Team December loaded up the truck with paint and supplies Wed morning and set out for an amazing day! We had 6 houses to paint. All of the homes we were painting were families that are connected to Pastor Nathan's church there. We split into 3 groups and set off to paint 2 homes each. The plan wasn't just to paint homes, but to encourage, support, pray with, and work along side each family.
Each person serving that day has a different story to tell! Each one was moved by the things seen and done! I wish every team member could share their own experience in a book.
here's what I saw on Wednesday:
The first home my group painted was the home of a family I had spent time with each of our previous visits. I had not had a translator with me so they were times of very little conversation and just being together with my girls and their little girl. I was under the impression that she had a son Ricardo (about 10) and little Jenny (1). As we gathered inside Nadej's one room, well kept home on Wednesday to pray, we asked her about her previous home and some other questions and she told us she lost her 10 year old son in the quake. She had 4 children, now she has 3. She continued to tell us with a smile on her face, they like their new community. My heart got stuck on the loss of a child. I couldn't move from it as I held her hand and tried to hold back tears telling her God brought us there to help and encourage. Today, I mourn for a mother who lost her child. I pray for her to have strength. I thank God for the provision and protection He has given them and ask that God continue to be very real to this family. Nadej's husband has no work right now. No means of providing for his family. God however, does and continues to provide for them through family, friends, and neighbors. As we were almost finished painting, I looked around at all the tents and shelters and realized that Canaan is a place where everyone experienced loss on January 12, 2010. Loss of a family member, a home, a job...maybe a combination of all three. I'm amazed at the strength of these people. This community in the church has come together, they are making it, and they are helping each other deal with the loss they have experienced. The actual painting got done and amazingly enough, after Nadej's 3 year old nephew got done with the paintbrush, there was still some paint left. It was a lot of fun as many people gathered together to work. Nadej's brother, her son(who is actually 14), and several neighbors all pitched in. We got the job done and I left a piece of myself there.
We moved on to the next house where we are greeted by many willing helping children! Most were neighbors. This family has 4 children, 2 of which were injured in the quake. One with a broken foot, the other, broken arm and injuries on her chest. They are both doing really well now, but have scars that will remind them of that traumatic day for a long time to come. They are expecting their 5th baby in a few months. Fortunately for this family, he still has a job and is able to provide food and care for his wife's pregnancy. We began painting and I found myself without a job because there were so many helpers. I stood back watching for a few moments when Schneider (our translator) asked if I would like to go visit the home owner's mother who has cancer.
So off we went. Her daughter (about age 17) led us to her mother explaining to us that she is very sick with uterine cancer. She cannot walk or get up. We entered Suzette's home and greeted her. She explained that she has been sick for one year. I began asking questions and she was very willing to tell her story. God spoke to her and told her to boil a certain plant and drink the liquid to ease the pain. God spoke to her and told her not to worry, He would heal her. She spoke to me with such joy and faith. She winces and breaks into a sweat from the pain as she tells me her husband left her 20 years before. She raised their children on her own. Her two older daughters don't go to school anymore because they don't have money. Somehow, the younger daughter goes to school. They eat because others help them. She can no longer sell clothing as she used to. They lost their home on January 12, 2010. Life is very hard for them in Canaan. They don't have access to as many things there because it is further from town and market. The house leaks water every time it rains and they are afraid the house will not stand in the wind. It gets very windy there at the base of the mountain. Yet, she has joy. I swear that was an angel sitting there before me. I told Suzette that God was blessing her right now and asked if I could pray with her. When I finished praying, I looked up to see her crying. I had been so blessed to witness her angelic faith, but she also had been blessed by my visit and because of the time I took to her story. That is why I was there that day.
In the midst of loss and suffering God can be praised!
On Thursday, Team December led a VBS. They gave a fun bible story, sat with kids as our amazing sponsor daughter, Stephanie, led songs, they played games, colored, and held little sleeping cuties. They also passed out 120 hygiene kits, little toys, braclets, and candy. All in all, a fun, fun day for everyone! It was great to have the families from the previous day there celebrating together!
Friday we were back at Good Samaritan Girls Orphanage to lay stone through the yard, spread dirt and plant a garden. There was also some playing going on and a few Kreyol lessons.
Tonight the team celebrated New Year's eve at a Haitian church service where tradition is to begin praying just before midnight, then finish in the new year. Tomorrow we will celebrate with traditional squash soup! We are very grateful for this team and all the work they have done, but more importantly, all the love they have poured on so many children and families here. Bondye Beni ou!
Bon Ane!
~Deb
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Team December
Team December is our official first team hosted in the AWAKENHaiti guest house! We are so excited to have this team here!
The last two days have been spent working at the Good Samaritan Girls Orphange. There was some painting on the outdoor bathroom/food/storage depot, shelving was put up, a roof was built over the outdoor cooking area, shelves and counter top for outdoor kitchen, ceiling fans were hung...etc. Along with this work...playing with some really cool kids, white girls getting their hair braided, and fun just hanging out with the Good Sam girls and boys.
Today we took a trip to Freedom House Bethesda Orphanage to deliver Christmas letters from their sponsors! The girls there are doing great. The second floor to their house is just about complete!
