Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.  ~Robert Brault

One Saturday Morning...

we hung out with Maia & Levi and made play-dough with them!

(Most of the photos taken by Taressa :)

Outside My Own Little World

I've been studying poverty for about a week now. Living amongst poverty and seeing it all around is overwhelming if I really let myself think about it. Up until this point I have never been interested in addressing it. Last week though I pulled a book off VanDam's bookshelf entitled, Hope Lives: A Journey of Restoration written by Amber VanSchooneveld. I don't know what caused me to look at that shelf or why I suddenly decided I needed another book to read! But, the design job on the inside of this book caught my eye as I was flipping through it. It is a well designed book and therefore I deemed it worthy of reading.


Each day as I read, I soak up the words on the page. Amber pours out her thoughts and is so blatantly honest about her life and where she sees God doing a work on her heart. Now, God is working at my heart through this book. And as I mentioned before, every time God teaches me a truth from the Bible, I am forced to come to grips with that truth in my life. What I'm learning is all very real in my life.

Yesterday afternoon I was minding my own business as I walked around the neighborhood where I teach at. (Walking is one of the things I love to do cause it makes me feel more Haitian. ;) These three little boys stood outside a gate and watched me pass. Then they yelled, "Blan! Blan!" (White! White!) and ran after me. The oldest boy, who is 12, introduced himself to me, taking ahold of my left hand. Then one of his friends grabbed my right hand and the other boy held his other hand. The oldest boy spoke a fair amount of English.

Soon after we started walking one of the younger boys said, "I'm hungry." Usually the kids on the street rudely say, "I'm hungry...give me that...give me...give me....give me!" But these boys didn't do that. I told them I didn't have any food and they continued on with me. They wondered where I was going so I pointed in the direction I was headed. I conversed some more with the older boy. Then one of them saw my water bottle and said, "I'm thirsty! Can I have some water?" I refused them the water too {then thought, you fool...I have two water bottles....what's one less?}. Yet, they still continued talking and walking with me. The littlest guy was hurrying to keep up with us. At one point I looked down at him, as he clenched my hand, and he had sweat droplets covering his face. The black plastic girl shoes he was wearing hardly fit his feet causing him to stumble along.

I was caught up in the moment. Here I was walking the streets of Haiti with three little Haitian boys next to me. We were side by side, hand in hand. Me with all my earthly possessions and wealth and them with so little. My heart went out to them. Three-quarters of the way through the walk I remembered I had gram crackers with me- not a lot by any means...but something. {My mind wrestled with the thought, do I give it to them? What lesson am I teaching them if I hand them food? They should choose to walk with me out of the goodness of their hearts, not so they can get something from another blan. What if they really aren't hungry? Most kids say that to a blan regardless because it is the only English phrase they know.} The boys asked for food and water once then they left it alone. There was an innocence in their faces.

When we reached the spot I was going to I told them to wait as I dug around in my backpack for the crackers. Once I finally found them I looked into the bag- 3 crackers, 3 boys! I handed them over to the older boy and counted, pointing at the crackers, "En, de, twa," then I pointed at the boys, "En, de, twa." They were surprised to receive the food, which was understandable as I had told them I had no food and they couldn't have my water. They all said thank you. I thanked them for walking with me and we parted ways. They ran off, back the same way we had just come.

I didn't think much about it the rest of the day; I had people to see and places to be. But as I was thinking through my day later that night, those five minutes came back to my mind. {Did I do the right thing? Were they really hungry? What's going to happen the next time I see them? Will they be expecting food?} All legit questions I could spend my time wrestling with. That, however, I'm not so sure was the point....

God was gently reminding me, "Yes, the poor are ALL around you. What are you going to do about it? You have to stop pretending you don't see it. Poverty has a name, a face, a voice. How are you going to react my daughter? Do you see me? Are you listening to me? Will you help me or ignore me?" For the first time, I gave them food. I listened to them and I loved them.

Though I do not have any conclusions yet on poverty and what I believe is the right way to handle it, I now have three little faces to think about each time I study it.  May this be the beginning of an eye opening, heart wrenching, thought provoking journey. At the end of my study I hope to have a better understanding of poverty and a heart overflowing with love. I want God to do away with my hard heart and fill it with compassion.

Father break my heart for what breaks Yours

Give me open hands and open doors

Put Your Light in my eyes and let me see

That my own little world is not about me

~Matthew West, My Own Little World

Now You Are Sitting on Your Heavenly Throne

He was oppressed and afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
   and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
   Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
   for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
   and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
   nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.

   Isaiah 53:7-10 (emphasis added)

This past Thursday thru Sunday I was sick. Actually that depends on how you define sick- I just had terrible pains in my stomach. At times, the pain was so unbearable that I could hardly move. For awhile it hurt to laugh and I couldn't take a good breath. The pain would subside for a half a day (I was hopeful I was better) but then it came back even stronger than the previous time. Saturday night I hardly slept at all because the pain was excruciating! So, on Sunday morning my friends and family decided that it was time I see a doctor. I finally agreed with them. After a trip to a doctor friend of ours, he determined that it could be a kidney infection. I began taking an antibiotic which I have to continue to take the rest of the week. Sunday afternoon the pain subsided and I haven't had any more since! Praise the Lord! I'm so thankful for friends and family that care, those who lifted me up in prayer, and God's healing power.

