Cleaning House

July 23, 2011

I will share a quick update before retiring for the day.  Since the blog of yesterday morning Renee and I haven’t left the premises. The day has come to a close and as Renee and I start coveting our bed I decided to send out a quick, short blog to let everyone know we are doing well and soaking in the experiences put before us.  Renee continues to run from one end of the property to the other handling issues as they develop and overseeing the guest house.  Miriam INSISTS she isn't going to let Renee leave and will get Bill to join her here.  They are both such a blessing to the ministry with their gifts and actions.  Yesterday and this afternoon I have continued to spend time with the children in my efforts to have each child create a "thank you" card for their sponsor.  There were 185 notes to be written and I'm getting the number down to a bit over 20! YEAH!  The children have really had fun making them as I stress to them the love and assistance of their sponsor.  Even though I TRY to keep the table reserved for only those who are working on the cards, an entourage of children gather. Today I brought activity books with me and was amazed how interested the children were to complete mazes, dot to dot, and math problems.  The older children really enjoy doing "word search" puzzles and sit for a long time concentrating to find a word.  Once again I wish I spoke Creole - but somehow my love for them seems to penetrate their heart without using words and they surely return it tenfold. 

Renee was involved in a huge project to make room in the depot for the contents coming in a shipping container any day!  She had quite the group of helpers as nearly all the boys worked very hard at her direction.  At the end of the day a Pastor from an orphanage about an hour away came with a truck and was so thrilled to receive a supply of food, medicines and other needed items.  Six of the children from here went back to his orphanage for a week to be a help to his staff, and to experience life in the mountain area where agriculture is predominant.  I suspect they will return with a thankful heart for New Life.

We have met some amazing women on this trip who are staying here to serve. There is a young woman age 20, who has been such an inspiration and support to me.  God is so good at putting just the right person in your path.  Tonight the six of us gathered for prayer and it was such a realization that we come as broken souls before Him and that He still uses us  - He takes our gifts and puts us alongside those with other gifts and WOW -  look out! 

I must also mention the team that left today.  They, too, brought love and inspiration to New Life through their team members, activities and ministries in the area - especially at the deaf camp.  Tears were shed by them as they left. I have no doubt many of them will be back.  I was especially blessed by three of the girls on their team in their 20's.  They insist that Renee and I are going on the medical mission scheduled in October with them.  They are radiant girls with Godly lives and intentions. We shared so many laughs and tears together. They each had a child here steal their heart and change their life.  It's certainly the truth that God is about changing lives - we see it happen every day here.  The irony being it's usually a visitor - even though every visitor comes hoping to change a life here! 

Tomorrow is church - which is always an experience. Cathy Jones arrives in the afternoon and we will spend the last week as a team of three - NOT to be confused with the THREE STOOGES - or we hope we won't resemble such behavior!  Please continue to pray for us and for the future of this ministry.  There is so much activity here and the needs are great.  The good news is, God has already covered the tomorrow that we fear.  I see Renee's salamander is back on the wall.  Time to turn off the lights and put my head under the covers.  What might tomorrow bring?

Haiti - is really an action word!

Suffering with “bloggers guilt” and having too much in my heart – I decided to blog today, even though Renee has already bogged as well.  That way – for those of you who have been waiting for an entry….today is bonus day!  If tomorrow does not offer us an opportunity to actually sit and type one, may this one cover us! J

ALL the days are now running together. I don’t know if it’s my feeble mind, or if an alert 20 year old would experience the same.  Today, Little Patty’s father (my God child) told me that after visiting me here on Tuesday, she has been getting dressed early each day thereafter asking if she can come to work with him here at New Life so she can see me and swing on the swing.  I suspect her first experience of swinging on a swing such as the one here has now taken top priority over me.  I shall weep over that reality later…

