I barely knew this family in Haiti, but the dad was nicknamed "Swanee" I guess b/c his last name was Schwanz. He made everyone laugh and their family was known for being fun and passionate about serving God. Another friend posted this recent video of him describing some sobering experiences in Haiti at Christmas time.
I took the time to watch this because I expected something interesting, knowing Swanee's reputation among the missionaries in Haiti in the 1980s. But I didn't expect to be so moved. If you didn't watch it, he describes going down into the city of Port au Prince around Christmas time, and watched a woman take a bath in a pothole filled with filthy water, and then brush her teeth with it. All the while, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was playing in the background on a loudspeaker somewhere. He said it was a very popular song in Haiti, and even the woman bathing was singing along. Later, he heard a Haitian man singing it, and asked him if he knew what he was singing about. He said he surely did. He was asked if he knew what snow was then. The man replied, "I don't know snow, but I know what a white Christmas is. Everyone wants a white Christmas, one like white people have with presents and a house filled with food and a bed and friends!"
Things we take for granted. A beautiful house. Any house. Presents. Food. Love. Family. Plenty of clothes. A nice place to worship. Transportation. Education. Health. A future. Plans.
It still just gets to me that a place like Haiti is in America's backyard. Going there and delivering a little bit of aid seems like a drop in the bucket. But I'm just doing what is before me. It might not be much in the world's eyes (I'm no Greg Mortensen or Mother Theresa) but it's what I know to do.
May God multiply our efforts and gifts like he did with the loaves and fish, and make a supernatural difference through us.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Love Hopes All Things
I'm going to confirm this next month when I'm actually in Haiti and can ask around...but I suspect there are lots of pastors caring for groups of children not their own. And not just in Haiti, but in other poor pockets of the world. It is a natural outgrowth of the life of Christ in a person, to take care of the fatherless and widowed.
We just happened upon this one. Although Pastor Val is an extraordinary man in our eyes, we have not met all the others.
I think this because I heard a Haitian friend tell me that yes, he's heard of a lot of pastors who do just what Pastor Val does. They seem to have the capacity to care for many.
Could I?
Could you?
And I heard about a large orphanage in Uganda, where a lady took in her grandchildren as one by one, her adult children died of AIDS. What started as a large family of Granny and the grandkids, turned into over 500 children 20 years later.
So here's a challenge: when we hear about a child or a teen that needs some extra help or care, do we ever think we should take them into our home? Do we even have opportunity to meet people in need like that, or do we live in comfortable suburbs with little or no interaction with the poor and needy? Actually, they may be in our backyard. I've heard many stories of teens who's parents have 'kicked them out' for one reason or another. More than likely, the teen was driving the parents to the brink, but would we be willing to put ourselves out there and take them in for a while? It could save a life.
But the risk is often a broken heart. In the movie, "The Blind Side," optimist Leigh Ann Tuohy takes in a young homeless athlete. The story has a happy ending; Michael finds love and acceptance in their home and goes on to succeed, choosing not to go back to the bad neighborhood. We didn't see Michael choosing the dysfunction, the gangs, the drugs, the crime, the dead-end track. We all probably had a warm fuzzy leaving the theater thinking, "I could do that!" "Surely a child from the hood would want to live in a nice house with all the trimmings."
But many times, the teen from a broken and dysfunctional background can't adapt to a somewhat normal lifestyle and doesn't make it. That is heartbreaking. You can lead a horse to water... It is so frustrating to want something so badly for a child, and have them come so close to achieving it, only to go back to the pattern that is familiar, though unhealthy.
So Christian, be on the lookout for those in need. Be willing to lay your heart on the line to be the one to save a life. Occasionally one will make it out, and make it in life. But we can't stop trying because we calculated the risk, and it doesn't look promising.
Love hopes all things.
We just happened upon this one. Although Pastor Val is an extraordinary man in our eyes, we have not met all the others.
I think this because I heard a Haitian friend tell me that yes, he's heard of a lot of pastors who do just what Pastor Val does. They seem to have the capacity to care for many.
Could I?
Could you?
And I heard about a large orphanage in Uganda, where a lady took in her grandchildren as one by one, her adult children died of AIDS. What started as a large family of Granny and the grandkids, turned into over 500 children 20 years later.
So here's a challenge: when we hear about a child or a teen that needs some extra help or care, do we ever think we should take them into our home? Do we even have opportunity to meet people in need like that, or do we live in comfortable suburbs with little or no interaction with the poor and needy? Actually, they may be in our backyard. I've heard many stories of teens who's parents have 'kicked them out' for one reason or another. More than likely, the teen was driving the parents to the brink, but would we be willing to put ourselves out there and take them in for a while? It could save a life.
