where John Piper said that the Lord brings things into our lives to remind us that this world is not supposed to be our home. He brings in minor, and sometimes major, discomforts to teach us that we do not belong here. Saying goodbye to friends is not the way it’s supposed to be. Malaria, asthma, and migraines are not supposed to plague our bodies. Having Jesus come into our families and divide father against son and daughter against mother is also not the way it is supposed to be.

And yet, these sorrows force us to think about Heaven and what our future lives will be like. Well, since my life is filled with disappointments, I might as well dream about my promising future. Even though there are teary-eyed goodbyes here, we will live together forever in perfect relationship with God and one-another in Heaven. Even though our bodies are groaning for redemption here, they will be redeemed! Headaches will be a thing of the past, a passing thought, a “remember when” conversation where you have to think for a minute before you remember. And even when a loved one distances themselves from us because of our allegiance to Jesus, Heaven will be filled with countless loved ones who want nothing more than for us to grow in our love for Jesus.

These sorrows cause our hearts to ache for what our hearts should be aching for: Heaven. Not an easier life, not health, not all of our problems to be fixed; not everyone we have ever loved living on the same block. No, perfection cannot be achieved in this world. There will always be disappointments. There will always be let-downs. There will always be sickness. When our hearts ache, it is a reminder that we were not made for this world--we were made for a new perfected world where God and man will dwell together, where there is no more pain, no more tears, but only joy.

So, although it is painful to leave a town filled with so many rich and wonderful memories, the jolt of having to let go forces us to live for a better town. Praise the Lord for stripping away so many precious things so that we will long for things more precious.

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. - Hebrews 11:14-16

Getting Settled in TX

2012-01-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Here’s a general update on what has taken place over our last week. A week ago we had several friends come over to help us pack and clean our apartment (it was a HUGE blessing!) and then Saturday morning we packed everyone up and started our drive to Texas at 6:30am. We arrived at our new home 19 hours later and then spent the next few days unpacking. And unfortunately, 4 out of the 6 of us have been sick.

However, we have been greatly enjoying this new chapter of our lives thus far. We went from intensive partnership development which had us traveling out of state sometimes for several weekends in a row to living very simple lives. We have one car, we live across the street from the school, we don’t really know anyone (yet), we just now got our internet hooked up, neither of us are working, and we are here with one goal: linguistics.

Dave started school today and our academic adviser sat me down, looked me in the eye and told me that I needed to basically function as a single parent until Dave completes his 20-week certificate program. Even with that said, I oddly enough, I have more time on my hands now then I have had in a very long time. So, I am hoping to teach myself French, study Greek and Hebrew, and read books to prepare us for the mission field. I finally feel like I have time for the “important-but-not-urgent” category that often gets pushed aside. So far, we are very very excited about our lives here.

Just for fun, here are a couple “loves” and a couple “hates” about our week in Dallas…

We LOVE that a block down from us there mini “farm” that is loaded with chickens, goats, and even a llama.

We LOVE GIAL so far. Most of the faculty and staff are retired missionaries and are thus very down to earth and are very eager to help us apply what we learn. This is a training center for the field, not a place where simply the theoretical is discussed. We think we’ll learn a lot from this community. And everyone is so incredibly kind.

We HATE all the allergens here in Dallas. Dave is allergic to the air here - so much so that he has been sneezing all through his classes and his eyes were almost swollen shut. However, he's been prescribed some allergy medicine which seems to have been helping a lot. (Fortunately he did not have this reaction in Cameroon).

We LOVE our house. The school provided us with a fully furnished duplex to live in while we attend school and we LOVE it! We have always lived in an apartment, but unlike an apartment, this place has a yard! The kids (and their parents) are giddy about that.

We LOVE that we can go to a school where all the professors dress up for “student life” days – ie pirate day. :)

We HATE that we don’t get to go to class together but instead have to go through the program one at a time. :(

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for us as we’ve gotten settled. Our house is all unpacked, the kids are doing great, and we can’t wait to dive into linguistics! Just wish all of our Louisville friends were here with us!

We're Moving in 3 Days!!

2011-12-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is going to be one of less "wordy" blog posts because we have been busy packing! The kids have not been of much help to us as they seem to think the boxes are exciting new toys...but they sure are cute ;) Although it's been a lot of work getting everything in order, we are THRILLED about the journey that is before us! We leave for TX early Saturday morning, will have a couple days to get settled, and then Dave has orientation on January 4th. Linguistics here we come!

3 Ways Preaching the Gospel to Ourselves Fuels Good Works

2011-12-21T18:01:00.001-08:00

By Stacey

People who preach the Gospel to themselves ought to be the most hardcore, committed soldiers for Jesus out of anyone. Why? Because we know that a self-centered Gospel is not a complete Gospel. Instead, the Good News reminds us that we have been redeemed out of slavery to sin, given the Holy Spirit, and charged to walk in the good works prepared by God himself before the beginning of time. So, as I am rehearsing the Gospel during my daily devotions, I am reminded not only of God’s amazing love for me, but I am also calling myself to “suit up” for the good works that are await me in my day.

Here are three quick ways that preaching the gospel to ourselves fuels good works…

1. We are Redeemed not by Good Works but for Good Works. The Gospel tells us that Jesus gave himself up for us to “redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). My zeal is not solely God-ward praise that I have been redeemed from lawlessness, but is also directed towards my fellow man so that I might lay down my life for him. So, in preaching the Gospel to myself, I am simultaneously praising Jesus for saving me from lawless living and am stirring up in myself zeal to do good works.

2. The Incarnation does not only Serve as our Salvation. The Gospel also tells us that the death of Jesus Christ serves not only as our salvation, but also as our example. 1 Peter 2:21 says “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” So, as I am preaching the Gospel to myself, I am thanking Jesus for suffering for me while I am committing myself to suffer for others. I am remembering that in exchange for my hate, he gave me love and therefore I commit myself to give love when I am hated. I am praising him for forgiving me for all my wrongs, while also accepting the fact that I too am called to forgive.

3. We are now no Longer Slaves of Sin, but Slaves of Righteousness. Romans 6:18 says, “having been set free from sin, [you] have become slaves of righteousness.” The Gospel does not just tell me that my freedom from sin is solely in Heaven, but instead my freedom not to sin is now. I have been saved for the purpose of not sinning any more. I have been saved so that I can no longer be chained to my sin, but instead I can be ruled by righteousness, holiness, and godliness. What an empowering message to start the day ready to serve our children, ready to love those rude to us in the store, eager to serve unjust employers, and so on!

