"Pran Pozisyon Nou" (Take Your Positions)

Heidi Schulte gives a heartfelt update on how God has been moving in her heart through ministry.

Here we are. Over a month has passed and it’s overwhelming to begin to know where to start sharing. So I’ll start with the most recent past. The last two weeks alone could be enough to fill a novel!

We serve an amazing God. A good Father who knows exactly what we need, when we need it. He is patient, He will wait for us to seek Him, to realize our need for Him. But He is so willing and eager to bless, to speak, to move. He is always present, always watchful, and always able. We just need to ask.

For the last several months I have been in a not-so-fun spiritual season where I just haven’t felt like myself. It’s been hard to feel connected with God, and subsequently difficult to feel present with others. Two weeks ago I was in an especially discouraging spot. Then, mid-way through this week, I had an amazing conversation with my former roommate, a fellow missionary half a world away. Hearing about what God was doing in her “world”, I was incredibly inspired and challenged. My wonderful friend reminded me, we only get out of this what we put in. She was referring to prayer.

After this phone conversation, I went to find my new roommate, Liz, and share some of these “revelations” with her. As we talked, so much resonated with our current situation. Suddenly, I received a random Creole phrase in my head, and I knew immediately it was from the Holy Spirit. “PRAN POZISYON NOU.” (“Take Your Positions”.) When I spoke the words to Liz, I felt the presence of the Spirit and she could sense Him too. There was something to this.

My partner in crime. We have WAY too much fun together. I am more and more thankful for her every day!

The phrase reminded me of a sermon I heard while my mom and I were on our way to Haiti last July. I had been sleeping, and suddenly I woke up as to a pastor’s voice passionately telling the story of Esther and emphasizing the importance of being chosen by God for “such a time as this.” The message resonated and God again affirmed in my heart, I was right where He wanted me to be.

Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

For a couple weeks now, God had been leading and guiding me into making some shifts in what I focus on in my work here, molding my role into less of a management role and more into a development, planning, and creating role (which is really what I was intended to do this whole time.) God had also been leading both Liz and I into the need for us to dedicate more time to prayer: spending time with Him and seeking His face. As God gave us this phrase about taking our positions, we realized that the ultimate position we need to take is on our knees in prayer. And as we do this, we believe the life, growth, victory and true transformation will come for all of us!

2 Chronicles 20:17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

The morning after we got this word, a co-worker led us in reading from this passage in Ephesians 4 during our morning devotions. I think this is a very important passage for us as a team at this time. We have each been called to our positions “for such a time as this”. We each need to fulfill our role in order for the whole body to be “healthy and growing and full of love.”

Ephesians 4: 1-16 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. … 7 However, He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ…16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

As an organization, we are (and have been for awhile) in a significant season of building, learning, developing and growing. With growth comes frequent challenges, frustrations and even opposition. (Consider the story of Nehemiah to get the gist.) However, this season is also the perfect opportunity for incredible potential to present itself. God is bringing together His body, His children whom He has called to these positions at this time for a purpose.

A few days ago, my dad shared this song in one of his daily emails with Scripture. I’d never heard it before, but it may just be one of my new theme songs for this time!

“Keep Making Me” (Sidewalk Prophets, Official Music Video)

Be blessed!
Heidi

Sunrise Service (started at 3:30. We missed the sunrise because we were in the church for almost 2 hours!)

Good Friday service at one of our co-worker’s churches.

Many of the churches in Pignon come together and their pastors co-lead every year for this sunrise service. At the end, we walk through the town to the square singing “Christ is alive.” When we arrive, we circle the square and pray together.

Having a bunch of our American friends over for the evening Easter Sunday.

Liz & I have been able to do a few home visits in the last 2 weeks. She needed a picture of Pauline’s family, which was perfect because I needed to see my friend. Pauline’s health has definitely not improved, if anything it seems worse. She continues to need our prayers!