One More Sleep

I'm a firm believer that one is never too old to count down the "sleeps" prior to something momentous...such as my "men" coming home!!!

Not more than 30 minutes ago I was talking with Brian who was standing about 100 feet from the ocean, the breeze warm against his face.  The team has arrived at the resort where they will spend their last night.  But they did not arrive without...you guessed it...an adventure!!!

This Haiti Team is so star-studded that the new President of Haiti chose their route to the resort as his personal parade route.  Yep...the streets were jammed with people and police on this "Flag Day" (holiday) to honor the new President.  So the team was stopped in traffic by the police to allow for the President's vehicle, flanked by police to go speeding by.  With black-tinted windows, they never even saw him.  But they were there!!!

And now they are settling into this place of calm, planning to swim in the ocean this evening, enjoy a late supper(lunch was at 4 pm) and probably play a mean game of Euchre.

Tomorrow they board a 2:15 pm flight to Miami and then eventually fly into Toronto around 11:30 pm.  I expect my "men" home in the early morning hours of Friday.

I'll inform you of their safe arrival sometime on Friday.

Pray for journey mercies.

A Mission Fufilled

And here they are...the Haiti Team and their Haitian friends at the culmination of their labor here in this country.  Their morning consisted of doing odd jobs around the campus at Lajeune, fixing doors, and cleaning a shed and office.  By the way, just a small tidbit of info.  Yesterday, Cam, James and Andrea found a large tarantula while cleaning.  This was posted on our Highview website, but not all of you may have read this.  Apparently it was the size of a blackberry.  Note to all team members:  PLEASE CHECK ALL POCKETS PRIOR TO BOARDING YOUR FLIGHT HOME!!!  I have it on good authority that two men in particular are going to need to abide by a rigorous cleaning process by a certain younger lady in this home before they enter.

Giving and receiving of gifts was the order of the afternoon.  Our team, bearing gifts, visited each of the five families who will eventually move into the houses.  Brian said that these families are so poor, they were probably given more gifts today than they will receive in a lifetime.  Each family was also given a laminated paper plaque with the following verse printed in Creole, French and English:  "Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."  2 Samuel 7:29

Haiti is in desperate need of rain.  The heavens have not opened since January.  Last evening, the team spent time praying for rain for this country.  Later on, it rained for an hour.  At lunch today, the team again prayed for rain.  At 3:00 this afternoon, the heavens opened and it has been pouring ever since.  Shortly after Brian shared this incredible answer to prayer, the Spirit brought to my mind a scripture so fitting, that I am in awe:  "The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand..."  Deuteronomy 28:12  If you begin reading at verse 1 of this chapter and further, you discover that God's blessings will be many if the people obey God and follow His commands.  Now, I am not a theologian, but I love God's Word and I'm wondering if just maybe, the God-honoring hearts of this team, and their acceptance of His time schedule has spurred Him to open wide the storehouses of heavens.  Would that not be just like God?!!

The team will leave at 11:30 tomorrow morning on a 30 minute flight, followed by an hour drive to P. Prince.  They will be staying the night at a resort on the beach.  It will be here, that they will relax and celebrate "the most bazaar mission trip ever." 

"The blessings, Brian said, "have been unbelievable and the frustrations...huge...big extremes." 

The three prominent lessons learned:
1.  God's clear protection for the team (Brian informs me that some of these stories are best saved for me to hear once they're home...a wise choice I think)
2.  Seeing that God is in control
3.  The Answered Prayer for Rain

In the book of Acts two men had been away on their own mission experience.  What follows are these words:  "Barnabus and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission..."  Acts 12:25

I'm quite sure there was still more work to be done in Jerusalem.  There always is.  And there is still more work to be done in Haiti.  But for now, this team of 9 has fulfilled their mission.

And they are on their way home.  

  

The Home Stretch

Introducing, by special request(mine)...The Haiti Team of 2011...

 Something tells me this pic was taken at the end of a long, hard day of soaking up that Haiti sunshine...oh, and working!!!  This is the team that keeps going despite the setbacks.  Brian's email this morning spoke strongly of the perseverance of this team:  "I want to share a couple of verses I read tonight...Galatians 6:9,10.  It talks of not giving up and I'm very proud to say there is no giving up on this team.  We are anxious to keep going, to keep serving, no matter whether it's putting up a building or preparing a foundation.  God will bless this work because we do it for Him.  We do it for His family of believers and we're just going to keep going."