But the risk is often a broken heart. In the movie, "The Blind Side," optimist Leigh Ann Tuohy takes in a young homeless athlete. The story has a happy ending; Michael finds love and acceptance in their home and goes on to succeed, choosing not to go back to the bad neighborhood. We didn't see Michael choosing the dysfunction, the gangs, the drugs, the crime, the dead-end track. We all probably had a warm fuzzy leaving the theater thinking, "I could do that!" "Surely a child from the hood would want to live in a nice house with all the trimmings."
But many times, the teen from a broken and dysfunctional background can't adapt to a somewhat normal lifestyle and doesn't make it. That is heartbreaking. You can lead a horse to water... It is so frustrating to want something so badly for a child, and have them come so close to achieving it, only to go back to the pattern that is familiar, though unhealthy.
So Christian, be on the lookout for those in need. Be willing to lay your heart on the line to be the one to save a life. Occasionally one will make it out, and make it in life. But we can't stop trying because we calculated the risk, and it doesn't look promising.
Love hopes all things.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Spiritual Warfare
We toss that term around, "spiritual warfare," at least in the circles I run in. It most certainly applies at critical moments of change that would affect Kingdom dynamics. To car accidents...to illness...to business difficulties...to thefts. We've experienced this level of spiritual warfare often.
But I have been praying for a situation the last few days that certainly makes my trials seem light and momentary. And this situation was OBVIOUSLY so spiritual, it has brought a thousand new questions to mind about how God does things.
There is a precious young couple in Uganda, Joy and Simon Peter who were expecting their first baby. Simon Peter is the associate pastor of a church making a difference in Kampala, and his wife is the worship leader. Joy was eight months along when they had their first encounter with the demonic last month; she looked out into the congregation at a new face and stared into eyes that made her think of a black hole. She then passed out and began to tumble off the four-foot stage, only to be rescued by someone on the first row. Whew. But then later in the service, this woman with the hollow eyes asked for prayer and during prayer began to speak in a strange voice, "we were not able to kill her so we're going to have to kill the baby!"
Of course, everyone began praying for protection over the baby and the mother. Just this past Friday night, Joy went into labor. The baby wouldn't come naturally so at 5 am on Saturday, Gabriel was delivered via C-section. But he wasn't breathing. The doctors tried frantically to get him to breathe and placed him on special machines.
Sunday morning at 5 am, seven or eight people in their church woke with terrible dreams about the baby, about his death. Some felt strangled in their sleep. Others saw dark, frightening hands reaching for them. Another friend became deathly ill in his abdomen. They all awoke with the urgent sense to pray fervently for this child. There was a church service at 7:30 am. The woman with the black eyes was there again, and had the same dark message: "we are going to kill the baby."
By the afternoon service, the message went out that the baby had died, was pronounced dead at 7 that morning. All day Sunday, pastors and elders from the surrounding area came in to pray for this baby's resurrection. Believing that the devil himself was behind all this, they prayed in faith. I was even praying when I found out on Sunday afternoon.
Monday morning I heard the news that they were releasing the baby to death. Everyone was devastated but at peace. I cannot imagine the depth of grief Joy and Simon Peter are feeling. My friend with the abdominal illness wrote this:
"It's terrible, but tonight God's people are mourning while the devil is celebrating. Did we not pray enough? Why would God warn us through dreams if the future was inevitable? Is the hospital to blame for not helping properly? Or did the devil just win this battle? Or is this the way it was meant to be? Was it meant to be that these good, honest, loving, God-fearing people loose their first born son, while a prostitute in the next town has a healthy baby and throws it in a dumpster because she can't provide for it...it's true, I read about it in last week's paper, and will probably read a similar story this week. But I guess we will never know the answer to any of these questions during our time on earth...sometimes questions must be better unanswered."
I have exactly the same questions.
But as we venture out to Haiti, so similar to Uganda and other parts of Africa in its spiritual oppression, we must be mindful of this level of battle. We must be alert and 'prayed up' as we go out. My traveling companion, Lisa, keeps reminding me that we have to spend some time fasting and praying. I am so caught up in the planning details that I forget where we are going! She is SO right.
So we are stepping up our prayer efforts ahead of this trip. Pastor Val and others deal with this all the time in Haiti. Pastor Val spoke of snakes he was battling and killing in his bed for three nights in a row. On the morning of the fourth day, he saw the same snake in a tree, and it spoke to him. He realized that it was no ordinary snake that would just die, but that it was a demonic attack. He then took different action and prayed that snake out of his life!
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of he world; on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). But I take comfort in this: You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is GREATER than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
I'm glad my God is strong.
But I have been praying for a situation the last few days that certainly makes my trials seem light and momentary. And this situation was OBVIOUSLY so spiritual, it has brought a thousand new questions to mind about how God does things.
