Blog Post from a first timer to Haiti

Below is an except from Aly Thompson who went to Haiti for her first time in May.  For more of her blog go to www.alycat884.blogspot.com

This life is made up of beautiful paradoxes: It is by giving that one receives. It is by forgetting self that one finds. It is only through brokenness that one is fixed. It is by losing one’s life that he gains life to the full, life eternal. If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. It is in becoming poor that one is made most rich. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

In America, these truths are distorted by the American Dream, shoved aside by our independent, dog-eat-dog way of life. Indeed, we convince ourselves that wealth is freedom and worldly comfort is enviable. In Haiti, though, these truths are alive and moving, awakening the weary soul, sweetly ringing out in a world that has ears to hear. God is working to create a beautiful tapestry that is woven together with everything that ever has been and will be. On Earth, we see only the knotted, tangled underbelly. It is ugly, inconsistent, nonsensical. We wait for a sign of life beyond and are often greeted by more unwelcome knots. Every now and then, though, in the most unlikely places, He flips over a small piece of the masterpiece to reveal a glorious picture of eternity.

It is 4:30 AM. Even before the first rooster begins its morning boasts, before the women begin making breakfast, I awake to the sound of singing. “Alleeeeluuuuia, Alleeeluuuuuia,” rich voices call in warm harmony. I push my thin sheet away, feeling the floor for my sandals. Quietly, I sneak out of our room of sleeping girls, curious and captivated. The light is hard to define, seeming yellow, orange, pink and green all at once. It is just before daybreak. A skimpy cat slinks by a bowl of fresh grapefruit. As I make my way through the gate of the parsonage to the church beyond, I wonder what exactly coaxes me, the queen sleeper, to continue watching and listening. The sound is as full and brilliant as the sun that rises, not lacking in any way. How can this be so, in a place that is so devastated? How can these people sing?

An infant dies in the night because health care is pitiful. Small children drag paper trucks along the trashy dirt roads, clothed in ripped shorts and too-small sandals, if anything at all. A tumor grows from the back of a gorgeous baby, who carries a burden that one in America need not bear. Donkeys, pigs, goats, and gangly dogs fill the streets, competing with the people to reach tomorrow. Kwashiorkor leaves its mark upon innocent children. A family of 8 shares a two room hut where they sleep on the hard ground each night. Their water is disease-ridden. Their lives are heart-breaking.

And still, they sing. Still, they love. Still, they hope. “Our lives are hard, but we are blessed to have each other,” says one humble man. Each of his children makes a point to hug and kiss every one of us. They walk us half way home, overflowing with gratitude for our simple gifts. Later, Wilton gives me his only piece of bubblegum. I am reminded of a story Mother Teresa tells, of a boy who gave away his first ever piece of chocolate. “This little one gave a great deal, because he gave it all, and he gave something that was very precious to him,” she writes. Wilton, on this night, is that little boy. He giggles as he turns toward the orphanage. Little John is this boy, too; he gives away marbles, hand drawn pictures, cards. His heart is filled with song, though his pockets are empty. Upon receiving a flashlight, it is all Procely can do to keep himself from exclaiming, “Tank you, tank you,” one last time. His eyes dance with joy in the humid Haitian night. These children ferment with unexpected life. Playing soccer barefoot, they dream of their futures, and hope beyond hope that God will lead them to great things.

They know Him. The poor are close to God in their trouble. They know the value of life, and see the world through humble, real eyes. Something on the road cuts me to the soul. The poor are most blessed, because the only water for them is the living water that God gives. The only treasure they can store is in Heaven. They are last, and so shall be first.

So, where do we come in? Just as God is glorified in the lives of these people, who are spiritually rich, He is to be glorified by us, too, who have the physical means to lift these people out of the gutter. Instead of wondering why these people live such tragic daily lives, we must ask ourselves. WE are called to be His hands and feet in the world, His ears and eyes, lights in the darkness. God has a heart for the poor, and has called us, sinners who are physically rich and spiritually poor, to have a heart for these people, who are physically poor, but spiritually rich indeed. In this, we will bring His kingdom come. His will can be done on Earth. If our hearts are with the poor, they are with God.