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

- Ephesians 2:10

Moving Sale – Everything Must Go!

2011-12-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

We are moving into a fully furnished house in Dallas and thus are selling pretty much everything. So, please come to our moving sale this weekend and buy our stuff!

WHEN: Sat 12/10 from 8-2 and Sun 12/11 from 12-4

WHERE: 842 River Dell Ct, Building M, Apt 7, Louisville, KY 40206. Look for the neon signs.

WHAT: Everything that comes with a three bedroom apartment. Such as…

Kitchen and Dining:

Coffee Maker
Plates
Glasses
Coffee Cups
Silver ware
Sippy Cups
Corning ware
Casserole Dishes
Serving Spoons
Kitchen Table and Two chairs
Kitchen Accessories (Measuring cups, cheese grater, etc)

Home Décor and Living Room:

Entertainment Center
Bookshelves
Wall Décor (mirror, pictures, clocks, etc)
Christmas Décor

Bedrooms:

3 dressers
2 nightstands
Lamp
Curtains

Items for Her and Him:

Some Jewelry
Clothes

Kids Items:

2 toddler beds (including mattresses)
2 cribs (including mattresses)
Crib sheets, dust ruffles, blankets
Hooded towels, washcloths
Toys (mainly for toddlers/babies)
Clothes (everything under 2T)
Diaper Champ
Pack N Play

Misc:

Electronics (iPod, Wireless Printer, Stereo System)
Tools
Books
Scale
Towels, both bathroom towels and beach towels
Acoustic Guitar
Washer and Dryer
File Cabinets

AND MORE!

Soooo Overwhelmed with Gratitude…

2011-12-06T11:13:00.001-08:00

We just received our monthly report that tells us how many people gave financial gifts to our ministry and Dave and I are simply overwhelmed with many people gave. People all over the globe have given. People we knew from college that we have not seen in 8 years, friends of friends gave, friends from high-school we have not seen in over 10 years, family, fellow church members, people we have never met who just heard about our ministry, people we met one time at various churches, fellow missionaries, and so on. We are just so overwhelmed and we thank you all so much!

Thank you for caring about those who are without the Bible

Thank you for being mindful of our goal to leave Louisville by Jan and giving sooner rather than later

Thank you for any sacrifices you might have made in order to give

Thank you for being used by God to increase our faith that he does hear our prayers

Thank you that, because of your gifts, at this time next month we will be studying linguistics!

Thank you for giving cheerfully

Thank you for affirming our desire to see the Word translated by sending us out

Thank you for teaching your children about missions and how they can further it

Thank you for your prayers

Thank you for responding to a silly (although adorable) picture of our baby in a suitcase on Facebook

Thank you for being used by God to answer all of our prayers.

We are so overwhelmed – thank you! We praise God for you all! We are so excited to begin our next phase which will help us gain the skills necessary to translate well. Thanks for getting us there!

God has Provided - We are Moving to TX!

2011-11-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 14:13

We are thrilled to announce that Jesus has provided us all that is needed for us to move to Texas! We are still lacking $77/mo, but World Team is assuming the rest will come in soon, and thus released us to go into training. Over the past couple weeks, we have received email after email from people making pledges to support us monthly and contributing one time gifts. The seemingly insurmountable task of raising thousands upon thousands of dollars apparently is not too hard for God!

Why did God do this?

So that he might be glorified.
So that he might increase your faith.
So that he might show many others that they too can go into missions boldly asking him to provide the means.
So that you will believe that "whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24).
So that he can show that he is committed to the spreading of the Gospel even in the face of a recession.
And the list could go on!

We praise the Lord for, without a doubt, doing "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20). It has never been clearer in our lives that the Lord does hear us and is delighted to give us the things that we ask him for. We also praise the Lord for surrounding us with so many "cheerful givers" who happily wrote checks to World Team so that we could get to the field to translate the Bible.

What's Next?
We have one year to study linguistics at GIAL in Texas. Orientation for our program starts on January 4th so between now and then we are going to be selling most of our stuff, packing, saying goodbye to friends :(, and moving down to Texas.

Only the Beginning...
Although a long, hard year of support raising is behind us, we have many more hard years in ministry to come. Bible translation is not a sprint, but instead it's a marathon. Please continue to labor with us in prayer as we begin the exciting journey of ministry in Cameroon.

Buckets of Thanks...
It is because of the support, hard work, and prayers of others that we are leaving to enter pre-field training. Know that we praise God for every prayer that has been prayed and every dollar that has been given. Your service to the Lord in these ways is such a tremendous encouragement to our faith. Thank you for being God's means of getting us to the field!

Bible Translation here we come!

Send the Hares to Cameroon, Give by Dec. 1st!

2011-11-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” – Romans 10:15

Our hearts abound with thankfulness to the Lord for those of you who have invested in sending us off to Cameroon and yet…we are still in Louisville. While we have lists of answered prayers, we still have yet to hit 100% of our budget. Our prayer is to reach 100% of our budget needs by Dec 1^st so that we can begin linguistics study in January.

Specifically, we need to raise about $583 (updated 11/22) more a month and about $19,675 (updated 11/22) in one-time gifts in order to be released by our agency to start linguistics training. We would need to have this money by Dec 1^st. So, with the hopes that the following realities may be God’s means to compel you to invest in our ministry, we want to remind you that your giving could…

1. Create Another “Kimyal” Celebration

How beautiful are the feet of those who went to the Kimyal peoples and preached the Gospel to them. And equally how beautiful are the hands that gave so that missionaries could be sent. The supporters that sent the translators overseas are, in part, the reason that the Kimyal people are worshipping Jesus. It is not “less spiritual” to give to the cause of missions than it is to go into missions. We are all the same body working towards the same goal. Will you send us so that in 30 years we can be singing and dancing with another tribe as they receive the Bible?
Your giving could also…

2. Create Worshippers

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Revelation 5:9-10

People from every language will be worshipping Jesus, but how are they to worship unless they believe? And how are they to believe without hearing the Gospel? And how are they to hear it without someone preaching? And how can there be preachers unless we are sent? Missions is the means by which Revelation 5 will be made possible. Will you send us to Cameroon so that when you get to Heaven, you can look to your left and see someone from Cameroon praising Jesus?
And your giving could…

3. Save Souls from Hell

Hell is real. Today, in Cameroon, people are dying. And, to those who do not know Christ, they will be judged and then destroyed in Hell forever. Many will be thrown into the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. Many will go away into eternal punishment, under the wrath and vengeance of God. And this suffering will never end (Heb 9:27, Matt 10:28, Rev 21:8, Matt 25:41-46, Rom 12:19).