There is a precious young couple in Uganda, Joy and Simon Peter who were expecting their first baby. Simon Peter is the associate pastor of a church making a difference in Kampala, and his wife is the worship leader. Joy was eight months along when they had their first encounter with the demonic last month; she looked out into the congregation at a new face and stared into eyes that made her think of a black hole. She then passed out and began to tumble off the four-foot stage, only to be rescued by someone on the first row. Whew. But then later in the service, this woman with the hollow eyes asked for prayer and during prayer began to speak in a strange voice, "we were not able to kill her so we're going to have to kill the baby!"
Of course, everyone began praying for protection over the baby and the mother. Just this past Friday night, Joy went into labor. The baby wouldn't come naturally so at 5 am on Saturday, Gabriel was delivered via C-section. But he wasn't breathing. The doctors tried frantically to get him to breathe and placed him on special machines.
Sunday morning at 5 am, seven or eight people in their church woke with terrible dreams about the baby, about his death. Some felt strangled in their sleep. Others saw dark, frightening hands reaching for them. Another friend became deathly ill in his abdomen. They all awoke with the urgent sense to pray fervently for this child. There was a church service at 7:30 am. The woman with the black eyes was there again, and had the same dark message: "we are going to kill the baby."
By the afternoon service, the message went out that the baby had died, was pronounced dead at 7 that morning. All day Sunday, pastors and elders from the surrounding area came in to pray for this baby's resurrection. Believing that the devil himself was behind all this, they prayed in faith. I was even praying when I found out on Sunday afternoon.
Monday morning I heard the news that they were releasing the baby to death. Everyone was devastated but at peace. I cannot imagine the depth of grief Joy and Simon Peter are feeling. My friend with the abdominal illness wrote this:
"It's terrible, but tonight God's people are mourning while the devil is celebrating. Did we not pray enough? Why would God warn us through dreams if the future was inevitable? Is the hospital to blame for not helping properly? Or did the devil just win this battle? Or is this the way it was meant to be? Was it meant to be that these good, honest, loving, God-fearing people loose their first born son, while a prostitute in the next town has a healthy baby and throws it in a dumpster because she can't provide for it...it's true, I read about it in last week's paper, and will probably read a similar story this week. But I guess we will never know the answer to any of these questions during our time on earth...sometimes questions must be better unanswered."
I have exactly the same questions.
But as we venture out to Haiti, so similar to Uganda and other parts of Africa in its spiritual oppression, we must be mindful of this level of battle. We must be alert and 'prayed up' as we go out. My traveling companion, Lisa, keeps reminding me that we have to spend some time fasting and praying. I am so caught up in the planning details that I forget where we are going! She is SO right.
So we are stepping up our prayer efforts ahead of this trip. Pastor Val and others deal with this all the time in Haiti. Pastor Val spoke of snakes he was battling and killing in his bed for three nights in a row. On the morning of the fourth day, he saw the same snake in a tree, and it spoke to him. He realized that it was no ordinary snake that would just die, but that it was a demonic attack. He then took different action and prayed that snake out of his life!
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of he world; on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). But I take comfort in this: You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is GREATER than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
I'm glad my God is strong.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Philanthropic Advice
Nick Kristof is an especially observant and thoughtful journalist. Daughter Abby applied for an internship with him a few years back through a contest. That's when I first heard of him; she didn't win, but we've all admired him since.
Outside magazine published this article by him the other day. I love what he says about personalizing the great needs around the world. When we hear terms like "millions," "epidemic," "plague," etc., as individuals, we feel overwhelmed. And because the problems are distant, we can turn them off in our minds, and we don't feel the pain.
But that's not moving the ball down the field. To be good communicators for our cause, we must learn some things. Putting a face and a name and hopes and dreams with the problem makes it much more do-able and personal. I think this is why Pastor Val and the children he cares for have been such an easy "sell" for lack of a better word. Not that we set out to pitch anything. It's just that this little place is not that difficult to take care of. It's relatively closeby and easy to get to, it's cheap to feed kids in Haiti, it's absolutely do-able!
People are generous when they feel connected to the individual. And they are much more generous when there is some hope! All that sad statistic-waving is just plain depressing, and doesn't get me in the mood to really help. Big numbers and pitiful faces don't motivate most folks. I just want to lighten the load off my conscience. (I'm thinking of those LONG commercials for Save the Children, with pathetic faces oozing and fly-infested...) And sadly, I can usually do that by switching the channel.
So I first give praise to God for moving on the hearts of so many people to get involved. But I also know that from a genuine first-person touch, in a manageable project, people really feel like they are personally making a difference. There aren't 10 layers of volunteers to go through to be connected to Pastor Val...just the Mettys. And I can take you there, too if you want to go!
