New Location

I've set up a new website.  You can now find my blog and lots of other information at: 

www.hisbigpicture.org

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. He talks about a man who entrusts his servants with varying amounts money while he goes away on a journey. Each of the servants responds to this responsibility in different ways.

The last two years, God has entrusted me with the children and supervisors that are part of the GlobalFingerprints program in Haiti. He has asked me to do a specific work for the benefit of the children he loves there. Just like in the parable, when the master returns and finds that the servant has been not only faithful in his task, but has actually expanded the resources, he rewards him with more, I feel that God is pleased with my work, and has asked me to take on more.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" Matthew 25:21

I am excited to announce that I have accepted a new full-time position with GlobalFingerprints. My new title is: GlobalFingerprints Director, Strategic Site Development and Software/Technology Development. That title is a mouthful so let me break it down.

The first part of my new roll is in the area of strategic alignment between our GlobalFingerprints programs and the Global divisions within which they minister. With the addition of three new sites in the last year, it has become evident that there is a need for someone to be the go-between for our GlobalFingerprints sites and our efforts as ReachGlobal (the overall mission of the EFCA). I will be working with new sites to make sure they are multiplying our current efforts within the geographical area they are starting. I will then also be working with our current sites to make sure their goals are in strategic alignment within their divisions as well.

The second part of my new position will be in the area software/technology development, I will be the point person for the development of a new database for the GlobalFingerprints program. I will be the go-between with a software development team, our ReachGlobal Communications and Tech teams, and our GlobalFingerprints team. The current database is desperately in need of an overhaul... and that's an understatement.

My husband, Andy, will pick up the music part of my role in Haiti. Andy will be joining the GlobalFingerprints team in Haiti as the music director. He is currently in the application process and is looking forward to picking things up and developing them further. He will continue to work as a band director for Edina Public School and plans to travel two or three times a year to develop and maintain the music program in Haiti.

Andy and I will be able to start our new roles once we have raised our full support. We are hoping to raise 50-60% of it by January so that I will be able to start pulling my salary with the prayerful goal of being fully funded by the spring. We are currently at about 20% if nothing in our current support system changes.

I am asking you to prayerfully consider your partnership in this ministry moving forward. Andy and I will be working together to raise the financial and prayer support we need to serve GlobalFingerprints together as a team.

Looking forward to chatting with you soon!
Andy and Lynn

Where Did August Go??

I feel like I blinked my eyes, and August is done and gone. Here are some fun photos from last month.

Panama - LAC/MENA Division Conference

August 6th - 13th my entire family had the opportunity to participate in the LAC/MENA Division Conference (LAC - Latin America/Caribbean; MENA - Middle East North Africa). Our family was poured into in a way we never have been before. We spent the week being encouraged, inspired and refreshed. It was also an amazing time of bonding and a series of firsts for my kids (first time on a plane, first time in the ocean, first time at a resort).

Haiti - Team Training

Three days after we returned from Panama, I was back on a plane headed for Haiti. I spent three days there with our Haitian staff. We were focused on implementing some of the training we've been doing over the last two years. Our focus was on collaboration, and it was amazing to hear some of the thoughts and ideas our Haitian teammates brought to the table. This team is literally on the spiritual front line. Please keep them in your prayers as they are daily going out into the community to engage and check in with the children in our program.

Back to School

A week after I arrived at home, it was time to go back to school. Andy: 16th year teaching. Michael 7th grade. Abby 5th grade. Tony 2nd grade. Charlie 4 years old and in his last year of preschool.

COS Process

ReachGlobal really likes to use acronyms. COS stands for Change of Status and I will be seeking that this week. I cannot believe it has been two years already since I started this journey with ReachGlobal, and GlobalFingerprints. This week, I will be in interviews as I seek to change my status from 23-month short-term to long-term. I will spend three days meeting with teams from ReachGlobal to assess my ability to stay with this organization on a long term basis. Thank you to those of you whom have supported me prayerfully and financially. I will be in touch with everyone on this list within the next few weeks seeking time to talk with you about your ability and desire to stick with me for the long haul. Please start praying about how God might use you in helping to further my ministry with GlobalFingerprints.

May Term Music Trip

A Dream Became Reality!

