Life is Fragile.

Life is fragile.  It is short.  There never seems to be enough time.  Why is it that we take life for granted until a life slips away?  I want to live more deliberately.  I don't want to waste the time that I'm given.  I want to make use of every moment, love deeply, savor precious moments, hold loved ones close, smile often, and laugh more.  I want to make sure that others know how much I love them.  I want to show other's that they are valued and treasured.  There is just never enough time.

The mama that I wrote about in my previous post, mama to my students.  She's gone.  As quickly as she came into my life, she is gone.  Two boys are now without a mama.  It hurts.  It isn't fair, and I don't know what to do about it.  She had started ARV meds.  She was supposed to get healthier and stronger.  She was supposed to move back to Jubilee and raise her boys.  I'm confused and broken hearted.

I had it on my heart to read something to her during our last visit  just two weeks before her death.  I wanted her to know how loved she was.  In creole, I read her these words:

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad Almighty God

My only hope in the midst of the sadness, is that she left this earth knowing that she was loved not only by her family and friends, but by her Heavenly Father.





Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications 
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

"Their mom is sick," a little student tells me.  "They haven't seen her for 6 months.  My heart hurts for them.  I share my food with them sometimes because their father doesn't take care of them.  He sent them to live with their aunt because he has lots of women to his house."  I see pain in his dark brown eyes as he speaks about his friends' situation.

On the back of a motorcycle, we are in search of their mama.  Scared to find out how sick she is, but hopeful that we can help her recover.  I see fear in the boys' eyes.  They don't know what to expect either.  It has been six months, six months since they've seen their mama.

Holding the boys' hands, we climb a mountain to get to their mama.  On top of the mountain we reach a tiny one room mud house.  The boys' aunt greets us.  "It is only God and I on this mountain caring for my sister.  God is the only help we have," she tells me.

We step inside the darkened room to see their mama.  Barely enough strength to sit upright, she smiles when she sees her sons.  Her body is withered and tiny.  The boys begin to cry at the sight of her.  They cling to me for comfort.  Tears being to sting my eyes.  I want to take away their pain.  I want to make their mama well again.

With shaky hands, she gives us a paper from the hospital.  My worst nightmare is confirmed.  HIV/AIDS: Positive.  

I step outside of the house into the bright light.  The wind softly blows around me.  I look down at the city below me, and I cry for her.  I cry for the boys.  My heart is broken for this family.

When it is time to leave, their mama tells them not to cry.  As she pushes them towards me, she says, "Now, go to your mama."  My heart breaks all over again.  I sit down beside her, tears streaming down my face.  I kiss her on the cheek as I put my arm around her tiny body.  "You are their mama, not me," I tell her.  "They love you and they have not forgotten about you.  They miss you everyday.  You will always be their mama."  Crying isn't common in their culture, but I see tears welling up in her eyes.  "Thank you," she gently whispers as she gives my hand a squeeze.

We are all quiet on the motorcycle ride back to Jubilee.  I put on my sunglasses to cover up my teary eyes.  It hurts.  I hate the pain that the boys are experiencing.  It is not fair.  I am angry at the world.  I'm angry that THIS is real life.  I'm angry that I grew up so sheltered from the pain of the real world.  But in the pain and anger and suffering I hear Him whisper, "They are mine.  I am here.  I love them and I am with them through it all.  In this world there will be suffering, but fear not for I have overcome it all."

Graffiti

Things that make me smile:  Finding graffiti on my classroom door in the morning that says, "I love Miss Katie a lot.  She is my good friend."

Christmas Wish List

Up until about a week ago, I was planning on spending my Christmas here in Haiti.  But, then I thought about the fact that my best friend had a baby last month and my parents just moved to a new city.  I decided it will do my soul good to have a break from Jubilee and see my loved ones.

I will be in Pennsylvania from December 14th until December 30th.  I hope to see as many of you as possible during that time!  Before I return to Haiti, my goal is to fill my suitcases with things for my classroom and students.