Outside magazine published this article by him the other day. I love what he says about personalizing the great needs around the world. When we hear terms like "millions," "epidemic," "plague," etc., as individuals, we feel overwhelmed. And because the problems are distant, we can turn them off in our minds, and we don't feel the pain.
But that's not moving the ball down the field. To be good communicators for our cause, we must learn some things. Putting a face and a name and hopes and dreams with the problem makes it much more do-able and personal. I think this is why Pastor Val and the children he cares for have been such an easy "sell" for lack of a better word. Not that we set out to pitch anything. It's just that this little place is not that difficult to take care of. It's relatively closeby and easy to get to, it's cheap to feed kids in Haiti, it's absolutely do-able!
People are generous when they feel connected to the individual. And they are much more generous when there is some hope! All that sad statistic-waving is just plain depressing, and doesn't get me in the mood to really help. Big numbers and pitiful faces don't motivate most folks. I just want to lighten the load off my conscience. (I'm thinking of those LONG commercials for Save the Children, with pathetic faces oozing and fly-infested...) And sadly, I can usually do that by switching the channel.
So I first give praise to God for moving on the hearts of so many people to get involved. But I also know that from a genuine first-person touch, in a manageable project, people really feel like they are personally making a difference. There aren't 10 layers of volunteers to go through to be connected to Pastor Val...just the Mettys. And I can take you there, too if you want to go!
Friday, December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
I no longer try to anticipate what the Lord will do. It so is far beyond my realm of understanding, expectation, or even hope that I don’t presume to imagine what God is up to in a particular situation. I am indeed just along for the ride, and what a wild ride it has become.
For the moment, His favor seems to be resting on our orphanage project. Since about the end of October, there has been one little miracle after another. These things were going on all the time, in the hearts and lives of different individuals, but I didn’t know about them, and I wasn’t receiving the encouragement from knowing. So at each turn, with the dawn of each new day, I wonder to myself, “I wonder will happen today?” because I just know something will.
Have a look at the complex tapestry of people and events JUST SINCE THANKSGIVING that God has woven:
Sat., Nov. 28, 2009
Met a young man while decorating the church for Christmas who owns a small computer repair business…this led to him taking my old laptop and refurbishing it for Pastor Val for free!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Got confirmation that two ladies are going with me to Haiti…need to make sure there is room at the guest houses for all of us!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
At the dentist today, and as I talked about my upcoming trip and our project in Haiti, she offered to load us up with rubber gloves, and anything else we could use! Picking it up on Tuesday.
Friday, December 4, 2009
My dentist called first thing this morning and wanted to know if I was serious when I had asked her the day before if she’d like to go with me (on my trip to Haiti in January). We could really use her services and skills there!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Found out from a friend, Karen that her son is running a 5K in FL in early January and he wanted to raise money for Pastor Val. This young man is currently enrolled in a boarding school program and has recently given his life to the Lord in a radical way.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A friend, Ron, handed me a $100 bill at church for the trip.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, called and said they were putting a check in the mail for $11K. I’m speechless.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Got an email first thing from Jenn Gash from Sweet Sleep, a non-profit that provides good beds, bedding and mosquito nets to orphanages. Again, I didn’t seek her out; someone gave her my name. She was looking for a small group of children to bless in Haiti. Looks like our kids are going to have a decent place to put their heads at night.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Two things today: First thing this morning when I opened my email…Richelle, who is a young woman who lived with us for two years in the 1990s, wrote and said that there was a group of 20 cadets from Westpoint’s Officers Christian Fellowship group that want to spend their spring break in March serving our orphans! Her husband is a professor there and they work with this campus ministry.
Then, I met a man at The Shoe Repair (a shop in Chapel Hill that, you guessed it, repairs shoes) from Rwanda, a doctor. He cannot practice in the US so he travels to developing nations (that’s a euphemism for poor) and provides medical services. He gave me his number after we talked about Haiti for a while. He’s never been there, but I could tell he was intrigued.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Again, two things: got an email this morning from Josh C., a young man in his thirties who has known a measure of success. He is a friend, not close, but a comfortable relationship. I had contacted him when I first started thinking about taking a trip this winter, because he had started a non-profit a few years ago to help with the worldwide orphan crisis. I knew he’d be interested in what we were doing. He wrote to me in early October (hadn’t corresponded with him in over a year) and had heard that we were collecting supplies for an orphanage in Haiti. I responded that we were, and specifically asked him if he’d be interested in donating laptops. Didn’t hear back until this morning. This time he was asking very specific questions about what we needed.
Secondly, made a connection with a professor at NCSU who is working with Christianville Foundation in Gressier, Haiti in their goat program. This program has been benefiting our children nearby. I had NO idea that there was someone at NCSU connected with this effort! We are having lunch next week.
