Thursday, December 17, 2015

Smiles of Hope

Christmas in Haiti! It's around the mid-eighty's in temperature, December is a very popular month to get married, stealing ramps up as people prepare to celebrate Christmas and the Haitian Independence Day (Jan 1st), schools are on vacation, and we prepare to rest and spend time with our fellow missionaries. 

In the last couple of months we have been able to start a few new loans. One of them I blogged about in September, her name is Angeline. She has started her micro-loan and already made her first payment. I was standing near her waiting in line to be able to purchase my items and, in the 10 minutes I was there, heard 3 people tell her they were so glad that she was back and would she continue to be at the market from now on. It was so exciting to see her and to know that she could succeed again. 


A very long time ago, I blogged about the "Rock Thrower". The kids are in school, they are getting fed daily, and now we have had the chance to start the mom, Emable, with a micro-loan business to sell children's clothes. A mom and her 12 year old daughter came to visit us for one week. I had asked them if they could collect gently used clothing to give to Emable to sell in the market. The hope is that we can teach her how to beign to supply some of the needs of her family for herself. A month ago, I was able to visit her, with our short-term visitors, and deliver the clothes to her. 
A little side note, I have known this woman for two years. She is, as far as I was concerned, unwilling to do any work to take care of her family. Anytime I would ask her what kind of business she would want to do, she would look to the ground and say nothing. I would ask her if she had any dreams, nothing. Basically when I would talk to her, she would not respond. It was even hard to tell if she was grateful that her kids were going to school?! To be honest. I was done with her. But God has not let me be done. The organization, T12, that is paying for her kids to go to school are friends of mine. I asked one of the Haitian men that work for them to talk to Emable, ask her what kind of business she would like to have. And she answered! I was shocked but she siad that she would like to sell girls clothes. Finally I had something to work with! 
So we delivered the clothing. I wish you could have seen it. She smiled. A real smile. And the smile was one of hope. 



I realized something in that little tiny tarp home. I realized that it wasn't that she was a 'welfare momma' just looking for a hand out. She couldn't answer me because she hadn't had the chance to dream for so long that she had forgotten how to. It was a lack of hope that shut her down. I am so grateful that God is so patient...with me and with her. And that He always brings hope. 



Friday, September 18, 2015

Injustice

was concerned that we would have a hard time finding people to give micro-loans to. I thought that we had pretty much tapped our list of people that we consider friends and I remember thinking, "God, if you want this program to grow then you have a problem to solve." We have been back to Haiti for a little over three weeks and we already have 3 people that qualify for a micro-loan and 3 more that are working on putting together their business plan. 

Once a week I go to the local market to purchase produce for my family. I try to buy the bulk of my items from the same four women, it's all about relationships. About three weeks before we returned to the states, one of the ladies I buy from stopped showing up at the market. I was surprised because her items were always beautiful, many people liked to buy from her, and she had a growing business. I asked about her, but no one knew why she stopped coming. 
Fast forward 6 weeks and she still hadn't returned. I asked Daphne to do some research and see if she could find out where the woman was. Daphne did some detective work and found out that the woman had been robbed on the last day of the week on her way home from the market. She had sold almost all of her items and when she was robbed, lost all of her money. This is the money she needed to live and to purchase more items the next week to sell. 

In Haiti, there is no insurance available for a small micro-business. There is no way for this woman to get her money back. It is gone. Along with it, is her hope to start up again. The injustice of this makes me furious. This woman wants to work, and did, yet was dragged down into hopelessness through no fault of her own. 

Daphne asked the market ladies which town she lived in and found out it was the exact same village that Daphne's aunt and uncles live in, actually it was the same place Daphne was born. She was very excited and called her aunt to have her knock on this woman's door to get her phone number. Her aunt was able to get her phone number and Daphne called her to ask her if she would be willing to come and visit us. After some discussion, Daphne, "Do you remember me?" Her, "No", Daphne, "I shopped with a white woman", Her, "Yes, ok I will come". She came to our house, 30 minutes away, with no idea why we had invited her. But she came with the hope that something was going to change for her. 