This is my little classroom.  Just outside the picture to the left is the chalkboard.  It is small so I try to be very intentional in my planning so that I use my space wisely.  We only have electricity if we run a generator because the city power lines do not go out to Jubilee.  The light in my classroom comes from the window that you see in this picture.

In the states, my classroom would probably be comparable to the size of a school supply closet.  However, I am truly thankful for such a beautiful little room.  When I look around at the poverty in Jubilee and then see my wonderful little classroom, I feel SO blessed.

And, you really can't beat the view when you look outside my classroom door.

My students and I would be very blessed to have your help getting some new things for our class!  Below is a wish list of things that we would love for our little classroom.  If you would like to help us get any of these items, please email me first to make sure we don't get duplicate items and to arrange how to get the items to me before I return to Haiti.

Classroom Wish List

• 3 metal cookie sheets (can be inexpensive because it will be used with magnet letters)
• Leapfrog books to be used with the Tag device (click here to see what I mean)
• Sidewalk chalk
• 3 sets of headphones (preferably the old school kind that don't go inside your ears)
• An inexpensive mp3 player or discman (for books audio books)
• Dry erase board markers
• Clothes pins
• Magnetic letters (3 to 5 sets)
• Science picture books for elementary age children (plants, animals, health, body, etc.)
• Lollipops
• AA and AAA Batteries
• Cork board squares (that could be used to build my own bulletin board)
• If you prefer, money would also be appreciated so that I can purchase other small items that are needed

I find myself constantly bandaging infected cuts and scrapes and putting antifungal cream on ringworm for my students.  It is amazing the difference that Neosporin makes here.  I would like to make a classroom first aid kit and would like to have the following items:

• Antifungal cream (for ringworm)
• Bandaids (various sizes)
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Alcohol wipes
• Digital Thermometer
• Children's pain reliever
• Children's cough medicine
• Burn cream (since food is cooked over fire here, my kids frequently come to me with small burns)

Tcheventchina and Lorisena (she has cream on her face because I've been trying to treat her ringworm)

Tcheventchina, Tchentchina, and Lorisena

Ecclestiaste and Dieuvenson

What do you love about me??

I started something new in my classes this week.  I decided that every Monday in each of my three English classes, I am going to pick a "Star of the Week".  Honoring each other, complimenting each other, and seeing the good in each other is not something that my students are good at.  I'm sure their parents do not practice those skills with them at home.  I want to build my students' self esteem and help teach them to see the good in each other.

So, each week the special person will be able to do things like be the line leader, erase the chalkboard, and get other special privileges throughout the week.  But to me, the most important aspect is the writing activity.

Monday morning, I explained to the students that we were going to make a classroom book about all the reasons we love our "Star of the Week".  At first they looked shocked.  I even heard some of the kids say, "I don't love him/her!"  After some explanation and encouragement, the kids seemed to be understanding the concept.  However, they were still struggling to come up with reasons that they love their peer.  I decided to give them some examples:

     "I want you to tell me some of the reasons that you love our Star of the Week: Claudia.  For example, I love each of you.  Each of you has special characteristics that I love." I enthusiastically told my students.
     "You do?!?!  You love us?" several of the kids asked me in surprise.
     "Of course I love you!" I replied.  "I tell you guys all the time that I love you!"
     "Well, why do you love me?" David asked with a disbelieving smile on his face.
      I smiled back and replied, "I love you because you are funny and you make me and the kids in our class laugh."  He beamed with pride.
     "Ok, ok!  Me!  Why do you love me, Katie?" asked Chelda.
     I smiled again.  "I love you, Chelda, because you are gentle and kind to all the other students in our class."
     "My turn!" shouted Ifocoeur with his hand in the air.  "Why do you love me, Katie?"
     My heart was about to burst as I saw how happy they were to hear the compliments.  I looked at Ifocoeur and said, "I love you because you are so trustworthy.  You always tell me the truth and you help others whenever you get the chance."

