Hunger - Wed Update (Jacmel Team)

Morning began with coffee and lots of it. The middle of the week brought all of our aches and pains out but they are solid reminders that work is being done. We quickly left for the church after breakfast. It rained all night last night but by morning the sun was creeping in. Late morning yielded our prettiest day to date in Haiti. But that wasn't the only thing beautiful about our day.

VBS continued and the kids are really taking to our people. What used to be frightened waves, now are "hold me". It's great to see and the kids are having a blast with the experience. Scott and Betty Anderson went to the Jacmel town market to pick up some supplies for our light construction efforts. They returned with all supplies in a much more prompt fashion then Austin, Beau and I the day before. While VBS was taking place, several of us finished the benches alongside our Haitian workers. After building a prototype yesterday (from scratch), we produced 4 today. After finishing with 6 new desks for school, we moved our focus to an area which need roofing. In the picture above you can see James Todd and Beau Wells applying the tin roof over a soon to be bathroom area. Today was by far our most productive day. We're starting to see a difference and it's giving us the extra boost we need.

There was a brief effort to try and link a live video with our Wed Night Bible study at FBC Dalton. Everything was hooked up and ready to go.....except......Haiti's internet durability. It would be silly to complain, so I won't. 

Our day ended with a fantastic meal. We had BBQ chicken, rice, avocado slaw, mashed potatoes, and some amazing natural juice. It was a wonderful meal provided by Pastor Duplusey and his wife. They have been fantastic hosts and gone above and beyond for our group. They have truly given us their best and we will never forget it.

Trending on earlier posts, God really spoke to me today. Lunch arrived around 2:00 central time today. About 1:45 someone from our team ( I don't remember who) looked at me and said, "Are you hungry?" I replied, "I'm starving". Shortly afterward I walked to a nearby window and look across the tents lined up beneath and around the church. I saw a young girl holding her sister in her lap. Her arms and legs were skinny and her body frail and the weight of the comment I had made moments ago hit me like a ton of bricks.

 Starving...really Christian? No, you're not starving, you're just not comfortable. You don't have snacks so you're not in your routine of eating every three hours. How embarrassing that moment was for me as I sat there and watched those kids. How crystal clear God was. I'm not sure I'll use those words again. Because I'm not and never have been starving and after seeing people who at times have been, the exaggeration (while innocent) is insensitive. I'm not asking for people to follow suit. I'm not asking for anyone to understand. I'm simply asking for people to see this first hand. At some point in our lives, and there will be opportunities for most, we all need to experience Haiti.

Port au Prince Team - Wednesday Update - Hump Day in Haiti

Hard to believe it's Wednesday already.  Much has been accomplished and much remains to be done.  In yesterday's blog Charlie mentioned that Lynn and I went outside the compound to deliver  a soccer ball to some kids in one of the tent city compounds next door to the hospital.  I thought I would give you a few more details.

I had seen, as we travelled from the guest house to the hospital, several children playing soccer with a rag ball.  Knowing we had a few soccer balls to distribute, I took the liberty of just taking one along with me, intending to just give it away as the opportunity presented itself.  As we were working Tuesday, Lynn looked over from the third floor of the hospital into the tent area and saw some boys playing soccer with a plastic Sprite bottle.  She came to me and said she wanted us to give the soccer ball to them.

 

tent village viewed from Kings Hospital

We got permission to go outside the compound.  Our driver, Belizera, would go with us.  We exited through the gate, past the guard with the pump action shot gun and out onto the dirt street.  It had just rained, so everything was muddy.  The entrance to the tented area required us to go past the gate to avoid a large mud puddle and cross some very slippery, muddy rocks.  A hasty exit, if required, would not be possible.  As we entered the tented area, there was a small concrete structure to the right, open on the front, where four men were seated.  One rose and immediately challenged us.  He wanted to know why we were coming to his house?  Belizera responded that his house was our house and we were there with something for the children.  The level of intensity heightened appreciably.  The other three men stood up.  Then the first man then stepped aside and said we were welcome in his home.

close-up of tent village from roof of Kings Hospital

We walked to the back of the tent city, now followed by an ever increasing number of children as Belizera carried the soccer ball.  I was struck by the smells.  I smelled dinner cooking over charcoal, the primary fuel used for cooking in the tent cities.  I smelled clean laundry, like it had been line dried.   One woman pulled back the flap to her tent and I smelled the scent of lavender.  I was also struck by what I did not smell.  I did not smell the smell of any type of waste, human or otherwise.  I did not smell anything offensive at all.