The newbies to Haiti got to see a bit more of the culture as we drove through some pretty busy areas. We ended our night with some of Margarette's awesome Haitian cooking...cabri (goat), rice and beans with sauce, vegetables, and Haitian coffee.
We are really looking forward to visiting Canaan tomorrow to paint wooden shelters and visit some wonderful people! We know we will see God in some of the people we will meet there.
Please pray for these team members who will be seeing some very difficult living conditions tomorrow. Pray for wisdom. Pray for God to reveal Himself!
Blessings!
~Deb
The last two days have been spent working at the Good Samaritan Girls Orphange. There was some painting on the outdoor bathroom/food/storage depot, shelving was put up, a roof was built over the outdoor cooking area, shelves and counter top for outdoor kitchen, ceiling fans were hung...etc. Along with this work...playing with some really cool kids, white girls getting their hair braided, and fun just hanging out with the Good Sam girls and boys.
Today we took a trip to Freedom House Bethesda Orphanage to deliver Christmas letters from their sponsors! The girls there are doing great. The second floor to their house is just about complete!
The newbies to Haiti got to see a bit more of the culture as we drove through some pretty busy areas. We ended our night with some of Margarette's awesome Haitian cooking...cabri (goat), rice and beans with sauce, vegetables, and Haitian coffee.
We are really looking forward to visiting Canaan tomorrow to paint wooden shelters and visit some wonderful people! We know we will see God in some of the people we will meet there.
Please pray for these team members who will be seeing some very difficult living conditions tomorrow. Pray for wisdom. Pray for God to reveal Himself!
Blessings!
~Deb
Saturday, December 25, 2010
T'was the night before Christmas
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house...
Many creatures were stirring
esp a mouse (actually a rat the size of a cat)
the stockings were hung on the steel gate with care
in hopes that St. Nicholas
to Haiti soon would be there
The children were nestled all snug under nets
while visions of the beach danced in their heads
While I in my shorts and Jeff in his too
had just settled down for a sleep with a fan
when out in the yard we heard such a clatter
I sprung from my bed to see what was the matter
I flung back the mosquito net
and opened the screen
the moon on the mountain
gave light to objects below
when what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a miniature sleigh, eight tiny reindeer, barking dogs, and crowing roosters!
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick in Haiti!
More rapid than UN cars his coursers they came
He whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"now, dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! and Vixen!
on, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
to the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
now dash away, dash away, dash away all!
As with palm trees blowing through hurricane Tomas (oh, yeah we boarded up and no wind came)
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the concrete house top the coursers they flew
with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
I yelled up to Santa, "check the water tanks"
through the gate and down the ladder St. Nicholas
came with a bound.
He was dressed all in underarmor, fur is too hot
his clothes were all tarnished with dust a whole lot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
he looked like a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled
his dimples how merry
his cheeks were all rosy, his nose like a cherry
his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
the beard on his chin was... shaven off ????
instead he sported sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray!
He had a broad face and no little belly
he lost all his weight
as he sweated and fainted
I gave him some gatorade and coconut cookies
then let him to work
He filled all the stocking with snacks we can't get
and laying a finger aside of his nose,
up the ladder he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
Away they all flew as the dogs cheered them on
but I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"
In this country, we have learned to laugh at some things, get frustrated with some(but what good does that do?), say "it's Haiti" with some, yet about others we see blessings and God clearly present. Tuesday of this week was hard in a few respects. Vanessa left, the 22 girls living below us for these first 2 months moved into a new home, and no gas was to be found. We have grown very close to the girls and they have been part of our family and daily lives since we arrived in Oct., so needless to say, it took a few days for us all to get used to the strange silence. We miss them very much. The plan all along with this house was to give us a place to call home, but also to be the AWAKENHAITI guest house. Still knowing this plan was right and good, it is hard not being able to travel down the stairs to see the girls. They moved into a beautiful home just 15 minutes from us. AWAKENHAITI has rented this home until permanent housing is secured through funds from the house4haiti ( thehouse4haiti.org ). We know they will love their new home and we will spend lots of time there with them.
Since the girls moved out, we have turned on Home Makeover here. Jeff built a new bathroom vanity and couch frame, fresh paint everywhere, new colors, bunk beds poly-ed and set up, shelves made and hung, haitian pictures (framed by Jacques)and decor bought and set (My first street bartering lesson and for the record, furthest driving adventure), refrigerator bought, kitchen set up equipped with all the gifts graciously given last spring (with the help of 5 very hard working haitian young ladies).
In the midst of all this work, the country seems to have run out of gasoline. The ship did not arrive when scheduled. When it did arrive, it was consumed so fast, we missed out. So now, we are close to running on fumes and it is Christmas eve. We'd like to go to Christmas eve service as we traditionally do. A normal trip to church on a Sunday morning with little traffic takes 30-35 minutes. So we take off at 5:25 for a 6:00 service. Then we hit town...sat, sat, sat, sat. Cars every direction, horns blowing, we're running out of gas. After 45 minutes, we decide to turn around as we won't make it nearly on time, we still had at least half an hour to go, so it seemed, and after all, we might not have enough gas to make it home if traffic were to be like this later. We stop off at our favorite store, BelMart, and grab some soda. All in all, an hour and a half trip to get soda! Later to find out that on Christmas eve, many people go out. Celebrating with church services, parties, etc. The town doesn't close down as it does in the states. Sometimes people don't sleep at all, just stay up celebrating. Lots of traffic. Lesson learned. This is Haiti.
