Veronica and the North

Great to be up North and visit people and plan for the summer. Had a time to sit with some of our youth workers and it was great to hear about some of their ideas to strengthen the camp and make it more fruitful for the children and community. Most of all it was neat to see that leadership in them. Had some time with the Pastors and was able to think about hopeful steps for the camp and community. Encouraging and fruitful. The trip has been neat in that we have been able to vision more with the relationships that we have already formed. We are working at creating some youth workshops for the summer. We were talking with the workers about gifts we could teach the children. Gifts that are already in the community. We were able to pinpoint a couple of them and get some research on them in hopes to implement them this summer.

Funny moments of the time in the North:
Ryna saved a goat. It was laying in the middle of the road. We walked house to house trying to figure out who the goat belonged to. It was hilarious to hear each house call to the next house by saying, "The blancs are trying to bring you a goat." We finally found a home for it.

Neatest moments of the trip up North:
Veronica was this little girl in the hospital. I think she was 8. When we first arrived I couldn't believe her back. She had been diagnosed with TB. The doctor didn't know how long she had it before she came to the hospital. They think it had been for awhile since her spine was the way it was. I hate making this comparison, but she walked and ran like the cartoon character, Hunchback of Notre Dame. But I will tell you something, the JOY and HOPE that little girl radiated was so humbling. I have never seen such a happy child. So happy, she would see us and come running down the hall. One day she sang for me and I played it back to her and I could not believe the way her face beamed. Her joy was beautiful. It was humbling as I think about the things I worry about in my day to day living and her is a 8 year old girl smiling away and her back will never be the same, but she is a fighter, she will make it and make it with a smile. Wish you could hear her sing, my word....made my heart smile.

Another moment where I saw God. This morning we were waiting for the bus, at 2 a.m. (that is another story) but as we were waiting 6 boys came out from behind the buses. They looked about 8-11 and I had to assume they were boys living on the streets. How they interacted and just had this God feeling that he was bringing me face to face with the future vision of Making Roots. Just watched them, observed them, their sassy hearts, their smiles, their rough around the edges spirits. Had this moment of, "Lord this is where I want to be, in the streets with these kids. I want to learn from them, understand them, know their needs, share joy and Christ with them, love them, teach them." Neat moment at 2 a.m. under the Haitian sky. This week we are going to be digging deeper about the hopeful vision of a home for boys living on the streets. Neat to learn, vision, and watch what the Lord reveals.

First Adventure...."The White People Have Yet to Pee"

Where to start? We had about 5 days off from Cite Soleil so we decided to head North to see friends in Passe Cataboise and do some planning for the summer. We heard the bus was 250.00 and we decided to look into the choice of the bus. When I say bus, I mean a school bus. No Grey Hound...a flashy school bus with the words "God is Everything" across the front. We were packed onto the bus, 6 across. We were told not to drink anything because the bus does not stop. We are ready to go, but the bus wasn't. We sat there for two hours. First it was the horn of the bus and then we had a flat tire....what does everyone do when we have a flat tire? They got off the bus and got water. Not the blancs:) We stayed on the bus and refused to drink because we didn't have to pee an hour down the road. The first half the road was paved and swift, the second half was a rollercoaster. Once we hit the rocky, dirt road it was an adventure. There was one mountain we were climbing, felt like being on a rollercoaster. A slow, steady climb to the tip of a big drop. Our bus hit the top of the crest and then it was all down hill. Ahead we saw a bridge and the bus didn't look to aligned with the bridge. All you can think is, "Have a little faith." We made it. To top the trip off, the last hour the women in the back were wailing because they had to pee. The bus driver finally stopped. After everyone loaded back on we heard some guy talking about the "blancs." He was saying, "The Haitians keep peeing and the blancs haven't gone once." To this Ryna responded, "Because we didn't drink anything." OOO, we laughed. Love that they observe us so well...hahaha. We made it safe and sound up North. This picture doesn't do it justice, but this is a photo of the front of the bus.

Where's Waldo Wilfete in Haiti???

How did the morning start? We were off to pick up our friend at the bus station. He is coming to visit for a couple of days. We arrived to find that we could not find him. Picture a bus station in the states....now take that all away. A bus station in Haiti is about 10-15 school buses lined up and craziness all around it. Our driver had to run back and find another person at the hotel so we climbed out to keep looking for our friend. It was like looking for Waldo in the books Where's Waldo. Hundreds of Haitians at the market, getting on the bus, here there and everywhere. We felt like we were in a Where's Wilfete book in the middle of Haiti. A couple of phone calls later we found out that we were at the wrong station, jumped in the car again and found our friend. What a process, all in a day in Haiti.

Today we had some good time catching up, talking about the summer camp from last year and how to make it better and reach more children that are in the mountains. Next year we are going to spend a couple of days hiking into the hills to find the children that don't get to head to school and church. We dashed into Cite Soleil for a couple of hours to sit around the table with a couple of leaders from the community. It was an amazing brainstorming session where we got to hear more from the leaders, see where their hearts are and where they want their city to go and more specifically the deeper needs of the city, a need of more leadership from the adults. It has been neat to watch this community work together. It is really unique. To see leadership rise up.