Hands continued to fly into the air with excitement as they waited to hear why I love them.  They were so proud and happy to hear that I could name specific reasons that I love each of them, and I was more than happy to explain those reasons to them.

The idea of telling kids why you love them might sound simple to most of you.  However, here in Haiti, it is huge.  I'm certain that most parents here don't tell their kids that they love them very often.  I think that giving my kids the opportunity to write nice things about each other is going to be way more meaningful to them than I had expected.  For the first time ever, I now look forward to Monday mornings so that I can hear my little ones speak words of love to each other.

Thanksgiving 2012

One might think that spending holidays away from my family would be depressing.  While I do miss my family in the states, my last two Thanksgivings here in Haiti have been pretty unforgettable.

On the actual Thanksgiving day, I taught school.  After school, we played 7 on 7 tackle football with both Haitians and Americans on the salt flats behind our school.  It was a blast and I've got the bruises to prove it.

That night, we celebrated by eating rice, beans, and goat with the two teams that were staying at Mama Kathy and Papa Beaver's house.  It was a full house with 40 people gathered around the table and sitting on the couches and floors.

Our "tribe" wanted to have our own family Thanksgiving together.  So, we decided to have a traditional Thanksgiving feast on Friday at our friend Jake's aka JTP's house.  I asked my paraprofessional to cover my classes for me so that I could help cook and run errands as needed. 

It was a busy day, but it was all worth it when our crazy family of 25+ people gathered together.  Most of us "dressed up" in our nicest clothes.  Since we are usually sweaty, dirty, and dusty, it was fun to have a reason to look nice.  The evening started with coloring Thanksgiving pictures and a photo booth that Becca, Emma, and Kara set up.  

Needless to say, we had so much fun.

I've always loved Thanksgiving food, but eating it in Haiti makes it a million times better tasting.  Ben and Josh's mom, Gayle, came to visit and help cook everything.  She brought suitcases full of ingredients.  We had mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, green beans, cabbage salad, avocado, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, fruit salad, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, apple strudel, cheesecake, cookies, and brownies.  It was incredible.  As I ate the delicious food, laughed with my friends, and looked around the room at the many people I've grown to love, I looked across the table and said to Kez, "It is impossible to stop smiling."

After dinner, we went into our "Recovery Star Food Coma" position.  In other words, we laid down on the floor to recover from eating too much food.  

Our laughter turned into singing our favorite show tunes and Disney movie songs,  Then once we sang ourselves out, we went outside for a campfire.  It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Hating the World

For several days, I've been wanting to sit down and write about some beautiful stories of things that my students have done in school.  There are wonderful things that show me pictures of Jesus.  But, I didn't get around to writing about it.  And now, something else has happened that for the moment, has overshadowed that.

Unfortunately, the recent happening has broken my heart yet again.  I'm not actually ready to write about it.  Its fresh and my thoughts are not composed.  Right now, I'm a crumpled broken teary mess.  Not for myself.  I'm crying because I'm sharing the pain of others.  I'm crying because things that I see here should never be experienced by anyone, let alone precious children.

I'm crying because this world is so incredibly broken.  I'm crying because I'm angry, and at the moment I really hate this world.  I don't know if that is ok, but its the truth.  There is so much pain and suffering around me that sometimes I cannot take it.  Haiti rips my heart out and stomps on it on a regular basis.  Just when things seem to be going well, something else comes along that makes just brings me to my knees.  I am glad to share the burdens of those around me.  But, the truth is it is not easy.

Talking about wanting to share the burdens of others is one thing, but when you do it.  Man....it hurts.    In fact it is absolutely miserable.  In these situations, I usually have no idea what to do.  But, I can hurt with people and I can cry with them.  Often, I don't know what else to do.

