December is a busy time of the year for my company.  Vacations during this time must be requested far in advance.  I asked my boss for permission to go on the trip to Haiti.  To my surprise he said, "Sure, you can go.  I know how important church is to you." 
 
I was elated, but began to wonder how I was going to pay for the trip.  I had already asked sponsors to help with the costs of a recent trip to Kenya.  I did not want to go back to them and ask for sponsorship again.  So, I thought, if I work another job on Saturdays, I should be able to pay for the trip.  I worked one time for another company, and I ran into someone there that knew me.  I did not want this person to tell my boss that I was working another job.  I did not want him to think I was leaving, so I called and told him why I was working another job.  He asked me how much the trip would cost and when I told him he said, "I don't want you working on the weekends. We'll pay for the trip for you."
 
I was shocked.  After I got off the phone, I cried.  I was so overwhelmed by God's goodness and how He confirmed my part on the Haiti Missions Trip.  We had a wonderful time in Haiti.  God confirmed His Word with signs and wonders in my life and in the lives of those in Haiti.
 
Tasha Weatherspoon
Graduate Student

Haiti is God's; we as missionaries have a lot of prep work to do for the coming of Christ. The people themselves make the choices, we are to educate them on who the real master of their lives is and help the ones who are called to lead the body of Christ there in Haiti so they may fulfill their assignment.

I find it very strange that I was happy in a place that goes against all of my natural senses. Yet I was, and I had a feeling of fulfillment coming home. Here I am finding the opposite to be true.  All of the riches of my life --- home, car, money, grown children, a very comfortable physical position --- which my husband and I have worked hard to accomplish, still leaves something missing.  My comfortable existence is no longer providing me with a sense of purpose.  I feel that my accomplishments of yesterdays will not be a source of fulfillment for my tomorrows. So I must create new ones.

I am grateful to Dr. Thompson and Dr. Sempebwa for ICE and for providing me with an opportunity to experience Haiti and to begin a new life that will fulfill my purpose in the body of Christ.

In His Steps
Margie Flores

I would like to take this time to share with the I.C.E. community the great experience that my wife and I had to share the Love of Christ with the people of St. Marc, Haiti.  From the time we arrived to when we parted we were treated as family.  Touch Ministries and host pastors Gary & Carolyn Walker are a credit to the kingdom of God and the work being done for the Gospel.

We had the opportunity to set up a medical eye clinic in two facilities there, where literally hundreds of people lined up waiting to be seen.  The team of ICE students stepped up to create a quick and serviceable place for patients and medical staff.  As a medical doctor, I was so impressed at how we were able to see so many people.  The Lord blessed us in a mighty way and provided protection for our group.  In two days we were remarkably able to see over 400 patients; treating dry eye problems, diagnosing and treating glaucoma, identifying many cataracts, and also giving out over 300 hundred pair of glasses.

At the same time we were working so hard to get through the people waiting for eye care, the other part of our group was ministering to the children and taught at a Bible school.  They passed out gifts to the children.  We were so blessed with this ministry working among the poorest people groups in the world.  They have sacrificed all of the comforts that we take for granted to live among people who desperately need Jesus.

This was a major blessing for my family, being able to serve the poorest of the poor at Christmas time; sacrificing a lot of things that we may have done instead.  The team members were tremendous blessing to us as well.  We were able to develop relationships that we maybe never would have had an opportunity to do in the states.  These new relationships are very important in our own spiritual growth, and we thank ICE and Dr. Dennis Sempebwa for this opportunity.

We had a great time; we encourage everyone to stand in agreement for these projects to reach people and produce fruit for God’s kingdom.  And we’re certainly looking forward to the next trip.
  
Dr. Michael and Cleo Phillips