The email this evening reveals the status of these illusive houses:  "It's now official,  we're not going to see the houses on this trip.  It turns out that they've decided to have a party in Port to celebrate the inauguration of the new president and have closed down all business and schools until Thursday, including Customs.  We're disappointed for sure but trying to stay positive with the work we are doing...God is good and He has made himself known to all of us."

I find it mind boggling to grasp how this country runs.  Can you imagine if our Prime Minister decided on a whim to close everything down to celebrate his majority government?  Okay, you don't have to answer that!!!  In Haiti, they live in the moment.  And in some respects, we could learn so much from how they do life, but there are drawbacks to this as well.  An example from today?  Around noon, they ran out of nails at the work site, so some of the Haitians left to pick up some more nails.  The team encouraged them to grab a bite to eat at the same time, thinking  they would just stop at the market down the road to fill rumbling stomachs, but instead, they decided to go home...about an hour each way.  This left the team with nothing to do but wait for nails.  Frustrating.

There won't be a shortage of work tomorrow.  They will check on the first work site to ensure that everything was completed, do whatever is still needed to be done at work site #2, and clear out space in one of the buildings to make room to store the houses when they do actually arrive.  The next team that makes the trek to Haiti with Marilyn will be in the running for putting these houses together.

I'm missing my boys...quite a bit.

 I sooooooooo look forward to having them home again, even if it looks like their clothes will need to run through a couple of cycles in the washing machine!!!  Of course every pocket and fiber of their clothing will need to be thoroughly dissected for possible "carry-on-baggage"...BUGS!!!!!!!  Oh, and by the way...that will not be my job.

Keep praying for this team...encouragement and energy to finish these last couple of days.



 

"Confirming the Work of Our Hands"

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And do confirm(give permanence to) for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands."
Psalm 90:17

The Lord brought this verse to mind last evening, and it seemed a very fitting prayer for the Haiti team.  I have just finished talking with Brian, hearing how God is indeed "confirming the work of their hands."

It has been a day packed full for this team of people.  They traveled to Hinche this morning and were able to reconnect with Pastor Giordani.  Being introduced to the church and  spending even a brief period of time worshiping with the people was a blessing.  From here, they traveled on to Sapote which is where some of the team...Brian, Poppy, Cam and James worked 3 years ago in beginning the building of the school/church/community center.  It was meaningful for Brian to be there and see this finished work.  (At least I believe it is now complete)  Reuniting with teachers and the pastor here, which Brian had come to know 3 years ago, was definitely a highlight of the day.  This day of rest has been fulfilling but very busy, and added to it was about 4 hours of riding in a bouncy car, thanks to the roads of Haiti.

Just to wet your appetite a little, Brian will have some exciting news to share about the multiplying of money raised for the work in Haiti!!!!

Tomorrow, the team will return once again to the site of the 5th cement pad.  Although most of the team was unable to work there on Saturday due to the broken down truck, there was still a good amount of work accomplished that day.  Wayne and Mark had gone to the work site in the morning with a truck load of equipment.  Even though the rest of the team could not join them, 6 Haitians added their own sweat equity to keep this project moving forward.  The team hopes to pour half of the cement tomorrow...if all goes as planned.  Pray to this end.

Now for the infamous houses and the current status.  The company hired to transport the houses to LaJeune, has agreed to take them as far as Hinche.  They want $4000 MORE than the original $3000 already paid in order to deliver them to LaJeune's doorstep.  Marilyn has said "No" to this.  Instead, they have hired a dump truck who will transport from Hinche to LaJeune.  This will require 6 loads and the hour travel time each way.  The team is hoping to be in Hinche on Tuesday to load the truck and then unload at LaJeune.  They ask for your concentrated prayers to ensure that these houses will arrive in Hinche and that the delivery process can flow smoothly.

I began this post with a scriptural prayer asking God to confirm the work of the hands of this Haiti team.  Brian's closing words this evening reveals that God is already accomplishing this:  "We may not be putting the screws in the walls, but we have done a lot of work to prepare for these houses."  Five families will eventually have a roof over their heads and a place to call home.  Five families will always remember 9 Canadians who traveled to their country to help make it possible for a dream to become reality. 

I invite you to continue to pray for this team and the work still ahead of them.  

The Haiti Adventure Continues

One down, one to go...the cement pads that is.  The first pad was finished yesterday.  The second one was to be in the works for today.  Brian felt the first one was completed with relative ease, but this one was is to be placed on a slope which would mean more digging in order to level the ground.

