Reflections

Why go all the way to Haiti, when there are needs right here? Wouldn't it be better to send money than to use that money for travel expenses? Do you really believe things in Haiti will ever change? Is it safe? These are some of the most common questions/inquiries I receive from people who are not sure why I would choose to go to Haiti. They ask out of curiosity, concern and desire to know more. For me going to Haiti is simple...God told me to! Who am I to doubt the Creator of heaven and earth? The One who gave his only Son as a sacrifice for my sin so that I may have eternal life. I haven't always been obedient, but I am so glad I was when it came to Haiti. I don't have solutions for the many problems that plague Haiti, but I would like to share a few stories that may help to illustrate why we as a church are called to go to Haiti and other places like it.
Jerry arrives at the Cambry orphanage he's four years old and does not speak a word for the entire next year. Fast forward 6 years Jerry speaks Creole, French and English. His face lights up when we see him at the Guest House and call him by name. "You remember me!", he says. How could we ever forget him?! He figures out how to play video games on Scott's phone. By the end our stay he figures out how to change Scott's screen saver and it now displays a picture of the two of them, something Scott still has not figured out how to do. A safe place, food and lots of unconditional love from everyone who visits. God has always known Jerry was special, now Jerry knows it too.
 
October 2009 David is sick and at our orphanage in St. Louis. He cries at the sight of us. Tami slowly breaks down the barriers, he spends the next two days taking afternoon naps on her chest. We come to take him to the hospital, he is gone. His mother came and got him in the night. A teacher knows her, promises to tell her we want to help. We give her a picture with Tami loving on him and we pray. April 2010 David is back at the orphanage. He is not scared of us, in fact he pushes his way through the crowd and wants to be held. Our pleasure! Dr. Don checks him out prescribes some medication. He is on the road to healing. Praise God!
 
A friend of a friend is going to Haiti with a team of eye specialists. We have an orphan with a lazy eye and vision loss. E-mails are sent, phone calls are made, connections, plans and then ..a devastating earthquake. Eye teams' trip is canceled. One orphan's lazy eye seems like a small problem in the aftermath. We can't let it go. This boy needs every advantage he can get. We pray, we ask many to pray. Trip is back on the books for May, please pray for God to clear a path.
 
A 9 year old boy is missing thousands pray for him and his family. His body is found. To this his family gives praise, because they know so many will never find their family members. A small group of tennis players hear the story of the young boy. Haiti needs help....they network, plan, call in favors and use their collective talents. They throw a fundraising party and get others to do the same. A party? You bet and people were able to speak freely about a mighty God and his grace with people that needed to hear it. They raised over $10,000. They can support 1 Momma & 10 orphans for over a year. The Gospel was shared where you don't talk about religion or politics. Amazing!
 
At the airport we see Pastor Louis from the church Scott preached at. He thanks us over and over for making the effort to come to his church. Bev and I had not planned to go to his church. We wanted to get to St. Louis early. We had a plan. God had a different plan. Philemon drove us to listen to Scott preach. He was awesome! Did God change are plan so we could her Scott? Maybe?, but then Pastor Louis tells us that just our presence in his church is a huge encouragement to his congregation. Although I feel completely unworthy I am so thankful that God led on that morning and we did not question the unexplained change of plans. For Bev and me that in itself was a miracle to behold!
 
The key element to all of these and many other stories are God's people stepping out in his name. Haiti breaks my heart. Empty's me of myself and fills me with the Holy Spirit. I am learning to worship more fully from my new Haitian brothers and sisters. As I watch an elderly Haitian born American citizen gently kiss his passport upon re-entry to the U.S. I am reminded to give thanks for my family, paved roads, tap water and the multitude of luxuries I have never had to live without. Not everyone is called to go to Haiti, but if you are one of the lucky ones I can't wait to read your blog one day.

In Christ-Janese