Photo Art Friday

One of my favorite photos that I captured on my mission trip to Haiti.

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"

~Jesus

A Hole in the Gospel - Just One CAN Make a Difference

The book laid in my "to do" pile for months on end.  I was sure it was good, it had gotten all kinds of attention and book reviews.  I just knew I wasn't ready to be convicted or shamed for not doing my part.  And so it sat.  On my bookshelf, unread...where it couldn't reach me.

Then I ran into a friend at church just before my trip to Haiti.  He asked if I'd ever read The Hole in the Gospel - if not, I really needed to read it before I go.   I smiled-nope, hadn't read it.  Still sitting on my bookshelf at home...where it couldn't reach me.

My heart was sufficiently nudged.  After all, I did want to be as prepared as I could be for my trip to Haiti.  If this book was going to help, then I better read it.  So I reached for the book, sat down, began reading, and couldn't stop!

Yes, it reached right into my heart.

Richard Stearns, the current President of World Vision (which I love) tells the wonderful story of how he became President.  It certainly is not what you would expect, and it was entertaining, funny and poignant.

Even more so are the stories he tells of his many encounters with the recipients of World Vision's services.  I was moved beyond words at what he has witnessed first hand in some of the poorest nations on earth.  I was able to move beyond the common misconception that one person cannot make a difference.

"What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God?  What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?"

I began seeing God's command to care for the sick, the lame, the orphans, the homeless, the poor, and the widows in a completely differently light.  What if we took the Bible literally?  Wouldn't this be it's message?

"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed and more.  I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water.  I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported.  I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes.  I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness.  I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved."

God does not have different levels of compassion on his children based on their geographic location, their nationality, or their language.  God loves EVERY one of his children, and we are to do the same.  This is where Stearns proclaims that our gospel has a hole in it.  We as Christians have accepted salvation, but stopped there.  We have forgotten that faith requires work.

My eyes were opened when I read that if we were to poll the world's populations and gather them into 100 people, this is what the group would look like:

60 would be Asian

14 would be African

12 would be European

8 would be Latin American

5 would be American or Canadian

We are the MINORITY!  The disparity is astounding!  The gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to grow.  What is the answer?

If the American church (not even the whole world) would tithe at the biblical 10% we could bring an end to world hunger AND the clean water crisis.  Seriously-$168 billion.  (Americans spend $31 billion each year on pets alone!)

So I read the book, and as you can see, it has had quite an impact on me.  Fast forward two weeks when I landed in Haiti on a mission trip. Our host for the week was Pastor Manno, who heads up Haitian Christian Ministries.  When he was a teenager an American missionary decided to pay for his college education and sent him to the United States.  He earned his Seminary degree and returned to Haiti.  He is now running a ministry that feeds 1000 kids every day!  Children are receiving an education and a hot meal every day because ONE PERSON decided to do something.  ONE PERSON made an investment.  Stearns was right. 

YOU may be that ONE person that makes a huge impact and begins a domino effect that could change thousands of lives every day.

I bet God has just the place He wants you to make a difference.  Listen, just listen, and He will whisper it in your ear.

Then....go stand in the gap.  Plug that hole in the gospel and watch our world change right before your very eyes!! 

But before you go.....read this book!  You'll be glad you did!

Letters from Haiti

Thursday has finally arrived! It's our day to dedicate the house and turn it over officially to Darlene, Yves and Eveon!!

We had packed a crate full of household items way back in October that had been shipped by sea to Haiti!  We went to the Christian Center to pack up all those items to take to the house.  We had sheets, pillows, toilet paper, shampoos, soaps, chairs, rugs, kitchen utensils, pots & pans, plates, silverware, bowls, and towels. 

When Darlene saw us coming, she could hardly believe her eyes!  I can't describe how it felt to watch them as we loaded up their house with all of these things that we as Americans couldn't fathom living without.  Darlene immediately sat in one of the chairs and curled her toes into the carpet rug.

Her table was loaded with all kinds of things, even vitamins for the family!

And that little boy who would not come near us all week, put on the biggest smiles I have ever seen when a soccer ball was handed to him! 

Our new Haitian friends now have not only a concrete home, shelter from the bugs, rains and high winds, but a door that locks and a key!!

Once we had everything set up, Pastor Manno, his wife Prisca, and Darlene's sister (L) came and we gathered in their living room to dedicate the house.  We sang worship songs and prayed over the house and this beautiful little family.  It was one of the coolest things of which I have ever been a part.

And it was the most amazing experience because of the fabulous teamwork among the members of this team....dedicated to raising not just $10,000 to build the home, but far above and beyond to afford travel for everyone and all the expenses that came with it.

In the tiny village of Pillatre this Christmas, a little family has a home built by the love of Christ.

...and I can't wait to go back and do it all over again!

Letters from Haiti

Our activity for Wednesday afternoon was slated as a walk to the bay.  Sounds fun, beautiful, and relaxing after many days of work.

But my heart was torn in two on that unassuming walk.

