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| My rooftop morning devotions |
I sit on the rooftop and listen to the sounds of Haiti at dawn. It is hard to believe that this time last week I watched the sunrise from my screened in porch overlooking the beautiful Potomac River. Perhaps I will wake and find this is just a dream.. My life today feels surreal, and yet I am at peace that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
Last week I was overwhelmed with emotion as I let go of everything I owned and prepared for my new life here in Haiti. I don't know that I would have emotionally or physically survived
if it were not for the constant presence and support of dear friends. My heart jumped with excitement as I arrived at my new home, Our House of Hope, in Port au Prince right before dusk on Friday. Despite the crumbling walls and rooms covered in filth, I felt that I was standing on Holy Ground.
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| Maybe we should start with an outside wall to the house |
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| Speckles of paint and hope |
The streets are filled with weary people suffering from hunger, thirst, heat and a lack of hope. What a privilege to be able to share the love of God with these precious people. We had no electricity, water, appliances, or transportation yet the team was filled with enthusiasm and high hopes for the home repair project before us. We each chose a room and began to blow up air mattresses by flashlight. Before bed we met on the rooftop of the house and stood in awe at the view overlooking the city in all directions. We prayed together and reminded each other that our purpose in being here was to honor God and to serve as His hands and feet in this desolate land of Haiti. I found my way back to my room in the dark and climbed into bed, wondering what in the world I had done. How could one decision change a life so dramatically? Could I really do this? If so, it certainly wasn't going to be by my own strength or knowledge, for I was definitely in an unknown land on all counts. This would be a true walk of faith powered by the Holy Spirit and an intense desire to answer the call that God had placed on my life to come to Haiti.
My room is very hot with little breeze despite the open windows. I did not bring a mosquito net
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| Danny and "our kids" |
or a battery operated fan. I realized I had left many necessary items behind, but I had my family pictures, my Bible and a suitcase full of nuts and; dried fruit to help me survive. I rose at dawn on Saturday morning for personal devotions and prayer followed by group devotions. Our crew of 7 was joined by many young missionaries and Haitian workers eager to help us create a lovely mission house. We caulked, scraped old paint, sanded and painted walls while others worked on restoring broken concrete walls, repaired broken toilet and sink lines, and tried to figure out the jumbled electrical maze of open wires pulled across the ceilings and walls of the house. My already exhausted body felt inadequate and old, yet my spirit soared with the vision of our future home and ministry house. Each day ends with a sweet time of group sharing, devotions and prayers. We are all very different in our personalities and skills, and yet we see God using us as one body committed to His work here.
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| Pastor Cenore's Haitian church service |
Sunday was a day committed to worship and refilling of spirit. We began the day with Pastor Cenore traveling up the mountain to a beautiful Haitian service that lasted for the morning.
At 3:00 we went with another dedicated missionary, Pastor Lenny, to the Phillipine UN Building. Jim shared some of his experiences as a missionary in Venezuela and my heart was touched by the sweet worship of these "tough" Phillipine soldiers singing and praying. We then went to dinner at Sherrie Fausey's who welcomed our team with open arms and fed us for the first three nights of our stay.
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| Crossing the ravine for infant feeding |
On Monday morning, I had the privilege of walking the ravine with Sherrie as Amber, a beautiful young Christian woman from Roanoke, Virginia, and the mamas passed out hot soup and baby vitamins to young children under three. I experienced a moment of "dejavu" as my mind and heart tried to process the stench and the horrible living conditions of those in the ravine. It was a similar feeding experience that broke my heart in 2008, and the faces of the starving children have called me back to Haiti ever since. As I talked with Sherrie about her emotional experiences surviving the earthquakes and floods of recent years, God reconfirmed my role as an
encourager to these saintly women of God who have dedicated their lives to the Lord's work here in Haiti. As I laid in bed and thought of my own grandbabies and how much I miss them, I wept and asked God to forgive me for my selfishness. I hear the cries of the youngest of the three children who are now living in the back of the house with our wonderful Haitian house employees, Moodlin and Johnno. (sp?) I can no longer accept the life of comfort and convenience that I have known most of my life. I know that I am where God has called me to be and I look forward to the future Bible Studies, workshops, and personal sharing time with these precious women of God.
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| Bunkbeds for mission teams |
Every day is filled with miracles and God whispers. We have somehow managed to feed not only our team but also all the workers that fill the house. Fellow missionaries and neighbors have blessed our home with their presenc, prayers and love. We now have water from the cistern running into the house for toilets and sinks, although as we speak, a water line has broken for the second time this week. Several rooms have been rewired for electricity and we are hopeful that we will have lights and floor fans in all our bedrooms by next week. Three guest rooms and baths are now ready for the upcoming medical team that is to arrive October 1st. We have a 6 burner gas stove, a refrigerator, and 10 bunkbeds ready to go! Today, a fellow missionary came by with a great van that we may be able to purchase to transport and serve our future mission teams. We join in prayer and ask for God's continued guidance and provision. The needs are so great and our finances are so limited.
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| A fort for the kids out back |
At late evening a huge thunderstorm breaks out and the rain blows through the open windows of my room. The silence of the night is filled with loud voodoo drums and chanting as the lightening and thunder rolls. Into the mix comes the amplified singing of an all night Christian Haitian worship service. My senses are heightened at the dualing presence of good and evil competing for attention. That is really what this mission trip is all about. My faith and commitment is strengthened as I repeat aloud "My God is Greater. My God is Greater!" Everyday I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at work here at Our House of Hope. Today we celebrated with the angels as a young Haitian worker prayed for salvation after the Bible study on the front stoop. It is our prayer that everyone that passes through this gate will feel the presence of God's love and grace.
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| Jims Bible Haitian Bible Study Group in prayer |
I ask for your continued prayers and financial support as we establish this ministry house here in Port au Prince. I am honored to be able to be physically present and working here at Our House of Hope, but I cannot do it without your financial support and prayers. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to my mission account at
http://www.utwwk.com/give/. If you will join me with a prayer and even a dollar a day as I serve God here, we can create a light in the darkness here in Haiti.
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A Beautiful Haitian Sunset
As I stand in awe watching God's majesty in the beautiful Haitian sunset this evening, I send you love, prayers and blessings across the ocean breezes. Thank you for your continued love, support, prayers and friendship. |
