I can't believe our time here has almost come to an end. We have had so many different experiences, it seems like it's been longer than a week. Today we were able to enjoy another day of beautiful weather! It will be a rude awakening to hit MN with below zero temperatures...
This morning the whole team visited Maxo's school and was able to play with the kids at recess in their very small play area. Some of the boys are amazing soccer players despite the rocky and hilly terrain! The girls were doing jump rope and playing hand clapping games. Kids here are full of such pure joy. Our US kids, with all of their "stuff", could learn a few things. Adults, too are quick to offer a hug or white Haitian smile and warm greeting.
We read some Bible stories to some of the classes through the translators. Our group had Jonah and I enjoyed the spotlight, hamming it up to describe how Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of a big fish. How appropriate that it is the topic of my current women's bible study. The other group had older kids who were already familiar with the Noah's Ark story so they made up a cheesy skit and then had the kids do one as well. Fun times!
In the afternoon, we enjoyed some wonderful time at the beach to relax and debrief. It was so tranquil and beautiful, it was hard to believe some of the poverty and chaos we had been in. What a reminder of God's ability to make beauty from ashes.
I love this beautiful, terrible place. I love the people and their perserverence and faith. There is hope in Haiti and many people are coming to know Jesus. Yes, there is much to be done. But I believe in the vision of ReachGlobal and the relationships that are being built, one team at a time. What a better way to know Jesus than to come to know His followers.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Children of Haiti
Today the men continued on their potty project at the orphanage. They put a lot of sweat into it and some of the boys at the orphanage about 8-10 years old worked right alongside them. Jeff was pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt with a little guy in front of him "helping". Eric was shoveling and a young barefoot kid was right next to him, a pro at the pick axe! It was every mother's'nightmare....barefoot kids alongside a deep hole with heavy sharp tools! But they were in their glory:)
We women went to My Life Speaks for special needs children again and did some therapy. Frantzsky, an adorable little guy had an entourage of us around him cheering him on as he tried to roll over and reach for things. He was a little flirt and had the most beautiful smile. We also worked with a little girl and got her out of her wheelchair in some different positions for stretching that she normally hates. It's amazing what she could tolerate in front of an audience of entertainers and encouragers though! We found out the group Lady Antebellum is a big supporter of this ministry and have been to visit.
In the afternoon we went to Maxo's school to teach knitting to a group of 12-15 year old girls Ashlee has been discipling. It was a bit chaotic at first since we didn't have a translator right away but many of them seemed to catch on and learned to cast on and knit a few rows. One of the messages Ashlee is trying to get across is that they have worth and value in God's eyes since unmarried women here often become pregnant at a young age and then their schooling abruptly stops.
We got a good start teaching a couple of different groups of kids to knit and another woman who is a knitter arrives today and she will be here for the next two weeks to follow up. It will be cool for this to be able to continue after we are gone. We have brainstormed about doing a knitting lesson trip with several knitters from Constance to teach the village women a valuable skill and trade and perhaps sell their items in the US. So all of you fellow knitters, start praying about it and see if God wants you in Haiti.
It's hard to believe the week here will be coming to an end soon. Here are some comments from the group:
"I was surprised at how relational the people were."
"I was surprised at the faith of the people here and how they trust in God"
"People here are beautiful; there are no ugly Haitians!"
"Their physical needs are so great yet they feel their greatest need is spiritual"
We may have come here to help the Haitians but they really have taught us some valuable life lessons. We will leave here changed.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Prayer Walking
This morning the menfolk, Eric and Jeff went back to the orphanage to continue their" potty project". Thankfully more block was delivered so they could continue. It's dirty work and Jeff came back resembling Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoon!