I've never wanted God's Kingdom to come more than I do now.  This world is not fair.  Babies should not die.  Fathers should not abandon their children.  Children shouldn't be orphaned.  People should not have to suffer from AIDS, or TB, or other diseases.  These things are not of God.  It makes me angry.  That's where I am right now.  I'm broken and I'm angry at this world.

What is Heaven like?

        "I don't want God to come back!  If he comes, I'm going to hide!" I hear Lorisena, one of my precious little first graders say.  I was taken aback, and I decided to take a few minutes of our class time to explore this topic a little.
        "When Jesus comes back, we won't be able to hide.  No one will get to choose what we do.  Why don't you want God to come back?" I asked her.  She smiled and covered her face with embarrassment.  "I can't wait for Jesus to come back," I said.  "I want to go to Heaven with him."  The students started listening with interest.  Lorisena uncovered her face to hear what I was saying.  "Heaven is perfect.  It is better than any place on Earth.  In Heaven, no one is ever hungry." I told them.  "In Heaven, there is a huge long table so long that you can't even see the end of it.  And it is filled with all the food that you can imagine!"
        Their eyes widened with surprise.  One of the students asked, "Is there a market in Heaven?"
        I chucked and said, "I don't know if there is a market, but if there is one, everything in the market is free!"  The kids looked at each other in disbelief.  I went on, "Not only is there food for everyone, but there are green trees and plants, and the rivers are clean and crystal clear.  There is no trash anywhere!"
       "Mademoiselle Katie, are there houses in Heaven?" someone asked me.
       "Yes!" I said with excitement.  "God has a mansion and it is filled with rooms.  We all have our own special place to live.  It is clean and rats and mice never come inside.  The rain water and mud never leaks inside of it either."
        "How do you know all this?  Have you been to Heaven already, Mademoiselle Katie?" one of the students asked in all seriousness.
        "No, I haven't been there yet.  It says this in the Bible.  Do you want to hear some more?"  I asked them.
        "Yes!" they said.
        "Well, in Heaven all the streets are made of gold.  The walls have precious stones and gems all over them.  There are animals of all kinds and they live together.  It never gets dark in Heaven, and you never ever cry.  Heaven is perfect so there are no tears.  We get to be with God forever."  The students sat in silence as if they were mesmerized by what I was saying.  "So, do you still think that you want to hide when Jesus comes back?" I asked them.
        "No." They said.
        "We can all go to Heaven to be with God.  We just have to love God and follow Him during our life and have a relationship with Him.  When Jesus comes back to Earth, if we love Him, we get to go with Him."
        Lorisena who had been silent since I started talking suddenly decided to speak again.  "When its time for me to go to Heaven, God is going to throw a rope down for me and I'm going to climb up!"

ARTICLE: Haiti could see the deadliest effects of Sandy...

Please read this article and take time to pray for the situation here.  It seems like our poor country never gets a break.  I've already noticed this week that in the market some of our food staples are more expensive and more scarce.  

The original article is found online here.

Haiti could see the deadliest effects of Sandy as food dwindles and cholera spikes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Wednesday October 31, 2012 – As if the mud, misery, loss of life and homelessness in Hurricane Sandy’s wake weren’t bad enough, the worst may yet be to come for disaster-ravaged Haiti.

Massive crop damage throughout the southern third of the country, as well as the likelihood of a spike in cases of cholera and other water-borne diseases, could mean that the impoverished country will experience the deadliest effects of the storm’s havoc in the days and weeks ahead.

Sandy claimed the most lives in the Caribbean in Haiti, as swollen rivers and landslides resulted in a death toll of at least 52 persons, according to the country's Civil Protection office.

Over three days of continuous rain left roads and bridges heavily damaged, cutting off access to several towns and a key border crossing with the Dominican Republic, moreover.

According to Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, "the economy took a huge hit" and the hurricane’s impact was devastating, "even by international standards". He added that Haiti was planning an appeal for emergency aid.

"Most of the agricultural crops that were left from Hurricane Isaac were destroyed during Sandy," Lamothe said, "so food security will be an issue."