________________________________________________
I am so excited, Lord to see what will happen today! Even the way all that stuff for the orphanage fit so nicely into one of my suitcases and weighed less that 50 pounds. Thank you for demonstrating Your great love for the world, and for me through all the Divine activity I see around me. In this, I know you care for me...
For the moment, His favor seems to be resting on our orphanage project. Since about the end of October, there has been one little miracle after another. These things were going on all the time, in the hearts and lives of different individuals, but I didn’t know about them, and I wasn’t receiving the encouragement from knowing. So at each turn, with the dawn of each new day, I wonder to myself, “I wonder will happen today?” because I just know something will.
Have a look at the complex tapestry of people and events JUST SINCE THANKSGIVING that God has woven:
Sat., Nov. 28, 2009
Met a young man while decorating the church for Christmas who owns a small computer repair business…this led to him taking my old laptop and refurbishing it for Pastor Val for free!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Got confirmation that two ladies are going with me to Haiti…need to make sure there is room at the guest houses for all of us!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
At the dentist today, and as I talked about my upcoming trip and our project in Haiti, she offered to load us up with rubber gloves, and anything else we could use! Picking it up on Tuesday.
Friday, December 4, 2009
My dentist called first thing this morning and wanted to know if I was serious when I had asked her the day before if she’d like to go with me (on my trip to Haiti in January). We could really use her services and skills there!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Found out from a friend, Karen that her son is running a 5K in FL in early January and he wanted to raise money for Pastor Val. This young man is currently enrolled in a boarding school program and has recently given his life to the Lord in a radical way.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A friend, Ron, handed me a $100 bill at church for the trip.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, called and said they were putting a check in the mail for $11K. I’m speechless.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Got an email first thing from Jenn Gash from Sweet Sleep, a non-profit that provides good beds, bedding and mosquito nets to orphanages. Again, I didn’t seek her out; someone gave her my name. She was looking for a small group of children to bless in Haiti. Looks like our kids are going to have a decent place to put their heads at night.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Two things today: First thing this morning when I opened my email…Richelle, who is a young woman who lived with us for two years in the 1990s, wrote and said that there was a group of 20 cadets from Westpoint’s Officers Christian Fellowship group that want to spend their spring break in March serving our orphans! Her husband is a professor there and they work with this campus ministry.
Then, I met a man at The Shoe Repair (a shop in Chapel Hill that, you guessed it, repairs shoes) from Rwanda, a doctor. He cannot practice in the US so he travels to developing nations (that’s a euphemism for poor) and provides medical services. He gave me his number after we talked about Haiti for a while. He’s never been there, but I could tell he was intrigued.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Again, two things: got an email this morning from Josh C., a young man in his thirties who has known a measure of success. He is a friend, not close, but a comfortable relationship. I had contacted him when I first started thinking about taking a trip this winter, because he had started a non-profit a few years ago to help with the worldwide orphan crisis. I knew he’d be interested in what we were doing. He wrote to me in early October (hadn’t corresponded with him in over a year) and had heard that we were collecting supplies for an orphanage in Haiti. I responded that we were, and specifically asked him if he’d be interested in donating laptops. Didn’t hear back until this morning. This time he was asking very specific questions about what we needed.
Secondly, made a connection with a professor at NCSU who is working with Christianville Foundation in Gressier, Haiti in their goat program. This program has been benefiting our children nearby. I had NO idea that there was someone at NCSU connected with this effort! We are having lunch next week.
________________________________________________
I am so excited, Lord to see what will happen today! Even the way all that stuff for the orphanage fit so nicely into one of my suitcases and weighed less that 50 pounds. Thank you for demonstrating Your great love for the world, and for me through all the Divine activity I see around me. In this, I know you care for me...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Back Side of the Earth
If the earth had sides, there would be a back side. Politically insignificant, countries that have no natural resources, industry, exports or even any tourist value would be back there. Villages that have no electricity or good drinking water. Homes made of cardboard, that wash away with each heavy rain. Families living ten, twelve, fourteen in a 10' x 10' room with a dirt floor, and no door. Parentless children with no hope, no future, no childhood.Who cares about that place?
Haiti is just such a place. It holds no international significance, politically unstable and the infrastructure in such chaos, that some have mused it could fall off the face of the earth and no one would notice. Some would give thanks that the blight on the Western Hemisphere is gone. It has been called the 'graveyard of missions,' as so many have invested years and millions to better the place, but to no avail.
I lived there in the early 1980s when there was a brutal, but stable dictatorship in power. Life was rough for the average Haitian; food was scarce, jobs were hard to find, begging children with bloated bellies and orange hair were commonplace. But there was some industry; Rawlings wound baseballs, and Judy Bond stitched blouses. Club Med had a resort destination north of Port au Prince, and similar resorts dotted the stunning coastlines.