Angeline, Daphne and I sat down together and talked about her business and what happened. We discussed how much she lost and how much she needs to start her business up again. She lost $500 American dollars. We discussed if she has children to which she replied, yes she has a daughter who is in her 20's and she has many family members that have relied on her income to support them. She is the provider. 

So, Angeline is our next person in line for a micro-loan. She has already proven that she wants to and will work. She is a neighbor to Daphne's family so there is accountability and we know where her house is, and I have always liked her. She is one of the most friendly merchants and always has a smile. This is not the norm in Haiti as often times the merchants act like they are doing you a favor by being there...not terribly great customer service. 

The next lady is one you will remember from a previous blog. She came to me with a great business plan to make ice and sell it. I had thought about it for about 5 months and decided in January that we would help her begin. Then when we connected in January, she told me that she needed surgery because she had a very large fibroid which was causing constant pain. A donation paid for her surgery and now, 5 months later she is ready to begin again. Her business idea to sell ice is no longer a viable option as Haiti has not given her area power for over 4 months. However, she does have a home near a busy foot traffic area and she would now like to open a business selling soda. This can be a booming business in Titanyen. She is second in line. 



The next lady is a woman who wants a micro-loan to sell clothes. She used to sell them outside of her house daily, but this year, she needed the money to send her children to school. She needs $120 to start. 


The next lady sells coffee with bread. She has already had this business but needed the money for an emergency. To start up again she needs $50. These last two stories will get longer as I get to know them personally.


If any of these stories touch you and you want to give, please go to imslands-in-haiti.com and click the Donate button. 
























Saturday, August 8, 2015

How is it being home?

I had a wonderful friend ask me how it was to be home. 

Home...its a tricky word. 
Is home where your stuff is? 
Is home the city where your parents and siblings and friends are? 
Is home where your husband is or kids live? 
I sort of feel like we have multiple homes...or no home. 

The answer is yes and no. It is nice to be back. I like breathing the same air as my friends and family while I'm talking to them. Inviiting myself over for lunch with my parents. I like the luxuries of America. The ease of driving. The freedoms to choose any kind of food that we could want.

And no. I miss my friends in Haiti, Haitian and American. I miss speaking, hearing, practicing Creole. I miss good produce. I miss having structure around our days. I miss my bed. 
I never know how to answer the question. Normally I just say, yes its great!

But being back is a LOT of work! 

We don't have a house to call home so, no matter how gracious our hosts, we are always imposing when we return. 

We are here to share the vision God has given us with as many people as possible so that God can soften the hearts he chooses. 
Yet there are always questions around sharing. 
Am I doing enough? 
Am I being too pushy? 
I don't want people to dread seeing us as they know we are fundraising. 
But I also don't want people NOT to know we need funding to do this ministry. 

It is tiring. It also makes me trust God. Daily. I literally have to give him these thoughts daily. 

My new song is called "Good good Father" and it goes like this:
"You're a good good father
It's who you are, it's who you are
It's who you are. 
And I'm loved by you
Its who I am, It's who I am
It's who I am


I listen to this song reminding me how good my Heavenly Father is and that I am loved by Him, the creator of all things. And I realize something...where my home is doesn't really matter. My home is wherever He calls me. And I am good with that. 

Friday, July 31, 2015

Elevate

Many of you have been following our small micro-loan program. It started with Daphney and her chickens and has been expanding steadily to include a total of 13 loans. Since Shane has been calling it, 'The program where Jenn gives away all of our money", we decided it needed a name. 
We are excited to introduce Elevate the micro-loan program. 

It has been amazing to watch this program develop. Daphney recently expanded her business. She paid off her first loan and took out a second loan. She now has 500 chickens, she employs 4 people and has her own location to keep the chickens. She has never missed a payment. 
Daphney's loan allows her to pay for her children's education and meet her families basic needs. But more than that, Daphney helps others in her community. She has adopted a young family with three boys. She is working with the husband to teach him how to do raise chickens, she is helping them with money management, and helping them get their children in school. 
Daphney's loan is a loan that continues to give and impact the community. 