Bonnie, Kelsey, Ashlee (our ReachGlobal guesthouse leader) , myself and Jen (from Nebraska) went to My Life Speaks in Leogan. It is a ministry that focuses on caring for special needs children and has a big community presence and feeding program. Kids in Haiti with special needs are often abandoned or neglected. It is hard enough to care for your children here and provide for even their basic needs but if they have cerebral palsy, Down's sydrome or other issues it can be overwhelming. My Life Speaks has a "family house"where a Haitian house mom and dad are with several special needs kids. Elizabeth, an OT from Kentucky has committed to a year here. We spent some time in her therapy room working with individual kids. She has improvised well and has had to be a PT and speech therapist, too. She has done some amazing work and her love for these kids shines through! We did a home visit to a child with probable Down's and it was cool to see the interaction both parents had with the child. There was hope on their faces and love as they described the progress their son has made. This was not the case in the beginning. Hope is an incredible gift for these parents with special needs kids.
In the afternoon, our whole team did our first prayer walk. We were all a bit apprehensive since none of us had done anything like it before. We had two Haitian translators with us to lead us into a village "neighborhood"where we simply approached people, had a conversation to get to know a bit about them and then ask them for prayer. A bit awkward and intimidating for us Americans. Imagine if someone approached you this was and came up to your home as you were doing laundry, sewing or operating your small store. You might think they were a bit nuts and be leery of them and not want to interact at all. Not true for these Haitians we encountered! They were immediately welcoming. The best example was an old woman immediately kissing each one of us on the cheek and literally running around to gather enough chairs for all of us to sit. Every person said Oui (YES) when asked for prayer. The interesting thing was none of them asked for the things you'd think they would ask for. Several asked for us to pray for their spiritual life. When asked about specific requests, a few responded "God already knows what I need." Two mothers looked beaten down and were a bit more subdued, like the spark had gone out of them. In separate encounters, both asked for prayer to be married. Each lived with a man who fathered their children and one even said she didn't want to be a "sinner." Our hearts went out to the tough circumstances that many women here are dealing with.
How I wish my prayer life looked more like that! God already know the details of what I need. I just want to pray to strengthen my relationship with Him....
In the early evening we decided to walk up the nearby mountain to watch the sunset. What an awesome vantage point to view this beautiful country. We could see the ocean and a birds-eye view of Maxo's school, the Repire Haiti school and many blue Samaritan's purse shelters. It was a tranquil setting and perfect weather and a chance to experience God's handiwork.
Hope is alive in Haiti and prayer makes a difference!
Bonnie, Kelsey, Ashlee (our ReachGlobal guesthouse leader) , myself and Jen (from Nebraska) went to My Life Speaks in Leogan. It is a ministry that focuses on caring for special needs children and has a big community presence and feeding program. Kids in Haiti with special needs are often abandoned or neglected. It is hard enough to care for your children here and provide for even their basic needs but if they have cerebral palsy, Down's sydrome or other issues it can be overwhelming. My Life Speaks has a "family house"where a Haitian house mom and dad are with several special needs kids. Elizabeth, an OT from Kentucky has committed to a year here. We spent some time in her therapy room working with individual kids. She has improvised well and has had to be a PT and speech therapist, too. She has done some amazing work and her love for these kids shines through! We did a home visit to a child with probable Down's and it was cool to see the interaction both parents had with the child. There was hope on their faces and love as they described the progress their son has made. This was not the case in the beginning. Hope is an incredible gift for these parents with special needs kids.
In the afternoon, our whole team did our first prayer walk. We were all a bit apprehensive since none of us had done anything like it before. We had two Haitian translators with us to lead us into a village "neighborhood"where we simply approached people, had a conversation to get to know a bit about them and then ask them for prayer. A bit awkward and intimidating for us Americans. Imagine if someone approached you this was and came up to your home as you were doing laundry, sewing or operating your small store. You might think they were a bit nuts and be leery of them and not want to interact at all. Not true for these Haitians we encountered! They were immediately welcoming. The best example was an old woman immediately kissing each one of us on the cheek and literally running around to gather enough chairs for all of us to sit. Every person said Oui (YES) when asked for prayer. The interesting thing was none of them asked for the things you'd think they would ask for. Several asked for us to pray for their spiritual life. When asked about specific requests, a few responded "God already knows what I need." Two mothers looked beaten down and were a bit more subdued, like the spark had gone out of them. In separate encounters, both asked for prayer to be married. Each lived with a man who fathered their children and one even said she didn't want to be a "sinner." Our hearts went out to the tough circumstances that many women here are dealing with.
