Floating on the breath of God in Haiti

Where God leads you in life is a wild adventure day after day.Exhilarating, painful, joyful, exciting, fun, tearful and emotional but blissful. I just experienced a childhood dream, never spoken out loud, just in my soul. Humbling and not quite processed.

I have always been an in charge child, and women. When I see a project, a problem or an opportunity, I go full steam ahead, not truly aware of God's "Blue print". Did I take a look at it? I only knew "It" needed to be done. I did not look at the present moment to appreciate what He had laid out before me in His light. I ran up ahead and climbed the mountain of the task at hand, many times in a fog of flurry and excitement. With these actions, comes frustration, false feelings of power, control, success. This happens because I so want to please Him and I am in such need of humanly defined success. My pastor helped me define success of this crazy trip to Haiti without my family. We decided success was just going. No predefined goals to be met ..really no clear agenda. Not the definition from the world that I know

What I have learned is that God does not ask His children to climb Mt. Everest in the storm, without clearing and preparing the way. He provides enough light to see the path laid out for the moment, not necessarily to see the whole mountain. He knows that we cannot handle the whole picture of the task, only what is lit at that time by His Light. He does not over work his children to the point of complete exhaustion and chaos, worry nor confusion. The world does this so we can feel their defined success.

I serve a God of order, peace and love. I have learned that saying yes to Him, this is success. I do not have to have every link of the plan orchestrated since He already does. I have learned that we are a very small part in His very large plan. If I say yes to just one link in His plan, then I have faith that He takes care of the rest.

Each day God brought new opportunities to love the people of Haiti:
From buying a "tent city" child's creation of a bracelet out of old electrical wires;
to cheering on a young man playing his heart out in a soccer game with a ripped ball and no shoes;
to giving money to a child asking for help to purchase books to be educated;
to giving to a child without food who falls asleep in class due to hunger;
to giving a shoe shiner a bible;
to placing a blanket over a worker who has fallen asleep on a swing;
to smiling at a women holding a newborn baby;
to providing a water filter system to a village;
to listening to dreams of the young and the old for their children;
to praying over aged women who lost their entire family in the earthquake and another women who lost all 9 children to disease;
to praying with a young women who was a slave since childhood;
to showing a camera to village children with their picture on it, something they have never seen; to holding an orphan toddler who was brought to church by a neighbor girl;
to smiling, hugging, looking into the eyes of so many broken but strong faithful children of God.


A country with unbearable pain, hardships, difficulties too enormous to put into words.. We go to offer hope in Christ.We go to spend time with them, to listen and to love. Our presence in relationships cannot be underestimated, Jesus spent all his time with His people,side by side listening and preaching. Transforming people with love, love never fails, love bears all things, the "greatest of these is love".

Floating through Haiti watching for opportunities to love.

Home oh so quiet, my ears hurt from the stillness. Processing all that has happened over the course of 2 weeks,it overwhelms my brain, my soul and heart.

God appointments

Back to Archai today, with 3 tap taps and motor cycle for 3 people, 2 hours later in 100 degree heat. Tearful going thru City Soleill, the poorest of poor areas. I must be tired this is the 4th time thru. My eyes can only see so much, then I have to look away and question why Lord, why them and not me???

I brought a water filtration system all the way for Michigan to this little mountain village. Amazing when you think about how this is so orchestrated.The school children who gave the money, then to the final destination. All the hands that made it possible. I did not plan on delivering this kind of water to this community, but 2 large 5 gallon buckets travel well stuffed in an oversize laundry bag, on the motorcycle. Great sight to see.

I visited Marie Yolene and her daughter Chaphille today. They were dressed up and waiting for our arrival. There were children running and laughing all around. Inside her home was a newborn baby girl, wrapped in a cloth, on the concrete floor, on a blanket that our "House of Hope" women made and our church women prayed over 5 years ago. Tearful again.....the hard part for me was she had no name. No one knew her name, but she was left in the care of Marie Yolene.

Marie Yolene is full of shame from her past that she had no choice of, but also from choices to have a baby with a man she is not married to. She tells her story today.... that she was not asked to leave the church, she just left because her sin was too bad to be accepted by Christ any more.She said that people from the church came, but she turned them away. We sat on her floor for over an hour to talk about sin, Jesus's death and forgiveness. She shared her weaknesses with Satan and temptation, talked about the light of Christ in her....a time I will never forget. On the concrete floor, in the middle of know where, in another language, sharing the gospel to a young broken women of God. We never know where God will take us to share His love.

