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!

The Ups and Downs of Haiti

Just a quick note for today as my emotions flow from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows all in a twelve hour period. Was able to accompany a team from CA and all the New Life kids to the beach again today. It was a beautiful day. It takes about one and a half hours to get to the beach location. The kids blessed us by singing songs all the way to the beach. The Pastor from CA kept asking if they knew one worship song after another. He would sing a few bars and before you knew it, the kids erupted in joyous tones. I wish we could have captured the faces of many people in the streets as they went about their daily routines and the bus drove by with the sweet sounds echoing out the windows. Those children blessed many people they didn't even know today! Another highlight today was seeing Harold swimming in the beautiful blue waters today. You see, Harold has no use of either one of his legs and moves along on crutches. Last week the water was too rough for him, but today it was nearly motionless. He swam like a fish and never stopped smiling!
Unfortunately, the stark reality of life in Haiti hit us square in the face on the ride home. Instead of taking the bus back with the kids, I drove home with the ladies that cooked lunch and Miriam. It was dusk and suddenly we drove past what seemed to be a body on the side of the road. I asked Miriam if she thought it was a body. Then asked if we should stop to see if we could be of help. We turned the car around and pulled up. Miriam got out to talk to the people standing near by and to checkout not one, but two bodies. Through conversation, we find out that both of these men were cousins who were driving a motorcycle and got cut off the road. Both men got thrown into a guard rail and died. The families of both men were there. This happened at 1:00pm and now it was 6:00pm. The police had come by to remove the motorcycle but not the bodies. The families were waiting for a tap tap to come from PaP, one and one half hours away, to pickup the bodies. We prayed for them and hope their souls were already in heaven and gave them what money we had. How sad that the dignity of the treatment of a human in Haiti means so little.
Thank you so much for your support in prayer.

Renee

Day one on my own!

Would like to share a couple things with all back home. New Life has had a couple teams in the last couple weeks put a new roof on the church, internally give it a new coat of paint and paint and rearrange the seating. The church looks fabulous and we had a great day of worship in it last Sunday. A local church brought twenty musicians over and a few voices to help us praise God. By the end of the second hymn all hands were raised in the air. The kids were in circles moving with the music and the Holy Spirit was present. Now that is how to worship our God! A woman staying at NL, Lulu Carter, also painted a new mural on one inside wall of the church. It is a picture of Jesus in a field of beautiful flowers with arms out stretched watching the children come to him. Jesus tender heart for his children is a beautiful representation of what goes on at New Life!
Today brought many first experiences for me on this trip, I am helping Miriam to run the guesthouse while Sarah is back in the States for the next three weeks, we got our first real rain storm since I have been here with one clamp of lightning that nearly knocked all of us off our dinner chairs and a trip to the Baptist Mission and Orphanage. Left about 10:00am to head to the Baptist Mission. Arrived in time for lunch and what a lunch it was! The cafe is an open area over looking beautiful, lust green gardens planted on the side of mountains for a far as the eye can see. Many different crops. We were they only ones in the restaurant and happened to notice an older gentleman with a walking cane come in. We start chatting and found out that he is one of the first missionaries who came to Haiti. He is an American who came to Haiti in 1946 with his wife. Many things struck me as he told of his adventures teaching the Haitians to farm crops on dirt and rock hillsides, start a church which has now grown to 46 locations and spreading the good news of the gospel to as many people as he could. He mentioned that in all his endeavors he never had any money to start ahead of time. He always knew God would provide. He also said that God does not want us to be a Santa Claus to the people of Haiti. He wants us to go out and spread the good news of the gospel. He had amazing stories to tell and we could have listened to him all afternoon but we had a stop to make at the Baptist Mission Orphanage. After going much higher in the mountain range and many twists, turns, washed out roads and boulders later we arrived at the orphanage. Upon arrival we immediately felt about a thirty degree temperature drop. Most kids had warm clothes on. Thirty-five kids live in a three room shanty looking house. Two filled with bunk beds and one with a table for eating and other activities. Two burners sat outside the house for cooking using propane. No electricity or running water. Two babies were sitting outside the front door in laundry baskets and clothes all around them to keep them upright. Flies were swarming each of these poor babies heads. It was a very sad sight. All of the kids farm to make money. New life buys vegetables from them each week. The kids also go to school for two hours each day. We spent sometime coloring, serving treats and just giving them God's love. When we left we got them all to line up and handed out Snickers Bars to each one. Oh, how exceed they were. The team, myself and Miriam prayed over the Pastor, his wife and all the children before we left. It was a very sad sight and once again left me thinking how thankful we are for all God has given us. It was a stark sad reality of life amongst God's beautiful natural resources. Afterward, Miriam took us even higher up to take a look at an empty parcel of land that looks down on this mountainous region. Another dream to build a retreat center for New Life some day!
The day finished off with a bumpy ride back down the mountain and a long ride back to NL. It was dark by the time we returned but a hearty dinner was waiting. It felt great to get back home. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Renee