The children, now about ten of them, seven boys and three girls, all between maybe six and ten, had us surrounded.  All were clean, smiling, happy.  Faces looked freshly scrubbed.  Clothes were clean and the  girls had on bright colors and ribbons in their hair.  One little girl had on a bright lime green top and pink  shorts and a smile that could do nothing less than light up your heart.

Lynn decided the smallest boy should receive the ball on behalf of all the children.  Through Belizera, she explained that we were there because Jesus loves the little children and we love the little children, all the children of the world.  As we made our way out, one of the little boys took my right hand.  Then, the little girl in the lime green top took my left hand, and walked us out of the tent city.  It was an intense moment for me.  Here these children have so little, but they do understand a lot.

We have also had great interactions with the children at the orphanage inside the compound.  Above you see them playing with some toys, punching balloons.  Below you see Lynn with three young ladies from the orphanage that immediately took to her.  And, she to them.

Last evening Dr. Fromm and I sat for a while with Mrs. Dr. Morquette ("Junie") and heard the story of how the orphanage and then the hospital got started.  Dr. Morquette ("Hubert"), pictured below, is the dreamer, the inspirational, passionate member of the team.  He sings for us at every meal.  Junie is the quiet tactician, working behind the scenes.  She is quiet, reserved and, I imagine, a quite forceful person, whom I have come to admire.  To hear her tell the story of how God just kept putting the right people in her path and in the path of her two sisters is almost breathtaking.  I hope that someday the Morquettes can come visit us all in Dalton so you can hear the story from them, as well.

The work plan is already laid out for tomorrow.  We are all missing you and wishing you were here to experience what we have experienced.


Ben Laughter

Port Au Prince Team - Tuesday @ Kings Hospital

Look around.  We have been in PaP for a few days now and are beginning to recognize some of our surroundings and some of the locations along our route between home and work.  We feel the need to look further.  This is a large city in the midst of an even larger nation.  Our eyes have seen only a fraction.  We are hungry to see and know more.  That includes both large and small steps.

Lynn and Ben ventured out to visit some neighbors at King's today.  For the past few days we have seen some children playing soccer (with a plastic bottle) in the yard of a tent village immediately next to the King's complex.  Lynn and Ben hand delivered a new soccer ball today to rave reviews.  

The neighborhood picture in today's blog was taken from the roof of the hospital.  In the picture you can see a tent city, some dwellings, the street on which we work, and the mountains that seem to press in on the city from every direction other than the sea.

Our work in the hospital continues as we made great progress today in painting.  Released from the stairwell, we accelerated down the hall to the patient rooms.  The mood has been good and the group seemed to get a lift from being more "out in the hospital" a bit more.  Tommy and Gail have lead the painting effort with Gail providing trim work and Tommy showing himself to be the master of the roller.  Scot continued IT work with the remote help of David Wills (remote in the sense that David is on the other end of the internet - not in the sense that the help was minimal) and seems to have a plan in place for connecting the functions of the hospital into a singular network.  This will set the stage for future hospital operations to be more efficient and measurable.

Meanwhile, Dr. Fromm and our medical team performed a hysterectomy this morning and all reports were positive. 

We have had rain again this afternoon.  The ruts and mud spring into existence at the first sign of rain.  With the mud so prevalent, it is stunning to see the expected spotless dress to be maintained by most pedestrians.  Bright clean dresses and shirts are the norm even in the midst of tent living and ubiquitous mud.

We spent a bit of time with the children today.  The rain limited our activities to under cover.  This allowed for good conversation.  This was a welcome opportunity to get to know them a bit better.   The children sang two songs for us after lunch.  it was beautiful.  One of the songs was "Every Move I Make I Make in You".  FBC YOUTH -- please note that these children sang the song in English (their third language) with the hand gestures, and in full voice -- please view this as a challenge from Charlie to step up your game.