We are thankful for the family God has blessed us with here in the Cazeau's. They brought haitian food to share with us and just their presence here lifted us. So tradition...is tradition, we still celebrate Christ's birth whether we have tradition or not. We might miss it, but we can't count on it, we have to be open to some new.
We are able to keep some old and add some new; the kids left cookies for Santa (yes Santa comes to Haiti), rice crispies for the reindeer, and powder milk mixed with water and ice (Santa will need cold milk here), we read the Christmas story as a family this morning and opened gifts one by one (as we have traditionally done).
We are so proud of our children for being so open to our new tradition of 3 small gifts for each of them from us representing the wise men's gifts brought for Jesus.
And, we are also thankful that Santa left the family a tv to watch the movies that Mom Mom and PopPop left for the kids to open today. Watching movies on a small computer screen is our only source of tv here. So watching a screen big enough for 5 and the playing play station games that have been untouched for months, will be nice once in a while. Turns out to be a good thing most of the time, we don't spend time just watching something just to watch. So, thank you Santa!
Today, we will eat a traditional American meal, sort of. Chicken legs (can't find a whole chicken and turkey is just way too big for 5 people), filling, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie (thanks to mom and pop's delivery earlier this month). Then off to visit 22 great girls and 6 sweet boys, if we have enough gas that is!
Today is a special day indeed. No matter how it is celebrated, tradition or not as long as it is celebrated for Christ's birth.
Tomorrow is another special day for us, for a team of 12 people coming to Haiti, and for AWAKENHAITI as our guest house officially opens and begins this ministry here. We are so thankful for the time of transition for our family over the past 2 months. We have learned a lot, made some great relationships stronger, learned more culture, and more trust in God as He has been very real and present...now we are ready to share it with others. We look forward to hosting Team December and to learning what God will reveal as they serve others.
Jwaye Nwel tout moun!
Merry Christmas everyone!
~Deb
Many creatures were stirring
esp a mouse (actually a rat the size of a cat)
the stockings were hung on the steel gate with care
in hopes that St. Nicholas
to Haiti soon would be there
The children were nestled all snug under nets
while visions of the beach danced in their heads
While I in my shorts and Jeff in his too
had just settled down for a sleep with a fan
when out in the yard we heard such a clatter
I sprung from my bed to see what was the matter
I flung back the mosquito net
and opened the screen
the moon on the mountain
gave light to objects below
when what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a miniature sleigh, eight tiny reindeer, barking dogs, and crowing roosters!
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick in Haiti!
More rapid than UN cars his coursers they came
He whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"now, dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! and Vixen!
on, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
to the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
now dash away, dash away, dash away all!
As with palm trees blowing through hurricane Tomas (oh, yeah we boarded up and no wind came)
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the concrete house top the coursers they flew
with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
I yelled up to Santa, "check the water tanks"
through the gate and down the ladder St. Nicholas
came with a bound.
He was dressed all in underarmor, fur is too hot
his clothes were all tarnished with dust a whole lot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
he looked like a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled
his dimples how merry
his cheeks were all rosy, his nose like a cherry
his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
the beard on his chin was... shaven off ????
instead he sported sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray!
He had a broad face and no little belly
he lost all his weight
as he sweated and fainted
I gave him some gatorade and coconut cookies
then let him to work
He filled all the stocking with snacks we can't get
and laying a finger aside of his nose,
up the ladder he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
Away they all flew as the dogs cheered them on
but I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"
In this country, we have learned to laugh at some things, get frustrated with some(but what good does that do?), say "it's Haiti" with some, yet about others we see blessings and God clearly present. Tuesday of this week was hard in a few respects. Vanessa left, the 22 girls living below us for these first 2 months moved into a new home, and no gas was to be found. We have grown very close to the girls and they have been part of our family and daily lives since we arrived in Oct., so needless to say, it took a few days for us all to get used to the strange silence. We miss them very much. The plan all along with this house was to give us a place to call home, but also to be the AWAKENHAITI guest house. Still knowing this plan was right and good, it is hard not being able to travel down the stairs to see the girls. They moved into a beautiful home just 15 minutes from us. AWAKENHAITI has rented this home until permanent housing is secured through funds from the house4haiti ( thehouse4haiti.org ). We know they will love their new home and we will spend lots of time there with them.
Since the girls moved out, we have turned on Home Makeover here. Jeff built a new bathroom vanity and couch frame, fresh paint everywhere, new colors, bunk beds poly-ed and set up, shelves made and hung, haitian pictures (framed by Jacques)and decor bought and set (My first street bartering lesson and for the record, furthest driving adventure), refrigerator bought, kitchen set up equipped with all the gifts graciously given last spring (with the help of 5 very hard working haitian young ladies).