This is short, up at 5, but love you all. Thankful for how you continue to support. Continue to pray that God would reveal his heart for Cite Soleil and her people. Pray for a covering. Pray for our partner Robinson, he is getting married on Saturday. We are excited to attend and watch him celebrate this day. Many adventures ahead. I will be away from computer until Friday...so till next time....

Cite Soleil...and Flan..a.k.a, bread soaked in????

Day two in Cite Soleil. The streets are full of noise. We have been taking a moto in with the man that we work with. Today we had a chance to enjoy some time with the children. We got a chance to facilitate an activity with the children, painted crosses on canvas. Neat to just what them engage, be children. Yesterday I found myself observing the children interact. Quickly came more and more aware of how many of the children display mannerisms that are learned from the street. I took 30 minutes to try and talk with two girls that had been hitting and biting each other. One of the girls seemed to get it, hear it and respond well. About ten minutes later she had a rock in her hand and was threatening to throw it at a little boy. I see more and more how one has to adapt to his/her environment.

Today we learned that there are 34 zones in Cite Soleil. Another 33 areas that are similar to Boston, Cite Soleil, or even worse. Before we left I had a woman pray that we would hear mighty testimonies. That has been a prayer on my heart, to hear the testimonies of people in Cite Soleil.

When we are in the streets in Cite Soleil one can see the poverty, the open sewer, but it is not until you dig deeper that you see the deeper hardships that people walk through. Yesterday we visited a "home" of an elder in the community. It was a room 6 feet by 11. His clothes were hanging on nails, a sheet on the floor that was called "bed" and a small file cabinet and a couple bowls for food. This is home to this man. A space the size of many of our cars. When it rains the water comes it is a night without sleep. Think it is harder and harder to understand....

Had a great meeting with some community members that would like to support the summer camp in Cite Soleil. Some community members with small trade talents who would like the idea of using the camp as a place to teach the children about different talents. It was neat to hear them converse and talk about their ideas, hopes for the children, what Cite Soleil needs, how a community can support each other. We started thinking and planning for the summer. Thinking in a deeper way how we can equip, empower, and enrich the children's lives.

Today as we were heading out of Cite Soleil I was overwhelmed by the poverty, the oppression, and the continuing pull of God saying, "reach my children with a home." It is an overwhelming thought and prayer...then I came home tonight home and read this, "Instead, the scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is-and whether you have the courage to respond accordingly." Do I believe that God can build this home? Do I believe that God can ordain and align the steps for this vision? Who do we believe God to be? Should our scopes and visions be larger than they are? It was a neat confirmation as I do believe that God can do the impossible and that while the scope of this vision seems impossible, that is right where God loves to work and be present. So tonight in the midst of being overwhelmed, we push forward and fight the good fight. Another day in Cite Soleil tomorrow....love the hearts of these people.

The funny moment of these last two nights has been "dessert" at dinner. I have been calling it flan, I hate flan. I don't even know what it is in the states, let alone what it is here. We have had it two nights in a row. Tonight we have determined it is bread soaked in....maybe eggs, a little sugar, evaporated milk, cinnamon...while it looks weird I somehow keep eating it. I keep blaming it on the tape worm I don't have....got to love fake flan and a good day in Cite Soleil.

Love you all, thank you for all your prayers, your joy, your support in this adventure. Please continue to pray for our time in Cite Soleil that he would reveal more and more of the steps we should take. Until the next blog...love you all

And we are Back....and met a Haitian Mami

It is so good to be back here. The smells, the heat, the people, it is the same. The smiles continue to be contagious. The people are so welcoming and so good to see the same faces. The trip was amazingly easy. I got all our bags, every plane was early, freakishly weird.

On our flight in we acquired a Haitian "Mami" a grandmother. She was just precious. Step off the plane and she is wearing a down coat, two sweaters, and shuffling off the plane. She did not know any English and she was all by herself with 3 carry ons, and trying to get two checked bags. She became our side kick. We shuffled through customs, helped her get her bags and found her connecting person. So precious....she chatted our ears off. I could not believe she went to the states and back by herself without knowing the language, crazy.

We are at the hotel and into Cite Soleil tomorrow. Excited to see what the Lord breaks open on this trip. Today we thought about spending a day to go and sit with the children on the street. Most days they wait at stop lights and clear windshields. We talked about going to spend a day with them. Sit with them, work with them, work to understand a bit deeper the hardship of being a child on the street. I know, it is a weird and crazy idea, but we are going with the spirit. Leaving wide open space for him to move. Excited, ready and trying to listen and be patient. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We could not do it without you all!

Until Next Time....

