Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Hurricane Sandy and Reflection Time
The team from Faith is currently on their last leg of the journey home as I write this. I had planned to stay an extra day with my good friend Pastor Moise who I got to know very well when we started our journey with the Global Orphan Project.
Tonight I am in the church for Wednesday evening services as Hurricane Sandy extends her reach to Haiti in the form of heavy winds and rain. I am scheduled to leave tomorrow morning as the projected path of Sandy has her north of Cuba by that point. So I now I sit in church praying and joining my brothers and sisters praying for the people of Haiti.
I have had a great day catching up with Moise as we discussed ministry, family, and the things The Lord has us each working on. I really desire to understand Haitians in a cultural sense and leadership in the Haitian church. The good news is that we all rely on the Scriptures to guide us in ministry and thankfully that transcends all culture.
As I reflect back on this past week, God has done great things through the team from Faith. Each member served very well and gave 110% to serving the children of Desire. I always encourage our team members to spend themselves completely leaving nothing left in the tank since they don't know when or for certain if they will come back. It was a real privilege to serve with this team as they endured changes and challenges in our schedule. They certainly felt the time was too short- as is always the case. But each team member has a new or renewed sense of mission as it relates to our children in Desire and serving The Lord in general.
And now, as I sit in this Port au Prince church, I especially pray for Pastor Jeannot. I pray that The Lord provides for every need of the children, that The Lord would use Pastor Jeannot to reach the community of Desire for Christ and make the name of Jesus Christ great in that community.
And now I pray for a break in the weather that would allow me to visit Kennedi in Chicago before returning to the rest of my family that I so dearly want reunite with.
Tonight I am in the church for Wednesday evening services as Hurricane Sandy extends her reach to Haiti in the form of heavy winds and rain. I am scheduled to leave tomorrow morning as the projected path of Sandy has her north of Cuba by that point. So I now I sit in church praying and joining my brothers and sisters praying for the people of Haiti.
I have had a great day catching up with Moise as we discussed ministry, family, and the things The Lord has us each working on. I really desire to understand Haitians in a cultural sense and leadership in the Haitian church. The good news is that we all rely on the Scriptures to guide us in ministry and thankfully that transcends all culture.
As I reflect back on this past week, God has done great things through the team from Faith. Each member served very well and gave 110% to serving the children of Desire. I always encourage our team members to spend themselves completely leaving nothing left in the tank since they don't know when or for certain if they will come back. It was a real privilege to serve with this team as they endured changes and challenges in our schedule. They certainly felt the time was too short- as is always the case. But each team member has a new or renewed sense of mission as it relates to our children in Desire and serving The Lord in general.
And now, as I sit in this Port au Prince church, I especially pray for Pastor Jeannot. I pray that The Lord provides for every need of the children, that The Lord would use Pastor Jeannot to reach the community of Desire for Christ and make the name of Jesus Christ great in that community.
And now I pray for a break in the weather that would allow me to visit Kennedi in Chicago before returning to the rest of my family that I so dearly want reunite with.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Time to Go
Saying goodbye is never easy. The team experienced that today as we said goodbye to the Desire kids. We went up early this morning to teach a final English session and then said goodbye. There were some tears but more evident than that was the sincerity of the children when they said they would pray for us. Many of us pray for the opportunity to return if it is as the kids would say "God willing."
There were many highlights from the trip and there are many stories to share. You never return home the same and that's great- it's what we pray for.
So it's time to same goodbye to Haiti. The team leaves in the morning and I head out on Thursday. There's a little challenge on the horizon called Tropical Storm Sally- praying that she won't get in the way of our return home. We could use prayers for safety and travel.
There were many highlights from the trip and there are many stories to share. You never return home the same and that's great- it's what we pray for.
So it's time to same goodbye to Haiti. The team leaves in the morning and I head out on Thursday. There's a little challenge on the horizon called Tropical Storm Sally- praying that she won't get in the way of our return home. We could use prayers for safety and travel.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Pictures from Monday
Today was quite an adventure.
We walked part of the way to Desire because of getting stuck this morning. So the walk added to the adventure!
We walked part of the way to Desire because of getting stuck this morning. So the walk added to the adventure!
Challenges with Haiti
One of the things that I have learned about trips to Haiti or really anywhere on a missions trip is that you have to be flexible. Flexible with time, travel, expectations and agendas. Nothing ever goes perfectly as planned. And you know, I love that. It is actually freeing because I am depending on The Lord. That's right where He wants me to be. So I have learned contentment with the challenges.
