Update
This past week we had a great mission team from Hibernia Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. All of us at the orphanage were so lucky to have them come and help out for the week. While they were here we built homes, let dozens of people the the foot of the cross, and got to build some great relationships with both the kids from the orphange and the kids from the community. Their willingness to get dirty, work hard (without grumbling) and be servants inspired this update/devotional. I hope you enjoy and are challenged by it's message. So I just finished reading through the epistles and jumped back to Joshua and Judges. As Joshua is wrapping up there is a big speech Joshua gives the people with an ultimatum. In my Bible the heading is "Choose Whom You Will Serve" and after he goes through a long list of warnings describing how serious of a decision this was the people unanimously say "sure we can do that." Literally the next chapter in the Bible is describing all the disobedience of the people that had just been told what was at stake. These were a people that saw God speak, witnessed God hold the sun in the sky so they could finish a battle, and saw God wipe out entire armies without them even lifting a finger. After all these miracles what happened that caused the people to so quickly forget what they had seen and been told? Its not too much unlike ourselves though is it? Although we may KNOW the stories, and profess to BELIEVE what they say about God, is it evident in our lives? We have the benefit of God's written Word and thousands of resources to study it, and often times we put it on the bottom of our priority list. I think a lot of times in our walk with Christ we have Him there as a comforter, but not as a father. We would prefer not to hear what God has to say about how we live our lives. Like it says in James 1:22-24 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. We are called to apply God's word to our lives practically and be doers of the instruction our creator has given us. If you watch people that live their lives like this, you will see someone who knows who they are in Christ, you will see a person that has an identity defined by loving others. My challenge to you is not to just "read" the Bible, but to constantly ask yourself how each passage applies to your life. Ask yourself how you can be a better light to a world full of darkness. Austin Betz
The Future of Haiti Pages
So, its been a year since I first came to serve here at the orphanage in Haiti. I clearly was way out of my league. Thankfully I had a tremendous supporting cast and a great group of kids that were patient enough to keep me around. Before I came down I told people "its too big for me, but God will have to work to make it possible." Well, He came through as per the usual and produced a very fruitful year, not only in the ministry, but even more so in my own life. I got the rare opportunity to play big brother to almost 50 kids for an entire year, I got to learn an entire language, and I grew so much closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the time that I've spent in Haiti I've been able to: help a woman birth a child that would have otherwise died, teach English to a bunch of kids that will hopefully continue to study, worked as a utility man in a cholera clinic for almost 2 months, witnessed to countless people that haven't heard the Good News, I've gotten to work alongside countless teams that hopefully had a life changing experience, and I have made more friends than I could have ever imagined. Of course this is only the icing on the cake, but in all honesty if I had shared all my experiences from this short year I would have a book and then some. Some of the most memorable experiences I had while I was here came from the activities we had all the time. Everyday that we had time I would take about 20 kids to the beach or the mountain behind the orphanage. We would spend hours adventuring, talking, and playing soccer. My prayer is that those times together will be the time our kids remember. Now as May is nearing and my contract is going to be finished, I will be heading home to work at Silver Birch Ranch for the summer. It will be a time of refreshment, spiritual nourishment, and preparation. I am currently creating an organization that I hope will revolutionize how ministry is done in Haiti, and maybe even all over the planet. It is called Haiti Pages, and it will be a networking system designed to connect resources throughout Haiti. As of this summer I hope to be registering new ministries and their locations on the website so that others can use it to find out how they can help each other. This way an orphanage that is struggling can find a food distributor that may be able to be a blessing to the ministry. It happens all the time, that two ministries could be within a mile of each other, and they never knew each other was there. This way within a few clicks every ministry will be able to network and share resources. All of this will be done in the name of Christ, because He first loved us, we can now share that love with others. With all this being said, I cannot thank you enough for the prayers, support, and encouragement I've received in the past year. My only prayer is that you continue to follow me in love and continue to go to the Lord on my behalf. As the time nears for Haiti Pages to start up, it will require your help in a few ways. First and foremost, bring it to prayer, and not only with your prayers but bring it to your friends and your church, without prayer, we will be starting a step behind. I will also require financial support, my annual living expenses and the cost to run Haiti Pages will cost $12,000, I will also have specific needs posted on the update section of Haitipages.org. Finally, don't forget about us, keep in touch and adopt Haiti Pages as something that might put a face on the poverty that goes on in the world each and everyday. Our mission is that peoples' relationship with their Savior grow deeper and more intimately by the example of the lives of those involved in Haiti Pages. Thank You! Austin Betz If you are interested in supporting Haiti Pages make the check out to Silver Birch Ranch with a separate note specifying that it is for Haiti Pages. 100% of the money will make it directly to Haiti. Also you can follow what I'm doing in Haiti via haitipages.org N6120 Sawyer Lake Rd.