“What you can do, we cannot do, and what we can do, you cannot do, but together we can do something beautiful.” Mother Teresa

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. 1 Samuel 2:8

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. Job 5:16

The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! Psalm 69:32

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5

New video

Here is a video that Andy Walker made to raise money for the upcoming trips.  Very nice!

Pastor Andre in Florida?

No!  That’s not Miami!   It’s the newly paved roads of Haiti and Pastor Andre’s new car!  For those of you have been to Haiti and have traveled from Cap Haitien to Ft. Liberte, you know how the road situation was: dirt and major potholes.  It is now newly paved and easy to travel on.

Happy New Year!

Hello All!

Sorry I haven’t posted for awhile!  I have a few things to post so here I go!

1) Two trips are going to Ft.  Liberte in April and May.  There are a group of people meeting together each Thursday to pray about the trips.  Here is the information about that if you are interested.

We will begin to meet this Thursday night at 6:45 pm in the Monroe Bldg. of Clarksburg Baptist Church to pray for BOTH spring trips. Anyone who is going or has family or friends going or who has a heart for Haiti, or just likes to pray is encouraged to attend. It will be very informal so if they need to arrive late or leave early it’s cool. This will be a time of prayer and scripture (no business). We will be meeting every Thursday night until both trips are completed. This week our focus will be Psalm 8 and God’s glory.

2)  A group just got back a few days ago and here is an update written during the trip.

Everyone is reported to be well and working hard!  With only one work day left the construction team will probably finish the house foundation tomorrow which the WV team will finish in the spring.  Some will rise early in the morning before breakfast to go build a fence at “Johnny’s house” (the house we built for the DesAmore family last year).    Even though it has been labor intensive especially in the heat, Chuck feels good about the progress on the fencing at the church farm.  The orphan party was last night at the King Center and on Sunday they will have the big party where the team will serve hundreds of children a meal of rice, beans & chicken.  It was a very busy day at the medical clinic.  I’m sure everyone will have many stories to share with us next week.  Pray that they can all stay well & return home safely!  : )

3)Here is a really good site about Haiti that Joe Petroff found.  http://www.haitireborn.org/

4) The trip dates for this year are :

February 5-14, march 12-21, April 3-10, April 13-22, and May 18-29.

5)  Our main project this year is to build a house on the farm in Ft. Liberte and also to build a fence around the farm.  The trip that recently got back finished the foundation for the house and hopefully we will have some pictures to put up soon of that.  Two of the spring trips will hopefully be finished the farm project.

A few more websites from Junior

Junior contacted me and let me know that he has another website that is both in French and English! It is a great site that you have to check out! He also let me know about a website that he contributed some writing too. Here are both those sites. Thanks Junior!

Snapshot Journey

Junior’s English and French website

Junior’s website/blog

I am excited today because I found a website about Fort Liberte written by Junior formally from the King Center.  Sadly, it is all in French   But for those of you who can read French I recommend reading and for those of you who don’t read French you should check it out anyway.  I saw something on there about a new hotel in Ft. Liberte…..?  Here is the link.

Report from Ft. Liberte and Seven Seas Ministries

Here is an email we got from Pastor Andre regarding where all the money was spent that was raised recently.

Dear sisters ,

This is just to give you an idea of how the September Special Relief money is spent :

the church districts —- 6×500 =  3000               4 church outposts x 300 ———–1200

2 churches in Gonaives             1000       food for 233 prisonners in Ft Liberte     2330

Welcome center  500×4 weeks   2000      Paulette / Phaeton ( area churches)      500

To Families in great need           5000      To Unsponsored students                   2870

Vocational school                     3450      UCNH Students (Ft-Lib)                      1500

19 individuals x 100                    1900

Seven Seas Ministries is an organization that we are hoping to get involved with.  The founder of the ministry got in contact with us to see if we knew anyone in Ft. Liberte (luckily we just happen to know a whole lot of people in Ft. Liberte!)  He has a shipping ministry where he ships goods to missionaries in third world countries.  He wanted to be able to ship into Ft. Liberte and agreed to ship some of our materials too.  We are hoping this works out.  The only problem (and it’s a big problem!) is that he doesn’t have a boat yet.  Go to this website to learn more about the ministry.

I recommend going to this site if you want to read about the latest news in Haiti.  Here is their photo site as well.  They have a lot of photos of the recent hurricaine.

