A HAITI WINTER

"Picture Perfect"

rooftop view

I love the winter months in Haiti.  The average daytime temperature is in the mid 80's and in the evenings it drops to the  lower 70's. Guests pull out blankets and light jackets as the evening breezes cool the air. The rooftop is the favorite gathering place as we talk about our loved ones  in the the cold weather at home.

Sadie

Let me first introduce you to our newest team member at Our House of Hope.  Sadie is our new 11 week old Mastiff puppy and future guard dog.  We love her!

Our new security gate

Speaking of security, we had a new  security wall built out front with two beautiful entrance gates.   It was amazing to watch these talented Haitian craftsmen hand cut and punch each panel.  They were so proud of their work and we feel very safe!

 Hard labor

We began 2013 with three consecutive weeks hosting mission teams.  Every team has it's own unique personality and purpose. Our prayer is that everyone who walks through the gates at Our House of Hope will feel the presence of God and His love, and that they will leave these premises with their hearts and bodies refreshed and blessed.

Sharing

One of my favorite events while in Haiti was our first Women's Missionary Renewal Retreat which we held on Saturday, January 19, 2013.  Thirty seven (37) wonderful women from all over Haiti attended the full day conference for a time of networking, sharing, praying, eating and learning.  One lady rode a tap-tap (Haiti public transportation) for 12 hours to get here!  I shared "Life's Balance Wheel"  and we discussed the unique challenges of balancing the Career, Social, Physical, Financial,

First Women's Mission Renewal Conference

Spiritual, and Emotional demands of life in Haiti.  Debbie sang several beautiful songs and we spoiled
the attendees with goody bags, door prizes, homemade sweet rolls baked by Pastor Paul, and
a great lunch of lasagna and salad.  New friendships were made, resources were shared, spirits were refreshed and we decided to make it a quarterly event.  What a blessing to see our ministry center full of local missionaries and to be able to use my speaking gift here in Haiti.    

In my last blog, I described our typical day of working from 5:00 a.m. until about 10:00 p.m.

poolside

and I shared many of our favorite mission sites where we take our visiting teams to work. Thanks to the recommendations of local missionaries, we recently found a great place at an airport hotel where

pizza night

Wahoo Beach

we can get delicious pizza at a reasonable price.  I especially love this particular night out as cheese is one of my favorite foods and it is very expensive here in Haiti - a pack of 8 string cheese sticks is $10!  Our guests enjoy sitting at the outdoor tables around the hotel pool and I am reminded that there is life beyond the slum areas where we work in Haiti.  In January, our first mission team wanted a day of relaxation at a tropical beach, so we traveled for two hours for our first trip to Wahoo Beach where guests snorkled, swam and tanned at the beach.  I mention these two places because they have been such a blessing to our weary bodies and souls as we work seven days a week here hosting new teams.  There are few recreational activities and days off to renew OUR spirits, and these unique places energize us so that we are ready to continue giving and serving.

new kitchen cabinets

kitchen in progress

Faith in Action Team

While I can not tell you here about every single team that visits,  I do want to tell you about a very special team called Faith in Action that visited in January.  Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to share an exert from my February article in South Carolina Woman Magazine. "This group was founded by the big hearts of Jim Jeske, Mike Edge and Don Shire.  Each year this group of talented construction workers selects an international short term mission project.  They spend their vacation time and their own money to leave a legacy by  building a home, church, or school. This amazing team of 16 dedicated construction workers from Minnesota and Wisconsin arrived and built us two beautiful new kitchens so that we could better serve our mission teams.  This team of skilled men and women operates like a well oiled machine, working long 10 to 12 hour days in the heat and primitive conditions to accomplish the seemingly impossible in a limited amount of time.  More impressive than their work ethics is their spiritual strength and bond.  During their short stay with us, two different team members received devastating news from home regarding the health of family members... one member had a daughter diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and another had a son diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  After each phone call, the fathers shared their news through tears and the entire team instinctively gathered to surround their friend in supportive prayer and love. I watched this team work together, pray together, cry together, laugh together, and worship together.  I will never forget those sweet prayers of faith that we shared with this team.  Their commitment, love and spiritual strength will be forever etched on my heart.  They are a shining example of Christian love in action."