The widespread loss of crops and supplies in the south, both for commercial growers and subsistence farmers, is a source of grave concern.

A series of nationwide protests and general strikes over the rising cost of living rocked the country even before Hurricane Sandy hit, and Jean Debalio Jean-Jacques, the Ministry of Agriculture's director for the southern department, said he worried that the massive crop loss "could aggravate the situation."

"The storm took everything away," he said. "Everything the peasants had in reserve - corn, tubers - all of it was devastated. Some people had already prepared their fields for winter crops and those were devastated."

On Haiti's south-western tip, the Abricots community was still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Tomas and a recent dry spell when Sandy struck.

"We'll have famine in the coming days," said Abricots Mayor Kechner Toussaint. "It's an agricultural disaster."

The main staples of the local diet, bananas and breadfruit, were ripped out by winds and ruined by heavy rains.

In Camp-Perrin, a mountainous region in the southwest peninsula, coffee planters lamented the loss of a harvest they were weeks away from collecting.

"Coffee is the bank account of the peasants," said Maurice Jean-Louis, a planter and head of a coffee growers' cooperative in Camp-Perrin. Rain flooded many storage areas as well, soaking coffee beans that were set aside for export. He called the damage "incalculable."

In Port-au-Prince, Sandy destroyed concrete homes and tent camps alike, where 370,000 victims of the 2010 earthquake are still living. Authorities said 18,000 families were left homeless in the disaster.

Adding to the despair, a sharp rise in suspected cholera cases has been reported by aid organizations in several departments.

At least 86 new cases have come from Port-au-Prince's earthquake survivor camps alone, according to Dr. Juan Carlos Gustavo Alonso of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Many communities are still cut off and only accessible by helicopter, he said, so the broader rise in cholera was "still too early to tell."

Cholera has sickened almost 600,000 people and killed more than 7,400 since October 2010 in Haiti.

The state and international aid organizations have been distributing food, water and other items to affected camps and communities, including personal distributions by President Michel Martelly.

"These stocks are running dangerously low," said George Ngwa, spokesman for OCHA, a humanitarian coordinating body in Haiti. "After Tropical Storm Isaac in August, these stocks have not been replenished. What we're doing is scraping the bottom." 

Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/haiti_news/629783.html#ixzz2BGTNN6WG

Meet Henry!

If you know me or have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have a Haitian dog named Jake.  I found Jake when he was only about a month old.  He had a broken leg, was covered in lice and mites, and he was nearly dead.  I rescued him, patched him up, and he's been my most loyal friend ever since.  He even moved with me to the United States.  Unfortunately, I came back to Haiti and he did not.  He now lives with my mom and dad.  Of course, when I'm visiting, he knows that he's still my boy.  Any dog lover knows how much they become a part of your family.  I miss Jake as much almost as much my friends and family when I'm here in Haiti.

Jake and I 

Here in Gonaives, I share a house with another American, Julie.  She and I talked about getting a pet for our new house.  She suggested a puppy, but I remember how much work and commitment dogs take.  With my busy teaching schedule and lack of free time, I didn't think I was up for all that.  So, I suggested a cat.  It would be great for catching rodents and cockroaches and good company.  However, Julie hates cats.  Unable to come to an agreement, we let the idea of a pet go for a little while.

The week of my birthday, April (the principal of our school) asked me if I could puppy-sit the school's ten week old "watch dog" for a weekend.  She needed to go to Port and had no one to watch Rex, the Haitian puppy.  Wanting to help (and being a dog lover), I agreed.  When I took him home, I specifically had to remind myself not to get attached to him since he was not actually my dog.  April's trip to Port kept getting extended and with each passing day, I got more and more attached to the feisty little guy.  I ended up watching Rex for a week and by the time that April got back to Gonaives, I was very sad to say goodbye to him.