Another one of the loans is a young man in his late 20's. He is incredibly intelligent and has struggled to find a job. He came to us requesting a loan to rent land for a garden. The garden had been started by another man, but that man ran into financial difficulties and could not wait for the end of the growing season. He sold his land to this young man for half of its value. Gardening is hard, dirty, but honest work. Everything is done by hand; the weeding, the watering, the harvesting. There are many gardens located in one area so that they are able to help each other with security, with the watering and also with harvesting. They have formed a type of co-op. This young man will take 6 months to pay off his loan and then all profit will be his to keep. 


We have also partnered with a Haitian couple that are doing micro-loans on a smaller scale. Their  loans are between $52 and $100. Most of their loans are given to women who are selling in the local market. These ladies sell food items like rice, beans, corn, oil, garlic, etc. The women make daily payments on their 33 day loan. This program works within the Haitian culture by making sure that the ladies never have too much money in their hand, as this creates the tempation to use the money for other needs. These small micro loans allow the women to meet their families' daily needs.


Our hope is to increase this micro loan program by 10 people in the next 6 months. If you are interested in hearing more about this program, we would love to sit down with you and share our vision. 





Tuesday, June 16, 2015

A new momma at 18

I recently met a young girl, 18 years old, who has a 14 day old newborn. She was came to the burn clinic because she had a c-section and, though they aren't usually able to do this because they are too busy, they helped her by changing her bandages.
She was dressed interestingly...even for Haiti. She had a blue, see-through long sleeved shirt on under a black, sleeveless, summer dress. She had on school socks with the lace cuffs and a pair of thong sandals over that. 

When she was in the clinic, she had mentioned that her baby did not eat the day before and had not eaten yet this day...it was 8:30 am. I asked her if I could visit her to help her with breastfeeding and she said yes. At 11 am I arrived at her home. Her bed was sitting outside under a cover and her baby was lying on the bed, asleep. The baby was tiny, I would guess 4-5lbs at the most. She was sound asleep. 

One 'momma rule' is to never wake a sleeping baby, but this baby hasn't eaten for almost 36 hours. I started to rouse the baby by touching her neck, picking her up, unsnapping her onsie, when I noticed that she had something wrapped tightly around her middle. I asked the quiet momma what that was and she informed me that it is a binding that she had put on the baby to keep its stomach down. Apparently this is something that Haitian mommas do*************. I suggested that maybe we try to take that off to see if the baby would wake...she did. 

I went through doula training in America after I had Sierra. I think being part of births and postnatal care is amazing. For every single birth I was a part of I felt honored to be there to support the mommas. I personally had problems with natural birth and ended up with three c-sections, I also had problems with breastfeeding. Because of these problems, I read a lot, asked a lot of questions, and learned everything I could about breastfeeding. I alsoo learned as much as I could while training to be a doula. I had always thought that it would be easy to nurse, its natural so of course it would be easy. Nope. Not easy. A new mom has just gone through a dramatic experience physically, her hormones are going crazy and then she is responsible for another human being whose life depends on her completely. This often results in lots of doubts. 
I have two very smart Haitians friends who recently had babies. Both of these smart, educated women had serious problems with breastfeeding and were just at the point of giving up. God allowed me to be there when they were talking about being done and with each of them, 12 months apart, I offered printed material with information on breastfeeding. Both of them were able to make breastfeeding successful with that little information and encouragment. I now believe that much of the problem in Haiti, in regards to childcare, is lack of information and support. 

Put those two things and experiences and now every time I hear of a newborn baby I start asking the momma how the breastfeeding is going, how the baby is sleeping, how the momma is feeling, etc. There is so much information that these new mommas don't have access to. How can I not share this info and offer support?!?

Ok, back to the story. This mom and I sat together as I showed her how to hold the baby to breastfeed, how to hear the baby 'cough' cry which often means hunger, how to listen to the baby to make sure she is drinking. We talked about how to be present, how to breath in and out and relax, how to enjoy the fact that her baby can see her (the mom's) face as she is nursing. I offered encouragement; no her miik is not just water, it may look like that but it has lots of nutrients. No don't stop nursing right away, this baby is trying to figure out how to nurse and her body needs to know it is still feeding a baby. Yes, you, momma can and are doing a good job with this little girl. Your body will nourish her, you can love her well, just keep being present. 

After being a positive voice while she nursed on both sides (approximately an hour and a hafl) I told her I needed to go. I asked if I could check on her on Thursday to which she said yes. 