In the midst of all this work, the country seems to have run out of gasoline. The ship did not arrive when scheduled. When it did arrive, it was consumed so fast, we missed out. So now, we are close to running on fumes and it is Christmas eve. We'd like to go to Christmas eve service as we traditionally do. A normal trip to church on a Sunday morning with little traffic takes 30-35 minutes. So we take off at 5:25 for a 6:00 service. Then we hit town...sat, sat, sat, sat. Cars every direction, horns blowing, we're running out of gas. After 45 minutes, we decide to turn around as we won't make it nearly on time, we still had at least half an hour to go, so it seemed, and after all, we might not have enough gas to make it home if traffic were to be like this later. We stop off at our favorite store, BelMart, and grab some soda. All in all, an hour and a half trip to get soda! Later to find out that on Christmas eve, many people go out. Celebrating with church services, parties, etc. The town doesn't close down as it does in the states. Sometimes people don't sleep at all, just stay up celebrating. Lots of traffic. Lesson learned. This is Haiti.
We are thankful for the family God has blessed us with here in the Cazeau's. They brought haitian food to share with us and just their presence here lifted us. So tradition...is tradition, we still celebrate Christ's birth whether we have tradition or not. We might miss it, but we can't count on it, we have to be open to some new.
We are able to keep some old and add some new; the kids left cookies for Santa (yes Santa comes to Haiti), rice crispies for the reindeer, and powder milk mixed with water and ice (Santa will need cold milk here), we read the Christmas story as a family this morning and opened gifts one by one (as we have traditionally done).
We are so proud of our children for being so open to our new tradition of 3 small gifts for each of them from us representing the wise men's gifts brought for Jesus.
And, we are also thankful that Santa left the family a tv to watch the movies that Mom Mom and PopPop left for the kids to open today. Watching movies on a small computer screen is our only source of tv here. So watching a screen big enough for 5 and the playing play station games that have been untouched for months, will be nice once in a while. Turns out to be a good thing most of the time, we don't spend time just watching something just to watch. So, thank you Santa!
Today, we will eat a traditional American meal, sort of. Chicken legs (can't find a whole chicken and turkey is just way too big for 5 people), filling, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie (thanks to mom and pop's delivery earlier this month). Then off to visit 22 great girls and 6 sweet boys, if we have enough gas that is!
Today is a special day indeed. No matter how it is celebrated, tradition or not as long as it is celebrated for Christ's birth.
Tomorrow is another special day for us, for a team of 12 people coming to Haiti, and for AWAKENHAITI as our guest house officially opens and begins this ministry here. We are so thankful for the time of transition for our family over the past 2 months. We have learned a lot, made some great relationships stronger, learned more culture, and more trust in God as He has been very real and present...now we are ready to share it with others. We look forward to hosting Team December and to learning what God will reveal as they serve others.
Jwaye Nwel tout moun!
Merry Christmas everyone!
~Deb
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas!
As Jeff and I have both mentioned in previouse posts, it is a bit difficult for us to really wrap our minds around the Christmas season this year. We are still adjusting our minds to the holiday/weather connection we're used to . We don't have all the commercialism, running here and there, programs, parties, etc. We do have a small Christmas tree, paper chains, paper snowflakes our girls made, and Christmas music.
Still, something was missing. I tried to get graham crackers to make gingerbread houses with the kids, but only a small pack was to be found. I continued to wrack my brain trying to think how we make it "feel" more like Christmas for our family...then we went to church the past two Sundays.
We are so thankful for Port-au-Prince Fellowship! What great worship, where God is very real and present. What a good reminder over the past two Sundays. Why do we celebrate Christmas? We celebrate Christmas night as a holy night, but some don't. Some don't know the Jesus we celebrate. So be in prayer for those who don't know, reach out to those who don't know. When buying gifts for others, don't we buy something for 2 reasons? 1. something that person needs 2. something that person wants. So what do we give God for Christmas? Something He needs...us, our time, our service, our compassion for others. Something He wants...us, our hearts, our lives, our all.
So as we try to make it "feel" like Christmas, we ask ourselves. Have we given God our time? Alone? Just as Jesus spent time with God alone while here on earth and just as he hung on the cross alone with his father. Have we given God our time? even when it isn't convenient? I know I don't as much as I should and want to. So, I commit to this not just over the next few days going into Christmas, but regular time alone with God, not just when I can fit it in or when I find myself on my knees.
Have we given God our service and compassion for others? Others in need? I know we sometimes take for granted the condition of the kids in the Good Samaritan Orphanages because they are all in school and they all eat regularly. But truth be told, they are in an orphanage, without their mom and dad. They are in need. They soak in the times when we just sit with them and talk or sing.
Just two days ago, I sat with Kevencia and Phaline in their bedroom and Phaline asked me to sing to her. Now granted, Phaline is 20 years old. Feeling a bit intimidated, I said I would if she sang first. So she did. Then I sang. When I finished, Kevencia who had her head on my lap said "ancor mommie deb, ancor" . Isn't that something a 2 year old would say to her mommy? Again mommy again. Kevencia is 14. So it didn't matter that we weren't doing a task, as long as I was focused on them. Yes, we are "doing" a lot for them. But do we take enough time just to be with them? Being the task oriented people we are, with no agenda other than spending time and loving. That night, I realized, I had been so busy doing, it had been a while since I just spent that time for those in need.
So isn't this what Christmas is all about? I think I had tried all these years to say I was truly celebrating Christ's birth, but I was so busy doing all the American Christmas traditions, I didn't have time for it. I was always so exhausted by the time Christmas day rolled around, I couldn't even think straight. It has taken moving to Haiti for me to really truly be able to celebrate Christ's birth. To celebrate the child who came to this earth just to allow himself to be sacrificed for my sake and your sake.