However, in keeping with this particular Haitian adventure, the work schedule for today was thwarted.  This is how Brian expresses it:  "Well in Haiti, sometimes you just have to take a rest.  The truck took Wayne and Mark to the site, came back for us and then part way there broke down.  They were able to tie the steering rod back together with ropes but Marilyn didn't think it would be wise to go over some of the roads we would be going on with a broken truck. Go figure.  So we started the hour and a half walk back to LaJeune.  Looks like we'll have to relax today.  Frustrating!!!!  Wow, this trip has presented us with so many troubles!!  Anyway, we're staying pretty positive.  Most likely it will be Euchre this afternoon."

The upside of some of these challenges, is that there is  more time to build relationships with some of the Haitians.  Brian's  Creole language study, which he poured over in the evening hours these past few months, is paying off.  He is able to converse, slow as it may be, with the people.  This would also mean that Poppy, who is fluent in French, would be benefiting from this additional relational time as well.

Meanwhile, back here at home, I have my own relational building to do.  It's a sacrifice on my part, out of love for my husband.  I'm "getting to know" the Bruins tonight.  Yes, I know...the depth of my love for Brian is beyond fathoming.  To be a Leaf's fan and choose to follow the ongoing playoff life of Boston, is indeed sacrificial.  I can't say how many play-by-play details I will be able to impart to my love, but I will at least relay the score.  Cheering would be a stretch, but watching is doable.  ha,ha

The Preachers

It was Francis of Assissi who wisely said, "Preach Christ always and sometimes use words."

There is an awful lot of quiet, but sweaty preaching going on in this hot land of Haiti.  Here are some of the preachers along with a Haitian friend.  Wow!!  There are a couple of darn good-looking men in that picture("Hi my husband and son!")  You will see just behind them the pad they have been working on.

Yesterday they began constructing this pad and then had to wait for rocks to arrive, not knowing when or if they would arrive.  Such is the eternal adventure of work and life in Haiti.  In the meantime Brian spent time getting to know the pastor and his family, so the waiting was never wasted time.

A quote from Brian from Thursday..."It's noon and we're having lunch.  All good.  We're filling the foundation with concrete.  Of course Cam and James legs are covered in concrete!!  Marilyn is leading about ten very young children in song."

More from Brian this morning..."We are all excited about this new day. Work is good.  Certainly not what we thought but it is good.  We are meeting the needs of the people and in this case, a pastor and his people.  We are blessed."

 

Andrea and Cam are for sure in this pic...I believe Wayne is to the left...not sure who is covered by the tree :)

Continue to pray for these selfless preachers...for the work God still has for them to do...for their protection as they live and work in this country.

 

Something for Eternity

I never tire of hearing the sound of my husband's voice...especially when it's a phone call from Haiti!!! 

The team is doing great.  Today was spent visiting the 5 families who will be moving into the houses.  An incredible experience to meet them face to face.

Three of the five concrete pads the houses will be built on are already in place.  The team will build the 4th pad tomorrow and then the 5th in a day or two.

Huge down-on-your-knees prayer need. 

The five houses. 

There is a strong possibility that the houses will not arrive during the time the team is in Haiti.  The company which is to transport them to Le Jeune has already been paid for the work they have been hired to do.  However, they are now asking for $3000 more!!  As well, the new president of Haiti is to be inaugurated on Saturday and the Haitians are not wanting to work on that day.  All of this spells delays and roadblocks and frustration...bigtime.

Today the team asked the all familiar question..."Is it worth it?"

But standing on concrete pads and having pictures taken with these 5 families, the team wholly agrees..."Yes, it's worth it!!!"

"God never works only for today.  His plans run on and on.  The web He weaves is from everlasting to everlasting, and if I can fill a part of that web, be it ever so insignificant, it will abide forever.  And this is one of the most comforting thoughts to us.  While on earth we may do something for eternity."
--Bishop Simpson  

Arrived Safe in Haiti

My men are safe in Haiti.  (Pic is from home Monday evening)

The Airporter picked them up this morning at 4 a.m and I curled up back in bed. 

Brian said it's hot!!!!!!!  95 degrees hot, so they were enjoying a swim in the pool at Wall's Guest House.

Brian and Cam are part of a Team of 9 (3 others are from our church).  The plan is to build 5 prefab houses in 5 days.  Thankfully, the containers encasing the houses have passed through customs, although there is concern as to when they will arrive at their final destination.  My email from Brian about 20 minutes ago said that the team would be sitting down shortly to discuss this. We keep praying for all these details to be worked out.

