Banana Leaves

Today I spent the whole day at the new property in Bersi with two teams. Working at Bersi is one of my favorite parts of being here because it is so beautiful and holds so much hope. The 55 acre plot of land is right on the ocean and some of the plans for the property include an agriculture school, farmland, a conference center to train Haitian teachers and pastors, an elementary school, an orphanage, a church, and a home for the elderly. The Bersi property was given to Mission of Hope by the Haitian government so that Mission of Hope would not turn the Grace House in Cabaret into a permanent home for the elderly. Instead, Mission of Hope will build the Grace House at Bersi so that the elderly can help take care of the orphans, and the orphans can bring the elderly joy. As Christians we have a special calling to take care of orphans and widows, and Mission of Hope is also having them take care of each other.

Today, we spent the morning in the village, singing songs, telling Bible stories, and showing lots of love to the children and people of the village. The second half of the day, we began our work. There were three jobs to be done. The first was building the tin roof on one of the school buildings. The second was clearing the land with machetes, and the third was collecting dead banana leaves that will be turned into a mulch for the farmland. Tiny is the man directing the projects, and he is always seeking ways in which the people can use what God has already placed on the land in order to improve farming.

I was blessed with heading the ladies in banana leaf gathering. We carried armloads of banana leaves from the groves to a large pile on the open land. Some Haitians came to help, and it was such a blessing to work alongside each other. My friend Kristela, a teenager from the village, stayed with me the entire time. We sang together and talked a little and found ways to show how much we cared about one another without words. It is simple work, but little by little the property will be transformed into fertile farmland that will create many jobs and provide food for the people. We are given the opportunity to work together in Jesus' name so that we all understand that it is God who blesses this place, and it is God who is providing for these people. I am so grateful that God has brought me to Haiti, and although I am unworthy of the task, He is giving me a part to play in His great plan.

Two Coins

Today, as I walked into church, I was surprised to feel a small hand slip into my own. I looked down to see a familiar face, an eight-year-old girl named Jefta that I met in the village of Simonette this week. I had almost forgotten that she had told me she would be at church on Sunday. It took me a moment to recognize her because instead of the dirty clothes, she wore a shimmery orange dress, one that had probably seen a couple Easters or weddings in America before making its way to Haiti. It looked worn, the fabric roses at her waist were a bit frayed, but I could tell she felt beautiful in her Sunday clothes. As we made our way to our seats, I asked where her family was. Her mother was home sick, and the rest of her family was in the village. She had come to church with people from her village because she had told me she would. I am learning in Haiti that oftentimes when people are materially poor, they are rich in that which matters most. Keeping your word in Haiti is a sign of integrity, and it is not taken for granted. So Jefta found a way to come to church because she had told me she would, and friends keep their word.

Jefta and I sat together in church, hand-in-hand, having a limited conversation with the little Kreyol I know. She proudly produced two small gourdes in the palm of her hand. Gourdes are Haitian coins, and the two of them amounted to about one American nickel. She played with the coins in her hand telling me how they were for the church collection. She squeezed my arm when they began to pass the basket around, excited to give her small amount.

I couldn't help but think of the story found in Mark chapter 12, the tale of the widow who gave her two coins, all that she had to the offering, and Jesus praised her for giving more than all the others. It humbled me and made me think about my own offering. Do I give all that I have to God? Upon examining my life, I would say I have much more to give. We oftentimes protect ourselves, giving just a little of ourselves and our resources so that we won't burn out. We say we have to take care of ourselves too, that we cannot give all our energy, time, and love to others. Is that our calling? Self preservation? In the world's eyes, it might be, but we do not belong to this world.  

Christ calls us to give all of ourselves, to lay down our life as He did. God will take care of us like He takes care of the grass of the field and the tiniest sparrow. Yes, we need to spend time alone with God, but we should still pour ourselves out completely every single day and rely on him to fill us once again. We should love God and His people like it is the last day we have to love them. We should live our lives in such a way that without continual reliance on God's strength, we will fail.

It brought me to tears to see God's Word embodied in this beautiful little girl. God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the poor to shame the rich, the child to shame me. I pray everyday for God to break me, that I will decrease so that He may increase. That in this jar of clay, others may see the treasure- the promise of life that Christ gives us.

The King for All Nations

Exactly three weeks after I watched my students graduate from high school in America, I find myself sitting in a church in Haiti watching 139 students graduate from the School of Hope. I cannot help but compare the two events. At home, I work at the Landmark School, a high school for students with language based learning disabilities such as dyslexia. For my students, school was a struggle for many years, and their success at graduation is truly an accomplishment to be proud of. This year, 100% of Landmark seniors are going onto college. Many of these students thought that they would never be able to attend college. The ceremony was a celebration of triumph and of hope.