To be honest, this is a one sided report. This little momma said yes to everything I said, so I'm not sure how much she absorbed. My hope is she absorbed enough to be able to continue to thrive as a momma and that her baby will also thrive. My hope is that God used the visit to let her know she is not alone, God hasn't forgotten her. Wouldn't it be amazing if she found Jesus, the Jesus who accepts the broken. Wouldn't it be a miracle if God uses this to draw her near?  My hope is that this happens. I'm praying for this to happen. 

Please pray with me for both the mom and little baby girl. 


If you feel called to help this momma, please let me know!





Relationships that humble me

Last night, our family had dinner at one of our Haitian friends' house. We had a wonderful time. They fed us an amazing meal of chicken, pasta, and fried plantains. They spoiled us with fresh fruit for desert and cokes. We discussed our love for Jesus and passion to share the gospel with those who are lost, with those who are rejected by the local churches because they are too broken. As we talked, our children played cars, colored pictures, and ran up and down the hall playing 'hide and seek'. Its all about relationships. 
Let me tell you a little about this family. He is a 30 year old Haitian man, he loves Jesus and follows Him completely. He is married and has a two year old little boy and another one on the way. Both he and his wife are smart, kind, and willing to be used by God. 
He was describing to me how he and his wife moved to Lafito 7 months ago. They live in a two bedroom house with a little kitchen, living room and dining room. The house was originally built approximately 40 years ago by the government so they could get workers to work in the flour mill nearby. However as time passed, the houses have been sold and rented out many times. They are well built homes, arranged in an organized fashion and with space between the homes. Because of this, they are coveted by everyone, a little more expensive, and safer than the tarp and brick homes just north and south of them. 
The home he lives in is owned by an older (possibly elderly, I didn't see her) woman. Her brother lived with her but died, and without her brother, she did not have a way to support herself. She decided to rent out most of the house but keep one room to live in. Our friend agreed to that arrangement and rents a portion of the house. He shares food and extras with the woman when he has it and offers protection for her as well. 
This family humbles me. They have taken in a young girl, Sophia age 17, to live with them because she does not have any family. Her mom and dad died, leaving her at the mercy of others. Sometimes, when this happens the person that is 'taken in', is treated very poorly. However, this family is loving on her as if she is their own. God has a sense of humor because she looks so much like the wife of this family, that I would have gauranteed she was her sister! She fits right in. 
They have also taken in the wife's brother's daughter. Saraphina is now 7 years old and has been living with this family since she was born; neither of her parents wanted her. They send her to school and love on her as if she was their own. It is beautiful. 
This family also helps run a school in the mountains. They use this school to share the gospel and to bring hope to the families in that community. They teach the youth at the local church about how to follow Jesus. They have developed a program for sex education that is used in local schools. They have a little ministry in their community where they show films in the street. People know they can come for free and spend their evening in a family friendly place. 
This family, in comparison, has very little in material goods. Yet, the way they share humbles me. I see Jesus in them. 



Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Children's Saturday evening program and Micro-loans

-The micro loan idea is taking off, whether I want it to or not. :) Daphney is fully supported and has finished building her chicken house and currently has 500 chicks eating and growing. She not only is mentoring the Stephen family, but is providing work for 2 others. 
-We recently started selling peanutbutter to the American teams that come in. Daphney is teaching Madanm Stephen how to do this so that the family will actually be able to thrive and not just survive. 
-We are currently in the process of talking with Seinsein, Anachemie's mom, about starting a business selling girls clothing (this was her idea not mine:)). 
-Some of you responded to my last visit and I now have catheters for the elderly man we visited. I am currently searching for a nurse to help me put the catheter in. :) 

Do you remember the evening Saturday night program for children that we went to with Shane's cousins? They recently asked for small gifts to give the children's moms for Mother's Day (it is the last Sunday in Haiti). I told them I didn't have anything to give but if something came to me, I would share. One day later, a team leader called me and had an entire suitcase of sample shampoos and lotions. She asked if we could use them, to which I replied, "Yes! It will be perfect for the moms." So the other day I went and delivered them so that they would be ready to celebrate with the children and their mothers. 