And what can save people from this misery? The Gospel. Missions. So, again we ask you –will you send us out so that we can share this Gospel and give people the chance to escape this fate?

Your giving could also…

4. Loosen your Grip on this World

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustdestroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

What you invest in, you treasure. What you buy, you maintain. Giving to the cause of missions automatically directs your heart to care about where your money is going…Bible translation, Gospel preaching, and the lost. Do you want to be freed up from striving to maintain your possessions that keep breaking? "The word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Peter 1:25). Will you invest in our ministry so that your heart will be more inclined to treasure the eternal Word of God and missions?

Further, your giving could…

5. Inspire Many More to go into Missions

We have been praying that the Lord would provide for us quickly so that many others would see how the Lord provided for us and would know that the Lord could also provide for them. Many are intimidated to go into missions because the idea of support raising makes them sick and nervous. Contrarily, we want people to look at our example and say, “Well, the Lord provided for the Hare’s so he can provide for us.” Will you give to our ministry so that many will remember the Lord’s provision for us and then go into missions themselves?

So, this is the end of our plea. If you feel led to give, we ask that you do so by December 1st. Our greatest need is monthly supporters. We have people supporting us anywhere from $5-$200 a month so don’t be shy! CLICK HERE for the giving link please let us know if you have any questions.

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. - C.H. Spurgeon.

Incentive to Let Go: Heaven is my True Home

2011-11-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

By Stacey

We have four toddlers and, as many people know, the toddler in his most natural state is often found shouting “Mine, Mine, Mine!” in the face of his brothers and sisters. We actually have one child that tries to carry all of her favorite toys around with her so that her brothers and sister cannot touch them. Ironically, her hands are so full that she cannot even enjoy playing with them. Day in and day out they strive to create little kingdoms for themselves where they have all their favorite things around them and seek to bring others into subjection to their wills, thinking of no one but themselves.

And this is not the condition of toddlers alone, but it is the condition of us all, apart from Christ. Dave and I do not consider ourselves sentimental people, but as we are trying to get rid of most all our possessions so we can go overseas, I honestly do not like it. I like to have my favorite things around me and find it hard to part with things that have brought me so much joy and remind me of good times in the past. And yet, this is not my kingdom and this is not my home.

Our oldest son, Kaden, asked me the other day, “Mommy are you home?” and I told him, “No Kaden this is not mommy’s home—mommy’s home is in Heaven.” He just stared at me confused but I pray that someday he will see the distinction between himself and his Christian parents. We are not living to create a Kingdom for ourselves on this earth, filled with toys and comfort, but we are living in anticipation for all the delights of Heaven.

That is easy to say on paper, but having to sell all that we own is where the rubber hits the road. And so we go back to Scripture to remind ourselves that Heaven is way better than any so-called “Heaven” I try to create for myself on earth. Specifically,

My Toys on Earth Break, but my Toys in Heaven Do Not

Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustdestroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Even if I am able to attain everything I want on earth, it will not last. My earthly treasures will rust, break, and possibly be stolen. However, on the new Earth, which is not subject to corrosion or moral evils, my treasures are secure and will last.

The City Made by God is Better

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Abraham left everything familiar and lived in a tent. Why? Because he believed God’s promise—that something better was to come. God promised him that the city he was building for him was better than the one he had left behind. So, he left it all, not knowing where he was going, because he was convinced that what was to come would be better than what he had left. His belief in the unseen liberated him to let go of what he knew and to live uncomfortably for a time.

So, since we know confidently that Heaven offers us eternal rest and comfort, we are freed from the “toddler” within us that wants to hoard toys and cry out “Mine! Mine!” What is mine is Heaven, not Earth as we know it.

Only through Faith can the Better City be Seen

A comment we have said to our kids before is, “Kids, trust that in Christ, all the treasures you could ever want is secure so you do not have to hoard things now—you can be freed up to share.” This comment is met with four blank stares followed by them slowly trying to yank toys out of one anothers hands. Why? Because it is only through faith that the above comment is not crazy and they do not yet possess faith. If you do not believe in Heaven then you will live like this is Heaven. If you do not believe in just a little while everything on Earth will be lost, then you will hang on to possessions as tightly as you can.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

So as we think about selling everything, our faith is tested and (hopefully) will grow. Our confidence in the promise of Heaven is the God-ordained method to loosen our grip on what we own here on earth. We cannot see all the “toys” that await us, but that is the essence of faith.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those…who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

IBC Talent Show

2011-11-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful time at the Talent Show Fundraiser on Saturday night at IBC. Thanks to everyone who participated. It was an amazing success. I counted over 100 people there and we raised about $2,500! Praise the Lord!

It was so much fun I thought I would put up some of the videos I took from the evening. I will mention though that I did a horrible job recording this event. The videos are shakey at times, I started late, and even missed entire acts. So, sorry about that. I am a sound guy, what can I say. But hopefully this will be fun for you all!

From the Mouths of the National Translators

2011-10-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

by Stacey

To give a little background, World Team Bible translators have gone into a group of people called the Oroko people 13 years ago and have developed an alphabet and assembled a group of local pastors help with translation. After years of translation work, here is what this group of national translators are saying...

You might be thinking: "Why are they translating the Bible when these men know English?" Well, there is a reason that these men were asked to be on the translation committee--because they knew both Oroko and English and thus could have insight into the local language and be able to communicate with World Team missionaries. However, they are the exception and not the norm. There are 100,000+ Oroko people, and most of them know English as a trade language only (ie like how most of us know Spanish "Donde esta el bano?").

So, as you can tell from this video, this translation project is helping the Oroko people know the truth-that Jesus is not just for the white man, but Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is now speaking their language. Praise the Lord for their hard work!

$8,500 Raised at Silent Auction Last Night!

2011-10-16T15:33:00.001-07:00

We are very excited to share with you that $8,500 was raised through our silent auction last night!! The proceeds from this silent auction will go towards our start-up expenses such as plane tickets, French school, the purchase of a vehicle in Cameroon, etc. We are very excited and grateful to the Lord and to all of you!

As I shared last night, I am so so thankful and encouraged to see the zeal and commitment by so many to send us off to the mission field. Hours upon hours of work went into this silent auction as well as 70 companies/individuals who donated to it. Seeing the labor and all the financial giving that went into this event shows us that many are just as committed to seeing the Bible translated in Cameroon as we are. What an encouragement!