There are so many Haiti problems and difficulties, that the human in me cannot fix. But, I am able to offer hope to all the broken people God puts before me. I met with 3 young men, Felinord, Phanel and Higgens today. They are children that were asked to leave the Children's House. For 3 glorious hours sharing the gospel of hope, suffering and strength from suffering.They blessed my time beyound imagination. Sharing their stories and answering questions. We shared about our cultures regarding school and education systems. We affirmed God's promises to his children all children. Gifts of letters for people at home, pictures and smiles, hugs and laughter. They bring such goodness to me. Our donations can pay for their schooling.

Meeting after meeting of broken children, who have been thru very difficult times, but still have dreams and hopes for their futures. They are so strong and resilient, full of laughter and joy in spite of difficulties. Praising God in all times thru all circumstances, oh I have so much to learn.

My cup overflows with hope today.

Day of rest

Do not be afraid to love others fully and completely, radically. I am learning how to accept the blessings and pain with loving deeply without inhibition. If you ask my husband, my co-worker or a dear friend, I never talk about the weather. I always seem to share from the heart, I just do not know how to be superficial with people and talk about the weather, fashion or food.

Accountability? What is that here? Children's House report is the focus in the morning, many e-mails going out to pull info together, I think our donations will go directly to individual children and not to the organization this year. I am not confident that the administration of the Children's House will be good stewards of a donation. God will clear this decision by Friday, I am sure of this.

I was accompanied to the "people's market" across the street today with a man who blessed me with his patience and kindness. He said" if I came to your country I would be lost too, you would show me around your home, this I do for you." He asks women on the street selling their food and goods (called squatters)if I can take pictures of their goods to teach others about Haiti.Every women requested that I do not take a picture of them, only their food. Here they are sitting under noon day sun of 100 degrees, sitting in garbage, tattered clothing and sweating to death.It is hard to look in their eyes and understand their day. It starts about 2:00a.m. with a long, very long ride in the back of big truck with 100's of other women, to the city. They unload their products and set up for day light selling to begin. They sell late into the night, then load up again for another ride back to their home.making only a few dollars. Their endurance, strength and beauty amaze me as I look at their hands and faces. Women just like you and me, but born into Haiti life. Why was I born to live in TC, air conditioned office, too much food, hot showers and comfortable clothing.

The street is the easiest place to sell, but then I go to the government land, down the alley, darkened by tents and metal roof covering. The ground in muddy, slimy and covered with layers of refuge. It is almost steamy under their. It smells and it is full of flies and hundreds of women sitting under a tattered tent or umbrella, selling bananas, veggies, chicken, hot dogs, rice, beans on and on. No refrigeration for the small baggies of mayo or raw meat. It was like walking in hell. I tried to focus on the beauty of their produce or how they arranged it, tough for me to do. They were so proud of their merchandise when I asked to take pictures, they would fix it up to prepare for the picture. Then asked to see it, and smile.

I visited a home for the aged women today. The home was simple, but cleaner than our ECF in USA. The ladies were all in bed, but awake.About 10 of them. They were beautiful . I was overwhelmed by this opportunity to serve the other end of the age spectrum. I immediately gave them kisses on their cheeks and held their hands. Some were awake and aware, others were too aged to know we were there. This just caused my eyes to stay wet the entire visit. One women requested to sing us a song, her voice was like an angel. I did not understand her words, but her spirit was clearly communicating her appreciation of us visiting. Another women was blind and had lost all 9 of her children to varies diseases. She was so angry with God, all I could do was hold her hands and pray for her. She was distraught, but at the same time gently touched my face with her withered hands and thanked me for coming . Love is painful but oh so rewarding.

Children singing songs of joy and dancing. Children jumping up and down with total excitement and amazement of cameras with their pictures. Playing hand games with kids and tickling them, thru the sludge of water and garbage. They have little clothing on, but their smiles, squeals of delight and kisses make everything else seem irrelevant. God knew only this would fill my soul with love today. My day of rest from the Lord, filled with blessings and love that changes one forever..

Light touch

Approach problems with a light touch by viewing them with God. Putting space between me and the problem so God can work his Light on it and I can see more clearly. As I know, and my friends and family know, I am not a light touch kind of women. I see a job and I attack it with all that I am to make it right, especially when it comes to children and justice. God has a lot to say to me about all the challenges with the running of The Children's House.