I thought this program started with the children but as I was dropping the items off, I learned that is not the case. Their program is actually all about the moms. This Haitian couple, along with a single Haitian man, have partnered to put together their own micro-financing plan. They have 54 women from the Titanyen Baptist church that they have identified as needing assistance. They have met with these women to get their family history, what kind of business they would like to run, etc. After this, they have given out loans in the amount of $55. This loan is to be used to purchase items to sell at the market or other forms of small commerce. The women are then required to pay the loan back, a little at a time, each day. 
This is a beautiful system. Money management is not something that is part of the Haitian culture. Basically, there is not enough money or resources to go around so if you have extra, you are required to share. This results in people not knowing how to save, or how to plan ahead, because if they did this the community would consider them selfish or worse. This way of repaying allows them to live and work in their culture but also pay back the loans. 
The result has been amazing. They have been doing this for one year and every loan has been paid back in full. I think some of this is because all 54 women know each other. I also think that they are so incredibly grateful for the chance of advancement that they don't want to mess it up. 

After almost a year of mentoring these ladies, the organizers realized that they want to help more than just the moms. They want to influence the family (um...yes!!). So they began the children's program on Saturday afternoon. They talk about Jesus, about forgiveness, about love. They give a little piece of candy and sometimes they give a small meal to the children. The children's program started out with 65 children (approx) but last week had over 127. Children love it. The parents love it. God's Spirit is in it. 

They are looking for someone to partner with them so that they can give bigger loans. When I asked what these loans would look like they said about $106 American dollars. They said that this would allow the moms to really get ahead. Currrently they are able to make enough to pay for food, to put money aside to pay for the childrens' school, and to purchase clothing. A bigger loan for some of them would give them the chance to potentially get out of the program completely.  

How cool is this?! We have been feeling like micro-loans might be what God is calling us to and while this isn't a complete answer, it is a pretty great program. I really like the idea of working with families to show them that the gospel is real. God is real and He has heard their pleas. 


The micro-financing program decided to celebrate with the moms and their children for mother's day. They made food, had gifts prepared and cards that the kids could give to their moms. This a picture of Kaket as they prepare the plates...you can't even see half of them as there are 54 boxes for the moms and 127 plates for the kids. 


Then it started to rain... a lot. In Haiti it is hard to complain about the much needed rain but they ended up having to give the moms and children the food and canceling the party. The tarp wouldn't stay up and there was no place to stand or sit that was not covered in mud. 


Just a little example of what the clay looks like on sandals. :) 


The T12 organization stayed at Global for 5 days. When they had a little car trouble we visited people in our little Nissan Exterra...10 people. Who knew they would all fit?!


When  we were visiting an elderly woman, her grandson and his friend decided to take my picture, while I was standing there, without asking. It surprised me! It did lead to a very interesting conversation about why he wanted to take the picture and then into other things. I enjoy just being with the Haitian people and learning about their culture and thoughts. 


Shane working on a beautiful roof. It helps to have a tall guy around. 


Global has a wedding dress program. Women are able to rent wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and mother of the (groom/bride) dresses for 1000 goudes, approximately $21 American dollars. If they return the dress clean, they are fully refunded. One of our short term mission groups helped us organize the trailer that hold them all. This dress...any of you have one like this???


There is a lot of serving as missionary kids and not a lot of 'fun' in the typical American society sense. But one thing we do have, the Caribbean. We visited a local resort and they were selling cotton candy. Landen said, "This is the best day of my life. Family time, swimming and cotton candy!" That kid. 


The boys playing legos. 


The girls practicing their dance moves while they 'babysit' the little brother. 












Friday, May 1, 2015

Family visiting Part 2

Our last elderly visit of the day was to visit a woman who's daughter had just died. I have been friends with the elderly woman's grand-daughter (hard to follow I know) since our first year in Haiti. Her grand daughter had visited me the day before to tell me her mom died and she didn't know what to do or how they were going to make it. To be honest, I didn't want to deal with it. She has been coming to me intermittenly asking for money, food, school help for the last year and a half and I felt drained by her constant needs. However, when Tikoy asked if I wanted to visit them, I knew that God wanted something from me. 