We also had the joy of hearing from Dieudonne Tamfu (Cameroonian who is a student at Southern Seminary) about why Bible translation in Cameroon is important to him. He shared that Jesus deserves worship from every tribe, people, and language no matter how small or "insignificant" they might be. He also went on to say that if we demand that tribes learn English to know the Bible, then Christianity will remain foreign, a "white mans religion." However, when we translate the Word into a language that people can understand, the truth of God's Word is then able to penetrate their hearts and they are then able to come to the understanding that Jesus did not just die for the white man, but for all men, regardless of their color. Dieudonne's love for the Word of God and his love for his own people was so evident as he passionately reminded us that without the Word of God people, his people, will go to Hell. He concluded his talk by reminding us that Bible is the best gift we could ever give anyone. What a powerful reminder to Dave and I that the traveling, the event planning, and everything else involved in support raising is worth it. Someday this world will forget about Dave and Stacey Hare, but God's Word will remain forever.

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever."
1 Peter 1:24-25

Note the Kindness and Severity of the Lord

2011-10-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

by Dave

I recently attended a FIRE Conference in Indiana and the theme of the conference was the Wrath of God. It is not a topic that we really like to talk about much in our culture, so it is a bit shocking that an organization would commit so much time to it. However, I was struck by the fact that there are so many passages that not only talk about the wrath of God, but encourage us to consider it. One such verse that hit me as particularly clear was:

Romans 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

The passage falls in a section describing how God had cut off Israel in order to graft in the Gentiles. And he wants us to consider both sides of this transaction. He dealt severely with Israel in the same action that he showed kindness to the Gentiles. Paul calls us in Romans 11 to “note then the kindness and the severity of God.” That is, to think about and allow it to affect the way that we live. It is this very act of “noting” that will prevent us from being “cut off.” Through the years in many ways God has dealt severely with Israel. Because of their rebellion in the wilderness, an entire generation was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Due to their rebellion in the Promised Land, Assyria and Babylon took them into exile. And the rejection and murder of Jesus has left many of those who have been set apart to worship God spending eternity apart from Him. God is severe, he is wrathful, he is angry with sin every day. And he will by no means allow the guilty to go free. We are called here to note God’s severity. But it is not just his severity that we are called to note.

In one session, Phil Johnson taught from Jonah 4. This is a part of the story that never seems to make it into the kid’s books. Before this chapter, Jonah had already rebelled, been pursued by God, deposited by a fish on the shores of Nineveh, preached the message of God’s coming wrath, and then seen what was probably history’s largest revival. The whole city was saved! And in chapter four we read of Jonah’s reaction:

Jonah 4:1-3 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

Wow! Not really what you would expect from a man who just lead the world’s largest revival meeting. Phil Johnson said that Jonah’s response was based on a deficient and imbalanced theology. He was not noting both God’s kindness AND his severity. In Jonah’s case he wanted only God’s wrath upon the Ninevites. They were a wicked people that had plagued Israel for years. And all he wanted was their destruction. He was angry with God for sparing them. He wanted God to hate them as much as he did. When God instead showed kindness to them, Jonah rejected God’s plan, pouted, and said he wished he were dead. Phil Johnson reminded us that many people believed in Hell on the day that Osama bin Laden was killed. Many rejoiced that day, and rightly so. God is Just and he deals severely with sin and sin always deserves severity. And yet, the God that we serve is also a kind God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting of disaster. He even relents at times when we want is flaming wrath. And he does not always tell us why he deals severely with Osama bin Laden and kindly with Nineveh. Jonah was not looking good at the end of the book. God kindly confronted him in his misunderstanding and misapplication of wrath, but we never know for sure if he repented.

I wonder if these verses should confront us today as well. More times than not, we are not longing for the blood of our neighbors and angry if God saves them. But what about the opposite? When we read that God has chosen to condemn those who reject him to eternal fire (Matthew 25:41), do we pout then? Would we rather die than believe in a God who would damn people? Do we fail to note both the severity and the kindness of God? I ask these questions not because I am excited by the wrath of God. No, I am terrified of it. But according to Paul, it is only when we note both his severity and kindness that we avoid being cut off like Israel. In truth we serve a God who is wrathful, angry, and severe. But he is also a gentle, kind, forgiving God. But it is God that determines when to respond as a lion or as a lamb. And it is for these very reasons that he is God and we are not. And even when we don’t understand (perhaps especially then) we out to fall on our faces and worship…

Romans 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"

General Update on the Hare Family

2011-09-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Always a party in the Hare home—a toddler party that is. Although we have a three bedroom apartment we consistently find our kids always seeking to occupy the exact same space. The love it be piled on top of one another—it is perplexing to us. On top of that, they tickle one another, steal one another’s toys (unfortunately), dance together, and sometimes just laugh in one another’s faces. Like I said…always a party. Here’s a general update on how each member of our family is doing…

Makyra is growing up! We are trying to learn how to do her hair and she has also entered the world of potty training. She’s about 85% potty trained and we are very excited to move on pass this diapers stage soon (one down, three to go!) She likes to be in charge and consistently tells everyone what to do (including insects) so we are constantly teaching her that God has not given her authority over anyone (although we gladly let her boss around the bugs). Makyra is by far our most strong-willed child. We pray God will soften her heart to his Word!

Kaden is also growing up. As you can see, he is learning to dress himself. Although he pleads with me daily to potty train him, I told him we will not start the process until his sister is potty trained (I’ve got him right where I want him ;) )Kaden is such a delight to our hearts. He is quick to obey, eager to learn, and is seemingly soft-hearted towards things of God. He walks around the house wiping the babies runny noses with a tissue and is also very eager to tidy up. He recently starting to speak in sentences which makes it exciting to hear what goes on in that mind of his.

Zoey is a cartoon character. She laughs like a cartoon character. She cries like a fake baby doll you would find in a toy store. She is Ms. Personality. She started walking around her 1^st birthday in July and has also started using a couple of words. She calls me (Stacey) “Bobby” instead of mommy which we think is pretty hilarious. The other kids often call me “Bobby” now too. She is absolutely a doll and we love her to death.

Elias has also started walking and is talking quite a bit for his age. We think he is pretty intelligent. He knows some signs that we never taught him (we’re assuming he picked them up from his older brother and sister), he seems to comprehend whatever we say to him, and his vocabulary far surpasses where our other children were at his age. He is very affectionate and is our only child that is content playing by himself.