You see as we walked through their neighborhood toward the sea, curious children began to gather and join our walking group.  These weren't the children we had seen all week in their brightly colored uniforms, these are children who don't go to school.

Children who don't own any shoes.

Children who were wearing only t-shirts with no underwear or pants.

Children's whose first words to me were "I'm hungry."

Quickly our small group of walkers became a crowd, all curious with one another, sharing in the beauty before us, and around us.

My mind could not comprehend this very small child, accompanied only by her big brother, all of about 10 years old, in charge of her.  He knowingly scooped her up and she quickly fell asleep in his arms.

And another piece of my heart chipped off, falling to the beach in Haiti.

But in the next instant, as I turned my camera, children were yelling "photo", "photo", one of their only English words.  Oh how they loved the camera, this brick around my neck that's value could feed an entire village for a year.  As quickly as my heart was wounded, it was lifted sky high again with the silly antics of children and adults alike having fun on a beach in Haiti, without the luxury of the same language.

...and oh how we all laughed at that silly last minute foot insertion into the photo, good for the soul when the heart has taken on more than it can bear.

As we began to walk back our 30 minute trek to the center, my heart could not hold any more.

The difference in our realities, as stark as the contrast of our skin, hurts in the deepest of places.  I have everything I ever need....................she is lucky to get a few meals a week.  We emptied our backpacks of any food we had along and distributed it amongst the children.  My animal cookies would be the closest thing to her meal for the day.

I separated myself from the pack as the beautiful children who had joined us eventually found their way back to their homes along the way.  They smiled and waved, and my tears were unstoppable.

THIS was not God's intention for His people, His creation.  Sin ruined it, and these precious souls carry the burden of others sins....of the leader of this nation once dedicating it to Satan.  And they hunger....for food AND the salvation of Christ.


As I've returned home, I continue to praise God for the man he has lifted up in Haiti to make a difference.  Won't you join me in supporting Pastor Manno in his ministry?  Give as you can to the Haitian Christian Ministries.  I promise you, it is an eternal investment!

Letters from Haiti

Have I mentioned the wonders of God's mercy?  Every evening after we returned from the work site, it would begin pouring rain.  Each morning upon awakening, bright beautiful sunshine and brilliant blue skies!

And so Wednesday was scheduled to be yet another work day, finishing the painting and making furniture for the family.  On our crazy tap-tap ride we again enjoyed beautiful scenery and beautiful school children dressed in their absolute best!

We were excited that we would be able to help the family move their things into the house today.  Upon arriving at the house, we discovered that they had already moved in.....and our hearts broke as we realized that this small pile of things were their only possessions. Imagine how my mind raced back to the things filling my home....the things I clutch and hold dear, yet unnecessary in comparison to what our friends in Haiti have as their own.

As the table was near completion, our guys decided to let Yves drill in the last screw in HIS new table!  Of course, he had never held an automatic drill in his hands before, so when he finally got it all the way in, we all cheered...

...and he grinned from ear to ear!  Such delight in taking part in this amazing process with us.

We headed back to lunch over at the school, getting there just in time for the smallest of the children to be going home, while the older children were on their way in.  It was a very busy and lively place!

Little did I know that our afternoon would bring some of the hardest emotions to date on our trip.

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to read the rest of the story!

Letters from Haiti

Tuesday morning brought much emotion, exhaustion and home-sickness.  I began to question why I thought that I could handle this trip.  How could I think that I could survive 8 days away from my family, my husband?  Why was I putting myself in a situation of emotional turmoil, while already medicated for depression?  My mind and heart were a mess.  I retreated back to my room to listen to some praise music in an effort to bring myself out of this funk.  I reached into my suitcase to retrieve the notebook that Husband had written notes in for me, and as I turned to Tuesday's message, I began to cry all over again:

"Rely on God for all your strength and all your energy.  Let God work and celebrate the challenges."


Why had I doubted?  God had gone before me, knowing when my moment of weakness would occur, and placed these words of encouragement in my hands.  "Let God work".....it was not meant to be in my strength, but God's. 

It was also a quick reminder that this trip was not about me, but about blessing others with the unfathomable love of Christ.

Our mission saw those we came to serve, serving us with smiles and joy.

 It was about the children who are in desperate need of even the most basic of items.

It was about loving this boy and his parents, who live everyday without electricity, washing clothes by hand, living on one meal a day.

It was about learning JOY from a beautiful young man Casey, an orphan himself, greeting us each and every day with smiles and hugs, working side by side with us as we painted his neighbor's new home.

It was about seeing the incredible hardships that our Haitian friends live with every day.

It was about blessing a family with a home to call their own, their first bed, a table for fellowship, eating and celebrating, and security.

It was about celebrating over 1000 children sponsored and enrolled at the Pillatre Christian Center school, receiving a hot meal every day, learning, reading and writing.

God is doing incredible work through the Haitian Christian Ministries.  And these precious children are receiving the opportunity to change their lives and their country.  Sponsoring one of these beautiful children is only $25 per month.  Would you consider investing in one little life?  You will both be forever changed and blessed!