Memorial Day

As much as I detest political commercials and the hard core party lines that make people not able to deal with each other, I am so thankful that we CAN be so disagreeable in America.  Here in Haiti there is so much more freedom than there used to be, but people still die for speaking out in politics.

I remember when Alexis was little – maybe 7 years old.  Then president Aristide was scheduled to visit Grand-Goâve.  Through our work in the city, we’ve come to know all kinds of people from all different political perspectives and we have managed to remain on good terms with all of them.  I had talked with some of the people organizing President Aristide’s visit and told them that Alexis kept asking me if she could bake a cake for the President.  They told me they would make arrangements for her to present him with a cake after the public event was over.  I was all excited.  My little girl was going to be presenting a cake to the president of the entire country.

As the time neared, I mentioned it to Lex.  He shut me down.  Now, you have to understand, I was not nearly so “easy going” back then as I am now – and I’m still not that easy going.  I was irate that he was ruining this opportunity for my daughter!  Well, he held his ground.  He declined the invitation to sit on the platform and we didn’t present the cake to the president.  I understood his reasoning intellectually, but emotionally I was very disappointed.  Shortly after that event, the country became a political pressure cooker and the kids and I went home to the United States.  During that time, the Lord put Lex in the right places at the right times to act as an intermediary between political parties on numerous occasions.  He was even in a place to prevent a political assassination.

My pride wanted my daughter to be goggled over, but God’s plan was to bring peace and save lives.  Acts as simple as sitting on the platform or presenting the president with a cake would have caused our community to see us as siding with his political party.  Instead of bringing peace, we would have endangered our own lives, the sustainability of the mission and would not have been in a respected position that enabled Lex to help so many.  This experience and others are why I’m not so quick to fight with my husband when we don’t see eye to eye.

In America, I may not have voted for the president, I may not like the president, but if the president were coming to my town, I would be there and I would show him the respect due the office of president.  I would go home afterwards and never think for a moment that someone might be upset with me for shaking his hand or being happy to have been in his presence.  That’s a freedom that was paid for with blood of American men and women – sons and daughters.  I’m so grateful to all those who have paid the ultimate price.

I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend, and also taking the time to reflect and be grateful.

Haitian Mother’s Day

It’s a joyful day all over Haiti today, as everyone celebrates Mother’s Day.  I think I’ve had more people thinking about me today than I’ve had all year!  I got kissed like a new baby, all day long, lot’s of “bon fèts” (literally happy birthday!) and Feyo sent me 8 coconuts because he was thinking of me.

I absolutely love going to church on Mother’s Day and listening to Lex give honor to all the moms.  I especially enjoy his stories about his own mom.  Madame Therméus is now 86 years old and living in Leogane with Gama’s mom.  Lex’s stories this morning of the misery he put his mother through touched home with the church – AND with me.  I laughed, as I imagined my husband as a mischievous little boy.

Lex shared several stories I’ve already heard and shared, including my favorite:  The family was going through a very difficult time.  Lex’s dad grew crops.  Their store house was empty and it wasn’t harvest time yet.  Lex would put a chunk of rock salt under his tongue before going to school.  Apparently, it helped trick his body into thinking he had eaten something.  The whole family was suffering terribly.  Finally, Madame Therméus woke up the whole household at 3 o’clock one morning.  She put a big pot in the middle of them and told everyone to pray.  She and Lex’s dad prayed earnestly, “Good God, you gave us all of these children to raise.  You didn’t give them to us to die.  They need to eat.  You need to give us food.”  Now, I know that sounds a little rude, but in Haiti people don’t always use lots of “pleases” and “thank yous” with people they are close to.  So, I don’t think God considered it rude.  As a matter of fact, I’m quite convinced he didn’t consider it rude, because he answered that prayer.  As soon as they finished praying, Lex’s mom went out to the market place, not knowing how she would come home with food for the children.  Around 8 or 9 in the morning, someone from far away arrived with a measure of sorghum and a small measure of beans.  Gama’s mom prepared food for all the children and left two plates for Lex’s mom and dad.  When Lex’s mom came home, she told everyone that a farmer had been looking for her to tell her that he wanted to sell her his whole field of casava root on credit.  That meant that she and the children went to work processing the roots and turning them into casav – a bread-like food that is so loved by the Haitians.  (I’m rather fond of it, myself!)  There was rejoicing in the house that day – and important memories made.  Memories of a mom and dad who knew who to turn to in their darkest hour.  It also gave Lex an appreciation for hard work, as he helped to sell the Casava – walking around in the hot sun with them piled on his head!