How are we doing? Well, we both had birthdays these past couple months and had the joy of having Stacey’s parents in town and were also able to go away for a couple days to Cincinnati. So that was wonderful. We are quite busy with support raising, traveling to different states, preparing for upcoming fundraisers, etc. But we are doing well!

Remembering Those in Prison

2011-09-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

By Stacey

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Hebrews 13:3

I have recently read a book that has changed my life. It is called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn. In a note at the end of the book, it was explained that this book was written to “make a statement concerning the persecuted church.” And this book made a very loud statement to me. It opened my eyes to the fact that I have brothers and sisters in prison right now who have been torn away from their families, are being tortured, and pressured to renounce Christ. Many of them will die martyrs. This almost seems surreal when all I see is religious freedom in my own country. Many nights I went to bed heavy-hearted, praying for those who were suffering for Christ around the world.

In Safely Home the main character, who was persecuted, asked that his friend return to the US and share with Christians how to pray for him. Here is a summary of what he asked we pray for...

That those witnessing their suffering will see that Jesus must be real in order to sustain them.
That the rotten prison food will taste good to them.
That the rags they wear in the winter will keep them warm.
That the torture will not weaken, but strengthen their faith.
That Satan would not overcome them or their families faith with despair and discouragement.
That the prisons would be centers of revival.
That illegal churches would be invisible to the police and visible to everyone else.
That sons and daughters would not be ashamed of their fathers and mothers in prison.

For those interested in receiving weekly prayer updates from Voice of the Martyrs, you can sign up here

And for those of you who want to do some more research of your own as to how you can support suffering Christians around the world, Randy Alcorn listed some organizations that are working with persecuted believers here

“And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:40

Scriptural Incentives that Keep Us Dreaming Big

2011-09-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

By Stacey

Perhaps you can relate to my natural reaction to seeing pretty much any movie that exposes social injustice: I want to suit up and fight! Perhaps you have grown in your awareness of sex trafficking, and you resolve to do something about it. Or, you listen to a sanctity of life sermon, or see pictures in a magazine of the starving oppressed of Africa, or an art exhibit highlighting the wounded children of war-torn nations, or a presentation about all of the Bible-less peoples of the world. Your senses are aroused, eyes are opened to the need, and righteous anger or deep compassion rouses you to action!

So…now what?

How can I “dream big” about fighting for these causes when there are so many obstacles and hurdles that stand between me and my dream? How can I solve the problem of a drought in East Africa? How can I abolish abortion in my nation? How can I translate the Bible?
Truth is, it seems there are a million obstacles separating us from the goal of celebrating a completed Bible translation. In light of those challenges, we have been consistently encouraged by several “Incentives” in Scripture that keep us dreaming big…

1. God is Big.
God does not require me to be great. He knows I am not. He does not tell me to look inside myself for “inner strength” to change nations, heal diseases, or bring rain. In fact, he laughs at that. However, the Lord himself is great and there is absolutely nothing that is too difficult for him:

"What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27

“Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust…All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness… It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness… Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” - Isaiah 40:15,17,22,23,28

2. This Big God Gives Power to the Weak.
So the God who is limited by nothing, who created the earth, who considers nations of earth to be nothing before him, who laughs at the rulers of the earth, who made the lame walk, caused the blind to see, raised people from the dead, who is never tired…generously gives power to those who know they need him.

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31

So how do I keep myself from getting burned out when I think about having to raise $55k in a couple of months? I remember that the Lord owns everything, that he is rich, and that he is on my side as I wait on him. How can I have hope that the drought will end in East Africa? God is the one who made the rain and he can easily supply that region with rain. I cannot make rain, but he can.

3. God Tells us to Pray Big.
So, here we are—tired, nervous, sickly people, and the God of the universe tells us to ask him to do things that we cannot. He actually gives believers promises in Scripture so that we will ask him to do things that are beyond us. It is like when one of our kids asks us to get them their toy from the top shelf—we are their only hope of receiving that toy. In the same way, prayer is small people asking a great big God to do things that are outside of our control. Here are a couple promises:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” - Mark 11:24

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:13-14

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” - Psalm 37:5

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” James 5:17-18

I am filled with hope that we will be able to raise all the support we need by Dec 1st because we have been persistently asking God for this. I am filled with hope that believers praying together on Sunday mornings for the Lord to cause rain in East Africa will in fact cause rain. I am filled with hope that a group of Christians praying in front of an abortion clinic every Saturday will in fact shut the abortion clinic down. If God tells me to ask for anything, then I will take him up on his offer.

4. God’s Big Dreams are Our Big Dreams.
Finally, I know that the dreams that I have are a little picture of God’s dreams because of what the Lord has revealed about himself in Scripture. I know that the Lord told the prophets to write down his message time and time again so that others could read it. I know that the Lord cares deeply for the oppressed and lonely because the Bible says that over and over. I know that the Lord cares about those who experience famine because the Lord sent Joseph ahead into Egypt to prepare for the coming famine. When I have the witness of Scripture behind me, I can be confident that I am not trying to fit God into my agenda, but instead, I am a very small tool that he may see fit to use in his agenda. And when I pursue God’s agenda, all Heaven is behind me.

So, all that to say: Dream big brothers and sisters. Attempt great things for the Lord. Do not let obstacles stop you. Know that with one word, God can remove them all.

Missions Exists Because Worship Doesn't

2011-09-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

An excellent two minute video answering the question "why missions?"

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"
Psalm 67:1-3

I Think French Will be a Hit

2011-09-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

I recently got the kids a French CD with kid songs on it so they'll get a head start on learning French for Cameroon. I think Kaden likes it--what do you think?

Our Final Budget was Finalized...Finally!

2011-09-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Good news! Over the last several months we (and our great agency: World Team) have been working to finalize our budget. In seeking to be faithful with the resources that God is providing through our supporters we have spent many an hour pouring over the options. We have finally come down on a monthly budget that is slightly higher than before ($5,933/mo. instead of $5,715/mo.) and a Start-Up budget that is substantially lower than originally estimated ($113k instead of $159k). Praise the Lord we have less to raise and hopefully we can do it faster! Our goal is still to have our monthly budget pledged and our start-up budget raised by December 1st so that we can start training in January. Please pray with us that the Lord would provide in abundance and please give if you are able. Specifics about our budget can be seen on the document linked below.