He found a box to sleep in while I was teaching

Luckily for me, April and Lala heard how much I loved the puppy.  So, they came back from Port with a leash and collar, and they gave Rex to me for my birthday!  However, there was a slight problem.  The reason that April went to Port was to pick up HER birthday present from the airport.  Someone sent her a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy named Dexter.  She calls him Dex for short.  Having Dex and Rex play together was not only confusing for the puppies, but also for all the people around!

So, I decided to change Rex's name.  After lots of deliberation, Julie and I decided to name our puppy, Henry.  Why you ask?  No reason in particular.  All the names that I liked, she didn't like.  And all the names she liked, I didn't like.  Our little pup is sweet and loving but he has a feisty spirit about him.  Before we became his owners, he was accidentally dropped off of a second story building by a four year old (who shall remain nameless).  If that isn't bad enough, he was also stolen three times in Jubilee.  Thankfully, he was able to run away and find his way back to the school each time!  That being said, we thought that he needed a strong sounding name.  I didn't know the meaning of the name Henry until after I named him: home ruler.  I might be in trouble! So without further ado, I would like to introduce you all to the newest addition!  Meet Henry!

He is cuddly and very playful.  He is already mostly potty trained, and he has mastered the treacherous steps up to our house (this is no lie, our steps are steep high...everyone complains).

When I take him for walks, nearly everyone we pass says, "Blan, ba'm yon kado ti chen an"  Which means, "White person, give me your little dog as a gift."  I have several responses to that request such as: No, I love him, too much and I would cry if I gave him to you. or  No, he's a Haitian dog and there are plenty more exactly like him so just go find a different one in the street.  People usually like the humor and stop bugging me after they hear my response.

Henry rides on the back of a motorcycle with me almost everyday to get to school and rides home on a tap-tap after school.  Yes, I'm serious.  And yes, everyone laughs at us.  I even have a little cardboard crate that April made for him in my classroom, although he's not really a fan of it.

My students love him and whenever I don't bring him with me, they always ask about him.

Henry hanging out with his mama in my classroom.

I fell asleep on the floor and he decided to snuggle up with me.  Thanks to Julie for the picture!

I still miss Jake and no other dog will ever take his place, but it sure is nice to have the company of Henry and he is earning his own little place in my heart!

Five simple words

Five simple words that can change lives.  Five simple words that can create impossible friendships.  Five simple words that break down walls.  Five simple words that can bring the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth...........Can I pray for you?  

Rewind back to over two years ago.  I was preparing to move to Haiti.  A close family friend/pastor spoke some prophetic words over me, as did my sister.  The Lord told them that when I went to Haiti, there would be healing.  I was told that God wanted me to go to Haiti expecting healing instead of asking for it.   

During my past two years in Haiti, I have prayed for many people and I've seen very little obvious results from those prayers.  I've prayed for pain and sickness.   I've prayed for children with AIDS.  I've prayed for legs to grow out.  I've prayed for crippled body parts.  I've laid hands on the dead and prayed for them to be raised up again.  In all of those prayers, I saw ONE healed back.  It was incredible that God healed a man's back after I prayed, but I've wanted more.  Just one is not enough.  God always does something when we pray, but it has not looked like what I expected.  I've been frustrated to say the least.  

I also deal with the frustrations of how I am treated here in Gonaives on a daily basis. I have written about the struggles of being a white person here.  I've explained how incredibly difficult it is to walk home from Jubilee.  I am made fun of, harassed, begged for money, and hit on.  I often ask for patience and for the presence of God to rest upon me and for His light to be seen, but on most days, by the time I get home I'm tired, frustrated, and grumpy.

On an average day, the walk home from school is my least favorite part of the day.  Not because I don't like walking, but because of the way I am treated.  Friday, I was in a good mood all day and God had been blessing me with supernatural amounts of patience.  So, I decided to do something different.  Instead of letting myself get hurt by people or frustrated, I decided that when people yelled to me or said things about me, I would stop and talk to each them.  