White Lake, WI 54491
What God Is Teaching Me
John 10:27-30- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
In this passage Jesus calls himself the shepherd and those that follow Him, His sheep. Sheep, although not so smart, always knew who was their shepherd and who was not. They recognized his voice and would come when they were called by him. My question to you is: How are you making sure you're hearing the voice of your shepherd? I think a lot of times we like to keep Him at arms length, which may be too far for us to really hear what He has to say to us, in that he's been known to speak in a small still voice. Don't we realize that as our shepherd God only wants what's best for us? Jeremiah 29:1- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. The real question is do we believe what he says in Jeremiah? Are we going to live as if He really does have our best interests in mind?
My challenge is this: pull closer to God and see what happens. Spend time each day getting to know Him through His word and talking with others that know God better than you do. I can promise you that you will not regret if you just check your own desires at the door and submit to the Shepherds will in your life.
Psalms 37:25a- I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken.
With all this being said, I am not promising a life on easy street, nor a life without hardship. Living in a sinful world will always guarantee that you have struggles and challenges in your life. One thing is for sure though, you will never be safer or more satisfied than when walking step by step with the Lord.
Austin Betz
Whats Going On
Hello From Haiti:
Well, I've been back in Haiti for a couple weeks and its been very encouraging to see how much is getting done. Telephone poles are getting wires, roads are paved, and canals are being built to help with the erosion problem. Despite what most people see on the news Haiti is not burning down, although we have our problems its definitely better to focus on the positives. Just in the little part of Haiti I get to be a part of, we are putting near 200 kids in school each day, have almost 50 kids that would be dead or miles below the poverty line had it not been for our presence here, and most importantly we get to be a light in the darkness. We have a chance to represent Christ and His work in our lives, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!!!
So since I've been back I spent a solid week introducing my friend Zach Ellis to what I've been doing all this time. Right after him, my family came with some close friends, and they were ready to be useful. We remodeled one of the bathrooms for the little boys, made 3 quilts out of cloth all the kids drew on, ran an AWANA event that reached over 200 kids during its three day course. Aside from games and work, we had 3 brief messages that went like this: Jesus is God's gift to us, All that this gift has to offer-Will you accept it?, and Now that you have the gift of Jesus how will it change the way you live? What's better than getting to share your life with kids that want nothing more than to have what we have in our lives?
With all this being said, it brings up a thought from the past. When I was a kid I remember thinking that God was a rule maker and our parents were the enforcers. Though every pastor I've had said "Its all about a personal relationship with Christ" I couldn't help but feel that it was all just a way to ruin our fun. Now that I'm on the other side its crazy to think I ever thought the "Christian Life" was boring. Everyday as Christians we have a chance to change a life forever, and the pressure isn't even on us because the Holy Spirit is the one doing the work. All we have to do is hang on for the ride and watch as miracles happen before our eyes each and every day. This message is written for those discouraged at what's "not happening around them" but in the same respect I hope that it has a personal application for those in the heat of spiritual battle. I pray that this serves as an encouragement for those of you in need of one.
Austin Betz