My first visit to Haiti since the fall of the Duvalier regime came in 2007 with my family. Though I knew it was so, I was still so stunned to see the country in such horrible disarray. Assuming democracy was a friend to Haiti, I expected to see some progress. Unfortunately, it was worse. House-size piles of rotting garbage filled the streets. Rivulets of human waste, plastic bottles and filthy water criss-crossed every path. Cement skeletons of unfinished houses occupied lots where children chased away hungry mongrels, evidence of investments gone bad. Crumbling concrete was all that was left of streets and sidewalks whose construction had once been a source of income for so many. Once lush and extravagant playgrounds, beach resorts were barren shells of their former glory. Traffic, typically chaotic, involved playing bumper cars all the way to the guest house, and enduring three minor accidents where no one even stopped to check the damage.
Ironically, we were stopped for a missing taillight, with the threat of a thousand-dollar fine. Insanity.
Somehow, an old friend, Franklin Val, managed to reach the age of 69. We met him in 1984, a pastor and translator with a wife and five children. Well educated, he spoke French, Creole and English quite well, and frequently translated for us. He owned a beat-up SUV, and worked as a driver for foreign visitors (pastors don't earn a living in Haiti preaching). It was during one of these chauffeuring gigs, that he encountered the violence of those early coup attempts. In 1987, while driving for an NBC news crew, Pastor Val was caught in the cross-fire. He managed to drive himself to a hospital with four life-threatening gunshot wounds, one to the chest. In a dramatic end to his front teeth, he collapsed face first at the hospital door. During the fight to save his life, he remembers stating, "I will live and not die!" He had a lot of time to think during recovery. As a result of the burden he felt for so many children wandering the streets in the wake of the violence, he took in 55. He and his sister, Yrma, have been doing so ever since.
We hired this toothless tri-lingual chauffeur on our visit in 2007, re-uniting with an old friend. He brought us up to speed about his family (his wife had passed) and work with the orphans in Bognotte, a two hour drive from Port au Prince. He told us that their only source of income was his taxi service. He and sister Yrma, 67, were solely responsible for 30 boys and girls. We had heard about all this before we went, so we were prepared to visit and bring gifts. What we saw has forever changed our lives.
Just three miles off the main highway, the twenty minute drive took us over dusty then muddy paths, carefully picking our way in and out of huge gaps in the 'road,' and through small creeks. Ever-enterprising Haitian teenagers waited at the intersection of the main road with their scooters, ready to transport folks in and out of the back country. Upon arrival at the orphanage, our vehicle was swarmed by warm brown faces, toothless grins and shy greetings. So many blancs way out here in the country!
The children had obviously worked all morning preparing their home for our visit. The few possessions they had were neatly arranged on a shelf. Nothing was out of place. On a 95 degree day, Steevenson's long-sleeve
d, plaid flannel shirt was neatly tucked into his jeans, and buttoned to the top. Few were wearing shoes; all were eager to see what we had brought. We distributed small gift bags with candy and toys, and we brought games and crafts to play with the children. A new soccer ball was welcomed with great fanfare! Pastor Val showed us around; there was a main room with a large picnic table and the aforementioned shelf. Two adjacent rooms held squeaky metal bunk bed frames with sheetless thin mattresses lacking pillows and blankets as well. Crumbling walls, tin roofs which turned bedrooms into ovens at ten o'clock in the morning, and dirt floors made up the structure. In the back there was an outhouse. We posed for a photo with the group here. Not a kitchen in sight. We learned that Yrma daily cooked for the group over an open camp fire.For 22 years.
There was so much hope in those faces, especially the teenagers. Our youngest connected with a girl, Stephanie, her age. What a sobering contrast, to think of the opportunities our daughter has compared to what Val's kids are faced with. We were truly overwhelmed. But you could tell they saw opportunity packed in our suitcases. This new connection with the civilized world could provide a better life for
these little ones, truly the "least of these." Even pushing 70, Pastor Val had the audacity to hope for technologically competent and well-educated students. He showed us the land, 30 acres, that he owns where he'd like to build a better facility - a dormitory, a clinic, a school and a kitchen that will feed the surrounding community. He talked about computer education, job training and spiritual development that would produce intelligent contributing members of society with strong moral character, the hope of Haiti.Without enough for the burdens he currently carried, Pastor Val still managed to stop along the way home and offer a bag of food or a few gourdes to people he cared for. After 22 years, some of the girls he raised are young women trying to make it on their own. His generosity had long reach. He stopped to speak softly to a drug-crazed man, and refused to give him money based on his answers to questions gently posed. A true pastor.