In Honor of My Parents

2011-08-29T16:06:00.001-07:00

by Stacey

Two things lead me to write this blog post in honor of my parents:

1. They are coming to town tomorrow and so they are simply on my mind

2. I have told my children the same things over and over again all day long and frankly, I am weary.

In having kids, I realize how much grief I put my parents through as they had to tell me the same things over and over again, and at the time I did not get it. I did not understand why they would not let me to go parties in high school or why they would not let me dress like everyone else or why, if a boy called, my dad would take the call and refuse to let me talk to him. I was not happy with them at all that they “forced” me to attend a small Bible college or why they made me work on our family farm to (in my mind) the point of exhaustion.

But now I get it and am so thankful.

I am so thankful for all the things they would not let me do. And I am so thankful for the things that they made me do. I am so thankful that my dad reminded me almost daily that Christ could return any minute and that we needed to be ready. I am so thankful that my mom endured through the day in and day out of her daughter stating her case as to why certain things should be allowed. And after my eloquent convincing she would just say “N-O.” I am so thankful that my dad taught me to look at people as eternal souls, destined for Heaven or Hell. I am so thankful that they took me to church, that they taught me the Bible is the authority, and that Jesus is the only way. I am so thankful for all the times they prayed for me and for the hours upon hours my dad worked at a job he did not like so that I could go to a good school and could get braces on my teeth. I am so thankful that even when I was selfish and hard-headed they loved me still, they continued to sacrifice for me, and they did not back down from inundating me with Truth.

My parents are one of the means in my life that the Lord has used to bring me to Christ and to work in me a love for the Word of God. Thank you God for my parents!

What Will our Friends Say About us on Judgment Day?

2011-08-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

When our unbelieving friends and family members are facing King Jesus as Judge, will they be able to recall all of our warnings, Gospel presentations, and pleadings for them to repent? Or, when they face Jesus, will they then look at us and say "Why did you not tell me how I could be saved before it was too late?"

My Friend

by D.J. Higgins

My friend, I stand in judgment now,

And feel that you're to blame somehow.

On earth I walked with you by day,
And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.

My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to him.

Though we lived together here on earth,
You never told me of the second birth.

And now I stand this day condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things, that’s true;
I called you “friend” and trusted you.

But I learn now that it’s too late,
And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day, and talked by night,
And yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live, and love, and die,
You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you “Friend” in life,
And trusted you through joy and strife.

And yet, on coming to this dreadful end,
I cannot, now, call you “my friend.”

The purpose of us this poem is not to lead us to "shoulda, woulda, couldas" but instead to push us to a life of faithful evangelism and prayer for the lost.

My Birthday Wish!

2011-08-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends and family. Today marks the 29th anniversary of my birth! My birthday wish this year is to raise $250 for our start-up expenses using Causes.com. Would you consider making a donation?

The Bible - A Treasure Worth Sharing

2011-08-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

It's not crazy to leave one's home and go overseas for the sake of Bible translation. Instead, what is crazy is to believe what we believe about the Bible and then be content to leave people without it...

The Bible

“This book contains; the mind of God, the way of salvation, doom of sinners, and happiness of believers.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

It’s a traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.

Here paradise is restored, heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its GRAND SUBJECT, our good it’s design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.

It’s a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment and remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its contents.

This book unfolds Jehovah’s mind,

This voice salutes in accents kind,

This friend will all our needs supply,

This fountain sends out streams of joy.

This mine affords us boundless wealth,

This good physician gives us health,

This sun renews and warms the soul,

This sword both wounds and makes us whole.

This letter shows our sins forgiven,

This guide conducts us gates to heaven,

This charter has been sealed with blood,

This volume is THE WORD OF GOD.”

-Author Unknown

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
-Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:35)

Zoey's Walking!

2011-08-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

All four are walking - wahoo! Always a party.

Remarkable Answer to Prayer!

2011-07-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

You will see pictured to the right Desma and Barry Abbott and family. They are currently serving in a the jungle in Southern Cameroon among the Baka people. We spent a few days with them while we were in Cameroon and really grew to enjoy respect them in very short time.

Which is why we were very sad to hear that Desma grown very ill. My understanding is that she has had difficulties with her health for a very long time, but she just continued to grow worse and worse until she was at only about 20% strength.

On Sunday, July 17th we received this email from Barry. He wrote:

"This week a visiting seminary student who is spending some time with the Baka during his break from school stopped by to visit. During our talk he asked how Desma was doing health-wise. Honestly, it was a discouraging day for me for the same reason. We have not seen the improvement that we have hoped for to date. In fact, some things got worse this last week. I shared my concerns with him and he asked if we could have a prayer retreat this Monday where we set aside the day to pray on this one topic. We agreed that it would be good to do this. So tomorrow he will come and pray with us corporately at different times of the day. The rest of the day we will spend praying individually. Actually I'm looking forward to how God will meet us."

Then on Thursday July 21st, Barry wrote:

"Good news!

In my last email to you, we asked you to pray with us as we held a prayer retreat on Monday. We wanted everyone to know that we realized something must change or we really need to consider our next move. Desma was having severe head pressure, fatigue, and muscle/joint pain. These are more intense symptoms of what she has had since February of this year. While we were seeing some improvement, the recent relapse concerned us very much.

A few days ago a Cameroonian Christian asked if we could have a prayer retreat on Monday. We agreed. We fasted together and spent the day in corporate and individual prayer focusing on the reasons for this illness (for which we haven't been able to get a diagnosis) and to entreat the Lord for her healing. At the end of the day we felt a confirmation that the Lord has heard and answered our prayers.

Today will be the 4th day of no pain medication for Desma. She has been tired, but not feeling the head pressure, body pains, or extreme fatigue as before. Today we took a walk out in the orchard and thanked God again for His healing. We believe that this battle is over.

I am also experiencing freedom from the worry that has plagued me for a long time.I know I'm not giving a lot of details here. There is much more. Scripture came alive to us that day (especially Psalm 66) and we are marveling at all the Lord has revealed to us. My wife is back!! We are taking it slow, but in faith are going to take longer walks every day . . . a sharp contrast to the other day when I had to carry her outside to get some fresh air. I'm in awe."

Then Barry's FB status read, "I think I understand what happened this week. My wife was healed...COMPLETELY! Thank you Lord!"

I write this blog post so that many will praise the Lord for listening to the prayers of his children and answering them by healing Desma. Praise the Lord! He is not distant from the cries of his children, but near - like a compassionate Father.

"Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds!'

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!" - Psalm 66:1-3a,16-20

Elias and Zoey are now American Citizens!

