Today's reminder

Some days, in fact many days we as parents question what we are doing in taking our kids to Haiti.  Education isn't what I think it should be.  They don't have extracurricular activities.  Their health is sometimes at stake.  Their safety is sometimes at stake.  They are socially isolated, in fact, they don't have friends.  Today was one of those days... but as God promised when we were making the decision to go to Haiti, he knows what is best and what is important for this time.   He used Kylie to remind me today.

Bible class assignment:   Write about an experience you had and how God helped you

     God helped me understand who he is and what he does when I moved to Haiti.  It’s been such an experience to connect with everyone and learn their language and culture.  These people each have amazing talents and I know I could never do them.  And I’m so glad I got to have such amazing experiences and memories.  And now people from America too can not only see it but, meet God as well as I have.

     We have been going to an amazing tent city and it is amazing how they can help each other with some of their conditions and their faith is just unbelievable.  I’ve never been to a place that is so open and the hope that is there is out of control.  We have been building houses, a church and school, and medical center. 

     We also help with an orphanage and there are kids from four to twenty-two years old.  The kids are so much fun.  There are both boys and girls.  They each have an outstanding story about their life.  This experience has been amazing for me.  

      ~Kylie Denlinger age 10

The best so far

    I did an interview with a journalist from the local newspaper yesterday and one of the questions she asked was "what have been the best experiences in Haiti so far?"
     I didn't have to think long to give her my answer.    While I love holding little children, I love hanging out with the kids at Good Sam., I love working in the medical clinic...my most memorable times have been simply sitting with people we, in our American minds would consider to be poor.  My favorite times have been sharing life, faith, and prayer.

     Last week, I had one of these precious visits...

     Sitting on a half broken bench just outside a one-room wooden shelter Nadege calls home, we quickly dove into conversation about an ongoing tooth problem she had recently taken care of, which then led to further conversation about pain, illness, eventually suffering, and faith.
    This woman who shares the same age as myself has lived a hard life full of struggle and suffering I have never known.
     On a previous visit, Nadege shared two instances of God miraculously healing her physically.  This summer, I believe God healed something in her that hadn't even been diagnosed yet, making it three times.  On this particular summer visit, she asked for prayer for healing in her legs.
     You see, Nadege has had a pinched nerve for years.  This untreated pinched nerve has since led to muscle deterioration.  Slowly over a year and a half ago, starting with a limp the pinched nerve began to cripple her.  The muscles in one of her legs were loosing strength.  Last winter it moved to her mid-section affecting her bladder; giving her infection after infection.  In the spring of 2012, the muscles in her opposite leg began to deteriorate as well leaving her walking with a shuffle, unable to lift her feet to use stairs well and unable to squat to bath and dress little Jenny (3 years old) and fully take care of herself.  She also is unable to work as she desires to be able to help provide for her family because of lack of opportunity in their new community and because of her physical condition.  She wants physical healing so she can work again and take care of herself and her family.   She knows God will heal her again.
     In last week's visit, Nadege was curious to know how her friend from America was doing.  She met this friend in June 2011 who was struggling with the loss of a son.  The day they met, she brought encouragement to this new found friend with a similar story of loss.  Out of concern now for this friend still struggling today, Nadege began sharing with me how putting trust and faith in God has gotten her to a place of joy again even in her current suffering.
     After preaching me a sermon on job, Nadege began reliving the day of January 12, 2010.  The day an earthquake took her child, then strengthened her faith and character.  When the earthquake started, Nadege got Jenny out of the house just a moment before the neighboring building fell on top of their home, crumbling both buildings.  At the time, her two sons were in school.  Her 10 year old son was in a class room on the top level of a large school building and they arrived at the school to find it had collapsed with him still inside.  Her older son, Ricardo made it out.  The two boys had been living with their grandmother in order to help ends meet.  She hadn't seen them in 3 months.  The son that died, she hadn't seen for 3 months.  This she carries with her.  While she wishes it were different, she doesn't carry guilt, that is not from God.
     Nadege continued sharing with me that she could not stay in this state of anger, bitterness, regret, and sorrow.  God wanted her to cling to Him, trust him, and see what she still has.  To see what wasn't lost.  To find joy in His promises.
Nadege has found the strength to do these things that seem impossible in the midst of suffering.  In all of her loss, suffering, physical pain, and financial poverty; she has found joy.
     This is the message Nadege sends to us...
          "Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."     ~James 1:2-4

    This woman who has lived way beyond her years, this woman our society would consider poor,  is one of the richest people I know.  It's sitting with her, sharing life, faith, and prayer.  These are my best experiences.

shared thoughts

Jeff and I spent the morning today in Canaan and I have some cool things to share, however,  I just read a blog post by a friend who has been ministering to children in Carlisle(our hometown) for years that I would love for you to read.
One of the things we share and encourage teams coming to Haiti in, is that we don't want them to just serve in Haiti once a year (or for some a few times), but that going back to their own communities and seeking ways to allow God to use them in their own community is even bigger.  We want people coming to serve with us but we really love seeing people serving others right where they are day in and day out.
Karen does this so well!