Today has already presented one such challenge- getting stuck in a bus on the road leading out of Desire. It is rainy season so that in itself has presented many challenges. The road is a narrow road and there are sections very muddy with deep tire tracks. We found ourselves stuck for about 20 minutes. Finally after help from community neighbors we were able to get freed from the mud. But the challenge doesn't end there- questions about being able to return this afternoon and tomorrow begin to surface. What if we get even more rain tonight? We can't have seen the children for the last time today- could we? We didn't get to say goodbye! But- God is in control, I'm not. I need to relinquish whatever control I thought I had and just rest in the Lord's sovereignty.
Today I also had a sad moment, I would even say an insensitive moment. Seeing a small child at school drifting off to sleep made for a cute picture because of the way he was all contorted. Volcy our translator, leaned over to me and asked if I had a snack on the bus. I thought he was hungry because he didn't have breakfast. Volcy asked me to take the sleeping child from the community and give him my snack because clearly he was hungry. I didn't notice his extended belly when I was photographing him but it was suddenly obvious to me that this child needs something to eat now. I gave him my granola bar and a bottle of water. He scarfed to granola bar and drank almost all the water very quickly. My heart sank. I have prayed that The Lord would not let me lose my sensitivity for what we need to do as we minister in Haiti- and today I was jolted back to the need- physically and spiritually for the people of Haiti.
And now I am having issues with the wifi- so this post is going out from the phone on the data roaming.
God is in control- and I am thankful. Thank you for praying for this team.
Today has already presented one such challenge- getting stuck in a bus on the road leading out of Desire. It is rainy season so that in itself has presented many challenges. The road is a narrow road and there are sections very muddy with deep tire tracks. We found ourselves stuck for about 20 minutes. Finally after help from community neighbors we were able to get freed from the mud. But the challenge doesn't end there- questions about being able to return this afternoon and tomorrow begin to surface. What if we get even more rain tonight? We can't have seen the children for the last time today- could we? We didn't get to say goodbye! But- God is in control, I'm not. I need to relinquish whatever control I thought I had and just rest in the Lord's sovereignty.
Today I also had a sad moment, I would even say an insensitive moment. Seeing a small child at school drifting off to sleep made for a cute picture because of the way he was all contorted. Volcy our translator, leaned over to me and asked if I had a snack on the bus. I thought he was hungry because he didn't have breakfast. Volcy asked me to take the sleeping child from the community and give him my snack because clearly he was hungry. I didn't notice his extended belly when I was photographing him but it was suddenly obvious to me that this child needs something to eat now. I gave him my granola bar and a bottle of water. He scarfed to granola bar and drank almost all the water very quickly. My heart sank. I have prayed that The Lord would not let me lose my sensitivity for what we need to do as we minister in Haiti- and today I was jolted back to the need- physically and spiritually for the people of Haiti.
And now I am having issues with the wifi- so this post is going out from the phone on the data roaming.
God is in control- and I am thankful. Thank you for praying for this team.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Worship Haiti style
One of my favorite parts about our trips to Haiti is worshipping in a Haitian church. I don't speak the language- but it doesn't matter- God's spirit is present and you feel it and know it by the expression of worship. It is truly a special experience and one that I highly recommend.
Pastor Jeannot gave a message in the Gonaives church and used quite a bit of English and that was special because we certainly felt included. Not knowing that Pastor Jeannot was going to use English, I had planned to use some Creole in my message in Desire this morning- I am so thankful for the opportunity that The Lord has given me to be used here in Haiti.
The team had another incredible day with the children. I am blessed watching our team members connect with the children the way they are. And not only the Desire orphans but the community children as well.
Tomorrow we will work English into their school day and the return in the afternoon for Bible stories, mama time and special time with the older teen girls.
Pastor Jeannot gave a message in the Gonaives church and used quite a bit of English and that was special because we certainly felt included. Not knowing that Pastor Jeannot was going to use English, I had planned to use some Creole in my message in Desire this morning- I am so thankful for the opportunity that The Lord has given me to be used here in Haiti.
The team had another incredible day with the children. I am blessed watching our team members connect with the children the way they are. And not only the Desire orphans but the community children as well.
Tomorrow we will work English into their school day and the return in the afternoon for Bible stories, mama time and special time with the older teen girls.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Saturday in Desire
Today was a full day up at Desire. This morning we held our English sessions including free time coloring and English worksheets. I am always amazed at how much the kids have picked up in the comprehension of the English we work on. The kids are doing great with it.
After a break at noon for a while, we went back up for more time not only with the orphan children but the community children as well. Our translator Volcy led the children in several fun songs with plenty of motions and them we shared a Bible story- and Joy was fantastic as our storyteller! After a while all 100 plus kids and our team went down to the open field area to play soccer, Duck, duck, Goose, jump rope, run races, become a human jungle gym, and pump water at the community well that we helped make possible.
Then tonight a big rain storm kept us at the hotel for the evening instead of going to visit our friend Jan. we had a great debrief session where we wrestled with what it means to be rich and if we are rich (in worldly standards)- what is God's expectation of us? A great full day!