2011-07-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

On Monday of this past week, we completed the process of "Re-Adoption" in order to change Zoey and Elias' status from Permanent Residents to US Citizens. The judge was so excited to have a "happy case" that she even took a picture with us. And their names have officially been changed from Spain and Tarkie to Zoey and Elias. Horray!

This just reminded us how grateful we are to have these two be a part of our family. Yes, life is more complicated, more expensive, and there are double the diapers, but all that stuff is so small compared to how much we love these two and how much we enjoy being their parents. Elias is now walking all over the house and Zoey took a couple steps toward Dave yesterday. Their little personalities are coming out more and more each day. Zoey is a ninja baby. She is incredibly strong - she gets up on our couches and jumps up and down, the other day she practically scaled the walls of her pack-n-play in order to escape, she somehow destroyed her bumper pads that were in her crib, and has no problem pinning her brother to the ground. And she's only 18 pounds! Elias, on the other hand, is the only one of our children who is perfectly content playing by himself. We'll often find him in a room somewhere just playing quietly with his toys. He is more low-key, sweet, and is also very affectionate towards his parents.

We thank the Lord for these wonderful gifts he has given us!

Reasons for Unanswered Prayer

2011-07-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

I was recently talking to a friend about how she prayed fervently for something and the Lord did not give it to her. She was perplexed. That reminded me of the time when we received a referral for a little girl in Ethiopia and, after hearing that her case was in jeopardy, I begged the Lord that he would cause everything to go through smoothly so we could adopt her. I laid out my case before the Lord reminding him of his promise:

John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

So I came to him as my loving Father, asking in Jesus’ name to allow this orphaned girl to be placed in our Christian home, believing that he would give me what I was asking for.

And he did not. Instead, our adoption agency recommended we take another little girl (now our beloved daughter Makyra) because the first little girl’s case was held up in court.

Honestly, I was stunned and, after talking to my friend today and remembering a Q&A session I heard with Francis Chan, I decided to do a little research as to why the Lord does not answer some prayers.

What Reasons does the Bible give for Unanswered Prayer?

1. We do not Ask. “You do not have, because you do not ask.” James 4:2

2. We ask with Fleshly Motives. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3

3. We may be Ignoring God’s Commands. “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

4. Husbands may not be Understanding towards their Wives: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with youof the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

5. We may be Promoting Murder (ie abortion): “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:15

6. We could be Cherishing Sin in our Hearts: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalm 66:18

7. Perhaps we are not Saved: “The LORD is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29

8. We are not Enduring in Prayer. We simply give up too easily. When grow tired of praying for the same thing over and over so we give up. I am convinced that the Lord “holds out” giving us what we ask for so that we will grow in the area of enduring in prayer.

There are two parables in Luke that the Lord penned to keep us persistently asking, seeking, and knocking until he gives us what we are asking for (they’re long but they’re worth it!):

The Persistent Friend:

And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence [or persistence]he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. - Luke 11:5-10

The Persistent Widow:

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" - Luke 18:1-8

9. We’re not Praying in Faith. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

What I am not saying is that every unanswered prayer is easily explained away because of the reasons above, but unanswered prayer is a good time to examine ourselves. I know, in my flesh, my gut reaction is to look to God and ask why he did not answer my prayer, but I think based on these passages I should do just the opposite. Instead, I should look to myself and ask why. In the words of Francis Chan:

“So when I don’t get an answer, I first look at my life. I want to challenge you to really look at your life. I look at my relationship with my wife. I check my motives. I look at my personal holiness and faith. I look at my theology and check my heart. I am always looking at myself. And even things that I want so badly, like my daughter’s salvation, I have to surrender my will to God’s will, knowing he is good and sovereign.”

So then, should I appeal to my own righteousness when asking God for things? Oh no- we appeal to Christ’s righteousness, to his standing before the father, to the power of his name. And if our prayers do not get answered it is not because Jesus is an insufficient high priest or because the Holy Spirit is not interceding for us, it is instead likely because of us.

So, going back to our adoption scenario, why did the Lord not answer my specific prayer to adopt that little girl? And, the answer, after this huge long blog entry—I do not know. But I know that if there was a problem it was with me and not with God. Perhaps my motives were not pure, or I was cherishing sin in my heart, or I was ignoring God’s commands in one area of my life, and so on. And there may not be a problem at all-perhaps the Lord has a secret, hidden reason for not answering this prayer that I do not yet know.

But at the end of the day, if I am examining my heart, if I am enduring in prayer, praying in the name of Jesus, and still I am left with unanswered prayers, I will keep enduring, praying in faith and trust that the Lord is good and his promises are true even when my circumstances seem to call his character into question.

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. ~ Psalm 34:15

I'd Rather be in Africa...

2011-07-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was just thinking about getting ready to go to work tomorrow and what came to mind was, “I’d rather be in Africa.” After first deciding to pursue missions Stacey and I chose to attend seminary because we felt a lack in our Bible knowledge. When we arrived in Louisville we had a lot of debt, so we worked really hard and the Lord provided and we were debt free. We finished seminary in May 2009 and adopted kids, switched missions agencies, adopted more kids…and now (7.5 years later) I work 40 hours a week, catch glimpses of my family, and long for Africa. I believe I was made for Africa, made to translate the Bible, made to learn unwritten languages. But most of my day is spent in a brown cubicle staring at a computer screen, sighing as I look at the pictures of Cameroon scotch taped to the dirty fabric. What is going on?!?

Well, what is going on is that He is God and I am not. I have made many plans in my life (one of them to be a life insurance agent) that were not even close to what God had planned. How many times have I said, “I could NEVER [insert God’s plan here]”? Actually, I am pretty sure I said at one time, “I could never be a Bible Translator in Africa.” Which overall reveals to me that I was not intended to be the one who makes such plans. This probably should not be such a surprise to me considering God wrote it in the Bible: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). It is God’s plan for me to be in Africa (I am pretty sure), but definitely not right at this moment. Instead it is his plan for me to drive to work tomorrow. To sit in my rolly chair, sort data, schedule trainings, sip coffee, and look at my tape pictures. And recite to myself, 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

I do want to make one thing really clear, I am so thankful for my job. There have been so many ways that I have been blessed to work there and I do not consider those lightly. But you can have the best job in the world and be made for something different. And that is where I live. I would love some help in thinking through how to honor God best in these circumstances. I seek to work very hard and please my employers and witness at work. But I could always use help. How do you honor God at your work? What helps you to think of it rightly? How can I live for today when I am so ready for tomorrow?