Ra Ra Dancers    photo by Shannon Kelley

Gonaives  cross

January and February were filled with many Haitian holidays.  The streets were filled with music and parades as they celebrated the New Year, Ancestor's Day (comparable to our Fourth of July) and Carnival (Mardi Gras).  Our guests had to use ear plugs to drown out the loud music and all night partying that surrounded us, and we had to change daily travel plans and routes to ensure safety during the mobs of Mardi Gras revelers, locally known as RaRa.   I am reminded of the first time I experienced Ra-Ra in Haiti during a 2009 trip to Gonaives.  When I first saw the large 20 foot cross on the plaza in the middle of town, I celebrated it as a sign that Christians were at work for the Lord in the area.  Later that night I realized that this cross was the final gathering place for the many Ra Ra parades that wove their way through every local street and neighborhood.  The cross still had Jesus hanging on it and was used as a symbol for Satan having defeated Christ.  Drunken parties and sexual interludes took place at the foot of that cross as voodoo drums kept their mesmerizing beat. I remember the cultural shock that pulsed through my body as I realized the strong presence and power of VooDoo in this land.  The Ra Ra parades this year in Port au Prince brought back those same strong feelings.  Life in Haiti is not the norm...as witnessed by one of our most recent teams. As the loud panicked screams of a woman filled the night air, the concerned group exited their bedrooms in fear that someone was being raped or beaten.   The continuous shrieking came from the house next door, so Jim asked Johnno, our Haitian live-in, to jump the wall and see what was happening. Johnno returned to report that there was an exorcism taking place in the woman's bedroom with two local ministers.

Luke gets baptized

The team prayed together as Haiti once again revealed the reality of  the battle going on between good and evil on earth.  Here in Haiti, it is much more visible than in America, where the battle is often masked behind media and acceptable cultural norms.

The beauty and power is in  knowing that Our God is stronger than the work of Satan and any challenges we can face.  Here in Haiti, we see miracles daily.  As we profess God's love in actions and words, He blesses the seeds that are planted and we get to see many Haitian and mission team members claim their

Pastor Cenor and wife

salvation.  A teenager who recently visited with his church worked alongside us all week in the mission field and then asked to be baptized in the ocean at Wahoo Beach before leaving.  It was a beautiful moment for all of us to celebrate with him.  This week, we celebrated answered prayer with a beloved Haitian friend who has struggled to conceive a child with his wife.   Last month, Jim and Pastor Paul prayed with this precious couple for God to bless them with a child.  As Jim laid hands on the woman and prayed specifically for her conception, he said he felt an overwhelming feeling of assurance and peace flow through him. Yesterday, Pastor Cenor stopped by to share that his wife is pregnant!  We laughed, cried and celebrated God's faithfulness with our dear friend.  I love these beautiful moments.                                        

Dr Karen McCarthy and her amazing medical team

keloid before surgery

keloid after surgery

Our medical teams continue to make a huge difference in the lives of our Haitian friends.  Dr Karen McCarthy's team comes about three times a year and sees an average of 330 patients per day. In addition to treating their medical needs, these amazing volunteers dance, laugh, cry, and pray with the patients.  Their love for the Haitian people is tangible, and where there is love...there are great miracles.  Two medical teams,  Dr. McCarthy (from Florida) and Dr. Crews (from West Virginia) have visited in the last six weeks and both performed necessary surgeries to remove huge growths from Haitian patients.  I thank God for the caring professionals who give of their time and talent to make a difference for those in dire need of

Needs help

Pastor Paul makes balloon animals

medical treatment.

This month I had the privilege of speaking to the Women in Philanthropy and Leadership Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sponsored by Coastal Carolina University.   I met some amazing women there who also have a heart for missions and for Haiti.  I firmly believe that these ladies were my "angels unaware" as they offered physical, financial, and emotional support.  The longer I work in the mission field, the more I understand how God used his people as His hands and feet to strengthen others. I challenge you to always follow through when prompted to write a note or send a check to someone in the mission field.  You will never know how much that gesture of support may mean to an exhausted missionary!