Meetings with the "Administrators, Supervisors and district Administrators"for The Children's House of Haiti Methodist Church, has revealed to me that no one knows what has been happening behind the doors of this home. The stories and reports do not line up, and only God knows the truth. One thing all agree on is that things need major changes, but no one has the true "authority" to implement them. I have done hours of listening, questioning and watching. What is clear is that my personal storm has calmed as I rested thru the night, without fixing the problems with the care of these precious children. God brought me peace to not do "anything today" To let him guide my decisions.

Today, I have an 0opportunity to go to "Kings Hospital and Orphanage" with another man who is working on clean water. This was in my original plan 3 months ago without success in planning.

The Pastor and Physician in charge have a very good reputation regarding justice for the poor and children. The Pastor is a women and she has been attacked by the powers that be for her "different thinking" and her vocal opinions about our Children's House. I hear she is a true advocate for what is right and true for children. I will give some of our funding to this accountable organization and meet with them. I am eager to see the best way a system can work for the children in Haiti.

The older children who were sent away from the Children's House heard I was hear. Phanal, Higgins and Felanord met me after school. They need help with books, school supplies and future planning. All of them have difficult lives with where they are living, but I loved on them and told them how much people have been praying for them. Felanord pulled a picture of Dillon out of his bible and was tearful about "his best friend for life." Of course I cried again, his eyes and smile melt me. Higgins rarely spoke, Phanel spoke clear English and told me their stories. Reading their body language, watching their eyes spoke volumes compared to their words. Keeping my eyes clear enough to see was very hard between the watery eyes.

We will be giving them money for school supplies, t-shirts, soccer balls, and I hope a bible. I will meet them again on Friday when the children see the doctor that God provided.

When God's light is shining and I am in His presence there is such peace and clarity to this Haiti chaos and brokenness. My hope is that we can make a difference today and by doing that we can make a difference in their future.

First visit to Children's Home

Peterson, a graduate from the Children's Home, drove me and the interpreter the the Children's Home today. I did not recognize the ally due to all the rubble and tents in the road. My heart was altered by this change, as I see families struggling harder than before for water, sanitation and sleep in the ally.

I was greeted by the caregiver, the only caregiver of the children. He cooks, cleans, teaches and get the children ready for school and church. The most wonderful news is that the children KNOW Jesus. They go to youth group on Saturdays and church every Sunday. This young man, who was also an orphan, was raised in a solid Christian home and knows the Lord. As the last team remembers this was our biggest struggle with the Haiti Methodist Church, they did not take the boys to church and there was a void in Christian education. The children recited Psalm 23 to me and answered questions about Jesus better than most kids even in the states. Their little souls were starving for the word of God. I had 14 little sets of eyes focused on me for about 1 hours as I used materials from our own Cappy to share about our Shepherd during the times of darkness and times of rest. They loved to watch the little sheep getting lost then being called back by God. They loved how dumb sheep are and loved getting a little sheep as their own.

Their coloring books created by a dear friend, Kate, were a huge hit. The children were eager to color in the lines, adding their own combinations of colors. "Mike" brought me his picture for affirmation about 5 x, with his seeking eyes and little tug on my shirt. He never spoke with his mouth but his eyes told me he heard Jesus loved him. Oh, his little soul spoke volumes to me.

The tough news for all my old team members and our church: EVERYTHING we had purchased and brought down to help the boys learn and play, is gone. The shelves are empty except for a TV. No books, no puzzles, no legos, no musical instruments, no cars or trucks. It is all gone, all the kitchen supplies, tables, chairs, numbered drinking cups....gone. I know they are materialistic items, but very disturbing in the least. God knows and He will provide what is needed.

I will work with getting the boys more food this week and whatever else God puts before me. I will meet them at Frere Church tomorrow and teach again. Please stay in prayer, thank you!!!

Restavec

A french word for "house slave" Marie Yolene WAS the house slave for a family from the young age of 3 until we met her in 2006. She is now 27 years old, graduate from 12 grade, and has 1 year of nursing school under her belt.( Schooling only costs about $300 a year) We were able to send her to school and eventually our son Dillon, used "spark" money to build a home for her and her parents, who lived in the mountain..Her parents live in a cave because......... there "is no room in the in". ?This is the truest form of poverty. We were able to use spark money of

$100 and turn it into $8000, this turned into hope for a child slave with a dream

Today,I took 3 tap taps,( a form of public transportation which is a truck or bus with too many people in it) and a motorcycle built for 1 (but we had 3). The Hatians are so polite even while being a sardine. There are salesmen on the busses, yelling out advertisements to the people while they are riding from destination to destination. The merchandise passes around the bus, perfume and medications. TV commercials without the TV. 2 hours of this entertainment, one way.