This week, a dream became a reality.  Two years ago, while chatting with my boss, we were dreaming of what it could be like to have a band in Haiti.  We imagined all the kids at Source de la Grace with band instruments in their hands working together as a team to create music.  Not only creating music, but building on a marketable skill that they could use for gainful employment.  While there is still long way to go before the complete dream is realized, this week, it became a reality when a small team of us successfully delivered 23 band instruments to Port-au-Prince.
If you've been following this story, you know that Alayna Bolwin, a senior from Edina High School, approached me last year to ask if it would be possible to take instruments to Haiti and teach band lessons as a May Term project.  I joyfully said yes, and then Alayna got to work.  She made contacts and got the ball rolling in several areas.  We were able to collect 15 instruments via the online instrument donation wish list, Instruments in the Cloud.  Vega Productions, the company that runs Instruments in the Cloud, had agreed to match any instruments we collected, giving us a grand total of 30 donated instruments.  Vega Productions not only donated the 15 additional instruments, they also donated several other things we needed like valve oil, slide grease, clarinet reeds, cleaning tools, pad savers, and two really nice metronomes.  I'm not even sure I can put a value to the things that were donated and transported to Haiti this week.

 Caitlin and I with all the instruments in the back of my van.

All of the instruments and the three oversized containers.

Edina bandies helping to clean the instruments

 All the trumpets got a good bath

The flutes and clarinets got cleaned and polished

A Series of Miracles

Before we left, I was advised to be sure I had enough cash to get through customs in Haiti.  Sometimes, in Haiti, when you are bringing in valuable items, the people in customs like to take a cut for their own personal gain, or make you pay in order to keep everything you've got.  The whole idea of bartering or negotiating makes me really nervous.  I don't like confrontation and I don't like feeling like I'm being dishonest (about how much money I'm carry and could pay to keep all my things).
Despite how I was feeling, I asked everyone I talked to about it, to pray for us on the day we traveled, and I made sure I had enough cash on hand to ensure we could get the instruments through Haitian customs.
I was so focused on customs in Haiti, that I didn't even think about the size of the three containers we were transporting the instrument in.  Upon arrival at the MSP airport, we were informed by a very friendly American Airlines employee that our cases were "oversized".  They were not over weight, just too big and we would need to pay extra.  She went to check on the overage fees and returned to tell us were were going to need to pay an additional $200.00 per container, for a total of $600.00!  I asked if there was anything we could do and she asked about what was in the containers.  When we explained they were band instruments going to Haiti, she helped us finish printing our tickets and then told us to meet her at a special ticket window.  When we got there, she printed our luggage tags, and then took all three containers without charging us a thing.  Once we realized what was happening and expressed our deep gratitude, she said it was no problem, and those kids in Haiti deserve to have some band instruments and music in their lives, and wished us luck.
The three of us were amazed!  As we wondered over the the TSA lines, we noticed the second miracle, we had all been granted pre-check!  Once that line opened, we were through security in just a few minutes and made our way to our gate.  The rest of our travel was flawless.

During our flight from Miami into Port-au-Prince, I spent a lot of time in prayer.  While I was praying, bits a pieces of lots of different scripture were crossing my mind... keep your eyes on him and don't grow weary... with thanksgiving, present your request to God... Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see... Do not worry... and many others.  I was comforted by the fact that I knew many were praying, and that no matter what, God was in control of this and it was going to go His way.
We landed in PAP, collected our bags, and with confidence approached the customs counter.  When they saw us coming with our three large containers, they stopped me and asked what what inside.  With a big smile and lots of confidence, I answered, "band instruments."

"Are they new or used?"
"Ohh used, defiantly not new"
"Please step over there."

Oh man, here we go, I thought.  We stepped to the area where they check through bags and with my confident smile, and some broken Creole, I answered their questions joyfully about them being used band instruments.  They were impressed that I was trying to speak to them in Creole.   They were not impressed by my skills, more the fact that I was being friendly and trying to speak to them.  I explained that I am a music teacher and was taking the instruments for the children in the program I work with.  At this point, I was extremely thankful for the luggage tags I had purchased.  They were the kind that you insert your business card and it self-laminates.  I was able to point to it and show them where it says "Director of Music" and "Haiti".  They opened up the first container and saw that it was full of band instruments and music books.  They asked if the other two were the same and when I answered yes, they said, "Ok, have a nice time," and sent us on our way!  They never gave us any trouble, never even hinted that they might take something from us, or that they would charge us to take anything with us.  I was so relieved I could have done a happy dance right there in customs!  I figured I shouldn't push my luck and instead bee-lined it out of there.