Sadly, I missed the Good Friday service and the Easter Sunday service at our church. Yet, the reason behind these occasions didn't slip my mind. During all those painful hours my thoughts kept turning to Jesus and the cruel way he suffered for MY sins. They spit in his face, struck him with their fists, slapped him, flogged him, put a crown of thorns on his head, mocked him, spit on him again, struck him again, crucified him, then hurled insults at him and pierced his side. Oh, the excruciating pain he endured! Over and over again. For me! I got just a taste of what that must have felt like.

I thought my pain was bad but he must have been in so much more pain. Despite all that was done to him he did not open his mouth to defend himself. I'm convinced he didn't open his mouth, not only because he didn't feel the need to argue, but because it would have been even more painful for him if he had. For me, it hurt to breath at times, I had to exert extra energy to talk, and I was tired. I can imagine he must have felt the same. How terrible! And he didn't deserve any of that.

Thankfully, the suffering did not last for Jesus either. After three days he arose from the clutches of sin and death. He is alive! Now I can live forever with my King! I can't wait to come face to face with him and thank him. Oh, how I will thank him!

After he has suffered, 
   he will see the light of life and be satisfied.
   Isaiah 53:11

Creepy Crawly Creatures!

I have had a few run-ins with God's little creatures. However, the fact that they are God's little creatures has not stopped me from killing some of them ;).

There are little lizards crawling all over here. Most of the time they are outside, but sometimes they sneak inside. This little guy <----- snuck into my apartment through a small crack next to one of my windows. I was lying on my bed reading. We had a bit of a stare off... I was intrigued at first. Then I wanted him out. He wasn't getting the message.  I walked up to him and he kept sneaking back into the crack of the window and then peeping his tiny face back out at me. He did this numerous times. Not cool! So, I got out my camera and decided this would make a good photo op. I didn't realize I had the flash on; the flash scared the bejebbies out of him. He then scurried off! [1- Kt, 0- Creatures]

This little lizard (hiding under the orange Reese's bag) was perched on the wall right outside my door one day while I was unlocking it. I was careful not to bother him because I didn't want him to come in. Well, he took off and ran right under my door into my room.


It would have been ok if I had just happened upon another lizard in my room. But the fact that I watched this one enter my apartment didn't sit right with me. (And he wasn't as cute as the previous one.) I wanted him out too. So, I chased him around and around. He went from the Reese's bag, to my bed, under my bedside table, then under the mattress I have on the floor. Once I got him out from under the mattress he went towards the door...but then right back under my bed! Very frustrating. Then I got smart and decided to let him rest under the mattress for a bit. When I picked up the mattress he was barely moving. This was my opportunity...I scooted him onto a piece of paper and dropped him outside. [2- Kt, 0- Creatures]

A week or so ago, I laid down and was about ready to turn out the light for the night. However, I noticed a fast moving brown bug making his way along the ground next to my bed. Upon closer examination I came to the realization that yes, in fact, it was a little cockroach. Eww! I do not like cockroaches. I smashed him good! [3- Kt, 0- Creatures]

Then, the ants came marching in. A whole lot of ants. I stepped over them a couple times because somehow I didn't see their long trail...running through the doorway and along the hallway in my apartment. They not only came in by twos, but they brought all their friends along for the par-tay! I'm not even sure where they were headed. Their trail didn't lead anywhere, just back into another crack between the tiles. Thankfully Ruth had some insect spray that I could eradicate them with. [4- Kt, 0- Creatures]

Last but not least, I must mention the mosquitos. The mosquitos are thick here, or so it seems. I get bit all the time but the people that have lived here for years (the Van Dams) don't get bit that often. To keep the mosquitos away I have a fan blowing on me when I'm sitting down or sleeping. Even then, sometimes I get bites on the parts of my body that are outside the range of the fan. It's rough! Outside, during the heat of the day the mosquitos don't bite. But when I go outside around dusk I get eaten alive if I haven't doused myself with repellant.

It is very uncomfortable when I am getting bitten and there is no fan or insect spray at hand. Then again, there are other times when I simply do not care and I just let them suck my blood. Such is life! It is a constant battle. [4- Kt, 1- Creatures]

~ A Gated Community ~

(Click on the photo to view it larger)

In Haiti, most places are surrounded by a tall stone/concrete wall topped with barbed wire or shards of glass and a gate, or two, as an entrance. I find the gates fascinating! They are as unique as each person walking the streets of this country. 

Seeing for the First Time

Once in awhile I find a song that captures my thoughts better than I could ever communicate them. Britt Nicole's song speaks of how the last 3.5 months in Haiti have felt for me.

A Haitian Prayer

Senyè,

    Lord,

Sèvitè w' la pa konnen gosh ak dwat.

