Last Full Day

Here I am typing my last post from Haiti.  Today has been a day filled with much emotion.  You think of an emotion and I have most likely experienced it today.  The last day of a mission trip is always this way- well at lest for most.  You pour your heart and soul into a few days and build quick but real relationships and then you leave.  I have connected with a boy here named Davidson- he is the master of the kite builders.  He has to be somewhere around 13 years old and we have just really hit it off.  Today the kids went back to school.  This is a huge step for these children because school came to a hault after the quake.  Today was yet another step towards the normal and it was great to be here to wittness it.  After school Davidson came up to me with a picture he made and it was a thing of beauty.  He colored a beautiful kite and a man flying it with my name below him.  He also had written in english "I love you".  He wanted me to take it home.  The two of us had been doing fine all week communicating but he really wanted to ask me something and I just could not figure it out.  What ever it was was important because for the first time he took me to one of the care ladies that spoke english.  He knew I was leaving today and he simply wanted to know if I would be coming back. It is moments like these that break your heart.  I would not lie to him and told him I would like to come back to see him but it would not be soon maybe even a long time.  So much of this trip has been impossible to discribe but isn't that just the way the King works?  I truly believe that this is Haiti's hour.  God is taking pain, loss, death, hunger and redemptively willing joy, gain, life and fulfillment.

May God break your heart for the widows and orphans- He has mine.  This my friends is true religion!

Please pray for our travel back home.  Besty had a great day and is doing great.  We look forward to sharing our journey with you. 

Other Kids and Kites

  Yesterday was a long, good day and I was exhausted last night.  It is hard to believe the trip is almost over and I will be heading home the day after tomorrow.  We visited another orphanage yesterday and had a chance to visually see more of the poverty of this country.  We have no clue how good we have it.  The kids we are staying with are the fattest orphans in Haiti (this is what Mike Fox- the founder said last night).  We saw that this was true when we visited the other orphanage -- the children are still in good health but skinnier and smaller.  This orphanage also had a lot more young children -- several Scout's and Flora's age.  In many ways the earthquake has been the best thing for Haiti -- a lot of people died but I think in the long run even more lives will be physically and spiritually saved because of what is taking place here.  We must play a greater role here but I'm not sure what that will be.  You need to come down here to see what is really taking place in Haiti and not just what the news wants you to see.

On a different note -- I am getting pretty good at flying kites!  The kids here can make them out of about anything and I have been hooking them up with the kite string.  Betsy is doing better this morning but please continue praying for her feet and ankles.  I am a little sun burned but doing great.  Church this morning! 

Ebenezer

Today we heard the story of the place we are staying- Ebenezer.  I will briefly share it. A business man in Port-au-Prince was told by God to build a two story church with a basement (no one builds basements in Haiti) and a tin roof.  He had some land on the edge of Port-au-Prince and built the basement and church but when he got to the roof he decided to put a fancier cement roof on.  A little after the construction was done he noticed the roof cracking and he immediately knew he had disobeyed God.  So he tore down the roof and put up a tin one like God had told him.  This past summer The Global Orphan Project started looking for a place for a new orphanage near Port-au-Prince and a place where they could store large amounts of food and water.  They got connected with this man and decided that the basement would serve as a wonderful location to store large amounts of food, so they filled it up this past summer.  The earthquake strikes and the need for a safe place for newly orphaned and displaced children is evident.  Ebenezer quickly becomes that place.  There is an immediate need for food and water - Ebenezer has a basement full of food and water that is still accessible because the tin roof did not cave like the cement ones nearby did.

 

So why the story? It is a true testament to God's sovereignty.  You see, some may say God caused the earthquake, but I don't buy that.  This world is full of tragedy and pain because of our sin.  Even amidst great tragedy and pain God in His power was working out a plan to love and care for these children months and years before the quake struck.

 

May He give each of us the eyes to see His mighty hand at work in our lives. Amen    

Days One and Two in Haiti

I had to copy and paste this blog from my email, so the formatting is all messed up.  Sorry about that!!!  ~Stefanie~

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We are definitely in Haiti, my friends.  It almost seems like the trip
was not real up until we stepped off that plane.  I'm still trying to decipher
all the emotions that are running through my mind.  Like
all good trips, some luggage was lost, there was lot of confusion
while trying to find the bags that did arrive, and all the
sights and sounds of a third world country are overwhelming.