I passed by dozens of people on the street yelling at me and asking for things.  For some people I just said a simple, "Bonswa" and for others I stopped and had conversations.  One man obnoxiously yelled to me from the opposite side of the road, "Hey white girl!  Come talk to me!"  I said, "Bonswa, how are you?"  He was taken aback.  I crossed the road to speak to him and he began telling me how nice it was for me to talk to him.  He thanked me for not embarrassing him by walking on past.  He said that he liked the way I interacted, and he complimented my Creole.  He asked if it was ok for him to greet me if we pass in the street again.  He did NOT hit on me, make sexual comments, tell me I was pretty, or ask for my phone number.  It was a BEAUTIFUL encounter.  

I had several other great conversations as I walked.  By the time that I arrived at the town square, I had a spring in my step.  In the square is a huge Catholic church.

This is the square in Gonaives.  You can see the huge A frame church on the right. (picture taken from Google since I didn't have a picture of it) it is not in this picture, but usually, this area is filled with people.

 As always, there were four old beggar ladies sitting along the fence in front of the church.  I knew they were going to beg from me if I walked by.  I thought to myself, "I've had a great walk so far.  I don't want to ruin it now."  I considered crossing the street before I passed them in order to avoid their begging (I'm not always a good person).  You see, any time that I tell someone I'm not going to give them anything, they get angry.  They yell at me and tell me that I'm selfish (among other things).  I really just wanted to avoid all of that.

Instead, I decided to walk past them.  As expected, they held out their hands to beg.  I stopped in front of them and kindly said, "I'm not going to give you money, but I'd love to just talk to you if you would like."  Their faces lit up.  They all four jumped up off the ground and gave me huge toothless smiles.  The were skin and bones.  When I asked them how they were doing, they responded, "Not good at all.  We got really muddy and wet last night in the hurricane."  I said, "Oh, I'm sorry.  Did the rain come in your house?"  The all shook their heads and said, "No, we don't have houses.  We live under a tree.  We are homeless."  I was floored.  I didn't even know what to say.  They only thing I could think of was, "Can I pray for you?"  

I'm glad that was the only thing I could think to say because their response was so surprising.  "YES!  Please pray for us!"  they excitedly said.  However, the woman closest to my left said, "Well, before you can pray, what church do you go to?"  I told her, "Well, I go to different places and sometimes I just worship God at my house instead of in a church."  She didn't seem pleased with that answer and she cut me off before I could even finish speaking.  "So, you don't go to this Catholic church," she asked me motioning towards the church behind her.  "No, I don't." I responded.  She sat down and said, "Oh.  Well, then I don't want you to pray for me."  

I smiled at her and then gently said, "That's no problem, madame.  However, I believe that it does not matter what church we go to.  If we are all in agreement that we love God, if we all worship him, and we all pray to him, I believe that we we can all pray together."  The three women standing next to me all nodded their heads in agreement and said, "AMEN!"  She still did not want prayer.  So, I put my arm around the three woman still standing and I began to pray.  Instantly as I started praying, the woman who had said she didn't want prayer stood up.  She came beside me and put her arm around me.  I knew in that moment that God was doing something important there.  He was moving.  He was present and He had planned that meeting.  We began to pray together right there in the middle of the busiest part of the city.

After praying a short prayer of blessing and provision for the women, people were starring at me as they passed by.  I realized that I already looked like a crazy person.  I figured that I might as well make it worthwhile and keep praying!  By looking at skinny fragile bodies, I realized I was about to ask a redundant question: Do any of you have pain or sickness that I can pray for specifically?

Immediately, they were all speaking at once.  I could barely understand what they were saying, but I could tell they most definitely wanted and needed more prayer.  One woman literally said, "My entire body hurts.  Pray for everything in my body.  It is all bad."  I started with the woman to my left (the one who originally didn't want prayer at all).  "Pray for my son," she said, "He's wicked.  He steals and lies.  He has murdered people and he has raped women.  He is an embarrassment to me and I don't know what to do." Before praying, I warned them that I don't often pray in Creole since it is not the language of my heart.  They didn't mind and they just urged me to pray.  I prayed a prayer of life and love over her.  I asked God for her son to see his sin and turn to God.  After praying for her son, I prayed for various parts of her body that were in pain.  