So, who cares about Haiti? God does. He cares about each individual in this corner of the back side of the earth. Each of those children bears the image of God, and He has a destiny and a plan for their lives. They are precious in His sight.
And God brought this little group to our attention.
So we care, too. Heidi Baker, a missionary in Africa, says, "each one, reach one." A simple directive. If we each only did what was put in front of us to do, the body of Christ would accomplish the goals we were asked to achieve on the earth. Problems like those faced in Haiti, are way too large for anyone, or any government to handle. But child by child, orphanage by orphanage, pastor by pastor we can make a difference.
Haiti is not forsaken by God. The evidence is overwhelming that He is active and involved. Too many 'coincidences' have surrounded this effort. They are obviously not just coincidences. Divine intervention is at work. This blog will document what has been happening along the way.
I am happy to introduce you to Haiti, and to Pastor Val. Now let's see what God has been up to.
Friday, December 4, 2009
December 4, 2009
DEC. 4 email
40 million orphans worldwide in the next 10 years...that is too much to think about. What in the world could I do? I feel like God has given me an answer to that question, and He is providing solution after solution, even in the midst of the housing and economic crisis. I wanted to bring you all up to speed on the Haitian orphanage project we are involved with, and ask you to pray for me during the next few weeks. I am not asking for any financial support. I am just so excited about what is happening, I wanted to encourage you and ask you to share in the blessing.
As many of you already know, our family has reconnected (after 22 YEARS) with a Haitian pastor friend from the 1980s. He is now 71 years old, and has been caring for orphaned children in a small orphanage he started during the many coups in Haiti in the late 80s. I have started making plans for a trip in January and I have numerous goals I want to accomp
lish (see below). I was telling a friend about a generator someone is interested in donating that would power a whole city block! She suggested, half-jokingly, that we should THINK BIG, and try to find a way to be a blessing to the whole community with that generator. We might have to get the government involved, but what the heck? We serve a big God and this is just one of many miraculous and serendipitous events surrounding this project on the back side of the world. It is astounding how interested the Lord seems to be in bringing aid to this little group of children and the community they live in. And the Lord is rewarding Pastor Val and his sister, Yrma, for the many years of sacrifice to care for the "least of these." (For the back story on Pastor Val, visit www.valschildren.weebly.com)
I am planning to get some solid information on this trip, and I have several major goals:
1. To check into adoption from this orphanage. My guess is Pastor Val has been so busy trying to parent all these people that he hasn't given adoption a second thought. I want to make that happen for him, if it would be helpful.
2. To discuss short, mid and long-term goals with Pastor Val. He is 70, and will need a successor at some point. He also owns 30 acres there and wants to build a better facility when the finances come in.
3. To arrange for shipping into Haiti. There is a lot of corruption at the borders, so finding a reliable way of getting supplies in is of utmost concern. One of my Kindergarten students from 1985 is now 30, and is a pilot with Agape Flights Int'l. I plan to visit with his family while there and see if there is a way to use their services. His father is Haitian, too, and could help with translation and other ideas.
4. To get photos and bio information on each child for sponsorship purposes.
5. Get the orphanage set up with some computers. I have had two donated; need a few more. I will be taking them in my luggage.
6. To follow up with Pastor Val on donations already given with photos and documentation.
7. In addition to these big things, I plan to host a party for the kids with cupcakes and gifts, deliver basics like clothing, medicines, vitamins, school supplies and have a little VBS.
And, as a bonus, I have reconnected with some of my students from those days in Haiti as a single gal, and I will be visiting with their families who are still there, 25+ years. They are some amazingly dedicated people to stay in a country like that for so long. I'll be speaking at chapel at the Christian school where I was a teacher. I will probably spend a few nights in Port au Prince with a family.
I really feel that God reconnected us with this Pastor for just a time as this; He has given us this little task, it's our little piece of solving the orphan puzzle. In the natural, it doesn't make sense, because our business has tanked with the serious problems in the housing industry. But somehow, God has continued to provide for Pastor Val, with or without us and He seems to be using us to facilitate the blessing.
I'm working every possible angle on supplies for this trip. So far, there are two of us going, but potentially three more. We can each check 100 lbs. of luggage. So I'm amassing all kinds of stuff. I've got two dentists donating dental clinic supplies; two laptops so far, need three more; fabric for sewing projects, and clothes and toys for the kids. Still need more...vitamins, basic meds/first aid supplies, underwear, shoes, some basic cooking supplies (pots/pans, mixing bowls, serving spoons/ladels, prep knives, metal dishes/cups/utensils). If you want to send anything, send it to me at 661 Cedar Grove Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312 and I'll pack it up!
I've also just met a young man with a computer repair business who is helping me refurbish my old IBM Thinkpad to take to the orphanage. If you have an old laptop like this that just needs some TLC and you would like to donate it, let me know.