How I wish my prayer life looked more like that! God already know the details of what I need. I just want to pray to strengthen my relationship with Him....
In the early evening we decided to walk up the nearby mountain to watch the sunset. What an awesome vantage point to view this beautiful country. We could see the ocean and a birds-eye view of Maxo's school, the Repire Haiti school and many blue Samaritan's purse shelters. It was a tranquil setting and perfect weather and a chance to experience God's handiwork.
Hope is alive in Haiti and prayer makes a difference!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Latrines and Knitting
The men have been at the orphanage digging a ditch and building a latrine and "sewer system"for the orphanage. So glad that's not my skill set! They are working hard and trying to understand how to do things the "Haitian Way"even though it doesn't always make sense....
We ladies had a much better gig. We taught a knitting class and the crochet teacher learned along with the kids so she can continue to instruct them in the future. They all oohed and aahed in amazement over the demo washcloth I showed them.! Can you picture American kids getting that excited over knitting a washcloth? The other funny thing was the kids had all just been treated for some kind of a fungus and had some purple ointment all over their heads and some on their faces. By the time we were finished we all were covered in purple splotches and so was some of the yarn and needles! At least it was a pretty color:) Thanks to all who donated knitting supplies. It was very well-recieved and teaches a practical life skill. They are also teaching the kids sewing and crocheting for that reason.
So here's to the power of the shovel and the needle today!
We ladies had a much better gig. We taught a knitting class and the crochet teacher learned along with the kids so she can continue to instruct them in the future. They all oohed and aahed in amazement over the demo washcloth I showed them.! Can you picture American kids getting that excited over knitting a washcloth? The other funny thing was the kids had all just been treated for some kind of a fungus and had some purple ointment all over their heads and some on their faces. By the time we were finished we all were covered in purple splotches and so was some of the yarn and needles! At least it was a pretty color:) Thanks to all who donated knitting supplies. It was very well-recieved and teaches a practical life skill. They are also teaching the kids sewing and crocheting for that reason.
So here's to the power of the shovel and the needle today!
The Power of One
Today the women went to an amazing school through a ministry called Repire Haiti run by a 27 year old woman named Megan. She has adopted 3 Haitian children and will be getting married next Tuesday! She came to Haiti once on a short-term mission trip and felt God's calling to minister to children called restaviks. They are basically slave children. If a family cannot afford to feed and take care of all of its children, one is "sold"to another family for labor and many of them do not attend school since it is an extra expense. Some are mistreated and abused as well. She has had some amazing "coincidences"that could only be orchestrated by God resulting in large amounts of money being donated to her ministry, one occuring from a conversation with someone on a plane! The owners of Otterbox, the company that makes the indestructable cell phone and iPod covers is a major donor and was the employer of her husband-to-be. They have several large school buildings on the top of a mountain with a spectacular view. 500 students attend and they offer a feeding program on school days and on Saturdays. Some kids walk for 2-3 hours to attend school. They are all in th cutest uniforms, especially the little kindergartners! Megan did not know any Haitian Creole or French when she came here but asked God to help her learn the language quickly and in 2 months she was fluent. It is hard to fathom how one young woman in her 20s helped to start all of this and she isn't even a trained teacher but has found people to come alongside her and train Haitian women to teach and employs many Haitians for building, kitchen help and will soon be opening a cafe selling the work of local artisans. What an example of how God can use us if only we are willing.
A Different Kind of Poverty
Today we went to a much more sedate church service in Gressier, near where we are staying. It was much more traditional and subdued, but beautiful in its own way.
I haven't mentioned the weather yet, but now's the time to rub it in! January is the BEST time to come here; it's so much better than August. Low humidity and dry and hot but not too hot. Sleeping is very comfortable and I didn't need my personal fan and actually covered up with a sheet! So I guess it is a "Haitian vacation"just like my daughter Maddy said!
