January 2012
The purpose of an email update here is not to make anyone think we are
good people, or that we are doing something so spectacular and deserve
credit, in fact we are only attempting to keep people updated with
things that are happening for accountability in ministry and for the
edification to the body of Christ knowing that if there is ANYTHING good
found here it is not of us, The Rineholts, but it is a work of God and
He deserves all the credit, honor and glory. With that being said we
would certainly be amiss if all that we ever shared were only the
successes in Ministry without letting you know that we do not always hit
a home run and by no means are we perfect. Sometimes it seems we go
from one mishap to the next with the victories spotted throughout the
trials.
At the beginning of the month we had a visit from Pastor Josh from
MTVchurch and Pastor Al Wise. This trip would be used to help with
planning for future short term mission teams to visit. During the visit
Al made a comment of how much different it was to actually live here vs
just visiting short term on a mission trip. With the flat tires, street
wires providing electric to our house burning in two, water pipes to the
house breaking so we would not have water, and to top things off with
someone breaking in to the house climbing to our roof while we were
asleep downstairs to steal all of our wireless transmitting Internet
equipment from the top off our house (making it impossible for us to
communicate) weren't enough, we had Seth our oldest son fighting
infections in his feet due to ingrown toenails.
We had the pleasure of a few members of the team from St. Peters Church
join the girls and Wilkyns at the school while they were visiting with a
short term mission team with The Least of These Ministries
only to have some of the personal items of the team members to be stolen
at the school. As God had been faithful to provide for a guard at the
school after the previous incident where Christina's motorcycle got
stolen, we were soon faced with yet another unexpected thing where the
security companies supervisor was attacked on his way to the school to
drop off the shotgun for the guard on duty. The Supervisor was jumped by
men and his gun was stolen and then he was shot in the legs. Thank God
he is OK after a few months in the hospital. Then we were led to hire an
off duty Police officer to guard the school. After hiring the new guard
we were back in school on January 17th. Calvary Chapel of Delta had a team come to evangelize here on the mountain with In Calvary's Care
Ministry and it was really good to see familiar American faces and to
hear the good reports of many who gave their lives to Christ.
From time to time we are challenged even to the point of questioning the
call of God in our lives, if this is a work of the flesh or of the
Spirit, and I thank God for His faithfulness to speak through His word.
During these difficult times He was faithful to lead me to scriptures
like Isaiah 43:10 NKJV
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
I understand that..."He Is" and that ..."I am not"...nor could I ever be
anything without His leading, His hand, His direction. So we pressed on
in His name and by His strength.
February 2012
After the break in, and the other bad things that had passed through us,
there was a deep temptation to allow fear to control our decisions. I
was reminded that "We fear people because they can expose and humiliate
us. We fear people because they can reject, ridicule, or despise us. We
fear people because they can attack, oppress, or threaten us. These
three reasons have one thing in common: they see people as 'bigger'
(that is, more powerful and significant) than God, and, out of the fear
that creates in us, we give other people the power and right to tell us
what to feel, think, and do." ~Ed Welch
I had a renewed sense of God's presence and His comfort and hand of
protection that allowed us to continue to hang in there. I was invited
by Pastor Tim Dortch to go to Anse Pitre Haiti to help build a new house
for a family there. While on that trip I saw the solar powered water
project that is being used to supply safe drinking water for literally
thousands in this community. I am praying we can replicate this project
one day in Batey Central. Our family was invited to serve with Surfistas Cristiana Republica Dominicana
(Christian Surfers DR) to be judges at a surf competition in Cabarete
in the North Coast. A Doctor and his wife from the north sponsored the
trip for my whole family to go and it ended up being a huge blessing for
us as an opportunity to get away and refocus on the Lord at the same
time as being able to serve at the competition. While on this trip God
began to burden my heart for the Youth and the Surfers here just outside
of Barahona in LaCienega/Bahuroco area. With one of the gifts given to
me from Dustin Miller director of Surfistas Cristiana Republica Dominicana a movie called Walking on Water
we were now armed with an opportunity to share Christ with these young
folk. We visited for a couple weeks, we prayed for the people there, God
gave me a new friend in Kirito a local surfer who is not yet a believer
but is allowing God to use him by befriending our family and
introducing us to all of the local surfers. With a little encouragement
from Kirito we set a date for the premiere of Walking on Water
the movie. We canvased the neighborhood a few days before the event to
pass out invitations to the movie. The night of the movie finally came
and we were blessed to have hundreds of youth show up for the movie.