Exhausting and exhilarating.  Haiti's challenges are countless.  There are stories of loss and pain at every corner and in every proud face.  No one here is untouched by the calamity and devastation that permeates this land.  But the spirit of Haiti seems indomitable.  Her people seem to rise daily to meet the challenges before them.  The opportunities to make a difference are as numerous as the challenges faced.  It is a matter of perspective.  How can we be tired?  We will return to lives we used to think had problems.  We will rarely worry about whether our shower water gets in our mouths.

God is the Hope for Haiti.  Most of her people know that.  Wouldn't we all be better off if we all knew that God is the only hope for each of our nations?

God is in Haiti.  When will you come?

We love and miss our families.  Thanks to all who are praying.

The Bench - Tuesday Update (Jacmel Team)

What a day we had today! Breakfast consisted of bread and pineapple preserves followed by noodles mixed with strips bologna. Haitian coffee is outstanding. After breakfast we walked to the church in time for Childrens' Bible School. Deb, Beth, Betty, and Ellen jumped right in and started to lead songs with the kids. It was a beautiful sound to hear them singing familiar songs in Creole. I begin to understand the true meaning of a pluralistic church. No sooner had several of the guys  moved some heavy concrete slabs, I suddenly heard Beau Wells teaching the children Jesus Loves the Little Children in English. (Complete with movements.) He wasted no time at the opportunity. I was humbled at his willingness to jump in without hesitation. He has an amazing heart. Randy and Scott took pictures of the kids and showed them their photos which caused quite a bit of excitement.

Beth led several games. Betty, Deb and Ellen jumped right in.I couldn't find Austin and then I noticed that he was blanketed with kids. We've fallen in love with these people and it's been one of the easiest things we've ever done. At one point I filed to the back of the church to take it all in. There was joy everywhere and the only thing that mattered was the next word in the song we were singing. It was heaven or at least what I believe it to be. I realized I wasn't alone in my watching. James Todd was taking it all in. He literally had tears in his eyes. I didn't have to say it. He felt it. Knowing that was enough for me.

The supplies arrived a short time after my view from the back (which felt like a view from above). Randy couldn't get to the truck quick enough. He was ready to hammer something...anything....no wood was safe. After getting all the boards to our work place the process began. Two Haitian workers took on the same task as our group. We had one goal. Our goal was to make a desk that would seat 4 students for school. They each had a section of the desk. And so it began....

Somewhere during our trip I began to view the world differently. It was in large due to the Haitian people and mysterious works of God. Nonetheless, everything has become metaphorical to me. Today was no different. I noticed the Haitian team using every possible scrap of wood they could find. Despite the fact we had brand new wood to use. They bent rusted nails back in to place before they used new nails that fit their job my accurately. They found value in literally everything. While I was taking a short break I notice a child playing with a tin can that had bottle tops glued to the side for wheels. Point being: They use what they have. What if we took this approach in our spiritual lives. What if you used every possible gift and blessing you possessed within your church? What if you made the best out of everything you had no matter how little or how much? There is a clear line Jesus drew in the sand. He warned us over and over of being naive to Christian responsibility. If the people of Haiti can find value considering losing virtually everything, how far have we walked past the line in the sand that Jesus drew? Think about your gifts and talents and maximize all you have to give to First Baptist Dalton. Let's make church a place that we put before social events and activities. So take some time and think....bend back the nails you think are rusty in your life. Gather the pieces of wood that seem useless. Let's rebuild together First Baptist.

- Christian

Port Au Prince Team - Monday @ Kings Hospital

Traveling through the tent villages across road that would make any dentist salivate at the jarred fillings is typical now in our third day at Port au Prince.  

The medical team of Dr. Stephan Fromm, Sylvia and Emily left with Dr. Morquette will arrive thirty minutes earlier than the rest of our team, because it needs to begin prepping for six scheduled operations.  Much as in Africa, in Haiti flexibility is a must as things move more slowly and change often.  

By 9:30 we are given instructions to begin painting the hospital.  Before the day is out, a lot of white paint will coat stairwells, walls, clothes, faces, hair and floors.  Some students join our group and are very helpful and delightful.