Brian expressed empathy for Marilyn who is clearly remembering the tragedy of the earthquake in which her dear friend and ministry partner (Yvonne) died while at Wall's Guest House.  We can remember her in our prayers.

There is so much to be done in this battered country.  We pray that God will provide a clear path for this team to be His hands and feet to the Haitian people.

Yes, prayer truly is the order of the day.  Pray, pray, pray.

Mother's Day

What a beautiful Mother's Day...in so many ways. 

First of all, both my kids remembered!!!!  Gotta love that.  It warms my heart to hear them say "Happy Mother's Day" without prompting!

Today held a treasured moment.  A team of  5 from our church is leaving for Haiti early tomorrow morning. Brian and Cam are two of those individuals.  There are also two other teens on the team and yesterday was the commissioning of these incredible people.  Since it was Mother's Day, our pastor thought it would be neat if myself and the Mom of the other teens were to commission this entire team.  Oh my.  What an honor and joy to bless and pray for everyone, but especially my "men".

My afternoon was spent enjoying the warm sunshine, talking with a dear friend, and then feasting on the delicious dinner my family had prepared. We had just purchased a gazebo and table and chairs for our deck and "christened" this blessing as we devoured BBQ'd pork chops, hasselback potatoes, squash, corn, tea biscuits and Caesar Salad.  My delightful ice cream treat followed for dessert.

 I love my kids.  I love who they are...such unique, beautiful people.  I love this time in their lives of watching their own person hoods emerging more and more.  At times I feel myself step out of time and wonder and marvel that I birthed them.  In some ways there is a sense of motherhood as being surreal. I look at my adult son and almost 16 daughter and wonder, "How did we get here?"

But somehow we are here.  One day at a time that began almost 19 years ago, when the ultrasound showed that first tiny human being.  

It was the cards that touched me the most.  I suppose every mother hopes that one day her children will pen words that make all the challenges and tears and sacrifice seem a distant memory.  More and more I read the words which make my heart sing.  I am blown away that finite, imperfect me has impacted these two lives in the ways they express.  Only His grace.

Eucharisteo for my awesome kids!

Extravagant Beauty

It was hard for me at first. 

The opulence, extravagance, luxury.  I'm aware that all of those words generally depict the same picture, but expressing the same meaning, with different words is how strongly I felt.

Brian and I went away for a night...an all expense paid getaway from a company he works with.  There were about 25-30 of us enjoying this gift.

When I first saw the resort I was in awe.  "That is where we are staying??!"

 Oh my.

 I'm not comfortable with opulence.  It feels so...wrong.  It doesn't help that Brian is leaving in 4 days for Haiti...the poorest of the poor.  How can these two worlds exist?

 How do I enjoy this with the knowledge of people who have nothing?  Should I enjoy it?

I'm not sure of the "correct" answers to such questions, even as I expressed my thoughts to God.

I did choose to enjoy...to seek to have my gratefulness be extravagant as well.

 This beauty became our gift to take in before we are separated by the miles for 10 days.

View from our room.

  We're home again...back to our own luxury, comfort and wealth.  Opulence is how Haiti's poor would describe our home and yet many others would not even offer a glance were they to pass by.  Perspective makes all the difference.

I feel very small tonight; perhaps the way I should feel.  God is the only One with the whole world in His hands.  His is the only vantage point offering complete perspective.

I'll rest in Him. 

In need of Resurrection

"who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."  1 Peter 1:21

I read this verse yesterday using the Lectio Divina method of scripture reading.  I sort of cringe at the word "method".  It sounds cold and methodical but is anything but!!  I find that whenever I immerse my spirit in these moments, I go so much deeper than just reading a chapter.

What I gleaned from these few words? 

That which seems to be "dead", or appears to have been "crucified by or in our world", can be resurrected by the power of God.  

Can you see this truth in Peter's words?  God raised Christ from the dead...so that we could have faith and hope in God.   And if God  can resurrect Christ, He is more than able to bring new life...resurrect...ANYTHING in our world that looks to be lifeless.

These words came as a challenging rebuke to me.  My Father brought to mind an individual who is making such horrendous self-destructive life choices. I've been very close to writing this person off...giving up.  Until Peter reminded me that God is in the business of resurrection. 

I pray for God's power to bring new life to this child of His.