A Haitian Summer

We are excited to share with you the details of our upcoming trip to Haiti. As you know our family has committed this year to serve as the US Directors of the non-profit, Christian Friendship Ministries. 

For the last ten months we have worked double time, since we both work full-time jobs as well. It has been a real family effort (kids stuffing envelopes, running fundraisers together, visiting and sharing at various churches). 

And now, as we pack for six weeks in Haiti, it feels like a glorious finale at an Independence Day fireworks show!

 We will leave California on July 1st, arriving in Haiti on July 2nd and return around August 5th. 

We are thrilled to have three teams from Fresno and Clovis join us this summer. Our first team is from Soma Christian Church in Clovis. This team will be teaching at the women’s conference at our church in Pignon, Haiti. The second team will be leading a men’s conference. They are led by Pastor Chris Schultz from The Well Church in Fresno. The last team will lead a youth conference, led by Pastor JR Coleman of The Word Church in Fresno. 

We are so encouraged by those willing to serve in Haiti this summer.

Would you partner with us in prayer for the next few months as we prepare to leave and while we live in Haiti? We would so appreciate it if you could set aside a little bit of time each day to pray for our family and for Haiti. You can stay connected to what we are doing via Facebook or through this blog.

 We also need to raise a bit more money for our summer expenses. Since Tanner is leaving his business, he will also lose all of his income for almost 7 weeks. We need to raise another $3,700 by June 30th. We are very aware of the costs and sacrifices involved in traveling to Haiti so often, but we know how vital it is to our work. 

We are so grateful for your encouragement and prayers. This journey should never be traveled alone, so thank you for joining us!

Blessings,

Tanner, Stacey, Gabe & Claire Munro

**If you can give a donation, please make checks payable to CFM or you can donate online via PayPal at www.christianfriendshipministries.org

Remember to include a note designating your donation to “the Munros”.

Oh What A Year...

I have to be honest, it has been terribly difficult for me to sit down and write this letter. Writing means I have to reflect and reflecting stirs up emotions I haven’t had time to deal with. I can’t write this letter to you without being completely honest and bold.

God says in Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Sometimes in your life, you just have to trust in these words. These words we believe to be true and relevant. These words giving us hope that God is sovereign even through the sting of life.

This synopsis of our year leads me back to WHO God is and HOW great He is.

In April, Tanner returned to Haiti, his third journey to a land that he has great passion for. He took a team of eight men to build a playground at one of Christian Friendship Ministries (CFM) schools. 

During this time, he was still struggling through his excruciating pain from his back injury. We prayed God would heal him as he continued to step out in faith.

Tanner ended up having spinal surgery in May. His pain has gone from horrible, to next to nothing. We praise God for this. It was a scary and uncertain procedure, but God had plans to use Tanner to further His kingdom. God is our healer.

Shortly after Tanner’s return from Haiti, one of his best friends and the director of CFM, Ericlee Gilmore, was diagnosed with melanoma. 

Ericlee stepped into Heaven in September and every day we feel his presence. We hear his words speaking encouragement into our lives. 

We continue to run this race for Ericlee as we run this nonprofit in his honor. God is our comforter.

In November, Tanner and I traveled back to Haiti to meet with our Haitian leaders and pastors. All I can say is, wow! We have a big responsibility to carry on what Ericlee’s grandparents started in 1947. 

I am so thankful for all of our supporters. We need more prayer than ever as we step into this new role.


 If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. 
 ~ African proverb

We both still work full-time jobs, run kids to practice and games, do busy American life and run this nonprofit. Where is the time?! Good thing God is the controller of the time. 

Whenever we feel overwhelmed, we remember this is God’s burden and we are just part of His plan. Thank you, Jesus, for that!!

Our children are growing: Gabe is 10 and in the 5th grade. He was baptized in December. What a celebration in Heaven! 

Claire is 7 and in the 2nd grade. She has a crazy-adventurous spirit. 

I love seeing how God molds and shapes these little creatures in our home. 

Tanner and I celebrated our 15-year anniversary in June. 

We took the family to Kelowna, BC, Tanner's hometown for the occasion. 


We celebrated by renewing our vows in front of our Canadian family and friends overlooking a beautiful lake.

What does this new year look like for our family?! 

 
 We will travel to Haiti again in July and stay for 4-5 weeks as a family. We will host teams and continue to learn the Haitian way and language.

Tanner has to cut back his hours training clients as he spends more time running CFM, so we will need some regular financial supporters to bridge that gap. 

We are praying that God is stirring the hearts of those who can give to our family and to this ministry. God is our faithful provider.

We trust in His promise. 

We believe in His vision. 

We will run in His race.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...” Hebrews 12:1

 Would you prayerfully consider financially supporting our family this year and praying for us?  We know God works mightily through prayer!

We are excited to see and hear how God is working in your life as you enter this new year.

Blessings in the new year,

 Stacey, Tanner, Gabe and Claire

               

Our financial needs for 2015:

-$2,000 per month (this will cover some of our lost income for the year as well as allow us to save for plane tickets)

-We still need $6,000 to cover our travel expenses and lost income for July.