After arriving yesterday, we loaded up in our
van and truck and we spent an hour driving to Port-au-Prince to reach
our new home at Ebenezer (the name of the church and orphanage).  We
were immediately swarmed by 70 Haitian children, asking what
our names were.  All the boys really wanted me to give them my
watch.  We then ate some delicious  Haitian meatballs with beans & rice
and prepared for today.  Our team ended the night with a team meeting
  in which we each shared treasured memories of our childhood.  We do not
know each of these children’s stories but we do know they contain
loneliness, trauma and great pain and loss. Each of them need healing
and we believe that part of that healing begins with love.  The
amazing thing about love is that it needs no interpreter to speak --- it
speaks through hugs, soccer balls and laughter.  And that is what
today is about. It is not even 3pm and we are exhausted but that’s ok
because we did not come here on our own strength.   Betsy and I are both
doing well and love all the members of our team.  Please keep us in your
prayers.

Prayer Requests:
1.  Energy to keep going (it is HOT)
2.  Betsy is experiencing a little swelling in her feet and ankles
3.  Continue to pray for unity for our team (been great so far)
4.  Pray, Pray, Pray for these precious little children

We covet your prayers and have encountered less of what you see on TV.
Haiti is a cup half-full not half-empty.  A lot of love and care are needed
but God is at work.  We are seeing it all around us.

May God's power bring wonderful healing into these children's lives.

Safe Arrival

Hello All! 
This is Stefanie posting a quick update for Chris.

He wanted everyone to know that they have arrived at the orphan village.  Travel got a little bit crazy through Port-au-Prince, but they all made it safely through.  The food has been pretty good and he even got to try goat meat for the first time.  He says the children are "precious."  He will be able to get online later in the day and send a longer update, but wanted to go ahead let everyone know that their journey from KC to Haiti was successful.  Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated!!

Getting Close to That Time

I am getting excited!  It is hard not to considering how the day started.  I spent some time at our local high school's FCA chapel.  A little singing, a little teaching and some great prayer.  How ironic/awesome is it that 50 or so high school students laid hands on me and blessed this trip -- all within the walls of their public high school!  The same God that is working so powerfully in their school is powerfully at work in Haiti.  What a blessing it will be to see His work in person. 

Today we have made a list of what needs done before tomorrow.  This list includes packing and lots of playing with the kids.  It is going to be a good day and should be somewhat relaxing as well.  I will be leaving the house tomorrow at 3:30am and will fly to Dallas, then Miami, and finally arrive in Port-au-Prince at 3:45pm.

Prayer Requests:
1. A slow enjoyable day with Stef and the kids.
2. Last minute preparations for Betsy and myself.
3. That everything will fit in our carry-on bags.
4. Safe travel tomorrow for our team.
5. Safe travel for Stef and the kids. (They will head to Arkansas for the week)

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act." Psalm 37:5

Thanks again for each of your support and prayers.  May God be Glorified!  

  

Last Day of Work

Today will be my last day in the office and I need it to be a productive one.  We jump into a new series for youth group when I return and I need to get parent mailers done.  We will be closing out the school year focusing on the reality that We Are Worshipers.  Please pray for wisdom on what needs to get done and what can wait. People keep asking if I am nervous but I have been so busy with other things I have not really had time to be.  But, yesterday morning I woke up praying and thinking about the trip and did experience my first bit of nerves.  I remember the days when leaving on trips or world travel was simple in many ways but with two little ones I find it much more difficult.  I have grown quite fond of daily little hugs and kisses- they will be treasured today and tomorrow.

Prayer Request:
- Productive day for Besty and myself (Betsy's last day of work as well)
- We both start our malaria meds today- pray our stomachs handle them!
- Unity for our team
- The Haitian people and basic provisions
- That God would be glorified in our lives today!

"For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever."  Psalms 9:10

Our Team

So I was suppose to meet our team before we leave in a week but that is not going to happen.  But I do have a list of names of those going on the trip and would like for you to pray for them today by name.  Here are some general prayer request for our team:
1. OUR FAMILIES- We are leaving wonderful supportive families behind.  Please pray for quality time with our families in this last week before we depart.
2. MALARIA MEDS- Pray the team members remember to start their malaria medication on time. (I start mine 2 days before we leave)
3. WISDOM- Pray that we would be wise with our last week before leaving.  There is more on my list then I can do and I assume everyone else is in the same shoes.  Please pray that God would give each of us wisdom on what REALLY needs to be done this week.

Here is our team:

Schaun Colin (Our Trip Leader)

Marsha Campbell

Larry Becker

John Huber

Brenda McLellan

Chris Borkert

Jeff Bangs

Betsy Bissing (Awesome Youth Volunteer)

Steve Curtis

Ian Gold

Val Clary  
Linda Hohneke

Thank you again for showing your love through the power of prayer.

Dear God,
"Let all the earth fear You;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of You!
For You spoke, and it came to be;
You commanded, and it stood firm."  (Psalms 33: 8-9)   Amen

This is the God we serve!  This is the God we go to Haiti with and will no doubt find He was always there caring and loving for these precious children.  I am excited to see His hand at work but maybe a little scared to see true Beauty and true devastation living side by side. May we put our excitement as well as our fears into the hands of our Creator!