We will give each of our kids 3 gifts this year representing the gifts the wise men brought for Jesus. But I hope we are giving them an even greater gift by giving the gift of time and compassion for others. Hopefully one day, our kids will look past all the "stuff" they've always asked for and just celebrate Christ.
Merry Christmas!
~Deb & Jeff
Colton, Kylie, & Brooke
Still, something was missing. I tried to get graham crackers to make gingerbread houses with the kids, but only a small pack was to be found. I continued to wrack my brain trying to think how we make it "feel" more like Christmas for our family...then we went to church the past two Sundays.
We are so thankful for Port-au-Prince Fellowship! What great worship, where God is very real and present. What a good reminder over the past two Sundays. Why do we celebrate Christmas? We celebrate Christmas night as a holy night, but some don't. Some don't know the Jesus we celebrate. So be in prayer for those who don't know, reach out to those who don't know. When buying gifts for others, don't we buy something for 2 reasons? 1. something that person needs 2. something that person wants. So what do we give God for Christmas? Something He needs...us, our time, our service, our compassion for others. Something He wants...us, our hearts, our lives, our all.
So as we try to make it "feel" like Christmas, we ask ourselves. Have we given God our time? Alone? Just as Jesus spent time with God alone while here on earth and just as he hung on the cross alone with his father. Have we given God our time? even when it isn't convenient? I know I don't as much as I should and want to. So, I commit to this not just over the next few days going into Christmas, but regular time alone with God, not just when I can fit it in or when I find myself on my knees.
Have we given God our service and compassion for others? Others in need? I know we sometimes take for granted the condition of the kids in the Good Samaritan Orphanages because they are all in school and they all eat regularly. But truth be told, they are in an orphanage, without their mom and dad. They are in need. They soak in the times when we just sit with them and talk or sing.
Just two days ago, I sat with Kevencia and Phaline in their bedroom and Phaline asked me to sing to her. Now granted, Phaline is 20 years old. Feeling a bit intimidated, I said I would if she sang first. So she did. Then I sang. When I finished, Kevencia who had her head on my lap said "ancor mommie deb, ancor" . Isn't that something a 2 year old would say to her mommy? Again mommy again. Kevencia is 14. So it didn't matter that we weren't doing a task, as long as I was focused on them. Yes, we are "doing" a lot for them. But do we take enough time just to be with them? Being the task oriented people we are, with no agenda other than spending time and loving. That night, I realized, I had been so busy doing, it had been a while since I just spent that time for those in need.
So isn't this what Christmas is all about? I think I had tried all these years to say I was truly celebrating Christ's birth, but I was so busy doing all the American Christmas traditions, I didn't have time for it. I was always so exhausted by the time Christmas day rolled around, I couldn't even think straight. It has taken moving to Haiti for me to really truly be able to celebrate Christ's birth. To celebrate the child who came to this earth just to allow himself to be sacrificed for my sake and your sake.
We will give each of our kids 3 gifts this year representing the gifts the wise men brought for Jesus. But I hope we are giving them an even greater gift by giving the gift of time and compassion for others. Hopefully one day, our kids will look past all the "stuff" they've always asked for and just celebrate Christ.
Merry Christmas!
~Deb & Jeff
Colton, Kylie, & Brooke
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Special People +Tears + Reflection = Hope
Tears:
Today was a day filled with tears as we had to say goodbye to Vanessa, a very special young women that joined Deb and I and our ministry here in Haiti for almost two months. She developed many close relationships in the short time she was here. Which isn't really surprizing because that's what special people do, they touch lives. There are 23 girls that now consider Vanessa a big sister that not only loves them deeply, but is someone they can look up to and inspire to be like. She has also touched our children in a very special way. So much so that they even named our new family puppy "Nessa" in honor of her. She has also been there in a very special way for Deb. Spending the first number of months in a third world country with no real friends can be difficult. I thank God that Deb had someone here to lean on, cry with, laugh with, and made her feel young cause everyone thought they were sisters. And of course Vanessa has always had a special place in my heart. So yes there were tears today, but when special people leave you that's what tends to happen.
Reflection:
This is the time of year that we tend to think of others more often. Maybe one of the reasons for that is because it's also the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you read about His life, one of the words that has to come to mind is servant. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. If he came to be served, then I highly doubt He would of allowed Himself to end up beaten, whipped, and crucified for the sins of all humanity. No, Jesus was a servant. That's why He left His thone in Heaven and came to earth, to serve.