We took a tour of the town and went into the "neighborhoods"where people live. Many are still living in the TouchGlobal (crisis response of the Free church) and Samaritan's Purse shelters built after the earthquake where hundreds were put up in this area. Unfortunately, they were only supposed to be temporary and last about 3 years....That is the next challenge: what should be done next and where are the resources? So please be praying that a solution can be found.
Most folks don't have running water, refrigeration or indoor plumbing. But the amazing thing is they are so neatly and well-dressed with clean and pressed clothes. For someone like me who hasn't picked up an iron in the last decade, that is truly impressive!
Later in the day, all of us ladies all went to an English class run by Maxo, one of our community partners. Kelsey actually got to give one of the students his exam, which he passed! Then Maxo took us to his home (which is still only half-built since the earthquake), his school and the land that was purchased in a more suitable location to build a new school. Maxo's stories is one of so many people I have met in Haiti that astounds me:
Maxo is a Haitian man who grew up in this community. He and a childhood buddy began to have a passion for all of the kids on the streets and at home that had never had an opportunity to attend school. School in Haiti costs money which is in short supply for so many families and they may be able to afford to send their kids to school for short periods of time but not long-term. Maxo, a teacher and translator and UN worker, and his friend set out to change this. He is a charismatic man with endless energy who raised funds to start a school, charging next to nothing but something since "charging something creates value, instead of giving it away for free". Reach Global has come alongside Maxo for support but he uses 40% of his salary every month to pay teachers and run the school which continues to have more students. As he puts it, "ëvery month God provides"and he simply trusts in God for the details.
Wow! What if we trusted God like that? We who have so much material wealth have a different kind of povery, a poverty of trust in God's providence. We have much to give but also much to learn about our own povery of spirit.
I haven't mentioned the weather yet, but now's the time to rub it in! January is the BEST time to come here; it's so much better than August. Low humidity and dry and hot but not too hot. Sleeping is very comfortable and I didn't need my personal fan and actually covered up with a sheet! So I guess it is a "Haitian vacation"just like my daughter Maddy said!
We took a tour of the town and went into the "neighborhoods"where people live. Many are still living in the TouchGlobal (crisis response of the Free church) and Samaritan's Purse shelters built after the earthquake where hundreds were put up in this area. Unfortunately, they were only supposed to be temporary and last about 3 years....That is the next challenge: what should be done next and where are the resources? So please be praying that a solution can be found.
Most folks don't have running water, refrigeration or indoor plumbing. But the amazing thing is they are so neatly and well-dressed with clean and pressed clothes. For someone like me who hasn't picked up an iron in the last decade, that is truly impressive!
Later in the day, all of us ladies all went to an English class run by Maxo, one of our community partners. Kelsey actually got to give one of the students his exam, which he passed! Then Maxo took us to his home (which is still only half-built since the earthquake), his school and the land that was purchased in a more suitable location to build a new school. Maxo's stories is one of so many people I have met in Haiti that astounds me:
Maxo is a Haitian man who grew up in this community. He and a childhood buddy began to have a passion for all of the kids on the streets and at home that had never had an opportunity to attend school. School in Haiti costs money which is in short supply for so many families and they may be able to afford to send their kids to school for short periods of time but not long-term. Maxo, a teacher and translator and UN worker, and his friend set out to change this. He is a charismatic man with endless energy who raised funds to start a school, charging next to nothing but something since "charging something creates value, instead of giving it away for free". Reach Global has come alongside Maxo for support but he uses 40% of his salary every month to pay teachers and run the school which continues to have more students. As he puts it, "ëvery month God provides"and he simply trusts in God for the details.
Wow! What if we trusted God like that? We who have so much material wealth have a different kind of povery, a poverty of trust in God's providence. We have much to give but also much to learn about our own povery of spirit.
Mourning Into Dancing
Sorry I haven't posted. We didn't have Internet service yesterday...Where to begin?