After a break at noon for a while, we went back up for more time not only with the orphan children but the community children as well. Our translator Volcy led the children in several fun songs with plenty of motions and them we shared a Bible story- and Joy was fantastic as our storyteller! After a while all 100 plus kids and our team went down to the open field area to play soccer, Duck, duck, Goose, jump rope, run races, become a human jungle gym, and pump water at the community well that we helped make possible.
Then tonight a big rain storm kept us at the hotel for the evening instead of going to visit our friend Jan. we had a great debrief session where we wrestled with what it means to be rich and if we are rich (in worldly standards)- what is God's expectation of us? A great full day!
Pictures from the project
Trying to post some pictures from yesterday since I may be the only one using the wifi this morning.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Desire is growing
This afternoon we had a chance to visit the children at Desire. So much has changed in the three months since I was last here. There are three new homes that are now finished, there is a security wall being constructed for the safety of the children, Pastor Jeannot is now building a new church building for worship and the old church is torn down.
The number of children under Pastor Jeannot's care has now grown from 65 to 69. I had the opportunity to meet most of the new children.
It is incredible to see how much has changed in such a short amount of time. God is doing great things up in Desire. My experience in Haiti has been to see slow steady change but what I saw today is mind boggling.
The team worked hard today and is doing very well. Continue praying for team members' health and safety. We will have a full day tomorrow in Desire.
The number of children under Pastor Jeannot's care has now grown from 65 to 69. I had the opportunity to meet most of the new children.
It is incredible to see how much has changed in such a short amount of time. God is doing great things up in Desire. My experience in Haiti has been to see slow steady change but what I saw today is mind boggling.
The team worked hard today and is doing very well. Continue praying for team members' health and safety. We will have a full day tomorrow in Desire.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
On the way to Haiti
Well the team is now resting in Miami after a long day of travel. We were delayed leaving Denver so we had extra hang out time waiting for the flight. That was punctuated by 15 minutes of adrenaline pumping running through the Dallas airport to catch our connecting flight. We made it- but barely. Everybody has had some dinner and now wait to get up early in the morning to catch our 6 am flight.
The team is very excited to get to Haiti in the morning. Pray that everything goes smoothly on our last leg of the journey to Haiti.
The team is very excited to get to Haiti in the morning. Pray that everything goes smoothly on our last leg of the journey to Haiti.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Our Fall Team
Tomorrow Faith will be sending its 8th team to work in Desire with our orphan project. I am excited for this team and the energy they bring. We will be leaving tomorrow with an overnight in Miami before arriving in Haiti early Friday morning.
The plan for this team is to continue teaching English, reaching out to the community kids through a VBS program and explore other opportunities for future teams.
We are excited to see the new homes that have been under construction since late August. We have an exciting house-warming gift for the children from the children of Fort Collins.
Please pray for the team's health and safe travel.
The plan for this team is to continue teaching English, reaching out to the community kids through a VBS program and explore other opportunities for future teams.
We are excited to see the new homes that have been under construction since late August. We have an exciting house-warming gift for the children from the children of Fort Collins.
Please pray for the team's health and safe travel.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Last Day in Haiti for the Family Team
Today was a full day- saying goodbye to the Desire children, travel back to Port-au-Prince with a stop for baptisms in the Caribbean Sea, visiting our Compassion child in Port-au-Prince, finishing with a stop at a metal art works place and later dinner and final team meeting. Whew!
Our final time with the Desire children was bittersweet- it is so hard to leave when all the relationships were just beginning to blossom. And yet it was good because our team made that time count. They have been an awesome team. One of the things that I always challenge our teams to do is be in the moment giving it everything they've got leaving nothing left in the tank and no regrets. The team stepped up to the challenge and went beyond.
As our team processes this experience, I am praying that the Lord reveal a next step for each member. There is so much to take away after a trip like this and the Lord is good at providing direction when we are moldable.
Praying for a safe journey home and excited to share it with everyone.
Our final time with the Desire children was bittersweet- it is so hard to leave when all the relationships were just beginning to blossom. And yet it was good because our team made that time count. They have been an awesome team. One of the things that I always challenge our teams to do is be in the moment giving it everything they've got leaving nothing left in the tank and no regrets. The team stepped up to the challenge and went beyond.
As our team processes this experience, I am praying that the Lord reveal a next step for each member. There is so much to take away after a trip like this and the Lord is good at providing direction when we are moldable.
Praying for a safe journey home and excited to share it with everyone.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Family
We spent our last full day in Desire today. It was a full day with English, crafts, a Bible story, and time with the mamas.