We are celebrating God's faithfulness in helping us raise the necessary funds for the purchase of
Our House of Hope.  We currently have $138,949.50 toward our goal of $225,000.  We are excited
about our Easter fundraiser where friends and supporters in the United States are making and
selling 3 foot wooden crosses for $20. We have several churches who have agreed to make and sell 300 crosses each. Now we need a  few more people to step up and agree to participate in this important fund raiser to help us reach our purchase price goal  Please pray about it and let us know if you would like to help. It is a minimal investment for an eternal outcome!

Easter Cross Fund Raiser

Thank you for your continued love, prayers and support.  You truly are the wind beneath my wings.

Dr  Dennis McCarthy and twins at clinic

  Amazing Grace - 2012 Haiti Highlights

It seems that time is passing at warp speed these days.  It doesn't seem possible that it is the last day of 2012, but the calendar assures me that a New Year begins tomorrow.  

My best intentions of recently updating my Heart for Haiti blog got lost between a constant travel schedule, unexpected eye surgery, and a hectic holiday schedule.  I woke today determined to complete this blog and share some of the  experiences and lessons from the last few months of my mission work in Haiti.    
  

                                                GOD IS ABLE

In July 2012, just six short months ago,  my brother Jim and his wife Debbie sat at a kitchen table at my mother's house in Myrtle Beach telling me about a possible opportunity that had just surfaced for their ministry, Until the Whole World Knows, to purchase a mission house in Port-au-Prince. They were a bit overwhelmed at the dilapidated condition of the house and the huge purchase price, but neither could get the house out of their mind.  Could they possibly secure $225,000 in just one year for the purchase of the house? 

Was it realistic to expect the enormous repairs needed at the house to be completed through volunteer efforts?  Were they prepared to take on such a huge commitment?  Would this require them to move to Haiti?  Unanswered questions stirred the air, and yet the excitement of opening a powerful ministry center in our beloved Haiti overrode the doubts.  As I prayed for direction for all our lives, God called me to commit the next year of my life to walk along side of Jim and 

Deb in their vision for Our House of Hope.  I gave notice on my beautiful leased home on the Potomac River in Virginia and let go of (sold, gave away, or loaned out) all of my material possessions.  There could be no turning back.  I promised to help raise the funds for the purchase of the house and to help establish a vibrant ministry center.  We each took a huge leap of faith and God has continued to amaze us with his faithfulness and provision.  To date, $125,000 has been pledged toward the purchase price of Our House of Hope and the transformation of the house is nothing short of a miracle.  All the broken 
walls are now sealed and painted. We have running water (cold), electricity (most of the time), and functioning bathrooms.   Our kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, refrigerator, and a newly purchased chest freezer.  All the rooms now have bunk beds with mattresses  (although about half are air mattresses). We have a tall concrete security wall

 and two iron gates protecting us out front - only three more sides to go!  Screens cover most windows and we have found some wonderful Haitian help.  God is providing both the financial funds and the skilled hands to make Our House of Hope a 

reality!  We still need to raise $100,000 in the next nine months in order for UTWWK to purchase the house, but we are trusting in God's faithfulness and have some exciting fund raising programs coming up soon. 

                 

                      REFRESHING   LIVING  WATER

We asked God to enable us  to provide a place of spiritual renewal for the many English speaking missionaries here in Haiti.  They are always "on" while hosting mission and medical teams, running schools and orphanages, raising funds to support their ministries, and coping with the continuous disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and diseases) that continue to plaque Haiti.  At Our House of Hope, we are now conducting Bible studies, worship services, women's retreats, and fellowship opportunities on a regular basis.  Many of our missionary friends from Gonaives are now able to use Our House of Hope accommodations when they travel to and from the airport to pick up their mission teams. The house is constantly filled with visiting missionaries and 

guests.  What a privilege it is to spoil them with lots of love, clean beds and baths, good food, and sweet fellowship.  Jim conducts a weekly Sunday evening worship service at the Philippine United Nations headquarters - these fine men and women are serving in a strange country and their hearts are open to the peace and joy found in God's word.   On January 19th, we have our first all day Women's Renewal Retreat where I will be sharing Life's Balance Wheel with up to 40 women/missionaries from all over Haiti.  A huge thank you to the women of Palmetto Shores Church and Oak Grove Baptist Church for the wonderful goodie bags, door prizes, and beautiful lunch tableware for this event.  

