The Light in the Darkness

We got back into Haiti pretty late Sunday night. With it getting dark around 5ish here now, the ride back to Canaan was mostly in the dark of night. With the two hour drive, the dark of night, and it being a Sunday we passed by quite a few brightly lit churches meeting for worship. What a picture of the role of the church I saw that night. A light shining brightly in the darkness. With the lack of electricity in the majority of places in Haiti, you could only imagine how incredibly dark it gets here at night. I'm talking about darkness so dark you can't even see the hand in front of your face. What a picture of the lost in the world. People wandering around in the darkness of evil, deception, and sin. A world lacking of any Light to guide them. A world lacking of Christ. But on the other end what a beautiful picture these Haitian churches showed me that night. Many of these churches were the only sources of light. They were the only places with electricity or brightly burning fires. But the most striking thing about these churches was not the fact that they had a source of light. It wasn't even the fact that they had probably been worshiping for hours on end, or that the people worshiping had walked hours to be able to gather with a Christian community. The most striking thing was to see just how profoundly these illuminated churches penetrated the darkness. Wow. What a picture for us, the global Church. That in a world of such profound darkness, such profound lostness, the Church should be the brightly shining source of light that floods in. Let us as the Church strive to be this example to the world. Let us permeate and penetrate this vastly dark world. 

Back in Action!

Well, I think I've took a long enough break from the blog world! I am still amazed at how fast things when you follow Jesus. So for my first blog back I'm just going to update all of those who might not keep up with me. :)

This past November I was give the opportunity to head back to Haiti shortly after our one week team returned in October. One of the missionaries down there had to come back to the states and they needed a teacher to fill in for her while she was gone. As most of you know, I gladly and enthusiastically volunteered myself. Little did I know that the month I would be filling would be the time God would stretch me the most I've ever been stretched in my walk with Christ. To keep things short, let’s just say I saw God move in me and through me in ways like never before, and as a result I have come to know God more fully and His over exceeding capability to fulfill an Ephesians 3:20 promise!

I will probably post some excerpts from my writings that month soon to come, so keep your eyes open! 

During the time I was filling in I was actually invited to come back this next semester and take over the preschool program. After much prayer and a lot of back and forth time with Jesus, I have committed to return to Canaan and teach from January to May. The thought of being in Haiti for four months straight both excites me and scares me to death. I know that it will be a time of continued stretching, but also a time of seeing God move greatly. And there is nothing more I want in life than to witness and participate in a move of God. I know that God has great things in store for Canaan, and I want nothing more than to be an initiator of change to push Canaan to being a place where Jesus is overflowing from. From not only being a loving oasis for children, but being a sending place of world changers for the glory of God. 

The best is yet to come! 

Call to Sponsorship

As many of you know in 2010 I had the privilege of being a part of a team of 40 that packed our bags (and 50+ other bags of supplies) and left for Haiti. We were welcomed by many small smiling faces at Canaan Orphanage in Montorious, Haiti located about two hours out of Port-au-Prince. I knew that God was going to teach me a lot, but never did I imagine that in just a week the direction of my life could take such a drastic turn.

Haiti is continuously on my heart and on my mind and since stepping foot off Haitian soil a part of me has been missing. God has opened many doors through my time in Haiti. I now represent Canaan throughout my school and the city of Raleigh. I am privileged to run a pen pal program that connects people here to the kids at Canaan in order to build Christ-centered relationships and to surround these kids in prayer. I have the honor to speak about Canaan at special events and fundraisers and help in numerous needs to spread awareness and gain support of the efforts of funding the orphanage and outreach programs. The only thing I love more than sharing about what God is doing through Canaan and in Haiti, is being at Canaan and serving.

Shortly after returning and after many days in prayer I felt that God was leading me to return long term to teach at Canaan. About two weeks after I was pretty positive this is the direction God was leading me, my team leader, Seth, and Canaan’s U.S. connection, Chris, invited me out to lunch. Once again another door was being opened as they presented me with the invitation (and urge) to teach at Canaan after I graduate.

So now I am on the road of preparation to spend an initial one to two years teaching at Canaan after graduating from The College at Southeastern Seminary. In these 2 and half more years I have the task of preparing to live in Haiti verses visiting Haiti. This will include numerous trips, each getting longer in duration each time. And as you know trips cost money and need prayer.

I invite you first and foremost to join with me in prayer during this process of preparation. I know God has many more things to teach me in these 2 and half years and I will need all the prayer coverage I can get. Also, as many have seen on the news, Haiti is in desperate need of prayer as the country is still struggling from the 2009 earthquake and is also in a time of political struggle with the recent elections.

 I secondly invite you to sincerely and prayerfully consider sponsoring me finically in this process. My next projected trip is just around the corner, October 4-9. I will need to raise $1200 in order to cover my airfare and food costs. I know that these needs can only be met by a mighty move of God and the generous support of people like you. I thank you in advance for your prayers, support, and anything else the Lord might lead you to.