They sat attentively as they heard a redemptive story in their own
tongue. The movie had a very clear simple explanation of the gospel.
After the movie I gave an invitation for anyone that would be interested
in attending a regular surfing/youth Bible study and I had over 30 come
down to meet with me. We held our first Bible Study two weeks later and
had 25 show up with over half of them praying to receive Christ. Please
pray as we continue to minister in this area as well as we have been
having a youth Bible study here in Casandra please pray for God's will
for this work. Some of you may know that in America people generally
fight over surf spots and waves, but here there are over 30 young men in
the water and they are not only sharing the waves, but they are also
sharing the boards! They only have 7 to go around for all thirty young
men. Is is our hope that one day we will be able to have extra
surfboards to teach others to surf with surf camps and use this as
opportunities to reach others here in this area for Christ. This month
we also had a visit from Eric Hanranhan who is a nurse and he was able
to do check ups on all of he kids at the school as well as help me
finish the roof and a few other construction related items at the school
that had been on hold for the past few months as I have been recovering
from my fall.(My ankle and my knee have been healing great Praise God)
March 2012
Sometime in February a credit card that was linked to our personal
savings account was "skimmed". This is where thieves plant an intricate
device at an ATM machine to capture the info and even the pin number you
press in for your card. Jen noticed that we had several charges on the
card that neither of us had done (somewhere in Illinois). So Jen planned
a short two week trip back to the US in order to get the card
straightened out so that the funds could possibly be returned by the
bank. When Jen arrived in the US at BWI she realized there was something
else physically wrong with her. Her face began to swell and she had
severe pain. Jen went to the emergency department at the York Hospital
where they kept her for the next 6 days. Jen had been bitten by a spider
before she had left the DR and this had turned out to be MRSA. The two
week trip turned into a three week trip due to her illness. We thank God
that she was in the US for the care that she had needed and God has
healed her and she is doing very well now. During March Pastor Julian Matthews of Greater Grace Church Cabo Rojo, Peurto Rico had planned a trip with me to St. Marc Haiti to work on the 102.3 Radio Station and to attend to some administrative needs at the Maranatha Children of Grace Orphanage.
Since this trip had already been planned and Pastor Julian had to take a
Ferry from Peurto Rico to get to the Capitol here where I met him, I
was reluctant to cancel the trip and prayed to ask my Heavenly Father
for guidance and provision. Through His faithfulness the Truell Family
missionaries to Polo offered to watch the children and oversee their
home school while Seth, Pastor Julian and I would be in Haiti. As we
journeyed to pass through the border at Mal passe/Jimani into Haiti we
were met with opposition at the border, because the vehicle we were
driving was registered in Peurto Rico but the Haitian Police refused to
let us pass into Haiti. It began to get dark and we were literally
stranded at the border. We had been checked out of the Dominican
Republic and refused entrance into the Country of Haiti. Our passports
were accepted but the vehicle was not passed through. I called a
missionary friend Bill Jones with IFM missions in Jimani. Bill introduced me to Aaron Lavy
the General Administrator at the mission in Fond Parisien, Haiti. Aaron
offered for us to stay overnight at the mission base until we were able
to get something worked out with the vehicle. I am always thankful and
amazed at how our Lord provides the right people in the right place at
the right time. Pastor Julian stayed with the vehicle at the border
Police station and Seth and I headed in to Haiti to stay at the IFM
Mennonite Mission Base for the evening. In the morning we had arranged
for the vehicle to stay at a mission base on the Dominican side and also
hired a vehicle from the Haitian base to take us the rest of the trip
to St. Marc with all of the supplies for the children at the orphanage.