We arrived in Port Au Prince to a brand-new airport with a MUCH better setup than where I was here this summer. That was one of my biggest fears as a group leader so that was a definite answer to prayer! Thanks to all who are praying and keep ém coming:) One of the ReachGlobal leaders, Steve Spellman met us and told us we would be going straight to a church in Port Au Prince for a special service to commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake on Jan 12, 2010. We went to the large church, orphanage and school compound run by Pastor Moise. This is who Pastor Jim Scott is working with on the Global Fingerprints orphan sponsorship program. This church is in a dicey neighborhood but is one of the nicest church buildings in Haiti; 1200 people attend the two services every Sunday.
We weren't sure what to expect as people began filing in around 2:45 and continued to pour in the doors over the hours until the church was full of hundreds. There was a big worship team with a keyboard, drums and electric guitar. We heard familiar songs like How Great Thou Art, Above All and I Want to See Jesus Lifted High. For you Spinal Tap fans, the volume was at 11!!! Steve went up to preach and Pastor Moise translated and it was about The Millenium in Revelation and how Satan will be bound and Jesus will reign . He did a call and response to get the main points across and people were yelling back at the top of their lungs. As the 3 hour service progressed, I witnessed some of the most amazing worship in all of my life. There was one worship leader that reminded me of a Haitian James Brown! People were literally dancing in the aisles, doing a conga line, men twirling their neckties over their heads, little kids grabbing us to dance. The only phrase I can use to describe it was praising with reckless abandon. I kept thinking, I wish my dad could be here to see this because it is right up his alley! Here they are, people who have faced death and destruction and are still living with many repurcussions of the earthquake as well as the poverty and despair that has existed in this country for many years and they are giving praise and thanks to God with all that they have without self-consciousness or reserve. What a lot we Scandanavian Minnesotans can learn from that!
Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31: 13
(thanks to Bonnie for finding that verse for me!)
We arrived in Port Au Prince to a brand-new airport with a MUCH better setup than where I was here this summer. That was one of my biggest fears as a group leader so that was a definite answer to prayer! Thanks to all who are praying and keep ém coming:) One of the ReachGlobal leaders, Steve Spellman met us and told us we would be going straight to a church in Port Au Prince for a special service to commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake on Jan 12, 2010. We went to the large church, orphanage and school compound run by Pastor Moise. This is who Pastor Jim Scott is working with on the Global Fingerprints orphan sponsorship program. This church is in a dicey neighborhood but is one of the nicest church buildings in Haiti; 1200 people attend the two services every Sunday.
We weren't sure what to expect as people began filing in around 2:45 and continued to pour in the doors over the hours until the church was full of hundreds. There was a big worship team with a keyboard, drums and electric guitar. We heard familiar songs like How Great Thou Art, Above All and I Want to See Jesus Lifted High. For you Spinal Tap fans, the volume was at 11!!! Steve went up to preach and Pastor Moise translated and it was about The Millenium in Revelation and how Satan will be bound and Jesus will reign . He did a call and response to get the main points across and people were yelling back at the top of their lungs. As the 3 hour service progressed, I witnessed some of the most amazing worship in all of my life. There was one worship leader that reminded me of a Haitian James Brown! People were literally dancing in the aisles, doing a conga line, men twirling their neckties over their heads, little kids grabbing us to dance. The only phrase I can use to describe it was praising with reckless abandon. I kept thinking, I wish my dad could be here to see this because it is right up his alley! Here they are, people who have faced death and destruction and are still living with many repurcussions of the earthquake as well as the poverty and despair that has existed in this country for many years and they are giving praise and thanks to God with all that they have without self-consciousness or reserve. What a lot we Scandanavian Minnesotans can learn from that!
Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31: 13
(thanks to Bonnie for finding that verse for me!)