Lessons Learned from a Fly

2011-07-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

An innocent fly buzzed across our table last night only to cause one of our children to practically have a panic attack. This tiny fly brought on tears, screaming, and intense fear. I was stunned and did not really know what to do (it is just a fly after all, right?). I let the fly crawl on me to show our kids that it was harmless. I told them it was a friend. They said hi to the fly. I told them that it would not hurt them.

This reasoning did not work.

So I prayed with them and reminded them that the Lord was the Lord of armies and he was much bigger than the fly – in fact he made the fly. They listened…and then started screaming again. Finally I said, “Look at me.” They turned and looked at me and calmed instantly. Fears were gone.

Then the kids started looking for the fly again only to then resume the screaming. I said “Look at me” (not as a suggestion but as a command) and they would not. It’s as if they wanted to be scared. They desired to keep looking at the fly and screaming. “Look at me,” I said again. Then they looked at me and all fears were gone once again.

Now we are still working through the issue of “The Fly” and yet the Lord has used this situation to help me see myself in my children.

How many times have I sat there and stared at my problems as the Lord was commanding me through his Word, “Look at me” only then to receive peace? Just like my children, my heart is slow to look to him because if I do not keep my eye on my problems, everything will just fall apart (right?)

But God is my parent, and a far better parent than I, and he commands me through his Word to…

Look at Him. Where are my thoughts? Is God in my thoughts? What attributes of God can I focus my mind on? Am I thinking about the Lord or about my problems? “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

Spend my Time Praying Instead of Worrying. Have I spent time praying about this problem? Have I thanked God for who he is even in the midst of this problem? Do I believe God wants me to ask him for specific things and delights to give them to me? Do I believe peace will follow when I pray? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Think of Anything that is Good. Am I thinking of every potential negative scenario? Am I assuming the worst? Is my mind rehearsing all the bad things that could go wrong? Or am I determined to think about things that are noble and good? Am I taking note of true and pure things and letting them be the default position of my mind rather than my problems? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

There are myriads of other incentives the Lord gives us to “look at him” but these are the first few that came to mind. Although I can chuckle that a fly invokes such a frenzy in my home, I am so thankful for all such lessons that the Lord teaches me through my children.

If there is no Hell, then I’m not going to Africa

2011-07-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have not read Rob Bell’s book. However, it seems as if his notion that life on earth is as bad as it gets is really just an echo of where our culture has been moving. I counsel at a pregnancy center and more and more often it seems as if girls come in determined to reason away Hell based on their false notion of a how a “loving” God ought to conduct himself.

If we make God into our own image – a God who is apathetic towards abortion, sexual immorality, un-thankful hearts, towards worship of other gods, and so on – then certainly this God is not angry enough to send anyone to Hell. If I am not angry about sin, then certainly God should not be angry about sin because God is (or should be) like me after all.

So, if the wrath of God is not “revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18)…

If it is not “appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb 9:27)…

If God would never dare to “destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28)…

If in fact, God does not have “authority to cast into hell” (Luke 12:5)…

If the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all the liars will not be thrown into “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8)…

If those who neglected the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned will not “go away into eternal punishment” (Matt 25:41-46)…

If vengeance does not belong to the Lord, if he will not repay (Rom 12:19)…

Then why would we go into missions? Why would we bother telling people about how God himself became a man and took the full wrath of his Father so that we might escape Hell? Why would we offer a solution if there is no problem?

The fact that there are people who are born into poverty and sickness, live a life of hunger and disease and then die and go into an eternity of everlasting pain and punishment is why we are going into missions. We simply cannot bear the thought of not offering them the solution to sin and suffering.

Contrary to modern thought, meditating on Hell, about how it is ETERNAL punishment, actually does a service to our fellow man. When I embrace all that Scripture says about Hell, I am far more compelled to open my mouth and talk about Jesus or even leave my country so that others may have the chance to escape the wrath of God through faith in Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:20

General Update on the Hare Family

2011-06-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well we’ve been a family of six now for four months and we thought we’d share with you a little about how things are going. We adopted two more kids expecting God to “make good” on this promise: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). And whereas the past four months have been intense, the Lord has given us grace to change diaper after diaper after diaper after diaper after diaper and to grow in love for our children. We praise him!

Here are some more details about each of our kids…

Kaden, our oldest, is obsessed with any kind of large machinery and also has many friends that he asks that we pray for several times throughout the day. He is extremely empathetic – he insists we pray when one of his siblings gets in trouble, he can somehow sense if one if us is in physical pain, and he comforts the babies when they cry. He watched the babies get shots the other day and sat their sobbing while saying, “Baby sissy boo boo. Baby sissy boooo boooo.” He cried harder than the babies. He is also by far the most talkative of our kids. He always has something to say and what he says is adorable.

Makyra just turned two at the beginning of June and she has a hard time getting a word in around her big brother. She is quieter and in general has a sweet disposition. She likes to give hugs and likes to play with stuffed animals. She is also quite a dancer. She has had a harder time getting used to sharing both her toys and her parents with the new babies. She likes to follow them around the house and say “no touch” when they’re about to touch her toys.

Elias will be 1 year old in July. He took a step toward me the other day so we think he will be walking soon. He looks longingly at the big kids as they run around the house, seemingly wanting to participate in their activities. Elias and Zoey both are very compliant and very good babies. Whenever I tell him "no", he looks at me with his “squinty face.” My mom and I think he might be part Chinese but Dave thinks we’re crazy.

And lastly is little Zoey. We often call her Zoe-Flake, Zoe-Cone, Zoe-Gurt…the options are endless. This gal is little Miss Personality and she has stolen our hearts. She is absolutely a delight. Her smile can light up the room. She is a wirely little one – often we find her on top of Elias with him pinned to the ground while sucking on his pacifier (we’re working on being kind and gentle). She, like her brother Kaden, is pretty talkative. Kaden and Makyra were constantly sick up until about 6 months ago but Elias and Zoey have been incredibly healthy – such an answer to prayer. (Not to mention the scabies that Zoey brought to our home and spread around to our family for about 2 months).

And how are Dave and Stacey doing? Tired. Busy. Busy. Busy. We are literally running from sun-up to sun-down. Our lives consist of the kids, preparing to speak at churches about our ministry, involvement in pro-life ministries, spending time with friends, being mentored by a couple who are Bible-translators in Cameroon via Skype, studying Greek and Hebrew, going to prayer meetings, writing for pro-life and adoption blogs, and on and on and on. We love it all…but there is just a lot to love at this stage.