Our oversized containers arriving safely at the guest house.

Steady as She Goes

The rest of the week has gone just as smoothly.  We have had no trouble on the roads and all of our teaching sessions went just as planned.  We taught flute and trombone on Thursday, clarinet and trumpet on Friday, and on Saturday, we helped the Haitian staff show the instruments to the students, and helped the students try each of the instruments so that they could make their choices.

Alayna shows the supervisors a flute

Hannah shows Jean Marie a clarinet

Lynn teaching some trombone

Adelcon supervising some clarinet students

Lynn making some corrections while Adelcon is goofing off

The supervisors and a couple students learning the trumpet

More trumpet and our fantastic interpreter Sony (he is the bomb diggity)

One of the students trying the trumpet

Adelcon working with some students as they try the trombone

Hannah showing a student how to put a reed onto the clarinet

Alayna demonstrating how to get a sound on the flute

Some of the girls who really liked the trumpet

Another successful student trial on the clarinet

The entire class is excited to start their lessons on these instruments.

Not Done Yet

Today is Monday.  Alayna and her sister, Hannah, are spending the day at the local clinic (both have interested in the medical field, or public health) and enjoying the opportunity to see the way that the clinic with 4.5 doctors/NP's serve in an area where they have almost 5,000 registered patients.
Tomorrow, we will be headed home.  Unfortunately the trend has been on the way home from my most successful trips is when the trouble comes.  Please continue to pray for our team as we head home tomorrow.  Pray that our drive to the airport is without pause or interruption, that our flights are all on time, and that we have a smooth transition through customs in Miami.  Thanks for praying!

Moving Forward

I had an amazing realization today.  After planning for almost two years about how to get instruments to Haiti and how to get them started, we've done it.  Today I got to start dreaming about the next steps.  I started to think about short-term groups coming down to do band camps, or master classes.  I've started dreaming about their first concert.

I'm so thankful for this amazing adventure.

April Newsletter

11 Instruments and Counting!

In the last month, 11 instruments have been donated via our wish list at Instruments in the Cloud.  It is so exciting to me each time I get an email announcing that someone else would like to give their instrument to us.  I actually feel a little bad for most of the people donating their instruments because I'm so excited to tell them about where there instrument is going, and how it's going to be used... and they just want to get rid of this old instrument that has been taking up space and collecting dust.
Most of the donors have found our wish list online by searching for where to donate old instruments. This includes Pastor Larry Stromberg from Centennial Church in Forest Lake, MN.  Larry was just looking to off load some old instruments but was surprised when he found our listing for GlobalFingerprints.  Larry is an EFCA pastor and is familiar with GlobalFingerprints already, and so became very excited (with me) about where these instruments would go, and how we could get the word out so that more people could participate.
Larry and I met for coffee and talked more about my work in Haiti, and how his congregation could potentially get involved.  He also encouraged me to participate in the North Central District Conference (an EFCA pastors conference) that is happening next week at Constance Free Church in Andover.  After his encouragement, I followed up on that opportunity and will be hosting a GlobalFingerprints display.  During my time there I will be able to talk with pastors from many other churches about what we're doing in Haiti and how their home churches can get involved.

This is Larry and I along with the four instruments he donated to GlobalFingerprints.

Change of Status

I have officially begun my change of status process with ReachGlobal.  When I originally signed on, I agreed to a 23-month term.  I cannot believe how quickly it has gone, but that term ends on September 1st, 2016.  In order to continue my work with ReachGlobal, I have to go through their process to change over from "short-term staff" to "long-term staff".  This means lots of paper work, self-evaluation assessments (StrengthsFinders, DiSC, Prepare/Enrich, etc), some interviews and a new support schedule (budget).  All of my paperwork is due on April 15th and there will be interviews and meetings in May and June.  I should find out in June if they have accepted my change in status.  Once those hurtles have been cleared, I will go through some training this fall which will be followed by a period of raising long-term support.  Please pray for me through this process, and also start to prayerfully consider your long-term financial involvement as a part of my team.  