My children were 2 and 3 years old when we came to Haiti seemingly nothing was easy for us as we started the mission.  I remember what it was like when we had no money and didn’t know how we were going to buy food to give our children.  You might not be happy to go a day or two without eating yourself, but can you imagine your babies crying because they’re hungry and you have nothing to give them?  It’s heart-wrenching.  Thank God, He always provided for our children.  There has not been a day that they’ve gone to bed hungry, but there were many days that it certainly looked like they would have.  It’s times like those that mold us into who we are to be.  It’s these kinds of experiences that teach us what it means and how it feels to really trust God, because at those moments He’s the only one that can do anything about our circumstances.  It makes us able to comprehend more fully what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

This afternoon we are hosting a big concert in Thozin for Mother’s Day.  Chorale Inter-Juene (Port-au-Prince), Kelly Vernet (Digicel Star) and the MOHI Choir are providing lots of beautiful music for everyone to celebrate with their moms.  Last night Lex did a little show on the radio with Kelly.  People were calling in and wishing their moms a happy mother’s day, while Lex and Kelly promoted the concert.  The kids look so great this evening.  I asked Madame Edon (rather loudly), “Where did all these gorgeous young folks come from?”  She quickly responded, “From Mission of Hope, Madame!  These are all YOUR children!”  Of course I knew that, but I just wanted to make a scene in front of them.  I’m proud of them all.  Happy Mother’s Day!

School

It’s crunch time for our students in 6th grade, as they will be heading to National Exams in less than a month.  I see them outside when I head home at 8 or 9 o’clock each night, studying under the street lights.  Each afternoon now, they have an additional three hours of tutoring available to them in the school.  It seems to be a time of regret for some, as they realize they should have taken their education a little more seriously earlier in the year.  It’s also a time of prayer for their families, as no one wants these kids to repeat a year of school because they couldn’t pass the tests.  Will you join us in prayer, too?  Thank you!

The physical work on the building construction continues to move along – a bit more slowly than we had hoped, but we’re ever grateful for the incredible support we’ve received for this building over the past year and a half.  We’re in the homestretch now.  The remaining electrical supplies needed will be shipping from Florida in just a few more days.  We’re so grateful to our friends/partners who have made this happen.  At this point we need about $8,000 to fabricate and install the doors and windows.  Please feel free to write a check and/or pray for the provision to come and the work to be completed.

 

Preparations for graduations (kindergarten to first grade, sixth grade to high school and high school to adulthood) are well underway.   While all the classes will have special presentations and speeches to give, it’s always the kindergarten class that steals the show.  I wish you all could hear for yourselves how long it can take to get a French “R” out of these little one’s mouths.  Soooo cute.  This is their opportunity to show everyone how well they can sing, dance and orate.

Gloria spent some time with Kreyol Bible Story Books in our primary school classes this week.  She worked with our teachers in real time, showing them some good tips for utilizing the books.  All of the students were so excited to handle these beautiful new books (donated by the United Methodist Church in Columbia, NJ – thank you!!!) and the older students all read a story together out loud.  As an American, with access to more books than I could possibly read in a lifetime, it’s easy to overlook their incredible value.  These children’s faces just lit up and learning was suddenly “fun.”  One of the rooms in the new school building will be used as a library and computer lab.  Students will have access to both physical and electronic books.  The sky’s the limit – or is it?

I’m so excited about the possibilities that will be opened to these young people who have access to this kind of information.  I’m so thrilled about the opportunity to work with other organizations like Child in Hand, One Laptop Per Child and Books for Haiti.  Working together we can combine our skills and resources to really “make it happen” for these kids.  And that’s what really thrills me about all of the people from these organizations that we are working with – it’s all about the kids.  Working in the midst of poverty, it’s easy to get distracted by one’s own discomforts and needs.  But God has blessed us with people who are willing to make their own needs secondary to the needs of the student body.  I love it!

Building Homes

I see Marie Syliane and her kids a lot more often than I used to, since they moved into their new house.  They come to the mission daily to fetch clean water to bring to bring home.  I’ve seen a change in their countenance.  They are so happy to have a real house to go home to.

This summer, our friends at Bless Back Worldwide will be building homes for two more families in need.  I will be updating you as preparations begin and once their team is here assisting in the building.

Would you like to be a part of building a home for a family that was left homeless after the quake?  Houses range in price from $5,000 (basic 2-rooms) to $7,000 (additional porch and latrine).  You can choose to send funding and we will hire a Haitian crew to construct the house, or you can choose to come to Haiti with a team to assist in the construction.  (FYI: Your presence is preferred!)  If you’re thinking about it, send me an email and we can talk more about details.

Would YOU Visit Haiti?

My family usually heads back to America in August or September each year, so I purposely don’t schedule teams at that time.  Well, we have finalized our plans and won’t be leaving Haiti until September.  Sooooo, if you’ve been thinking about coming for a visit, August is still open!  It’s just around the corner, so if you’re interested, please contact us right away to reserve a spot and get the preparations started.

Fall in America

Our schedule for this Fall in America is starting to come together.  If you see we will be in your area, please plan to hook up with us!  Plan to join us at a specifically listed location or contact us to set up something.  If you see that we won’t be in your area, please consider making plans with us for NEXT Fall!

• Sep 4-15       Southern/Central Florida
• Sep 16-20      Family vacation
• Sep 21-23      Charlotte, NC
• Sep 25          Nashville, TN
• Sep 27-30      Akron, OH
• Oct 2-3         Eastern Connecticut
• Oct 4-13        Massachusetts
  • Oct 5    “Meet and Greet” Open House (Westminster, MA)
  • Oct 6    Clifton Lutheran Church (Marblehead, MA)
  • Oct 11   All Saints’ Episcopal Church (Belmont, MA)
• Oct 14           Washington DC
• Oct 16           Jacksonville (AM)/West Palm (PM), FL

 

Picture Highlights from this Week