By 10:00 the medical team has been joined by Scot who is instructed to put on scrubs and shoot photography and video of the operation.  The scheduled has been reduced to one hernia operation which is delayed for need of the wrench to changed valves on the anesthesia tanks.  Finally, one is located but the valve can't be removed.  Another valve is located and the operation begins.  It is the first day for the nurse from Haiti.  The operation goes well and three more patients show up and are operated on.  It is Haiti, plans are merely suggestions.

The day ends with a rain shower, a wonderful dinner of beef & okra, a conversation with Dr. Morquette on the need for churches to help transform Haiti into a country that is self sufficient.  Our team convenes for discussion and devotions.  Helping the people of Haiti is not small task but on all of our hearts.

We are ready for tomorrow.

 

Mid Monday Update (Jacmel)

We experienced our first power outage this morning. We woke up powerless. It's evident this happens all the time in the buildings which are fortunate enough to have power, nonetheless, it's a strong reminder that nothing is stable here. Nothing.

We met at the church and began to clean up. Several children were playing soccer with a plastic sprite bottle. It just so happened we had several soccer balls blown up. Think Christmas X 3456545665445. That's what we were dealing with. The rush in their eyes and the joy of actually receiving something, otherwise they'd never have. And trust me, they knew it. Suddenly games throughout the village started. Rocks were used as goal posts. No field was safe from laughter and running children. The largest sport in the world had reached one of the poorest places in the world. To the church member who told me they'd cover the balls we purchased before the trip. You, my friend, were the hands and feet of Christ today. What you hoped for in your heart the day I spoke with you translated and changed the lives of an entire section of this community. Thank you.

After getting humiliated by several 12 year old boys in soccer (don't worry their is video evidence), half of our team began cleaning out our soon to be work area. Betty Anderson was as high energy as it gets. Deb Wells, Beth McKenzie and Ellen Anderson never stopped. The ladies were fantastic. Meanwhile, James Todd (also referred to as Big Daddy) was climbing on and off of every dangerous ledge he could find. The man is a human monkey and has a heart like nothing I've ever seen. Austin King was surveying the area, typical architect stuff. He drew pictures of everything we were going to build and wrote funny signs and numbers beside them. I'm pretty sure it was math but don't take my word for it. Beau Wells and Scott Anderson designed cabinets for an area for book storage. Randy Evans did anything and everything he could. While many of us were putting on gloves to help assist in moving a generator, Randy grabbed several locals and moved it himself. Randy came to work. End of story. This team is special. They are selfless and represent FBC Dalton and their family members in a mighty way.

Somewhere in the cleanup effort, Austin, Beau, Randy and myself joined the pastor for a trip to the market. We stuck out like a Rambo movie on Lifetime. Austin led the charge and led us through a covered market that was 75 yards by 75 yards (at least) !!!!! It was huge!! The pictures will tell it better than I ever could. We finally found our way to the supplies center and purchased a large amount of wood. Somehow I bought a pair of gloves in french. I just smiled and nodded a lot. Go figure.

Keep us in your prayers.

- Christian

Port Au Prince Team - Sunday Update

A full day beginning with the roosters at 1:00 a.m. and hourly thereafter.  This was followed by sunrise at 5  a.m. and water for showers available by 7:30 .... greatly needed by some.   Excellent breakfast prepared by our most gracious hosts with worship in the Methodist Church of Haiti in downtown PaP ... sermon and song in french.  Dr. Fromm kindly explained what we heard but the sense of worship transcended language.  Scripture lessons included Hosea 11;  Psalm 24; and 1 Corinthians 13.  Sermon was on the later - Faith, Hope and Love.  Definitely love in Haiti.

The afternoon started with a late lunch followed by a trip to the Kings Hospital compound.  On the way we saw the remnants of Mrs. Morquette's mothers home which was flattened.  The older Kings Clinic which had been left in favor of the newer King's Hospital was slated for destruction.   Building have markings on them of green, yellow or red.  Green is good ... red means the structure must be destroyed.