As I mentioned in a previous blog, my child from Compassion International did indeed come to visit on Wednesday.  It was an amazing reunion as he ran to greet me with arms so tight around my neck I thought he was going to hold me tight forever.  I met his father for the first time, who is now supporting and raising him as a result of his mother dying in March.  Before he left I asked if he would sing a song for me, as he told me before that he likes to sing.  With just a few moments of hesitation he stood and began.  The song was very long and his sweet voice went both high and low and the tune was very interesting.  The translator explained that around Christmas time the country had a national singing contest and many people tried out, singing this newly written song.  It basically asked God to bless the country after all that was lost in the earthquake and not to forget them as a people.  Just knowing he was singing that message so heartfelt made me sad.  I guess I don’t want anyone here in Haiti to have the burden of their poverty in their heart.  But why wouldn’t they?  To know MY prayer requests NEVER touch on God rescuing me from the depths of nothingness – I can’t imagine the faith and hope it takes to trust God that He will rescue and restore their lives.  I have had their prayers translated to me, and the MAJORITY of their prayers are prayers of THANKSGIVING to God vs. prayers asking for help!

Before leaving for Haiti, two sponsors gave money to buy a treat for all the children while we were here.  We were given a “tip” by one of the older children here of a place to go where the ice cream and other treats are actually manufactured cheaper.  By it resembling something a “sale price” , I was all over it! Silly me is half expecting a big building on the main street….but it was down a dusty narrow road.  Soon we came to the usual huge tall gate and after a few honks of our horn, with caution, we were allowed in.  We went up many stairs and at the top we were greeted by a Canadian woman who spoke English and she welcomed us into her air conditioned office which looked quite American. NOTHING you would have expected to see by the condition of the surroundings.  We bought cups of ice cream and little single packages of cake for each child and we were so excited for the party to come!  On Wed. night during devotional time – in the dark of the night the children were surprised with the treats!  Lots of happy faces, and many chins dripping with white ice cream.  I had the humble experience of hand feeding one of the disabled children who can’t feed himself, nor speak but his eyes expressed his delight.  

Yesterday, I had the fun of being included by a team here who was treating the children of New Life to a trip to the beach.  The morning was filled with excitement as everyone prepared for their day away.  We were told that there were about 10 of the children who weren’t going to be allowed to go, based on behavioral issues.  We all loaded into a small bus – housing sometimes 4 to a seat meant for TWO – we sat there and sweat – waiting to leave.  All at once it was announced that three of the little boys had to exit the bus, as they were still under the consequences of poor choices.  I could hardly watch them walk away slowly….tough love abounds and is needed to raise up respectful children.

The children sang songs and used the back of seats for a drum all the way there.  It also offers them the chance to see beyond their walls of life in Haiti and what one day will be the place where they will have to use what they are learning now – to survive.  As you would imagine – fun was had by all.  You can’t imagine a scene SO beautiful is part of the ugliness that exists on the road behind you.  Lots of fun photos taken and all you could hear were their voices exclaiming their deep pleasure.  As I sat on the shore I frequently heard “Sister Patty!”  When I looked their way they would do some kind of trick in the water or show me something that required me to clap and yell, “Bravo!” And then that antic would be followed by another and another… No matter where you do – children LOVE attention and affirmation. 

The ride home in the bus was longggg and hot.  Many kids sleeping after a day of fun. All of a sudden there was a very loud bang – I expected to find a bullet hole somewhere - but thankfully, I guess, we blew a tire!  In a flash, I could picture all 80+ of us standing alongside a hot dusty road waiting for a repair.  Thankfully, it was reported as an “inside tire” and we were told we were OK to continue – only now we traveled at 25 MPH instead of 45.  Dusk was around the corner after we returned and Renee and I found ourselves in GREAT need of a cold shower and our beds were looking pretty darn good!

Today I am hoping to help children with the remaining thank you notes to sponsors. It’s a project that has lasted all week.  I am not complaining because the more notes to write, means the more sponsors who have stepped forward. If you are reading this as a sponsor – please know your child is MORE than happy to give their personalized touch with a sincere thank you!  Many sponsors have also written their child a letter – so I will get the blessing of sharing those words of love with the child as the days continue.  I have never stayed here two weeks before – I normally leave after one week, which would be tomorrow.  I couldn’t imagine going home so soon and am thankful that I have another week to share with these precious children of God and only hope Renee and I have given them even a moment of joy compared to what they have given us which will be part of us forever!

Another Day at the Beach!