Karen, I admire your perseverance and the way you have loved when it gets messy and hard!
Please read Karens blog post:  Hot Chocolate, Bread, and the Bible

http://karenhelmuth.blogspot.com/?spref=fb

Sandy in Haiti

Sandy causes major damage in an already poverty stricken area.  This is an area we travel through going to Canaan.  Please pray for the people here and many others in similar conditions.  The rain continues to fall this afternoon.

close to the airport in Port-au-Prince

Rain, Rain go away!

     For us under normal circumstances, we would welcome two days of clouds, nice breezes, rain, and lower temperatures.  75 degrees suddenly feels kind of cold.  And while we do welcome the break from the intense Haiti heat and the weather forcing us to stay home and not do our normal work, it's not that easy for many here.
     When we stand on our front balcony and  see how much rain water has gathered in the street below, it's nothing in comparison to most areas in Haiti.  We happen to sit in a very safe area...safe in many regards.  This is one of them, flooding doesn't really happen here.
     Everyone knows this place can't take another hit.  This country can't take the floods and mudslides that come with a steady two-day rain.  It can't take the damage caused by the raging rivers overflowing.  Families  can't stay in their shacks that are threatened to be carried away.  For those areas affected in this way, we pray for relief.
     But, what people sometimes don't know is how steady rains affect the lives of many in a more widespread way.  When it rains hard or for longer period of time here, things shut down.  Businesses and schools close.  Markets are forced to close.  All the family run street stands close.  Tap-taps don't run; they don't need to, no one is going anywhere.  What this all means is that no one is earning money in a society where much of the population lives day to day.  They count on income day to day to feed their families.

     Please pray for this country.  For the sun to return.  For the rain to let up.  For the busyness of Haitian life and market places to be up and running for the sake of the families just trying to make it day in and day out.

Living in Haiti sometimes can feel like living in Bible times.  The way in which many Haitians live and the operations of the church are both really great examples of that.  Right now being in a developed country though, has taken me back to the lives of a few men who by our standards have made the "hall of faith", which has made me mentally try to return to their time.  Not in the sense of what they accomplished, but rather, how they just tried their best to follow God, listening each day to where in the world He wanted them for that day for that purpose.  For Moses, Abraham, and even Paul their stories are full of questioning, doubting, faith, leadership, and many difficulties.
     To me the events of the last two weeks don't determine the answers to my questions...where is it you really want us?  for how long?  for what purpose?  We're not waiting for answers from officials, we're waiting for answers from God.  We're trying to cling each day to Him.  Whatever that means for today, whatever that means for tomorrow.
     Through the past week of wrapping my mind and emotions around the circumstances we experienced so closely, then being thrown unexpectedly from a third world country into one so developed as this one, these words have spoken truth to me:
   
 "The lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." ~Deuteronomy 31:8

     "Be willing to follow wherever I lead.  Follow Me wholeheartedly, with glad anticipation quickening your pace.  Though you don't know what lies ahead, I know and that is enough!  Some of My richest blessings are just around the bend:  out of sight, but nonetheless very real.  To receive these gifts, you must walk by faith-not by sight.  This doesn't mean closing your eyes to what is all around you.  It means subordinating the visible world to the invisible Shepherd of your soul.
     Sometimes I lead you up a high mountain with only My hand to support you.  The higher you climb, the more spectacular the view becomes; also, the more keenly you sense your separation from the world with all its problems.  This frees you to experience exuberantly the joyous reality of My presence.  Give yourself fully to these Glory-moments, awash in dazzling light.  I will eventually lead you down the mountain, back into community with others.  Let My light continue to shine within you as you walk among people again."
     ~Jesus Calling  by Sarah Young


Thank you for your prayers!

~Deb

OC MD here we come!

Monday, September 3rd marked the first day of school for the Denlinger children, The Tabarre Tundras.  Yes, it was a holiday and as Colton put it, "only our family would start school on a holiday".  There are perks to living in Haiti and doing school online...when a hurricane hits, there's no internet for 5 days therefore, school starts a week late, giving children an extra week of summer vacation.  The perk I also see is that we can start school  whenever we want, holiday or not.  The other perk is that we can go to school for 3 days, then leave the country for two weeks on a family vacation and there is no school work to make up!
So, after 3 hard days (it's always hard to start this routine after being off for the summer no matter where in the world you are) we are packing our bags and "we're leaving on a jet plane..." off to Carlisle for two days for a crucial meeting for medical equipment and some quick visits then we're off to the beach for some good quality family time!
We are looking forward to the ocean WITH waves, the boardwalk, go carts, walks in the park, crabbing, boardwalk fries, sweatshirts, soft serve ice cream,...  you know all things that are important!


So here are our hard working students who can't wait to get on the plane tomorrow...and their teachers

Kylie- 5th grade

Brooke-3rd grade

Miss Peifer- 3rd Grade teacher

Mrs. Beachy - 5th grade teacher

Mrs. Denlinger - Principal

Colton - 9th grade