Sitting under the tin roof of the Church of Hope does not feel much different from the graduation tent. This ceremony is also one of triumph. Almost all of the graduates have parents who did not attend school or did not finish. Most parents cannot read at all. In an area of Haiti where only twenty percent of children attend school, graduating from high school can seem like an impossible dream. The excitement of the graduates was something palpable. I look at the beautiful faces of the Class of 2011 as they sing their song about being the future of Haiti, and I think about how the school that started in 1998. Vanessa Johnson tried teaching 230 students that were so malnourished that they were passing out during class. Now, the school has transformed into one of the best schools in the country, training the future leaders of Haiti. This miracle could not have been done without the hand of God, and in my heart I give thanks and praise for the love He is showing His people.

A guest singer is called to the podium, and she sings the words “Jezi se wa pou tout nacion,” which means Jesus is the king for all nations. As I think about the work he is doing in my students and school at home and the work that he is doing in these students and school in Haiti, I know these words are true. He is redeeming all nations, and to all people he declares, “For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) I believe that the young men and women receiving their medals and diplomas today are the hope and future that God promises this beautiful country.

There's Always Fruit on the Cake

Its Tuesday night and I just got back from a church service. It is a beautiful summer night in Haiti with a strong cool breeze that is so refreshing after another hot and humid day. I love nights in Haiti.

Everything is going great here.  I am shadowing the other interns for this week and so far I have gotten to go to the villages and orphanages around the mission as well as the new Mission of Hope property in Bersi which is right on the ocean. The groups minister to the people especially the children- playing games, hugging babies, and praying for people who are sick.  Today I gave some First Aid to a little boy named Maurice with open sores all over his body. Yesterday I brought a few photos that I took of village kids from Bersi last year and they got such a kick out of it. I am pretty sure they have never seen an actual photo of themselves. They passed it around to everyone who had come from the village and it made them all laugh...

A man named Tiny arrived yesterday. He is a white man from South Africa, and unlike his name, he is huge. He is also the most incredible man I have ever met. He has lived his entire life serving the poorest of the poor as well as breeding endangered animals in Africa and combating poachers. He began a program called Farming God's Way, which is completely based on what the Bible says about farming, work, and taking care of creation. He is an extremely humble man who has seen people much poorer than the Haitians we work with here. He is working with the Haitian farmers and Mission of Hope to learn the Haitian way of farming while teaching them how to keep the soil rich so that nutrients will not be stripped from the soil after two years of farming. He also believes that the Bible calls us to take care of the widow and the orphan but for the rest of the poor we are supposed to work with them to empower them to work and take care of themselves- restoring their dignity as human beings the way God intended. God has called Tiny to a life that has broken his heart many times but he has a strong faith and all that he does is because he loves Jesus.  He told me today that there is always fruit on the cake, meaning there is always something wonderful and beautiful to his story.  We cried together as he told me about the times he witnessed a poor person in Africa buy his first cow or about the children dying of hunger or even just how much Jesus loves us.

The poverty in Haiti is overwhelming, but like Tiny is teaching me, there is always fruit on the cake.  I can see that in the beautiful people of Haiti, their love for each other, for us, and for God.  Their faith and utter dependence on God reminds me of how spiritually poor I am.  They are the ones who have what is more precious than gold, and I have much to learn.

Bon Vwayaj

My family threw a fantastic surprise going away party for me last night. I am so blessed to have so many good people in my life and so grateful for their love, prayers, and support.  God has given me so much love and I hope I can share that love with all the people I meet in Haiti.



This is the beautiful card my Auntie Sue made me.

First Dose

First dose of malaria medication. 

This marks one week until my feet land on Haitian soil, and I can't help thinking about my first trip to Haiti two years ago.  

I had seen a lot of photographs and heard a lot of stories, but nothing can prepare you for what it is actually like to drive down the crowded streets of Port au Prince, walk through a village on a market day, or praise Jesus alongside the poorest of the poor.  It broke my heart, challenged my comfortable life and lukewarm faith, humbled me to my knees, but most of all- it sent me head over heels in love with a country and a people so beautiful.

Ever been in love?  If yes, you know what it's like.  Every day since that first trip in April 2009, I have thought about Haiti.  Every single day.  At times, my heart aches so much to be there.  And now, with only a week until my adventure begins, I can scarcely concentrate on anything else.

I only pray that God will work through me because I can do nothing apart from Him.  He is changing Haiti, healing Haiti, restoring Haiti through the hands of ordinary people.  I am unworthy to be one of those people, but amazed and grateful that nevertheless, God has chosen me to be a part of His great plan.

To God be all the glory.