March Newsletter

Instruments in the Cloud

Whoever heard of such a silly thing? Well, I have, and you know what? It's AMAZING! The last month has been full of fun progress on a big project. Let me fill you in.
Every year, students at Edina High School are given the opportunity to do a May Term project. Students come up with an educational idea, think it through, and apply to be granted permission to do the project they have dreamt up.

Last fall, one of Andy's band students approached me and asked what I thought about the idea of taking some student to Haiti to teach music lessons as a May Term project. I, of course, was thrilled! This student has done all of the heavy lifting. She has filled out all the necessary paper work, put together a team, planned meetings and is really impressing me with her organizational skills and motivation. As part of all of this planning, this student contacted our local public radio station because each year the station puts on an instrument drive. She wanted to know how that worked and if we could replicate it in order to collect instruments to take with us as part of the project. She was directed to Vega Producations.

"Vega Productions’ mission and work focus on supporting quality music and art education in schools. Over the past decade, Vega has provided more than 30,000 students with the opportunity to participate in music and art education programs across Minnesota. We believe that students benefit tremendously from quality music and art education and that music and art are integral parts of a whole curriculum.

Caitlin Marlotte, Executive Director of Vega Productions, was excited to meet with this student and me. She walked us through the ways in which Vega helps schools in Minnesota acquire instruments. While she acknowledged that they have not ever done anything like this for a program like GlobalFingerprints, she is excited to work with us. Caitlin has helped us set up a musical instrument drive including our very own musical wish list on Instruments in the Cloud.

Instruments in the Cloud is an online way to for people to donate instruments they are no longer using to a school or program in need. GlobalFingerprints Haiti now has a wish list. It is open and ready to accept your instruments. In fact, we have already collected 8 instruments!

There are two major ways you can get involved! 

1. Check out our wish list at www.instrumentsinthecloud.org/wish_lists and donate that old instrument you've got sitting around your house!

2. Financially support the three students going on this trip. These three students are working to raise the $1,800.00 they will each need to go on this trip. If you are interested in helping them raise their funds, please contact me lynn.richter@efca.org, and I will get you the details.

January Newsletter

Super Mom or a Part of the Bionic Woman?

I've been told I'm a high capacity person.  I'm capable of taking on a lot of things at the same time and doing a pretty good job of managing them all.  While sometimes, I find pride in that, this year God has something else in mind for me to learn about.

Since the first week of January, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, has come up at least three times in three different venues of my life.  This is the section of the Bible where Paul is explaining to the people of Corinth how God made each of us different and special, like the parts of a body.  He created some people to be like the eyes, others to be like ears, and still others to be like hands or feet.  This is important, because we've all been created to do one thing really well, and no matter how hard I might try to be something else, it's not necessarily what I'm meant to be.  Figuratively speaking, If I'm made to be an eye, there's no way I'm ever going to be able to taste something.  Above all of that, in verse 18 it says, "God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."  That means that if I spend my whole life thinking I'm a tongue trying to taste something, I'm going to miss my God-given appointment to see all of the beautiful things He's created for me to see as an eye.

Now, I don't believe that God has created me to be an eye.  I think of myself more like a vain or an artery.  I believe it's my job to keep everyone connected.  Unfortunately, I've spent a lot of time being impatient and trying to do everyone else's job just to get things done quicker, in my time, not His.  This year, I plan to rest in God's placement of me in the body.  I'm going to focus on doing my job really well.  I believe a big part of that, is helping everyone else find where they fit as well, and then delegating out the responsibilities that go with their divine appointment.  Not only that, but it's my desire to draw more people into the body of Christ and to help them find their place.

I choose to be part of something bigger than myself rather than don a cape and take on the world alone.

Updates
Please keep these things in mind as you pray for my work in Haiti.

• My last travel to Haiti in January was filled with a wonderful time of reflecting on 2015 and looking ahead to new goals in 2016.  You can read more about all of that on the GlobalFingerprints Blog.  
• My next trip is tentatively planned for May.  I'm hoping to travel with a few students from Edina High School.  There is a small group that is working on a May Term Project plan to collect instruments, help me deliver them, and teach some lessons.  
• Through some generous contributions, my family will be able to participate in the Latin America/Caribbean Division Conference in August.  We will be traveling to Panama City, Panama for a week of meetings, training and a little fun in the sun.  
• My family continues to be healthy.