When we got to their house I noticed that it was a nicer home in Titanyen. The woman in our elderly porgram was sitting on a plastic chair outside while two of her four granddaughters were washing laundry. There were a few other people sitting with them. I don't know if it was family or if they were from the community coming to offer their condolances. 

As we sat with them, they explained that the death of her daughter was a big blow. There were no men in the household, she was the only money maker in the family. I believe she sold things at the market. With her gone, the family was realing with how to pay for the rent of their home, how to pay for the girls' school, and how to feed themselves. We listened, offered our condolences, and then prayed with them. As we prayed, I felt an overwhelming sense that we were supposed to help in some monetary way. As we were leaving Shane came up to me saying that we had to help which was even more affirmation. We had recently had a guesthouse group leave $200 for us to use. Both Shane and I knew that that money was supposed to go to this woman and her grand-daughters. Its not enough to fix their situation, but it is a little. And God seems to make a way by having everyone do the little that they can. 

We visited a Saturday evening program held by two of my friends. It is located in a Bar and Restaurant about the size of a one car garage stall. I'm not talking about the ones with extra room in the front or on the side. We arrived about 10 minutes late, however my friend informed me that most of the children had yet to come because they were on 'Peyi tann' (country time). We were given a seat on the side of the room in front of the children and the program began. As were were settilng I noticed a girl of about 10 or 11 years old struggling with a little one on her lap. The baby was probably 11 months old and was trying to sleep but the 11 year old didn't have the patience or the body to be able to support him while he slept. I took the little man and held him for the rest of the program. He settled right in and slept like a rock. It was over a 100 degrees in the room and the little man and I were covered in sweat by the end of it, but I watched the 11 year old engaged in the program with her arms free. It was worth it.


This was my first visit to the program so I don't know yet what the norm is. However on this day the first thing they did was have the children volunteer to sing for the other children. Then some of them were given the chance to teach the other children the song that they sang. The songs were about Jesus. Afterwards they began to talk about forgiveness. There were a few of the children in the program that were angry at each other so the leader had them stand in front as they talked about forgiveness and the importance of it. How anger can fester and never leave unless you let it go. Then my friend's husband got up and began to share about the access Jesus gives us to heaven and what that would be like. How there will be no more pain, no hunger, no sadness. His energy and excitement about the topic was contagious. The children were incredibly engaged. 

As I sat there watching, I felt a sense again that this program needs some support. I don't know if it is monetary, if it is helping with a set program that they can do, or if it is having them on the Global property for a fun day out. But I do know that I am supposed to follow up with more questions and see where they lead.  I was also not the only person that felt this leading. I have a feeling Shane's cousins will be joining us. There is nothing more beautiful than Christian Haitians leading Haitians.


I don't always get the sense that we are supposed to help. There was a woman that came to my attention recently that needed an operation. In the last year she had lost all of her weight, was unable to eat, and her abdomin was very swollen. We had helped her get to the dr to try and get diagnosed, however the drs were unable to tell her exactly what was wrong with her. I asked them to have some bloodwork, and with the suggestion of the nurse at Global, to check for AIDS however they chose not to do that. 

We did a follow up visit with her this last week. She is incredibly thin still, she was sitting on the ground outside, under a tarp shade. They said she was able to eat soups now but they needed money for food. We prayed with her and sat with her for a short time and then we left. I felt terrible, but I did not feel any nudging to help. As we were walking away I asked Jessi if she felt anyvprompting to help. I waas sort of hoping she did so I could follow her nudging. However, she looked at me and told me she didn't feel that we were supposed to help either. Yesterday I let her know that I will not be able to help with buying food for her, but will be praying for healing and God's provisions. 

I think it is harder to say no than it is to say yes. I know that she is dying. Without God's intervention she will, and probably soon. She is suffering. I know I can't help everyone, it isn't my job. I am only required to help the one in front of me. However in Haiti, there are too many in front of me. 

So we pray and lean on God's direction.  

Isaiah 41:17
"When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them."

Prayer requests:
-pray for continued guidance and ears to hear
-pray that Global Outreach Haiti can shine God's light brightly in the community
-pray for protection of the missionary children on this compound


We took my brother, Shane's cousin Jessi and her husband to a resort that is about 1 hour away. Haiti is beautiful. 



