Haiti September 2009

Biblical Why-

"Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."
Romans 12:9-10

"I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends."
John 15:12-13

"If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
1 Corinthians 13:1-7

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."
Romans 12:2

"For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 21:28

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19

"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need."
Acts 2:44-45

"I say it again- it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
Matthew 19:24

"When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night."
Romans 12:13

"Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies."
2 Corinthians 4:10

"And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you were doing it to me!'"
Matthew 25:40


This is just the beginning, I believe the Word calls us to a life that looks crazy different than what our culture has decided is "normal" And I am just so excited to see how God wants it to look for me!!!!

Chasing the white truck

My heart was broken in a whole new way the first time I went to the feeding center in Haiti. I have seen many things that have hurt my heart, but this was the second time in Haiti where the eyes of a child cut me to the core. I don't know if you have ever had to search for hope, in a country where most of our needs are met, it seems like a desperate need for hope can be lost. As I rode in the back of the pickup truck to the feeding center, out of tin shacks and down the road children came running. From every direction little bare feet were tearing out, trying to catch up to the big white truck. As they ran behind and beside the truck I caught the eyes of this one little boy. There he was, barely clothed, running with this truck, his eyes filled with hope. Hope that this truck was bringing enough rice and beans, and that he would get there fast enough, that he would have a meal that day. Hope. I don't know if it clicked with me right then, or if it took a while, but that is what those children need, hope. They are hungry, and hurting, and desperate for hope of something better. That is what I believe God is calling me to-- to show that there is hope- hope even greater than the things of this world. Our Hope is in Him, and those kids need to know about it.

What I'm doing

So it is going to take lots of posts to fully explain why I am moving to Haiti, but for anyone who wants to know what I am doing there-- here it is-


I am moving soon to Jubilee Blanc- an area of Gonaives, Haiti. My last trip to Haiti I worked with some wonderful people who have started a school there. I am going to be teaching math to five and six year olds, as well as possibly help oversee other operations of the school. They are starting with one grade level and will add a new one each year. I also hope to help keep track of the health of the students and be involved with medical clinics in the area. My main goal is to love on these kids and the people of this community. My prayer is that we can raise up educated, empowered young people who can then in turn help their entire community. And more than math skills, I hope to impart to these children foundations of love, responsibility, integrity and faith in Jesus Christ.

We are still working out all the details, but as of now I hope to be staying at the school in Jubilee- which is so exciting for me- because it means I will really be in community with the people I am serving. That is one of the things I am most excited about- just doing life there. It is one thing to visit a place, and a whole other to make it your home. I am just so excited to see all the Lord has planned with this!!

So where to start. . .

Again, I am starting out overwhelmed at all the Lord has done for me, but one story keeps coming to mind, so I guess that is the best place to start.

My first time in Haiti was Easter of 2008. It was completely by the provision and purposing of God. Even the meeting of the man who chose to take me to Haiti, Hein, was an incredible working of the Lord. There is so much to tell about that trip, but right now I want to tell you about my encounter with Jesus.

In the orphanage where we were staying there were almond trees all over the place. Until then I didn't exactly know where almonds came from! The children were taking sticks and knocking the almonds down. Then to get them out, they had to smash them with a rock. Unlike store-bought almonds, around the shell there is another covering, that when smashed with a rock creates this wet, sticky, purple yuck. By the time the kids had smashed into the actual almond, there was not much left of it. So I decided to help- hoping maybe I could save a little more of the almond! So I start smashing almonds with the rocks, covering my hands in this purple yuck! I line starts forming with all the kids wanting me to smash their almonds! Then this tiny little girl walks up, she couldn't have been more than 6. She looks down at my hands and sees them covered in this stuff and decides that that isn't ok. Remember, these kids have maybe three sets of clothes, which they share with each other. She shakes her head at my dirty hands and picks up the bottom of her dress and starts trying to wipe my hands clean. When she sees it is not working, she takes me by the hand and walks me over to the pump. She holds my hands out under it and runs around to pump the water. Then she comes back and rinses my hands and dries them on her little dress. I have never seen a more perfect picture of Jesus. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

I'm not sure what is going to come out. . .

As in most things, I like to join in to the new craze about what, 5 years late? I don't know how long blogging has been the thing to do- and I never had the desire. Then two major things happened in my life. One was that I realized my severe insufficiency in communication. I thought it only spanned to being really bad at calling people back. But in fact it is much deeper. When it comes to conveying anything about myself and many times my heart, I have realized I skip over huge parts of my explanations-- which can really lead to confusion. I am beginning to understand why that is, but am still struggling with how to change that. So for the few people that desire to understand what is in my crazy head- this may be helpful, and for me, maybe getting things out here, will help me work out being able to communicate better with the people I love. So that is the weird, self growth reason.

The other reason- which will hopefully be more interesting-- is the fact that I am moving to Haiti in three weeks. As I start to tell friends and family about this decision I realize more and more that this is one of the parts of me that I have only explained half-way and to only some people. I can't understand why people would look at me strange, or on the other side, be impressed when they hear what I'm doing. Then I realized that the reason for both is that I have inadequately shared my heart and the reasons I feel God is leading me to a lifestyle that looks so different from some of the people around me. I also realized why I have been so inadequate--- because there is SO MUCH. My mouth can't keep up with the things that my mind and my heart have experienced. So maybe- one story, one glimpse at my heart at a time, I can unravel the overwhelming collection of beauty and pain that has led me do live the way that I try to.