And, as a surprise (I think God likes to surprise us)...I found out recently with great joy, that another family has discovered Pastor Val and has been helping him in ways we hadn't thought of (mostly agricultural) and has been providing assistance during this tough financial time for our family. So where we are weak, God is strong!
Thanks for taking the time to read all this...if you made it this far... And thanks for praying over this project. God is OBVIOUSLY involved as so many things have happened that are unexplainable otherwise.
40 million orphans worldwide in the next 10 years...that is too much to think about. What in the world could I do? I feel like God has given me an answer to that question, and He is providing solution after solution, even in the midst of the housing and economic crisis. I wanted to bring you all up to speed on the Haitian orphanage project we are involved with, and ask you to pray for me during the next few weeks. I am not asking for any financial support. I am just so excited about what is happening, I wanted to encourage you and ask you to share in the blessing.
As many of you already know, our family has reconnected (after 22 YEARS) with a Haitian pastor friend from the 1980s. He is now 71 years old, and has been caring for orphaned children in a small orphanage he started during the many coups in Haiti in the late 80s. I have started making plans for a trip in January and I have numerous goals I want to accomp
lish (see below). I was telling a friend about a generator someone is interested in donating that would power a whole city block! She suggested, half-jokingly, that we should THINK BIG, and try to find a way to be a blessing to the whole community with that generator. We might have to get the government involved, but what the heck? We serve a big God and this is just one of many miraculous and serendipitous events surrounding this project on the back side of the world. It is astounding how interested the Lord seems to be in bringing aid to this little group of children and the community they live in. And the Lord is rewarding Pastor Val and his sister, Yrma, for the many years of sacrifice to care for the "least of these." (For the back story on Pastor Val, visit www.valschildren.weebly.com)I am planning to get some solid information on this trip, and I have several major goals:
1. To check into adoption from this orphanage. My guess is Pastor Val has been so busy trying to parent all these people that he hasn't given adoption a second thought. I want to make that happen for him, if it would be helpful.
2. To discuss short, mid and long-term goals with Pastor Val. He is 70, and will need a successor at some point. He also owns 30 acres there and wants to build a better facility when the finances come in.
3. To arrange for shipping into Haiti. There is a lot of corruption at the borders, so finding a reliable way of getting supplies in is of utmost concern. One of my Kindergarten students from 1985 is now 30, and is a pilot with Agape Flights Int'l. I plan to visit with his family while there and see if there is a way to use their services. His father is Haitian, too, and could help with translation and other ideas.
4. To get photos and bio information on each child for sponsorship purposes.
5. Get the orphanage set up with some computers. I have had two donated; need a few more. I will be taking them in my luggage.
6. To follow up with Pastor Val on donations already given with photos and documentation.
7. In addition to these big things, I plan to host a party for the kids with cupcakes and gifts, deliver basics like clothing, medicines, vitamins, school supplies and have a little VBS.
And, as a bonus, I have reconnected with some of my students from those days in Haiti as a single gal, and I will be visiting with their families who are still there, 25+ years. They are some amazingly dedicated people to stay in a country like that for so long. I'll be speaking at chapel at the Christian school where I was a teacher. I will probably spend a few nights in Port au Prince with a family.
I really feel that God reconnected us with this Pastor for just a time as this; He has given us this little task, it's our little piece of solving the orphan puzzle. In the natural, it doesn't make sense, because our business has tanked with the serious problems in the housing industry. But somehow, God has continued to provide for Pastor Val, with or without us and He seems to be using us to facilitate the blessing.
I'm working every possible angle on supplies for this trip. So far, there are two of us going, but potentially three more. We can each check 100 lbs. of luggage. So I'm amassing all kinds of stuff. I've got two dentists donating dental clinic supplies; two laptops so far, need three more; fabric for sewing projects, and clothes and toys for the kids. Still need more...vitamins, basic meds/first aid supplies, underwear, shoes, some basic cooking supplies (pots/pans, mixing bowls, serving spoons/ladels, prep knives, metal dishes/cups/utensils). If you want to send anything, send it to me at 661 Cedar Grove Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312 and I'll pack it up!
I've also just met a young man with a computer repair business who is helping me refurbish my old IBM Thinkpad to take to the orphanage. If you have an old laptop like this that just needs some TLC and you would like to donate it, let me know.
And, as a surprise (I think God likes to surprise us)...I found out recently with great joy, that another family has discovered Pastor Val and has been helping him in ways we hadn't thought of (mostly agricultural) and has been providing assistance during this tough financial time for our family. So where we are weak, God is strong!
Thanks for taking the time to read all this...if you made it this far... And thanks for praying over this project. God is OBVIOUSLY involved as so many things have happened that are unexplainable otherwise.
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