Marc Mailloux's Blog

November 08

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” I Corinthians 9:24

Dear friends,

Jean-Usson is one of the group of 20-25 faithful Haitian students of our teaching program on the Caribbean isle of St. Martin. Thirty years old, a strapping 6’2” with a quiet demeanor and gentle spirit, he works in construction for one of the many companies building condos and hotels on the French/Dutch island largely devoted to tourism. He’s also an avid student of the Word. In the six years since our program started, he’s rarely missed a class. Save for the Church, he has no family in St. Martin where work and the church are his whole life. About three years ago, he went back to Haiti to marry Rose-Marie, a young woman with whom he’d been corresponding. After spending only a week together, the groom had to return to work in St. Martin where he started the paperwork for his new wife’s visa so she could join him there.

It’s been over three years, and it has cost Jean-Usson thousands of hard-earned dollars, but as of this writing, corrupt Haitian officials continue extorting money from this longsuffering brother without producing the necessary documents for his wife’s visa. Naturally, he’s a bit discouraged. Jean-Usson is a powerless victim of this all-too-common form extortion by his own compatriots. It grieves us to see our brother victimized this way. We told him we’d pray for his situation and we ask that you join us in interceding for him…

In more frivolous matters, our return from St. Martin coincided with the major league baseball playoffs with the venerable Boston Red Sox pitted against the upstart Tampa Bay Rays. Normally a devoted Boston fan, I wasn’t disappointed when the heretofore lowly Rays (perennial last place finishers in their division) eliminated the mighty Bosox who were defending their 2007 World Series title. For it was a case of David vs. Goliath between the team (Boston) with the second highest payroll against the Rays with the second lowest. The underdogs came out ahead, thus vindicating the saying that the “race is not necessarily to the swiftest”— or the richest. Beyond that, one can’t but help admire the exceptional motivational skills of Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon, able to coax the best possible performance (World Series collapse notwithstanding) from his erstwhile underachieving players who have the unprecedented distinction of going from last place to first in a year! Such success is truly inspiring. I know nothing of Mr. Maddon’s core beliefs, but Christian or not, he has succeeded admirably in motivating his players in a way that begs emulation from any Christian leader.

Several Rays players testified that their manager instilled in them the sense of what it means to work as a team; individually self-sacrifing– everyone pulling together in the same direction for the common cause. One wishes for more of the same spirit amongst some of our Haitian brethren in S. Florida where factionalism seems to rule and cooperation in the cause of the gospel is all too rare.

A case in point is the badly needed, ever-fledgling Haitian Bible school (IBTF) started by Rev. Jean Petit with whom I have been working for the past ten years. His tireless efforts–administrative shortcomings notwithstanding–have often reminded me of Nehemiah’s attempt to rebuild the walls of Jérusalem (Nehemiah 2+3). Regrettably, there seems to be more “Sanballats” around to discourage him than helping hands. As I write this, classes have been suspended (temporarily?) for lack of enrollment.

On a personal note, the elimination of the Red Sox providentially removed from me the temptation of spending too much time watching the World Series. The suspension of classes at “IBTF” where I would normally be teaching allows me to participate in our Church’s Thursday night “Evangelism Explosion” program. “Coincidentally“, my first visit was with Jeanette, the eighty-four year old non-believing French mother ( a WWII bride from Reims) of one of the “EE” trainers. Her apparent indifference to her eternal destiny is a “monster”, as Pascal would say. But with two of her children in the Faith praying for her, there’s hope that the Spirit will get through to her yet.

Other than that, we remain busy with the preparation of forthcoming teaching trips and the daily radio broacasts which start November 10.

We eagerly anticipate the visits of our children and Aline’s mother over the Christmas holidays. As always, we cherish your prayers for our family and work and thank those of you who make our ministry possible.

May His richest blessings be with you.

Marc

Email: Mmailloux50@comcast.net

Blog: (www.marcmailloux.wordpress.com)

 Prayer: For the spiritual and professional welfare of our children.

For a visa for Rose Marie, the wife of Jean-Usson P.

For the Lord’s unction on me as I start another Radio broadcast

season

www.radiofloride.com