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Life Interrupted
It's almost GO time! Our team leaves tomorrow morning. It's fitting that I started a bible study on Jonah this week called Jonah-Navigating a Life Interrupted. In it, Priscilla Shirer talks about how one of the greatest revivals in history occurred because one man responded in obedience.....after he RAN from God's request first! Sounds a lot like me, sometimes. It's hard to risk our comfortable familiar circumstances.
. Nineveh was a place of hopelessness. To quote: "God often sends us into a place of hopelessness because it's in that place that we can see the hope of God.". His Holy Spirit rising up in us! Well Haiti ranks right up there when thinking about hopeless places. Devastating earthquake, lack of natural resources, little infrastructure, violence, government corruption and extreme poverty. Not to mention prevalent voodoo beliefs and spiritual darkness. But that is where God is calling us, so with the support of fellow believers and upon the wings of prayer, we GO.
What " hopeless "situation is your Ninevah? It may not be a place but a difficult relationship or immense challenge in your life. Where is God asking you to go?
. Nineveh was a place of hopelessness. To quote: "God often sends us into a place of hopelessness because it's in that place that we can see the hope of God.". His Holy Spirit rising up in us! Well Haiti ranks right up there when thinking about hopeless places. Devastating earthquake, lack of natural resources, little infrastructure, violence, government corruption and extreme poverty. Not to mention prevalent voodoo beliefs and spiritual darkness. But that is where God is calling us, so with the support of fellow believers and upon the wings of prayer, we GO.
What " hopeless "situation is your Ninevah? It may not be a place but a difficult relationship or immense challenge in your life. Where is God asking you to go?
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Followers
Today our mission team was commissioned in all of the services. It is awesome to have the prayers of God's people covering us!
The sermon series this month is: is Follower or Fan?
It's easy to be a a fan of Jesus; what's not to like? Those of us who have followed the MN Vikings over the years also know that fans can be fickle and fair-weather....hardly the types to stay committed to a team that's given us pain and heartbreak. But a follower? That's something entirely different according to Jesus in Luke 9:23:
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Wait a minute! That sounds like a commitment. It requires sacrifice. And surrender. A relationship.
I don't want to just be a good bible study girl in my comfortable suburban church. I want to be the kind of Christian who can put my selfish desires aside and live my life for the One who paid the price for my sin on a cross. The One who extended His grace to me and outlined a radical way to live, by dying....the kind of Christian who isn't afraid to get my hands dirty. And go to a place where people don't smell so fresh and neither do I! A place with tarantulas and humidity worse than a MN summer. A place where there is little hope and much heartbreak....
I feel called to go to Haiti but where is He calling you? Maybe it's across the street or into the next room. Your home or community can also be a mission field.
Let's make 2013 into the Year of the Follower!
The sermon series this month is: is Follower or Fan?
It's easy to be a a fan of Jesus; what's not to like? Those of us who have followed the MN Vikings over the years also know that fans can be fickle and fair-weather....hardly the types to stay committed to a team that's given us pain and heartbreak. But a follower? That's something entirely different according to Jesus in Luke 9:23:
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Wait a minute! That sounds like a commitment. It requires sacrifice. And surrender. A relationship.
I don't want to just be a good bible study girl in my comfortable suburban church. I want to be the kind of Christian who can put my selfish desires aside and live my life for the One who paid the price for my sin on a cross. The One who extended His grace to me and outlined a radical way to live, by dying....the kind of Christian who isn't afraid to get my hands dirty. And go to a place where people don't smell so fresh and neither do I! A place with tarantulas and humidity worse than a MN summer. A place where there is little hope and much heartbreak....
I feel called to go to Haiti but where is He calling you? Maybe it's across the street or into the next room. Your home or community can also be a mission field.
Let's make 2013 into the Year of the Follower!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Story: DO SOMETHING
The Story: DO SOMETHING
I love Matthew West and he is a brilliant songwriter. The words to this song, embody the reason I feel called to go to Haiti. This can be our trip theme song! Please read and listen to the song clip.
I love Matthew West and he is a brilliant songwriter. The words to this song, embody the reason I feel called to go to Haiti. This can be our trip theme song! Please read and listen to the song clip.
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