When we got to the house of our friend Pastor Bill Cannon a
missionary church planter in St. Marc. We carried in with us new
equipment for the radio station in St. Marc. Ears To Hear Radio has
provided a new computer and software, a new condenser Mic, a scissor mic
stand, new headphones and a small temporary 5 watt transmitter. We
worked hard for two days setting things up in the station and by God's
grace we were able to get the station that had been off the air for over
a year back on the air once again. Within a few minutes of broadcasting
one of the young men from the station began to get messages on his
phone from people asking if the station was back on the air because they
had heard it on the radio! Please continue to pray, this station still
needs to have a new transmitter which Galcom International has partnered
with Ears To Hear Radio to provide. They are currently raising the
needed funds to supply the new transmitter. This station will also need
to have 6-10 new solar panels purchased and installed to ensure that the
station has adequate power and so that the euipment will no longer be
in danger of damage from the power spike from the inconsistent source
coming from the street. I had been asked to help with the setting in
order of some of the issues at the orphanage in St. Marc as well and
part of a team to help set in motion long term goals and sustainability
in ministry for the work here. Please pray for the work Pastor Biil,
Pastor Julian, Pastor Anous and myself are doing for the orphanage in
St. Marc and that God would be honored through everything there in that
place. There are many needs at the orphanage and a strong desire to see
work done that will last, esecially in the spiritual lives of these
children. Seth and I had to leave early from our planned two week trip
in Haiti due to an outbreak of infection among my children staying back
in Polo at the Truell's home. Seth and I headed in to Port au Prince
along with Ebed "dodo" and Pastor Julian. The "tap tap" public
transportation van we hired was involved in an accident in City Sole and
we had to go to the police station. While at the police station in the
streets out front a protest/riot broke out among the people protesting a
recent murder of a radio personality and the police had the murder
suspect in custoody. The people were chanting give him to us we will
give him justice... it was a little scary to say the least especially
when the police came out in riot gear and with tear gas.By God's grace
no one was injured and we were able to leave the station in about an
hour to continue on our journey to the border. When we arrived near the
border we were told that the border was closed and had been for a couple
of days. They were not letting anyone through. There had been ongoing
disputes between the Haitians and the Dominicans and at the height of
the termoil the Haitians in retaliation had stolen a flatbed tractor and
trailer loaded with cement. They used the truck to block the road at a
vulnerable spot and were not allowing anyone to pass through. I told the
taxi man to drop us off and we would walk. Thats when I remembered the
friends we met on the way in. Seth and I walked to the IFM mission base
where they warmly welcomed us and we stayed there for a few days until
we were able to make a run for the border. On Saturday morning we heard
that they had let a few people go through so Shea (IFM Missionary)and I
went to the road block to see if we could pass. I was able to crawl
under the truck amd make my way toward the actual crossing which was
still several miles away. When I reached the Haitian border patrol there
was no one manning the posts. So I went on through to the Dominican
side and got our passports stamped back in to the country. I then went
back to the IFM base to get Seth and try to get us through with our
bags. We finally made it through the border and just as we were to pass
through we were stopped by the Dominican Customs police and he was not
going to let us pass. He said I hadnt paid the exit fee, I showed him my
receipt but he still wanted money from me. I refused to pay his bribe,
so I went back to the customs office and while we were there shooting
began to break out at the gate where Seth and I just were. We stayed
back behind some metal containers and then were able to leave because
the Customs police had left once the shooting began. God reminded me
through Ebed that what we are working on in Haiti is taking back the air
waves from the enemy, he reminded me how big this work is and how much
the work is opposed by the enemy. He encouraged me to press on and
continue and promised he would pray for my family continually.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is
wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this
light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
April 2012
I could by no means tell you all of the stories or tell you of all the
people that God has used in our lives or brought into our paths here on
the field. Likewise the people we have touched or the lives changed. I
am so thankful that Jen is back and doing well, Seth had surgery on both
of his toes and we have had a few bouts with infections, but God has
brought healing. This month we hosted a missions team from Mt. Vernon
Church who brought a team to do construction at the school. We were able
to install a new water tank, a platform for it, new water pipes to the
school and to the bathroom, the new toilet is now working, and a new
security alarm system and a camera security system. The team built new
steps to the door of the school as well as three new benches for the
children to use during school and as Wilkyns teaches a Bible Study for
the community on Sunday mornings. Jen and Christina have been faithful
to continue teaching their little children at the school and everyone is
happy to see the difference that is being made. I am amazed that just
one year ago today there was an empty field filled with the dreams and
vision from Wilkyns and now we have been able to see God build a
facility for these children to have a place to be educated and to learn
about the Lord. So much has happened in just one short year. To God be
all the glory and praise!! As many of you know that I am always talking
about how missions needs to be sustainable and if we as Americans are
doing things right we will spend the time needed in making disciples and
training up the local people to actually do the work even though many
times it is way easier just to do things on your own than to take the
effort and time that is needed to train the trainers. I thank God for
Wilkyns and the heart God has given him for his community. As we invest
time into building this project we are sowing into a work that could be
generational. I am so blessed to work with him and I pray that God
continues to grow our relationship together.