As I was driving home from the airport after saying my goodbyes this morning, I began to think about not only Vaneesa's time here, but her life in general. I began to think about all the times I've heard about how hard of a worker she is. About all the times she took people to the hospital or the doctors for an appointment. Stories of all the times she spent with those that not many people have time for. The times of driving to Lancaster to visit her grandemother. Leanding a hand when no one was watching. Then my mind went to her time here. For those of you that don't know Vanessa. She is a graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Nursing. She worked as an RN at Duke University Hospital for 3 years. Needless to say she is a very smart and qualified young women. She came to Haiti with the hopes of researching what it will take to run and stock a mobile medical clinic for the Haitian people along side her mother Cindy. Vanessa and Cindy are helping Awaken Haiti get the medical area of our ministry under way due to the overwelming need for medical care for people that can't afford to go to the hospital. Even though she was able to do some of that, due to hurricanes, teams, and election riots, there was not as much opportunity as we all hoped there would be. But being a true servant isn't about just doing the things that we think we are here for, it's not about just doing the things we think we are qualified to do, it's not about what feels good to us and what we want our agenda to be. Being a servant is about loving people. Being a servant is about a very educated, very qualified, very smart young women painting a house for a single mother with six kids living in a tent community. It's about laying pavers, shoveling dirt and stone, and carrying rocks so 13 little girls have a place to play and study after school. It's about painting walls, puting up shelves, cleaning bathrooms, and scraping walls so six boys have a nice clean home to live in after the earthquake. It's about befriending, laughing with, teaching, playing, working with, sleeping with, eating with, worshiping with, and mentoring 23 little and not so little girls that live in here at the orphanage. It's about helping to teach two little girls school that just moved away from home to a third world country. It's about sacrificing your own funds to put shoes on 23 kids that need them to exercise in. It's about listening and having late night talks with friends (which is anytime past 8:00pm for Vanessa). It's about helping to fill 180 bags full of rice and beans to hand out to people in need. I could go on and on about all the ways she has touched the people of Haiti and our family. Yes being a servant and a reflection of Jesus is about loving people. What a great example of a servant.
Hope:
My Hope is that I can learn to serve like that. My hope is that if more people come to Haiti and serve like her, people will see Jesus and lives will be changed. My hope is that she knows how many lives were touched here. Every father knows that someday his little girls are eventually going to grow up. My hope is that they grow up to serve like that, love people like that, and love God like that.
Vanessa, thank you for all the lives you touched and showing me what it means to be a servant. You will be missed and on behalf of my family and the children of Good Samaritan, Nou renmen ou!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
Today was a day filled with tears as we had to say goodbye to Vanessa, a very special young women that joined Deb and I and our ministry here in Haiti for almost two months. She developed many close relationships in the short time she was here. Which isn't really surprizing because that's what special people do, they touch lives. There are 23 girls that now consider Vanessa a big sister that not only loves them deeply, but is someone they can look up to and inspire to be like. She has also touched our children in a very special way. So much so that they even named our new family puppy "Nessa" in honor of her. She has also been there in a very special way for Deb. Spending the first number of months in a third world country with no real friends can be difficult. I thank God that Deb had someone here to lean on, cry with, laugh with, and made her feel young cause everyone thought they were sisters. And of course Vanessa has always had a special place in my heart. So yes there were tears today, but when special people leave you that's what tends to happen.
Reflection:
This is the time of year that we tend to think of others more often. Maybe one of the reasons for that is because it's also the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you read about His life, one of the words that has to come to mind is servant. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. If he came to be served, then I highly doubt He would of allowed Himself to end up beaten, whipped, and crucified for the sins of all humanity. No, Jesus was a servant. That's why He left His thone in Heaven and came to earth, to serve.
As I was driving home from the airport after saying my goodbyes this morning, I began to think about not only Vaneesa's time here, but her life in general. I began to think about all the times I've heard about how hard of a worker she is. About all the times she took people to the hospital or the doctors for an appointment. Stories of all the times she spent with those that not many people have time for. The times of driving to Lancaster to visit her grandemother. Leanding a hand when no one was watching. Then my mind went to her time here. For those of you that don't know Vanessa. She is a graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Nursing. She worked as an RN at Duke University Hospital for 3 years. Needless to say she is a very smart and qualified young women. She came to Haiti with the hopes of researching what it will take to run and stock a mobile medical clinic for the Haitian people along side her mother Cindy. Vanessa and Cindy are helping Awaken Haiti get the medical area of our ministry under way due to the overwelming need for medical care for people that can't afford to go to the hospital. Even though she was able to do some of that, due to hurricanes, teams, and election riots, there was not as much opportunity as we all hoped there would be. But being a true servant isn't about just doing the things that we think we are here for, it's not about just doing the things we think we are qualified to do, it's not about what feels good to us and what we want our agenda to be. Being a servant is about loving people. Being a servant is about a very educated, very qualified, very smart young women painting a house for a single mother with six kids living in a tent community. It's about laying pavers, shoveling dirt and stone, and carrying rocks so 13 little girls have a place to play and study after school. It's about painting walls, puting up shelves, cleaning bathrooms, and scraping walls so six boys have a nice clean home to live in after the earthquake. It's about befriending, laughing with, teaching, playing, working with, sleeping with, eating with, worshiping with, and mentoring 23 little and not so little girls that live in here at the orphanage. It's about helping to teach two little girls school that just moved away from home to a third world country. It's about sacrificing your own funds to put shoes on 23 kids that need them to exercise in. It's about listening and having late night talks with friends (which is anytime past 8:00pm for Vanessa). It's about helping to fill 180 bags full of rice and beans to hand out to people in need. I could go on and on about all the ways she has touched the people of Haiti and our family. Yes being a servant and a reflection of Jesus is about loving people. What a great example of a servant.
Hope:
My Hope is that I can learn to serve like that. My hope is that if more people come to Haiti and serve like her, people will see Jesus and lives will be changed. My hope is that she knows how many lives were touched here. Every father knows that someday his little girls are eventually going to grow up. My hope is that they grow up to serve like that, love people like that, and love God like that.