Made it to American soil..hahha, that sounds like I am an explorer. I am on my 7 hour layover in Florida. Crazy..trying to adapt, and for some reason it feels harder than usual. The sounds, the televisions, the people, the stuff...hard to believe that yesterday I was sitting in the streets of Cite Soleil looking at a land that was the complete opposite. Today we were in the air for 1 1/2 hours and as we descended all I could see from the plane were nice rooftops, buildings, and baseball fields. As my plane left Haiti I looked down on the Haitian land to see blue tarp roofs, tin, and an American base. Two different worlds. They seem like complete opposites, but somehow they are only 600 miles from each other.

Adapting...so tired. I think if someone pushed me I might fall over. My eyes hurt, my feet need a good scrub, and I need to do a couple loads of laundry, but I am in the states safe and sound.

I really believe that God is drawing us deeper and deeper into His heart, in the heart of Haiti. Yesterday I sat across the table for my Haitian brother and listened as he shared some of his heart about Cite Soleil, his people, his dreams, and struggles. I wanted to weep. I thought about it, but didn't know if it would be fair to him. I have not lived his life. I hear his pain, but I have never felt his pain. I have not seen life through his eyes. I have heard his heart and struggles, but I have never had to embrace his struggles the way he has had to embrace his struggles. He told me a story about the UN coming in to "keep the peace." "Keeping the peace," turned into a shoot out where 17 people lost their lives, 2 being children. When the shoot out was finished the UN brought the bodies to the street and they were left there for family to claim. My brother asked me, “Why does this have to happen?” “How is this good?” We want a different Cite Soleil.

I wanted to weep with him, give him answers, and tell him it would get better, but it hasn't. It has been this way for a long time. The streets of Cite Soleil still hold garbage, the people are jobless, the children are hungry, their playground is a backyard of trash, there is constant "security" of the UN, and when it rains their houses leak. What is the answer? As I look at my brother he smiles and says, "I have faith that the Lord will bring change." What power in that sentence. Doesn't God tell us not to loose heart? I think about how many times I have lost heart in my daily "obstacles." Then I look at this man that has seen it all and he is telling me that he has faith that it will change. He has not lost heart. He has not lost faith. He is running the race and keeping the faith. So blessed to know this man and also encouraged by his faith, his story, his faith and love for his people and our God.

Yesterday as we rode out of Cite Soleil I turned around to see the sun setting and I thought of the verse, "I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn." Thought of Cite Soleil, my Haitian brother, all the children in Cite Soleil, the land, and the simple fact that we need to be praying for Haiti. For the healing of the land, for the people, the children, the new president, the development, the hearts of the people, and for their strength and faith.

I want to thank you all for your support, love, and prayers during this time. We really could not do it without you all. Your truly make this happen. If you are interested in getting involved with Making Roots please contact us at admin@makingroots.org. Until next time….until we hit Haiti again….we love you!

Little Resurrections

The last two days has been reflection, some fun in the sun, and a motto ride through the city, a maybe soccer match tomorrow. Today I was sitting with a woman at breakfast and we were talking about the strength of the Haitian people. What she said seemed so profound and simple and beautiful all in one. She said Haitians make little resurrections every day. As I got to thinking about it more and more, I truly could see the strength in that comment. Every morning they get up for another hard day, but they resurrection and prepare for another hard day. In the night their strength has been depleted to the point that they feel like they have no more, but in the morning they have a "little resurrection." They are exhausted, some have not eaten, some have children that don't get fed, but they go to sleep and resurrect the following day.

I continue to be amazed at the strength of a Haitian. If you could just get a little glimpse of it I think I could promise that you would be absolutely amazed. Today at the hotel a 13-year-old girl was here with her parents that had adopted her after the earthquake. She lost a leg in the quake and they were in Port-au-Prince to get the next fitting for her prosthetic leg. I later heard her story of how she lost her leg and it brought goose bumps as the woman unfolded this young girls strength. When the earthquake hit this young girl would have been 12 years old. When the earthquake hit this girl and her family got out of the house. Once they got outside they heard the baby crying inside. Without hesitation she went back in and saved the baby, but on the way back out the house collapsed on her leg. The baby lived, but with that she lost her leg. AS I looked at the girl in the hotel she was all smiles. In her I see a little resurrection. Her life has completely changed. What she saw, what she had to live through, death of family members, loosing a leg, never being able to just run, the fear that I am sure she still faces at night, but somehow she gets up each morning.

As the woman unfolded the story I thought back to when I was 12 years old. Would I have had enough courage, strength, could I have been that little resurrection? They are some of the strongest people I know. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you asked me what beauty was I might have to say the spirits and hearts of the Haitian people.

Feeling blessed to be here and part of this story. One day left. Packing up, saying goodbyes tomorrow and maybe attending a soccer game. I have one dollar left..hahah. God truly has provided JUST ENOUGH. Thinking I am going to buy me a spirit with it..who knows, still tomorrow. Could I live off a dollar tomorrow..ahha. Love you all, couldn't have done it with God's strength and all of your support.