Here is an email from a missionary in Limbe, Haiti (close to Cap Haitien). 

Greeting to all our Loved Ones, 

This Sunday October 12, 2008, I, Kihomi Ngwemi Nzunga and a group of 5 women left our home at 5 AM to go to Gonaives to assist our sisters and brothers, victims of the four hurricanes there. We loaded the rented vehicle with all kind of goods: rice, sugar, bananas, beans, cooking utensils, sheets, T-shirts and shirts, pants, dresses, towels, suitcases, blankets, toys, back packs, sardines, cooking oil, macaroni, etc. We took with us whatever is usable we could lay our hands on. We had over 1,000 Lbs worth of articles. 

We got there at 10 AM and some ladies were waiting for us. We had time of worship together as women and we encouraged those we met. They were quick to share the food since they are starving and hold on for the rest of articles for the afternoon.

OBSERVATION:

-Most of those we met were depressed having lost whatever sustained their lives. They are ready to cry and one could easily read the signs of despair on their faces and in their talk.

-Many persons would greatly benefit if we have Christian trained counselors to assist them cope with the loss and the defining of their life at this new stage of their history as expressed by their pastor.

-Many families are forced to divide because those receiving them can not take in all of them. Children stay with X while parents with Y. 

-The mountains of mud are all over the city. It will take hands to clean them. They still have houses that have not yet been open and stuck in mud. Many people think that in some of those houses may be humans buried under the mud.

-The city looks like a ghost or hunted city. It is horrible to visit the city a month after. We toured the city and I got headache just to see the way it looks.

-Many agencies are working to alleviate the misery of the victims there but many of those victims are hardly getting the help they deserve. Churches seem to be the good places where to canalize help.

 

-About 200 persons had their feet imputed with the 2004 flood. The same symptoms started to manifest themselves in the feet of some people. The soars will develop and then lead to the amputation.

One of our Haitian Baptist Convention church hosted 1800 persons during the flood period. Many of those no church goers have promised to become members of that church when it is back cleaned. Because, they say, that church saved their lives.

-Gonaives needs prayers, material and financially supports of all of us. It will take time for this city to recover.

We appreciate as you give your heart, your love, your support of all kind to mission. Because, through you, Jesus touches the needs in the WORLD and in GONAIVES/ Haiti.

Your servants in Haiti,

Kihomi and Nzunga Mabudiga 

 

Pastor Andre’s response to the yard sale in efforts to raise money.

(From Annette Crislip)

Andre,

Just wanted to let you know that some of the college students who were with me last April – Pastor David’s daughter, Emily Hulme (who has been to Ft. Liberte 4 times) and her boyfriend, Jarrod Marrozi (who made his first trip last April)- made a huge effort to get donations for a HUGE yard sale of donated items last weekend, all to benefit food relief in Haiti, and they raised an astounding $3,000.00!

That’s the most money I’ve ever heard of from a yard sale!  I think they really honored God by taking Nothing and investing their time a nd effort and love and turning it into $3000.00.  They are a good example for all of us.

I am sending the money to Terry tomorrow. We can use it exclusively to keep the orphanage food in the black, or if you prefer for it to all come in the October check for relief, let us know. I know things are very desperate, so you tell us what to do.

In Him,

Annette

(from Pastor Andre)

Thank you very much . Please share my thanks with Rev David , his daughter Emily and her boyfriend Jarrod , and the college students for having raised 3000 dollars from the HUGE yard sale of donated items . God bless you all .

As for that money , the sooner I get it the better it is . So , I propose that Terry writes and sends me a check this week . He can also check how much a Moneygram (not a Western

Union tranfert ) Fort-Liberte will cost . If it is too expensive , Terry will send a check this week through Lynx Air . Once more grateful thanks . This time the whole amount will go to the orphanage , We have had a meeting last weekend with the Claudin and one of the cooks , the request was that I almost triple the money that I use to give for meat , milk , bread , ora nge etc . Food supplies are available but still very high . This money comes in due time to help us solve this month problems . I do not know what to say to express what that donation means to me , to the orphanage , to the orphans , and to the whole church .

May God keep blessing you all . How is Gail ? please let me know .

Yours faithfully ,

Andre