Vanessa, thank you for all the lives you touched and showing me what it means to be a servant. You will be missed and on behalf of my family and the children of Good Samaritan, Nou renmen ou!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
Monday, December 13, 2010
It's Between You and Him Isn't It???
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others may destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway
Give the best you have, it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway."
These words are etched in the wall of Mother Teresa's Calcutta home for the sick.
I hope they are words of encouragement as we all do our best to try to live for Him and not so much for the approval of others.
Jeff
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others may destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway
Give the best you have, it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway."
These words are etched in the wall of Mother Teresa's Calcutta home for the sick.
I hope they are words of encouragement as we all do our best to try to live for Him and not so much for the approval of others.
Jeff
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thoughts for the Season.....
I knew that moving here was going to be an adjustment for us. Not knowing the language, living in much closer quarters than we are used to, brushing our teeth out of a cup, filling up the water tanks every morning, the completely unpredictable traffic, preparing for hurricanes, picking up people left at the airport with no where to stay, putting on bug spray after every shower, wheeling dirt, stone, and sand in a wheel barrel and not my tractor, driving through fire baracades to get home after a fixed election, airport being shut down on a moments notice, driving a car that has a mind of it's own and decides when and how long it feels like running, learning to run while dodging traffic, trash, rocks, dogs, goats, and an occasional herd of cows, not to mention the 22 lovey young ladies living beneath us. I could go on and on but I will just stop there for your sake and mine. Yes I knew there was going to some adjustments for us. I felt like we were ready for most of them. We may of not have known what they were all going to be but were expecting a lot none the less.
One thing that has completely caught me off guard though is this Christmas in 85-90 degree weather thing. Listening to Christmas music, trying to bake cookies one evening, eating the candycanes my parents brought, setting up the little tree, and putting the lights and decorations, it is all just plain, 100% weird to me. I am a Pennsylvania boy, born and raised. Christmas is not about being hot outside, it is not about wearing shorts and t-shirts, and playing in the sunshine. It is not about spending Vanessa's birthday at the beach snorkeling and swimming in the ocean.
Christmas is about cold weather, sweaters, snow on the ground (if you like that stuff), office parties, going shopping on Christmas Eve day with my brother, gift exchanges with friends, watching my kids open up their gifts to see what they got this year. Having my wife drag me to Candy Lane by telling me that there might be more rides this year. That is Christmas to me.
Maybe that is why this is all so weird to me. Maybe it is not the weather. Maybe it's not that I'm still sleeping with a fan on at night. Maybe after 39 years, (yes 39, not 40) this is the year that I experience Christmas for what it is. It should not only be about all the traditions that I have come so accustumed to. Maybe this year I won't just add Jesus to my traditions, but do my best to be a reflection of Him and bring Christmas to others. Maybe the gift that God will give me this year for Christmas, is the gift of His compassion and love that He has for others. Allow me and my family to be His hands and feet to spread that love and compassion to the ones that are in desperate need of it.
I'm not saying that we are going to give up all of our traditions, all I am saying is that my prayer is that I won't make those traditons my Christmas. One thing that is definately easier here in Haiti is not getting all caught up in the X-mas craziness. With no TV, very little commercialism, and being completely surrounded by poverty, it is much easier to focus on why God chose to send His one and only son to this earth. That is one question that is very easy to answer and is very clear in scripture, Love. His undeserved, unconditional, and perfect Love. So this year let's all pay it forward instead of paying it inward by spreading that love He has shown us to others in need. Not just those in financial need, but everyone the He puts in our path. One thing that I have learned here is not to mistake poverty with faithlessness and wealth with blessing. We all need the love, compassion, mercy, and forgivness of Jesus.
May our hearts be filled with His love and compassion for others this Holiday Season and throughout the rest of the year,
Nou renmen ou e Bondye beni ou,
Jeff
One thing that has completely caught me off guard though is this Christmas in 85-90 degree weather thing. Listening to Christmas music, trying to bake cookies one evening, eating the candycanes my parents brought, setting up the little tree, and putting the lights and decorations, it is all just plain, 100% weird to me. I am a Pennsylvania boy, born and raised. Christmas is not about being hot outside, it is not about wearing shorts and t-shirts, and playing in the sunshine. It is not about spending Vanessa's birthday at the beach snorkeling and swimming in the ocean.
Christmas is about cold weather, sweaters, snow on the ground (if you like that stuff), office parties, going shopping on Christmas Eve day with my brother, gift exchanges with friends, watching my kids open up their gifts to see what they got this year. Having my wife drag me to Candy Lane by telling me that there might be more rides this year. That is Christmas to me.
Maybe that is why this is all so weird to me. Maybe it is not the weather. Maybe it's not that I'm still sleeping with a fan on at night. Maybe after 39 years, (yes 39, not 40) this is the year that I experience Christmas for what it is. It should not only be about all the traditions that I have come so accustumed to. Maybe this year I won't just add Jesus to my traditions, but do my best to be a reflection of Him and bring Christmas to others. Maybe the gift that God will give me this year for Christmas, is the gift of His compassion and love that He has for others. Allow me and my family to be His hands and feet to spread that love and compassion to the ones that are in desperate need of it.