Patty and I had the privilege of accompanying a team from Florida/Tennessee and most of the New Life kids to the beach yesterday. Going to the beach as a child of NL is a very special treat. This only happens if a team has been blessed enough by others to have the ability and resources, so most children here take it very seriously. Just like at home, if the kids have not been behaving properly, completing their chores, being good examples to others and treating each other with respect, they can loose their privileges for this. As we loaded up the bus yesterday some of the children had to stay behind. I am sure they have learned their lesson. So it was off to the beach as the weather was beautiful! The ride out is always an adventure with children sitting on missionaries laps, beach bags stuck in-between and listening to the sweet voices of children singing worship songs. We stopped one time along the way near the site where there is a mass grave for all the earthquake victims and prayed. All the children bowed their heads and covered their eyes humbly. It was a short time after that we were turning into the steep road that led down to the beach. It didn't take the kids long to pray one more time, thanking all the missionaries that made their day possible and for everyone's safety and they were off. The missionary team and Patty had brought many beach toys, beach balls, sling shots, Frisbees and kites. The kids had a blast, most only leaving the water for snacks and lunch. Mid morning snacks, hotdogs, were handed out and a sweet or two. For the missionaries, it was a time to play with the children in the water, soak up some rays and enjoy some fellowship time with other missionaries. We had the blessing of three deaf people visiting us from this team as well and the kids were curious and interested in learning how to say "I Love You" in sign language! What an experience for them. Soon, a vehicle arrived from NL with lunch and all the children reluctantly came out of the water to eat. We all enjoyed a lunch of spaghetti and salad eaten with a spoon. Soon we were watching children and missionaries slurp up long strands of pasta making funny sounds! You just have to make do with what God provides sometimes :). Four o'clock brought the sound of Jean Rony blowing the whistle for "all out of the water". Had prayer of thanksgiving to God for the wonderful day and off we went. The ride home was not boring by any means, children sleeping in your arms and the older boys giving us samples of Haitian tunes complete with drum sounds coming from hitting the back of bus seats. About twenty minutes into our journey, a loud "bang" came from the middle of the bus. Our driver cautiously slowed down and pulled over with horns honking behind. He got off of the bus to inspect the under carriage. We all had a picture in our minds of us standing along the roadside waiting for another bus to arrive trying to keep one hundred kids from getting hit by passing traffic. Luckily, the driver returned telling us, no worries, as we blew an inside tire that, "we don't really need"! So, he started the bus, pulled back into traffic and limped along causing us to get back quite late to NL, but safely. I never thought a cold shower with water trickling out could feel so good. Then it was down to join everyone for homemade pizza, salad and the best peach cobbler this side of the DR! Unfortunately, by our return being so late, the kids were not able to have devotional time. For me, it was off to see my sponsor child and say good night.
Patty and I have been sharing where we see God working in our lives and others here, so I have something to share with you in closing. My sponsor child is a boy, Chiniado's who is ten and has hydrocephalus. Simply put, when he was in his mother womb, the embryonic fluid flowed into his brain and stop causing him to have a enlarged head and weakness on the left side. As a result, he stays in a wheelchair most days. So when I went down last night I asked him if he just wanted to sit on a bench under the mango tree and hang out. He said yes quickly! He has a friend who is also handicapped, deaf and mute. This friend has been watching my sponsor child and my relationship grow over the last couple of weeks. Of course, it's God's love that he has seen! I have been trying to include Chiniado's friend in everything we do. So last night, Chiniado's friend rolled his wheelchair over to me and gave me his hand and smiled looking in my eyes. That's God, pure and simple! Through all of the days up and downs we can depend on Him to carry us through and give us hope for all of our tomorrow's.

Faux Grandma Day

It’s Day 3 and I’m finally blogging – of course the first day my computer was in the lost and found at the Haitian airport…now that I have miraculously recovered my computer I’m  back in business.  It has been a delight getting reacquainted with the children and receiving needed hugs.  Some of the children attend a tutoring class in the morning and French classes are being taught by a teacher from the states who spending a few months at New Life as well.  So in between class time the kids are working on thank you cards for their sponsors.  They are very focused and determined to do a good job.  Their artistic flair is so wonderful as it comes alive on paper.  There are several other teams here with girls eager to help me orchestrate the project – because even if I had 10 hands it wouldn’t be enough. I really enjoy seeing their personalities come alive as they interact with each other.  Again I marvel at how God created each of us with different talents and styles so we could join together to get a job done and further His Kingdom. 