Right now we have been having some issues with our van. We had been
given a 2003 VW Transporter 10 Passenger deisel 5 speed van for use for
the ministry here from a partnering Dominican national church in Santo
Domingo. Let me tell you it has been such a blessing and without it many
of the things that we have been a part of over the past three months
would have been impossible. With having a vehicle causes you to have
vehicle problems. So I am thankful even for the problems! So Pastor
Darren and I started out to the Capitol with his truck and our
motorcycles in the back to find parts for my van and to help Nathan a
Haitian minister relocate to the north when the engine in Pastor Darrens
truck blew. Thank God we had the bikes with us. We were able to get
Nathan on the right bus to go to Higuey and Pastor Darren and I began
searching for the right parts to fix his truck and the parts for my van.
As I write this we are still trying to get the parts needed to fix the
van. I believe we may have found them in the Capitol. Please pray for
God to continue to work out our transportatio problems. Last year we
asked you to pray for a van and God provided! I am sking you to pray
again, we could use one more so when the teams come we have adequate
room to bring them in, and also the group of youth we are transporting
to the Bible study has outgrown our current ride. Praise God the van we
currently have is one of the best in fuel consumption and if its Gods
will we would love to get one more of the same van.
I wanted to save some Good News for the end. This month we officially
received our approval as an International Non-Governmental Organization.
We have received our RNC# which allows our purchases here to be tax
free(tax here is 16%) and the things we ship in to be exhonerated. This
was the next needed step as well to proceed with our FM Radio License
application. I have been working on this paperwork daily and at times I
feel very overwhelmed but take comfort in the fact that this is His work
and He will do what is needed in His way and in His timing! This work
has been almost 2 years in the making and we are so happy to see this
chapter close and the next one open!
Prayer Requests:
1. Please pray for us as we seek to be accurate representatives of Jesus here.
2. Pray for us to be led by His spirit and for God's favor in this work.
3. Pray that many come to know Jesus through the Bible studies and the daily relationships we have here in our community.
4. Pray for safety for Jen and Christina as they teach at the school.
5. Pray for Charis she has been seizure free for almost a year. Please pray that God would continue His healing in her.
6. Pray for Seth as he is praying about some big things in his life for his future.
7. Pray that our kids could finish well with home-school.
8. Pray for God's provision for the needed homeschool curriculum for next year.
9. Pray for our Spanish to get better.
10. Pray for these current and upcoming projects: Batey Central school,
orphanage in Haiti, water in Batey Central, repair well drilling rig,
ECHO agriculture, Haiti 102.3 FM, The Barahona Radio Station, and the
medical work in Batey Central, INDOTEL communications project, Solar
project for school, Solar project for Haiti 102.3, Solar project for The
Barahona Radio Station.
11. Pray as we are seeking God's will for our families housing situation
in light of security and cleaner water to reduce the risk of
infections.
12. Please pray as we continue to thank God to provide for our family
here on the field please pray for His provision to continue.
13. Pray God would provide for the airfare needed to fly back to the United States in June.
God Bless all of you. We are blown away by God's love that has been
poured out to our family through you. This last year has been full of
tragedy, trials, and also triumphs all of which have caused us to be
more thankful that we are sealed by His Love. God in fact answers our
prayers. Please Pray.
Lord Willing we will be back in the United States from June 18th, 2012
until September 15th, 2012. If you would like to schedule a missions
update presentation during this time please contact me as soon as
possible. We are happy to share with your church, youth, or home group.
contact: shawnrineholt@yahoo.com or 809-223-7883
2 Corinthians 10:12-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 For we
dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend
themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We,
however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the
sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
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