I'm not saying that we are going to give up all of our traditions, all I am saying is that my prayer is that I won't make those traditons my Christmas. One thing that is definately easier here in Haiti is not getting all caught up in the X-mas craziness. With no TV, very little commercialism, and being completely surrounded by poverty, it is much easier to focus on why God chose to send His one and only son to this earth. That is one question that is very easy to answer and is very clear in scripture, Love. His undeserved, unconditional, and perfect Love. So this year let's all pay it forward instead of paying it inward by spreading that love He has shown us to others in need. Not just those in financial need, but everyone the He puts in our path. One thing that I have learned here is not to mistake poverty with faithlessness and wealth with blessing. We all need the love, compassion, mercy, and forgivness of Jesus.
May our hearts be filled with His love and compassion for others this Holiday Season and throughout the rest of the year,
Nou renmen ou e Bondye beni ou,
Jeff
Monday, December 6, 2010
Last Tuesday, we took a family day to go to Wahoo Bay. It is about an hour and a half from here and it is simply beautiful. We arrived to find we were the only ones on the resort. We had the entire place to ourselves; the beach, the service for the restaurant, the vendors (trying to make one sale for the day out of people not interested in buying, just having fun), and snorkling. A row boat picked us up from the beach and we set off for snorkling in beautiful Caribean water. The man rowing the boat was so excited to have customers for the day so he really took his time explaining different properties along the way. All of which were set in absolutely beautiful surroundings. Our translator, Schneider was very excited to come and snorkel for the first time and assured us he could "swim" or at least not drown. There were two life vests in the boat and I picture Kylie and Brooke wearing them so they could be out in the water for an extended period of time. Schneider had other plans. He began suiting up in the child-size life vest while the adult size lay under the seat. After several minutes of getting this thing on, I informed him that I needed the little one for Brooke and he might be more comfortable in the larger one. This turned into one big circus as he attempted to get strapped in. With some help and instruction from the owner of the boat, Schneider finally managed to be ready to enter the water. After 5 minutes of "snorkeling" while hanging onto the oar and peaking under the water, Schneider decided he was done and climbed back in the boat for the remainder of our time. The whole thing was too funny!
The rest of us had a great time. Kylie is a fish like Jeff, she spent a lot of time diving down and pointing stuff out. She loved it! Colton really enjoyed it too and spent a lot of time just checking things out!
Wednesday, Jeff's parents arrived for a 10 day visit. With them came Christmas! It is hard to put ourselves in the mindset of the Christmas season when the daytime highs are still in the upper 80's. They brought us a small tree and some of our ornaments, Christmas music, and books for the girls. Today, the girls made paper chains to decorate our railing. We plan to string popcorn too.
Next is to help the girls in the orphanage decorate. A new experience for them as they don't normally make a big deal out of the Christmas season other than Christmas day.
One thing that is a bit difficult for Jeff and I is trying to figure out how we do Christmas as a family here. When we visit Canaan and see so many with so little material possessions it is very hard to think about giving each other and our kids things we don't really need. How do we find a balance for our kids? How do we teach them the lessons we want to teach them about taking care of the orphans and the poor if we do Christmas as we did in the past with piles and piles of gifts? For us, I think we will understand more what it means to really celebrate Christmas for what it is. We don't have all the crazy shopping, wrapping, rushing, programs, parties, baking...distractions. It might be hard to figure out how to "do" Christmas here, but at the same time, maybe easy.
This week, we are enjoying Jeff's parents visiting and beginning to get ready for the team coming down the day after Christmas. We are very excited for this team and we are praying for God's mission (not our own) to be carried out during their stay. We are praying for God's timing with things and we trust that He has a plan for lives to be changed!
~Deb
The rest of us had a great time. Kylie is a fish like Jeff, she spent a lot of time diving down and pointing stuff out. She loved it! Colton really enjoyed it too and spent a lot of time just checking things out!
Wednesday, Jeff's parents arrived for a 10 day visit. With them came Christmas! It is hard to put ourselves in the mindset of the Christmas season when the daytime highs are still in the upper 80's. They brought us a small tree and some of our ornaments, Christmas music, and books for the girls. Today, the girls made paper chains to decorate our railing. We plan to string popcorn too.
Next is to help the girls in the orphanage decorate. A new experience for them as they don't normally make a big deal out of the Christmas season other than Christmas day.
One thing that is a bit difficult for Jeff and I is trying to figure out how we do Christmas as a family here. When we visit Canaan and see so many with so little material possessions it is very hard to think about giving each other and our kids things we don't really need. How do we find a balance for our kids? How do we teach them the lessons we want to teach them about taking care of the orphans and the poor if we do Christmas as we did in the past with piles and piles of gifts? For us, I think we will understand more what it means to really celebrate Christmas for what it is. We don't have all the crazy shopping, wrapping, rushing, programs, parties, baking...distractions. It might be hard to figure out how to "do" Christmas here, but at the same time, maybe easy.
This week, we are enjoying Jeff's parents visiting and beginning to get ready for the team coming down the day after Christmas. We are very excited for this team and we are praying for God's mission (not our own) to be carried out during their stay. We are praying for God's timing with things and we trust that He has a plan for lives to be changed!
~Deb
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