God is moving in a mighty way already. Children abandoned by parents or orphaned by the earthquake are not only finding physical refuge at Canaan, but are finding life abundantly in Christ. They are receiving an education from pre-school age through the completion of high school, enabling them to have the foundation to be world changers in their generation. Through Canaan’s Malnutrition Program children who once had no hope of living are being treated back to full health. Through their Medical Clinic the community and surrounding areas are provided with much needed medical assistance and education. Pastors from all over Haiti are being brought to Canaan to attend theological training and ministry equipping seminars, enabling them to reach their communities even more with the Gospel. Above all needs are being met and people are meeting Jesus, but this will only continue as God provides the laborers and missionaries. This is my call. A call that propels me forward, a call that moves me to action. I will not settle for watching from afar, but will pour out my life for the sake of the Gospel and for the nations.

I thank you for already being such a big part of this by being in my life in such a special way. Together, the nations will return to Him. Together, we will change the world.

Le’union fait la force.

(“Strength in unity” in Haitian Creole)

With much love,

 Kimberly Wheeler

If you are interested in finically or prayerfully sponsoring me please email me at: wheelerkd.sebts@gmail.com 

The Faithfulness of One

I recently read through the book of Acts. I love seeing how the early church was so bold and on fire. They went out to all lands and preached the Good News. Paul, especially, gets me pumped up. He man was radically transformed and set ablaze for the Kingdom of God. This passage about Paul in Acts really jumped out to me:

"Paul went into the synagogue and spoke out boldly for three months. He talked with the people and persuaded them to accept the things he said about the Kingdom of God. But some of them because stubborn. They refused to believe and said evil things about the way of Jesus before all the people. So Paul left then, and taking the followers with him, he went to the school of a man named Tyrannus. There Paul talked with people everyday for two years. Because of his work, every Jew and Greek in Asia heard the Word of the Lord." Acts 19:8-10

The first thing that really stuck out to me were the time periods. I like to rush things. I like to see things happen fast, but I'm learning more and more that that's not very realistic. Paul stayed in the first place for three months, and even then most people turned away from the Good News. Also, notice how Paul left once they became hardened. He didn't waste time with those who heard but turned away. He moved on to those who hadn't yet heard. Now don't get me wrong I don't believe anyone is past redemption, but I do think there is a certain point you can get to with someone where you've done all you can do, the rest is up to the Holy Spirit. So Paul went on and in this new place he stayed for two years. Not only did he stay for a long period of time but notice that everyday he talked with the people about the gospel. The last part of this blows my mind as it says that because of this daily faithfulness to the task every single Jew and Greek heard the gospel!! Every single one! This should be a wake up call to all of us. It only takes the daily faithfulness of one person for God to use them to change an entire continent! 


Let's get busy. You aren't responsible for the results, but you are responsible to your faithfulness of sharing the gospel day end and day out. If we've truly met Jesus, how can we not speak of all He's done!

Top 7 Things God Taught Me This Year

Wow, this year seemed so long, yet so short all at the same time. It was definitely a year of growth, along with those nasty growing pains of course! But all of it was well worth it. We aren't promised a happy and easy life as a follower of Christ and I thank God for the trials and suffering He has allowed me to go through because they have shaped who I am today. So as the summer roles in (!!!) here are the top 7 biggest things God taught me this year. 


1) This journey with Christ is a lifelong pursuit and I am just as in need of God's grace at every moment as the lost people around me. I am not beyond the gospel. His grace has saved me, is saving me, and will save me. 


2) While I have a responsibility for the people God places in my life, I cannot claim them as mine. They are His children, not mine. The most freeing thing this year for me has been the realization that the results are not my responsibility, but the faithfulness to the task is. 


3) Our God created things to multiply. Followers, disciples, churches, etc. God is a God of growth. We must never grow stagnant. 


4) Discipleship is vital! We must commit our lives to being poured into and pouring into others. God didn't call me to seminary for myself, but for the advancement of His kingdom.  Go deep with the few, pour your life into them, and see them begin to do the same in others. 


5) I have to work each day to be intentional. I get distracted way too much! Following Christ takes EFFORT and INTENTIONALITY! Intentional about my time in the Word, intentional about my use of time, intentional about the people I surround myself with, intentional with building relationships. These things don't just happen out of nowhere. 


6)Worship is so much more than music. It's a lifestyle Christ has called all of us to. It's why we were created! It is the laying down of every part of our lives to see God's plan and purpose rise up in us. For His glory to be what we yearn for. To see awe struck worshippers in a relentless pursuit of the God who created us. 


7) God is soooo much bigger than I thought. What He has done, is doing, and is yet to do completely blows my mind.