We visited a local orphanage. 




Digging ditches for the Sport Disciple program's sprinkler system.





My superhero!























Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Family visiting Part 1

 This month we were blessed with family visiting. This was the first time, since being with Global, we have had a 'team' come. My brother Mike and Shane's cousin Jessi and her husband Eddie were our team. We got a ton done but also spent a bunch of time in the community. 

 Living on the compound of a Global is tricky. It is 66 acres of relative safety for my kids to roam around, it has amenities that make it easier to live in Haiti, and it has a built in community in the missionaries and many visitors we get. However it also has some drawbacks; it is removed from the Haitian community (except for our employees) and it is too easy to never leave and connect with the people. Last month, in 2 1/2 weeks, I only left the compound to go to church. That is it. 

With Jessi, Eddie, and Mike coming I knew that they would want to see the community so I began to plan some outings. However, I found myself resistant and feeling tired just thinking about it. It wasn't until about halfway through their trip that I realized why I felt that way. A part of me was avoiding the pain that is happening just outside of our walls. It is hard to be asked for something everytime I come into contact with someone. The needs are real and I can't do everything. Even if I wanted to. 
So I have been asking myself, how do I stay engaged and in relationship with the people God has sent me to serve? I know that when I stay in constant contact with God he makes it very clear when I am required to act. But the filtering can be exhausting. This last week that we spent bringing our family into the community I felt God nudge me three times.

We visted the gran-moun (elderly) one day. The elderly in Haiti are more abandoned than the orphans in Haiti. Many of the elderly have no one to care for them, there is no social services, it is all up to the community. Global tries to help by giving out food to 60 elderly every Monday. 
As we walked through the metal gate into the first home we were visiting, I was thrilled to see it was a woman that I have felt a personal connection to. Everytime I see her she has a gentle and beauitful smile, she goes to our church, and she always has a kiss on the cheek for me. We walked in and I started to talk to her and ask her about her house when Tikoy (the Global worker in charge of the gran moun) interuppted me and told me she was not one of our elderly. She is the person who cares for the elderly man we were there to visit and because he is unable to move, she picks up his food on Mondays. I was shocked. This woman is in her 60's. As we were about to go into her house I looked over and noticed two little boys, one was about 2 years old and the other probably 4 years old. The youngest was standing in the yard, with only a shirt on, playing in the dirt. I asked Alude Carnese, the elderly lady, who these children belonged to. She very nonchalantly stated that they were her grandbabies but their mother had died and she was in charge of them as well. 




I followed the group into the home to meet the man that is in our elderly program. He was lying on the cement floor next to the bed. Underneath him was a plastic sheet and on top of that was a blanket with a sheet. He smelled strongly of urine. He looked like if he tried to sit up he would break. However, with help he was able to sit and greet us. We were told that he is unable to walk at all which is why the sent of urine. Carnese told us that she has neighbors come and help her bring him to the toilet when she can and also to help her bath him. We asked Carnese if he was her family to which she replied no, but there was no one else to care for him, so she was. 

We spent our time singing together and praying over the man. I can't even remember his name because I felt such a stirring to continue to be in relationship with Carnese. As we were leaving I asked if the boys were going to school. She told me that they were but that they did not have the money to take their final test. If they don't find this money then they will not pass this grade and will have to retake the entire year.

To be continued...



Matthew 22:37-39
"And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This iis the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."


Our porch has some major leaks and when it rains it becomes a swimming pool out there. So one of the first projects we had was to take out the insulation that was up and seal the holes. It was a disgusting job as many animals had been living in the insulation and the leaks had created a lot of mold. Once the insulation was removed, Mike and Shane replaced some lights. This was Mike's first full day in Haiti. Welcome to Haiti Mike. :)


Haitian coke...real sugar. Delicious. 

They also stained some boards which will be bench seats in the local church.



Shane...trouble


Chris has a good sense of humor though. :)

Below are some pics from visiting the kindergarten that Global runs. 






The kids are a little aggerssive, so Landen found a safe spot behind Mike. 


Shane tried to get in line with them but they quickly informed him he is too big to go to Kindergarten. 

Jessi volunteered in the burn clinic. They do an amazing job helping people heal. 

 
sorting meds