    You're servant doesn't know left from right.

Menm kounye a mwen pa konnen nan ki lès nan men ou yo mwen ye.

    Even now I don't know which one of your hands I am in.

Ke m' nan men gosh la ou nan dwat la, sa pa fè anyen.

    Whether I am in the left or the right it doesn't matter.

Mwen nan men pa w'.

    I am in Your hands.

Sa sifi.

    That's enough.

This past weekend we attended the orchid show at the Karibe hotel. The flowers were beautiful! It was an enjoyable, relaxing time in the company of good friends :)

God is Working! Hallelujah!

'Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."' Matthew 28: 18-20

There are many different areas that you can see the LORD working in the small country of Haiti. God has called a lot of different people to Haiti to work for Him. God's name and God's Word is going out. There was a group of people discussing God's Word the other day and one of the 'blancs' mentioned that the Haitians must be getting sick and tired of all the whites that are in the country. The person replied by saying that the NGO's can leave but the missionaries need to stay. The work that has been done in education, in the churches and the lives of every day people needs to continue, needs to carry on. The missionaries and all those that work to further the gospel need to carry on. If Haiti is going to be a better country, people need to work on the broken relationships between God, self, others, and creation. And this is what the missionaries are trying to do in Haiti. 

So for this blog update a friend of mine, Cornelius, and I would like to present to you friends of ours that are making changes in Haiti with the LORD's help. Part of these profiles will be on my blog and there will be a link to Cornelius' blog where you can read the rest of the profiles. We encourage you to check out their blogs or websites. We also encourage you to pray for the prayer requests that they have.

Click here to read the rest of the profiles.

Katie Benner, Keziah Furth, Marc Williams, me, Kathleen (a fellow youth group leader) 

Keziah Furth- I came to Haiti because I'd always wanted to do medical care in a place like this. I visited for 4 days in 2006, loved it and came back for a 5 month internship during college in 2007. I had to return to the States to finish school, but I moved here right after graduating in 2008. I work with Much Ministries in Gonaives. My job is to oversee a clinic that includes prenatal program, blood pressure program, home health for the elderly and handicapped, malnutrition program and general clinic days. I also coordinate with the local government hospital of Gonaives to improve their quality of care and get them the supplies they need to better function.  I've been in Haiti for 4 years, since 2008.

Prayer Requests: I would love prayer for deeper relationships with the young mothers of Jubilee, the dump that we work in, and also prayers for opportunities to provide more medical jobs for the young people who have trained as nursing assistants.

Blog: click here to visit Kez’s blog

Marc Williams- My parents are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship. We moved to Haiti when I was five years old. After graduating high school here in Haiti, I went to school in the states. I lived in numerous places during and after college, but found that I really loved the community here and how the Kingdom of God is moving. So I came back. I teach some high school elective classes at Quisqueya Christian School. I also help lead the youth group at Quisqueya Chapel. Basically, having grown up here, I've become a sort of "big brother" within the community. Younger people here relate to me and they often come to me with spiritual questions and insights. I love it! My family moved here in 1990. However, with furloughs and college back in the states, I've probably lived in Haiti about 14 years.

Prayer Requests: Pray that the love of God overwhelms me in fresh ways every day.

Katie Benner- The first time I came to Haiti was in 2008 as a sophomore in college. At the time, I knew absolutely NOTHING about Haiti but I signed up to go for a week long mission trip with a group from my church. When we left for Haiti I had no expectation of falling in love with the country and people, but that is exactly what happened. The entire week that I spent in Haiti I just kept thinking, "This is so strange...I feel like this is home." After that trip I thought about and prayed for Haiti almost every day for two years. A few months before my college graduation I knew that God was calling me to Haiti long term. So, I contacted someone in country, bought my flight tickets, and the rest is history.

When I first came to Haiti, I spend 6 months living and working at Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue doing just about anything that was needed (mostly playing with kids). Then, I was asked to teach at TLC Barefoot School. I currently teach kindergarten and work as assistant director at TLC. I also teach an adult English class, help lead a Bible study, and help with the church youth group. I've been in Haiti on and off since September 2010. In total time, I guess it adds up to a little over a year.

Prayer Requests: I'm always in need of more patience since I work with kids all day, everyday. I pray for a deeper communion with the Holy Spirit so that at any given time and in any given situation, I will know the Father's heart and desire. 

Blog: click here to visit Katie’s blog

Encourage One Another On

Some days in Haiti are tough, either because of the living conditions, problems in dealing with the Haitians we work with or other stuff that happens to us. Thankfully there are many other missionaries here, striving to bring God's kingdom to this country. We encourage one another on when we are going through rough times. You can be sure there will always be someone to talk to about momentary troubles and frustrations. 


It is also encouraging to receive mail or emails from friends, family and supporters back home. A thoughtful note makes my day and helps me push onwards towards the goal. It is nice to know that someone is thinking about me and praying for me. This past week I received a card, a letter and a picture-

Mési anpil! Thank you very much!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9