                                     SERVE   WITH   LOVE

We have hosted six mission teams over the past 90 days - three of which were medical teams.  Our prayer is that not only will the teams fall in love with Haiti and come back often to serve the precious Haitian people, but that each team

member will be spiritually challenged while here to know God on a more intimate level.  When you visit Haiti, you are pulled out of your comfort zone and daily routine.  You find yourself on an emotional roller coaster as your days are filled with tears, laughter, joy, sorrow, and personal awakenings. There is a special bonding that takes place between team  members as you share "God moments" and the intensity of a 

   full schedule of mission projects.  I am beginning to understand that some of my most powerful ministry is in the precious one-on-one sharing time with individual people during their stay here at Our House of Hope.  What a privilege it is to be able to share in their spiritual and emotional awakenings as their hearts are touched by God in Haiti.  With that privilege comes a strong responsibility to commit each word and action to the glory of God. I pray that others will not see and hear ME, but rather that God will shine through me and reveal HIS presence and guidance. I know that it is never an accident when our paths cross with others, and I want to be prepared

with a pure spirit to share the refreshing living waters of God's love, peace and joy.  Please pray that God will give me spiritual wisdom and discernment as I continue to be blessed with opportunities to share and counsel with our guests and local missionaries. 

Each team is unique in personality, talent, spirit and energy - yet there are a few mission activities that cross all barriers and constantly touch hearts in a life-changing way.   Participating in the Christian Light School 's Infant Feeding Program at the ravine is one of the most memorable events for everyone.  The ravine is one of the poorest, filthiest, and most disease ridden ghetto areas in Haiti.  Tiny make-shift houses of tin and tarp 

stand precariously on the banks of a creek filled with trash and debris.  The stench is almost unbearable as you look for safe stepping stones across the pools of stagnant water, broken glass, potholes and burning trash.  Your heart breaks as you see half naked children running to meet you for their one guaranteed serving of food that day.  Malnourished and sick babies are held out to you as mothers beg for some kind of help.  You can not help them all, but you can help one at a time.  Many silent and spoken prayers are offered in the ravine...many promising to find some way to make a difference by returning with more resources in the future.  When you tour the Christian Light School and Children's Home and see the 300 children that Sherrie Fausey serves on a daily basis from this ravine area, your breaking heart fills with hope and you are reminded that one person CAN make a difference.   

For those who have a heart for children, a visit to Dorothy Pearce's Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue  will touch your very soul.  Dorothy  nurses malnourished and special needs infants back to health and then returns them to their families.  She also provides permanent care for children with HIV and/or special needs.  There are currently over 25 children there, all hungry for attention and love.  Visiting mission team members return physically and 

emotionally exhausted and in awe at Dorothy's amazing faith and perseverance while facing such challenging situations every day. 

A visit to Petionville to attend Pastor Cenor's spirit filled church and tour his orphanage is another "God moment" often mentioned.  Pastor Cenor has an amazing testimony and endless enthusiasm for serving the Lord.  The precious children of his orphanage love to entertain you with their songs and dances, but the highlight is kneeling to receive 

a special prayer/blessing from one of these young believers. Church is serious business here in Haiti and the lively worship services last for hours.  Pastors wear full suits and attendees come wearing their Sunday best.  This week I was able to present Pastor Cenor with a new suit, compliments of the giving heart of a Christian friend from OGBC.  He was so excited to receive the suit that he put it on over his clothes and 
danced around the room with hands lifted singing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"  He said he was going to wear it to marry his people this Saturday...a group wedding ceremony for those who have saved enough money for the wedding rings and attire.  What a blessing to see the pure joy of a grateful heart for an unexpected love gift.    