When I finished praying for her, I realized that somehow the small group of four people had suddenly multiplied.  People were slowly starting to crowd around me.  Some were just whispering and asking, "What is that white girl doing??"  As I prayed, I heard shouts of "Amen!  Thank you, Jesus!" coming from different places in the crowd.  When I finished praying for the four original women, people started to argue and shove their way towards me to get prayer.  They were literally, arguing about who was there first.  It was insane.  NEVER has that happened to me before.  Usually, people yell at me and tell me I'm selfish.  I've been called Satan and I've been told to leave the country.  But, this time, they were fighting to receive prayer from me.  I tried not to laugh as I told them, "Don't worry!  I have lots of time.  I will stay as long as it takes to pray for each of you."

I cannot tell you how many people I prayed for.  There were at least 15 people that approached me for prayer.  I was laying hands on crippled arms and legs.  I was laying hands on blind eyes.  I was laying hands on bad backs.  I laid hands on hurting heads, arthritic hands, chest pain, rashes and various other pains in the body.  It was incredible.  I stopped and warned the people multiple times that I might not be praying very well in Creole, but I know that God knows in my heart what I mean to say.  Eventually after about 20 minutes of praying on the street corner, the crowd thinned and I was able to continue home.  As soon as I was home, I was overwhelmed with tears of joy.  All that had happened because I took the time to say good afternoon to some outcasts.  All that had happened because of five simple words. 

Later that night, I shared my story with everyone over dinner.  Everyone was blown away by what I described.  But, Keziah and Grace's response affected me the most.  They told me, "We prayed for you this morning.  We prayed that God would show you something today.  We prayed that He would give you a visible sign of the work you are doing here in Haiti.  We prayed that you would see things to encourage you and help you understand the impact that you are making here."  I was overwhelmed by joy and I just wept.  God's promise to me really was true after all.  Great things are only just beginning to happen.  I just have to continue being patient with God and with everyone around me.

Acts 3:2-10

Now a man who was lame from birthwas being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Rain, rain, rain

Until it was cloudy and rainy, I had no idea that a hurricane was on its way past Haiti.  Luckily for us, we only got the "tropical storm" effects of Sandy: rain, cooler temperatures, and lots of clouds.  In all honesty, it has been lovely weather.

On a typical day here, the sun is blazing hot and the temperatures are in the 90's.  So, when the clouds rolled in and the temperatures dropped into the 70's, we broke out our pants, long sleeves, blankets, and made hot chocolate.  Then, the rains started on Tuesday and they have not stopped yet.  In a city that doesn't get rain more than once a month, this is grand occasion.

Rainy days in Haiti are similar to snow days in Pennsylvania.  The streets are empty, businesses and schools close, and the students are unfocused and wild.  This morning, I rode to Jubilee on the back of a motorcycle, in the rain, holding a small puppy.  Thankfully, I had my purple rain boots on because my moto driver did not want to drive me all the way to the school because of the water and mud.



Despite the government announcing that schools were closed today, we pressed on and kept our school open.  Students arrived with soggy uniforms, but with smiles on their faces.  Only three of my thirteen kindergarteners came, but most of the other classes had at least half of the students.

It is still raining as I write this, and while I am thankful for this weather, I pray that flooding does not get worse.

One of the roads through Jubilee

This canal in Jubilee is probably about five feet deep, it was overflowing today

Water has been leaking from Julie's ceiling and from the door to the roof.  So, we have buckets and pots in various places around our house collecting water.  However, That's nothing compared to the many people who are living in low lying areas.

I've heard that the rain is supposed to continue through tomorrow, so please keep us in your prayers.