Without a fan we would probably smother. It’s hot and sticky and I’m hoping to sweat off a few dozen pounds in the night.  Last night before bed Renee and I each had a gecko crawling down the wall on either side of us.  I always prefer to keep an eye on them, because at least then I know where they are and don’t fear I am  sharing my bed with them.  The breeze during the day is a gift! 

As in most families, a “family”meeting was held yesterday – just to be sure all the children and employees are aware of the daily duties and expected responsibilities.  Can you imagine trying to manage a family of 140+?  I am always amazed at all the intricacies that have to be in place in order to move forward.   New needs pop up everyday – the struggles seem ever present.  But, love abounds.

Today was a fun day with the typical Haiti twist.  Despite running about 2 hours behind, we went to Marie’s orphanage and picked up one of the girls, and brought “little Patty” my God child back to New Life. We had great fun showing them the animals, fish tank of tilapia, swinging them high in the sky and convincing them the new experience of going down a tunnel slide, was really great fun!  Doing puzzles, eating snacks, reading a new book together, eating more snacks and hearing their laughter of being tickled without ceasing was a joy.  We ended the day with a special time of eating French fries and chicken nuggets (?) at our one and only favorite place.  It seemed the girls had a fun day – I know we did.

Tomorrow will be another busy day.  Jim and I have sponsored a little boy from Haiti for eight years through Compassion Organization. I have visited him here in Haiti four times in the past.  Tomorrow he is coming with a representative/translator to visit me at New Life.  In May I received a letter from him explaining that his Mom died in March while giving birth to a baby.  A common occurrence in Haiti – and I am sure it was probably preventable if she had received proper medical care.  Regardless, it will be bitter sweet to see him tomorrow,

The days are filling up with upcoming activities so I am sure Renee and I will have more events to share.  A team of 12 here have been going outside the compound most days and doing a lot of ministry at a deaf camp.  It’s all so interesting.  Net working to learn how God uses those willing to serve is so interesting and inspiring.  Some very committed, amazing people have shared their story with us during their stay.

My eyes are closing as I type this as I’m exhausted – but keep those prayers for protection coming.  I will close by sharing that while inching down the road in the usual traffic jam and smoke filled street, we saw Michelle – a young beautiful girl who left Marie’s orphanage last year. She was standing in line at a community well, waiting her turn to pump a bucket of water to carry back to their one room home.   A common practice – yet such a reminder of how precious the commodity of water is here.   I suspect the potential of sleeping with a gecko would be the least concern of the majority of people going to bed here tonight.  With thanksgiving I close.

The Jordanian Army Comes For a Visit

We were very honored to have the Jordanian Army visit us on Saturday. The forward troops arrived at 9:00am to setup tables for a clinic and get the lay of the land for the Colonel's arrival. They raised the Jordanian flag, handed out backpacks to each child and ran a clinic to check the children for basic health vitals. Of course many pictures were taken for promotional reasons as well. Then it was off to the tent city orphanage to do it all over again for thirty more children. Regardless of all the pomp and circumstance, at on point I looked over and saw one of the Lieutenants' collecting stones in a pop bottle with one of the girls and another catching a young boy at the bottom of the slide! Priceless......
Patty Meyer joined my team of one yesterday, so plan on hearing some wonderful and funny blogs over the next few days.
This morning we were greeted by children singing worship songs early as we joined all the New Life kids for church in the beautiful, newly renovated building. Kids were raising their hands to worship and reciting scripture before long. New Life has had a visiting Pastor for the last two weeks providing leadership through scripture. He has made the children blossom in their faith. It has been wonderful to watch. One young lady excepted Jesus into her life for the first time. The afternoon brought sponsor crafts for Patty and help from a team from Florida and chores and new guests for the guesthouse for me. We have many crafts to do but have at least put a dent in it. So, week three is starting tomorrow for me as I continue to serve our risen Lord. I'm so thankful He has decided to let me see just a little farther down the road! More to come in the days ahead, so stay tuned!