For those visitors fortunate enough to stay for an extended period of time, a trip to see the incredible work being done in Gonaives is a must.  There are many devoted missionaries 

in this area who are slowly but surely changing the landscape and future of this deserted area.   The wonderful vision and joyous spirit of Beaver and Kathy Brooks and their Much Ministries inspires many to answer the call to come live in Haiti.  Their ministry in Jubilee includes an elementary school, a community medical clinic, classes for learning trade skills,  building reliable housing, and a dynamic example of faith in action.    Pastor Juanita Genada and his wife Rosse have served as missionaries in Gonaives for over 17 years and their ministry includes the Divine Grace School for the Deaf, an orphanage, a  bread bakery, a water dispensary,  and a bible training school.  Their spell binding testimony of faith and endurance through the many years of earthquakes, floods, and storms in Haiti is always inspirational and moving.  Many more ministries and dedicated missionaries await your visit to Gonaives - including Jan Thompson's orphanage and the constant work of Emory Wilson in developing new ministry sites across Haiti. 
   
           PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR
                                 
 I am often asked if I am scared in Haiti.  My honest answer is

"No".  I am not naive, I know that there are many dangers here.  I am a single white female in a fifth world country where extreme poverty and despair often drives people to 
violence and crime.  Yes, there are robberies, murders, rapes, diseases, and violence very near me at all times.  As we speak, the US State Department has a serious Travel Warning in place for all Americans thinking of traveling to Haiti.  For me, 
that is just a reminder to be smart and alert.  We are very careful in the selection, sanitation and preparation of our food and drink.  We never travel or walk alone or after dark here in Haiti.  I drink Neem tea (a bitter brew that prevents malaria)

 every day.  We always have a Haitian interpreter/attendant with us when in public. We do not wear or carry valuable jewelry or lots of cash.  I still look others in the eye, smile and initiate sincere greetings when passing in public and most people respond pleasantly.  Just like in the United States, there are always going to be people who are mean and ready to take advantage of you. We have had a few thefts, but that could have happened in the states as well.  I have a deep sense of peace and security in my heart that I am exactly where God has called me to be, and that God is going before me and with me every step. Should I lose my life here in Haiti, I will die doing what I love and I am ready to meet my sweet Jesus face to face.  There will be no need for tears. 

                                CLAY IN THE POTTERS HAND

I am now a third of the way into my year commitment.  I have honored my Fall speaking commitments and family holidays in the States and can now focus all my energy on my commitment to Our House of Hope.   I know that I did the right thing coming to Haiti.  My biggest regret is that I 
did not learn the Haitian language before coming because there is truly no personal time for studying books and tapes now.  We hit the floor running about 5:00 a.m. each morning and our days are filled with preparing meals, working on the house, entertaining, ministering, and hosting mission teams. Somehow I am going to find a way to study and learn Creole
because I know it will make my ministry here much more effective.  I do not know what the future holds for me after 
this one year commitment, but I am not worried about it. 
I am going to be fully present and excited about each new day
I have here in Haiti.  I know God will reveal his future plans 
for me in his perfect timing.  As I celebrated the arrival of 2013 at an unforgettable rooftop Praise and Worship Service here with 23 other people, I was overwhelmed with God's provision and grace in my life. Coming to Haiti to live has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it is one of my cherished chapters of my life.  Here in Haiti, God transforms you by making you aware of your selfish ways. He calls you to a life of simplicity, gratitude, and complete trust in Him.  I often feel like a jelly fish with it's insides exposed for all to see; as God turns me inside out, he cleanses 
and purifies my thoughts, heart, and intentions.  I am learning a higher level of faith and discipleship.  I feel His fire and His love reshaping my life and molding me.  Like a common earthen jar of clay, my value lies not in the vessel
but rather in what it holds inside.  My prayer is that I will be a worthy vessel to hold and share God's amazing grace and love.  I treasure your prayers and support as I experience this chapter of my life.  I could not do it in my own strength or resources.  You make it possible, and I thank you from the depths of my heart.  I promise to write more often.  Wishing you a blessed day.