Arriving at the hospital compound, children were already engaged in activities but quickly warmed up to the idea of big balloons.  Emily, Judy & Lawrence Stock's granddaughter, received a braided hair session by one of the older girls.  Noel, a 13 year old, wrote 5 pages of Creole to English translation for Scot.  He speaks English, Spanish, French, Creole and was proud to have learned a bit of Chinese.

Dr. Fromm, Sylvia, Emily, and Dr. Morquette reviewed the cases to be treated tomorrow.  As with everything in Haiti, life is fluid with changes being quite accepted.

Tonight's dinner was wonderful with everyone getting to know the Marquettes and a lot more about the Haitian people.  Beautiful people with noble hearts.  It is quite apparent that we are seeing Jesus in the eyes of these wonderful people.

During our devotion, it is apparent that this is a country in great need of a Great God.  Please pray for this country, these people and especially for both teams!

Beauty In Light Of Disaster

This little girl knows nothing other than poverty. She's content with the simplicity of a ball and if she's lucky, one meal. She is bound to her family by DNA and love. It's this love that breaks the boundaries our society has deemed "must haves" She lives in the tent that is a blur behind her. There is no air conditioning or tile floor. If she gets sick there is no medicine. She is part of a "survival of the fittest" lifestyle that poverty demands. It's heartbreaking and all I wanted to do was take her. But deep down I knew that the worst thing that could ever happen to her or her family was to separate. After all, love is the only thing they have. I've been here 36 hours and I can't process the things I've seen. I've wept while no one was looking, laughed with people who don't speak English and worshiped in a place in which the Spirit raised the hairs on my head. You may be able to lose God in the midst of America's busyness. But in Jacmel, Haiti, you can't lose Him. Because you can't lose love. It's all you have.

- Christian

Port Au Prince Team

From across the isthmus in Port Au Prince, we were greeted by Dr. Marquette at Kings Hospital. From chaos at the airport to the two hour journey through tent villages and urban devastation our senses were bombarded with images, smells and sounds of the life here.

I couldn't say it better Christian - they come to grips that Jesus is enough.

The children at Kings Hospital spent the afternoon lifting our spirits with their laughter, the enthusiasm for life and their hugs. God is truly with us here.

- Scot

Haitian Worship (Jacmel Team)

Today we experienced a fantastic service. I can honestly say that these people are incredibly happy. The joy on their faces was genuine. I spoke with one of them after wards and I asked, "Why are you so happy?" The gentlemen responded with, "I'm a Christian, how can I not be?" How have I missed this? Have I taken for granted the joy in which we can experience as part of our relationship with Christ? Somehow the people I've encountered in Jacmel have ignored logic and ignored that nothing is really being done by the government here. They've come to grips with Jesus being enough. What does it take to get to that point? I'm not talking about understanding it or even believing it. I'm talking about living it. What does it take and how do we get there? The people of Jacmel, Haiti know and I plan to find out this week.


- Christian

Driving to Jacmel.

 
Life is something we like to embrace based on achievements and milestones. Were you loved as child? Are you married? Did you play sports in high school? How were you grades in school? Where did you go to college? What church do you go to? Where are you employed? The list can go on and on. The first thing I noticed leaving the Port Au Prince airport was that life was more about survival for the Haitian people than anything else. In fact things such as food, clean water, a place to sleep, are never guaranteed. This leads to opportunistic tendencies and rightfully so. I'm not interested in painting the entire picture from a sociological perspective though. I'm searching and grasping for something that takes a higher seat in survival hierarchy. How does one abide by basic civilized rules when he or she is desperate to provide for their family? Perhaps, I need another Ethics class but there is something painfully natural about the thought of doing anything for our family. I saw that today. I saw it on the faces of the people who were searching and begging for whatever they could garner for the ones they loved. I was nothing more than another naive American oblivious to the harsh reality of poverty in this world. This was observation and now I must prepare myself to worship with them....beside them....I'm not sure I ever imagined just how close I would get to what it means to completely depend on God.

- Christian

My connection limits the ability to upload pictures. It may at times work but I wouldn't count on it.

Friday Night

This is a picture of the team prior to leaving the church Friday night at 8:00 PM. We arrived in Atlanta around 10PM and caught a few hours of sleep before our 6:30 AM flight Saturday morning.