During our team debrief tonight, it hit me what kind of impact having a team made up of families has had on the kids in Desire. This morning four sibling children made a point to show me their brothers and sisters. I believe they did this because of how they have seen the siblings on our team work and play together with them. It has given the Desire children a real sense of what it means to have brothers and sisters and the love that they share with one another. Zooming out a little further, the children get a glimpse of what family looks like and how they can work together and love each other as family. Many times the last couple of days some of the boys have said I am their father and that my own daughters are their sisters- wow, that hits right to the heart! That's what I see as one of our main roles as a church partnering with Pastor Jeannot- to be a family to the children of Desire and to build deep relationships so that we can fill the role of family as much as we can for the kids.
It truly has been a joy to watch our families not only grow closer together as a family unit but also as a high functioning team. There have been many incredible memories made on this trip that we will hold onto for a very long time.
During our team debrief tonight, it hit me what kind of impact having a team made up of families has had on the kids in Desire. This morning four sibling children made a point to show me their brothers and sisters. I believe they did this because of how they have seen the siblings on our team work and play together with them. It has given the Desire children a real sense of what it means to have brothers and sisters and the love that they share with one another. Zooming out a little further, the children get a glimpse of what family looks like and how they can work together and love each other as family. Many times the last couple of days some of the boys have said I am their father and that my own daughters are their sisters- wow, that hits right to the heart! That's what I see as one of our main roles as a church partnering with Pastor Jeannot- to be a family to the children of Desire and to build deep relationships so that we can fill the role of family as much as we can for the kids.
It truly has been a joy to watch our families not only grow closer together as a family unit but also as a high functioning team. There have been many incredible memories made on this trip that we will hold onto for a very long time.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Worshiping the same God
One of the highlights for me personally on each trip is the opportunity to worship with our Haitian brothers and sisters. It's refreshing to go outside of my normal routine to take in a Haitian worship service. With children's groups singing special songs, a worship band trying to get in sync with the vocalists and passionate, fervent preaching- in the end even if we don't speak each other's language, we call the same God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For many members of our team this was their first Haitian worship service.
In the afternoon we met and visited Pastor Jeannot's pastor from when he was younger. This man had a vision for caring for the physical needs of the rural community and educating children through a holistic gospel. Twenty years later he has a larger medical clinic that cares for as many as a couple hundred a day when medical teams are there serving. This pastor sponsored a young Jeannot's education and is his mentor and pastor. And now I am beginning to see more clearly Pastor Jeannot's vision for Desire.
This afternoon we celebrated with the children of Desire what was explained to us as a birthday celebration for all the children. Lots of music, dancing, playing and tube balloons were happening at the village.
The team is doing well with only a couple more days with the Desire children- keep praying for them as they minister to the children- I know it will be hard to leave- it always is.
In the afternoon we met and visited Pastor Jeannot's pastor from when he was younger. This man had a vision for caring for the physical needs of the rural community and educating children through a holistic gospel. Twenty years later he has a larger medical clinic that cares for as many as a couple hundred a day when medical teams are there serving. This pastor sponsored a young Jeannot's education and is his mentor and pastor. And now I am beginning to see more clearly Pastor Jeannot's vision for Desire.
This afternoon we celebrated with the children of Desire what was explained to us as a birthday celebration for all the children. Lots of music, dancing, playing and tube balloons were happening at the village.
The team is doing well with only a couple more days with the Desire children- keep praying for them as they minister to the children- I know it will be hard to leave- it always is.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
A full Saturday in Desire
Today was our first day with the Desire children and we wanted to utilize all the time given to us. In the morning we spent time singing and teaching English. This is the fourth trip to spend time teaching English and it is fun to have the children come up to you and proudly reintroduce themselves in English. Many of the older children enjoy practicing on us.
After a break from the heat, we returned to do our VBS portion of our program with the orphan children and the community children. After songs and the story of Jesus and the Centurion, our team spent time playing games with the kids like soccer, jump rope and introducing the game of bocce in Desire.
Our team returned to Gonaives hungry for dinner and time for debrief. We just finished our team meeting after 11 pm. We have some real troopers on this team- willing to go the distance!
Tomorrow morning will include worship at both of Pastor Jeannot's churches in Gonaives and Desire. We were also informed that we are invited to be the guests of honor at a celebration in Desire in the afternoon- not exactly sure of the nature of the celebration but happy to be a part of it. Details to come...
After a break from the heat, we returned to do our VBS portion of our program with the orphan children and the community children. After songs and the story of Jesus and the Centurion, our team spent time playing games with the kids like soccer, jump rope and introducing the game of bocce in Desire.
Our team returned to Gonaives hungry for dinner and time for debrief. We just finished our team meeting after 11 pm. We have some real troopers on this team- willing to go the distance!
Tomorrow morning will include worship at both of Pastor Jeannot's churches in Gonaives and Desire. We were also informed that we are invited to be the guests of honor at a celebration in Desire in the afternoon- not exactly sure of the nature of the celebration but happy to be a part of it. Details to come...
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