We went into the mountain village where Marie Yolene lives. She is a beautiful young girl who has lived in darkness her whole life unitl 2009. She continues to struggle with the cast society of being a "restavec" and being a women in this country. The vodoo doctor was called to cast spells on her home and her, to make her move.. they did not want a restavec in their community because she surely was doing bad things to have a house built. She has struggled with being accepted even in her church community. She needs support but I struggle to find it for her. She has a home, has an education, she is a free women. She is isolated with no family. But is she really free if she is judged because she was placed as a restavec as a child? She is judged by her past, that which she did not choose. How often do I do this at home to others? Now here I am judging others for what I have done.

She loves Jesus and tells me, that without Him she would be dead. She believes Jesus saved her by sending our mission team and our church family to love her unconditionally. She believes we were sent to bring her out of the dark slave world imposed on her by the wealthier community down here.

Her soul is so beautiful when she smiles, I can see it in her eyes. I see her smile when she talks about God's goodness to her. I can get a glimpse of her smile when I can get her to look at me. She has so much shame in her eyes, it breaks my heart. Lord I beg you to reach into her soul and heal her from the pain of her past. She has no family, no friends and no doctors here. I keep telling her she is loved by our church family and she is a beautiful child of God. I told her she represents hope for so many women. I tell her we are here NOT TO PLACE JUDGEMENT,but to only love her. But she has not experienced this here in Haiti, yet. But, I know God has a plan for her. We will wait in prayer for it to be revealed.

Traverse Bay United Methodist Church returns to the Haiti Methodist "Children's House" again to share the love of Christ and bring joy to the days of the children. We can only change today.

John Wesley

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can.

Lets see how God helps us to transform the world for Christ one hug and one smile at a time. "He knows my name" is the theme of teaching and loving during this trip.
Please pray for this mission trip on November 9 thru November 22.

Questions please call our church,

Traverse Bay United Methodist Church 231-935-5323.

History

Infomation provide by Virginia Bell: The very beginning of the "Boys Home" was about 2004. It was discovered that a group of boys were in an orphanage/home situation where there was much abuse-physical and sexual. The manager of the facility was taken to court when some of the older boys complained to authorities that some were not being "paid" the same as others.(they were not complaining about the abuse) The man was arrested and possibly sent back to the states. A Haitian Methodist pastor, Rev Dissieu heard about this and with the help of a friend in British West Indies was able to find a house for the children to stay for short term. The older boys were a problem due to the fact that they never had rules to follow. They were very distructive to the other children and home. They had to leave and the younger boys were kept.

A house on Delmas 54 street, right next to Sister Paulette Holley's home( who is a deconess in the Methodist Church of Haiti) was up for sale. This was in the year of 2005. This house was designed to be a Guest House run by JoAnn Dimmit. It had bedrooms for 2-3 people, multiple bathrooms and a swimming pool. It was for missionaries. However, it was not successful and there were many thefts. This home was converted into the "Boys Home" by abandoning the twin bed atmosphere and putting in metal bunk beds and cots that would better accomodate the children.

Virginia Bell was managing the Haiti Methodist Guest house at the time. She took teams of missionaries to visit the home to acquaint them with the needs of the children. (She had such a soft spot in her soul for them, she could not walk away.) It was thru her dilegent work that teams began to make donations and thru her personal financial support the chidren were provided 2 meals a day, clean water, 1/2 day of schooling with uniforms, safety from the streets and a place to sleep.She advocated for any money she could from the Haiti Methodist Church and grant money from Crusade for Christ in the Caribbean.

In 2006 Traverse Bay United Methodist Church of Traverse City MI became involved. I met Virginia Bell at the Haiti Methodist Guest House on a mission trip for construction of a church in 2006. I had been looking for a way to serve God's Haitian children directly, through the Methodist Church. God brought me to Virginia and we started to plan my first trip to the "Boys Home" for 2007. Her passions ignited my deep passion for children and Christ in Haiti.


Our fist trip in 2007 consisted of my husband, Bob, our son, Dillon and 3 other members of Traverse Bay United Methodist Church. Yo Kamischke and his daughter Rachel, and Mary Gore. this is where our journey serving Christ at the Children's House started. Please enjoy our blog and share your comments with us. Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, "the small methodist church on the corner of M-72" is glorifying God in a God size way. What a wonderful church we have!!!