-All donations will recieve a tax receipt. You can donate here.

Through it all, my eyes are on you...It is well.

Do you ever think about how you got to the place where you are? When did this journey begin? Did God plan it from my mother's womb? This is the path we are on. This journey is our mountain. 


God put the Gilmore's in our path, like He has so many others, through our desire to care for orphans in Haiti starting in 2010. In 2012, we traveled to Haiti, where the Gilmore's hosted us at their Christian Friendship Ministries mission house.

The irony keeps coming around...I "sort of" coaxed my husband and children to follow me on this initial trip to Haiti. Reluctant followers of their crazy wife and mom. Now, here we are, my husband's heart bleeding everyday for Haiti. My children's prayers going up every night for their Haitian brothers and sisters.


A month ago, Tanner lost his dear friend to cancer. I've had a hard time putting my thoughts to words. It's sometimes easier to stay busy. I don't process well, especially when things are really hard. 

Ericlee died on a Tuesday. Tanner had held him in his arms the previous Sunday. We left the Gilmore's house that Sunday, releasing our friend to God's hands.

Ericlee's mom told us not to be offended by God's decisions. His mom...her only child. A faith that has inspired us and discipled us this year. 

How do we take on this huge task of running this huge non-profit?!


Since, that moment, our lives are changed forever. Our days and nights are much longer. We both work full time and in the middle of life and running kids to practices and making dinner and packing lunches, we run this non-profit. 

I often see the office light on at 3 am, my husband pouring into this nation of Haiti, rising early, so he can still be at work at 5 am.


At night, we hold each other and talk to God. We have been given much responsibility. The burden is big. The reward is eternal. 


 

 Would you walk with us? 

Would you pray for us? 

Would you give what you can?

As we face this mountain of grief and this pile of work, we are encouraged and blessed to know you stand with us. 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Big Changes for the Munros and We NEED Your Help...

As many of you know, our dear friend, Ericlee Gilmore, is battling stage four cancer. Ericlee and his wife have been the U.S. directors of Christian Friendship Ministries for the last five years. Tanner has served on the board of CFM for the last two years.

In an effort to give Ericlee more time with his family and time to heal, Tanner has been appointed the new U.S. Director. 

Ericlee and Dorina are taking a one-year sabbatical at this time. They have laid the important groundwork and built up a large network of supporters to help this ministry flourish. It is amazing to see what it has become since Ericlee's grandparents became missionaries there in the 1940s. 

Tanner will now be responsible to carry on what the Gilmores have so graciously grown. I will, of course, help him out as much as I can. We have an amazing board of brilliant people, who will be helping in great ways, too.

Our goal for this year is to continue the growth of the ministry, both spiritually and in partnership. We desire to make the Gilmores proud and carry on their amazing efforts.

Tanner and I will be traveling to Haiti this November to meet with the Haitian pastors and leaders as well as to discuss new curriculum for the schools. We will be traveling over Thanksgiving break for approximately eight days. Some of the other board members will most likely join us.

After this initial trip, we will be able to strategically plan the rest of the year. We hope to return again to Haiti in the summer of 2015 with our children for a longer amount of time, possibly 4-6 weeks. 
 This will allow us to host teams from the states and spend more time understanding the Haitian culture.  

This is an emotionally hard time for us as we pray and hope for our friend's healing. We are so humbled to be running this ministry for this year.

Please keeps us in your prayers and if you can help support us financially, please let us know.

We need to raise roughly $30,000 for the year. 

Some of this money will be used for our plane tickets for both trips, traveling expenses and other necessary items. Most will be used to help support some upcoming projects we see needs for, such as, curriculum for the schools, Bibles and Hymnals for the churches and work that needs to be completed on the orphanage.  

If you can support us financially (either monthly or a one-time gift), please write checks to Christian Friendship Ministries. You can mail them to us at our address or CFM's:

Christian Friendship Ministries
PO Box 27584
Fresno, CA 93729-7584

 OR

Use this link to donate via PayPal. 
Either way, include a note designating the money to "The Munros" 

 Thank you for praying with us during this difficult time. 

 We rely on God, family and great friends for support.

A Playground!

For many years, Ericlee and his wife, Dorina, had been fundraising and dreaming about giving the kids at the Bridge Children's home a place to play. There are many school children who attend Christian Friendship Ministries school who would benefit, too. 

Tanner put together another "dream team" of men and off they went. They traveled to Haiti in April 2014 to complete this huge project. Many of our Haitian partners had already prepared the ground and area for the new playground, which was a HUGE help.

The finished product was amazing! Just imagine these kids smiles! They were playing on swings for the first time!

Mission House Trip...the Fixer Upper

Tanner and his team of men traveled to Haiti in May, 2013 to repair the mission house. It was in dire need of some repairs. They were also able to work on other projects around the mission house and orphanage, and provide showers for the orphanage. It was a great trip filled with many manly things! In the end, they were able to complete their projects and leave money behind for our Haitian partners to complete some other work.