Monday - South Africa Update

Is there anything better than spiritual confirmation? Because that's all we really have. We can tell you or show you what we're seeing but it's not possible to convey it in a justifiable manner. John Mayer said it best, "You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes, it brought me back to life." I can show you thousands of pictures but they don't really measure up to the vastness of this place. And I could tell you a million stories but they don't measure up to the power of what we're feeling and experiencing. Because the truth is the one thing that nothing can trump in belief system that is driven by faith, is experience. Experience usher's us into the presence of what God is doing and we suddenly find ourselves invested in God's work. And that is not something you can explain or show through any picture or with any words. That is why spiritual confirmation is so strong and vital to the growth and development of the believer.

Today began much like yesterday. The beauty of this place is at times obnoxious. I can't put my camera down in fear of missing something. But we had a fantastic breakfast and set out for a tour of all the Living Hope facilities. They took explaining culture and orienting us to the area very seriously. I think this is so important to our effectiveness while we're here. You have to understand who you're working with and they certainly prepared us today for the rest of the week. We spent the first half of the day touring their facilities and learning.

The second half of the day we went to a township called Redhill and spent times with the kids. For those of you keeping score, a township is usually synonymous with a slum. That was the case today. Earlier we discussed experience and today I sat back as I watched our group completely engage poor African children. They didn't hold back. They weren't cautious with their love. They loved blindly and willingly. At one point Will and Sam were covered with boys wanting to play with them. Did you know that 82% of children in that township do not have a relationship with their father? Did you know today over the course of 3-4 hours, Sam and Will gave those boys more love than any man has ever given them?

As for our girls, rest assured that they could barley get up because the children were obsessed with braiding their hair. At one point I overheard a small girl look at Mary Virginia's hand and say "white", she then looked at her hand and said, "black", Mary V responded with, "Yes, but the same."

 

I am so proud of our kids. I can't stress that enough. They are totally committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus this week. I caught myself gravitating to the back of the room today and just watching. Parent's other than you, I love your kids as much as anyone. Today I was taken back at the love they have to give. What I witnessed and saw reminded me that I had the greatest job in the world. Thank you for making it easy for me by the way you've raised your kids.

Living Hope is committed to teaching and building a biblical foundation in the lives of children because they have to change a generation if they are going to be successful in changing cultural mentality. It's better to build a wholistic child than mend a broken man.

Sunday - South Africa Update

Tomorrow our mission work begins. As of today I was reminded that it's been said that it's obvious when you are experiencing a moment that is without question, once an a lifetime. That is officially confirmed as of this afternoon. We focused today on site seeing, and trust me when I tell you that I saw things today, as bad as I hate to admit it, I'll never see it again. 

My day started with the sunrise somewhere between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. I drank Rooibos tea (which is indigenous to Africa) and listened to Nora Jones' "Sunrise". I don't type this to conjure jealousy....well....You can see where Sunday morning worship was as easy as ever after being saturated in African culture. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are conflicting emotions towards different worship styles, etc, and honestly, I'm not interested in that fight. But experiencing Masi worship can be best stated from Will Estes' quote, "Christian, I'm not sure what they're saying, but it's pretty clear they mean it." Will was right. Worship at Masi Baptist Church was something I'll never forget. I didn't get handed a bulletin when I walked in the door. There was no set order. They just started singing and they sang for an hour straight; and you better believe they meant it.

After clapping, dancing, and trying to sing words I couldn't pronounce, the team headed to a small fishing harbor for some food. I had a calamari burger. For those of you wondering, yes....it's squid. Lynsey had the same thing and we both agreed it was A+ sea food. We left the harbor for penguins. Yes, I said penguins. They live in South Africa and they're just as cute as they look on tv.

 

Sam did a great job of getting the attention of penguins with a very odd guttural penguin call. People looked at us but we got results from our small aquatic bird friends. Did you know that Penguins never leave their signficant others. They are faithful to only one penguin and they use serious team work. I made notes for my next marriage counseling session. Can't wait to pull that one out.

Shortly after our penguin encounter we headed to the Cape of Good Hope. The view was breathtaking and it was at this point perspective slowly began to creep into my mind. The entire team was blown away. There was a lot of sitting and watching and not much talking.. Sometimes you just can't ignore what your brain and heart seem to scream in an unheralded moment of clarity. Add yet another sensory overload with site and you give in and silence all presuppositions and distractions around you. God's creation was incredible. As I looked over the ocean and mountains, I noticed a whale breech the surface, jump and land. Perspective. The same God that was big enough to stroke all of the things my eyes were seeing is the same God that seeks me and pursues a relationship with me. I felt a chill as I thought about how ridiculous it was that it took a change of scenery to break through to me. But I wasn't letting guilt ruin this moment. No way. I took in the salty air and let it marinate in my lungs. God was speaking to me and it was as clear as a whisper in my ear. The week ahead will surly be every bit as powerful as the 40 foot waves crashing below me. I can see it. I can taste it. I can feel it.  



 
“I believe in God like I believe in the sun, not just because I see it, but by it I can see everything else"
-C. S. Lewis

South Africa 2011

And it begins. After months of counting down a journey that would take us to three continents in one day, we set off Thursday, July 28th at 3 p.m from First Baptist Dalton. We have a fascinating group of personalities and if you think I'm exaggerating with the word, "fascinating", you probably need to get closer to the group I have been traveling with me.

Our trip to the airport was flawless and we missed Atlanta traffic. We checked in and made it through customs/security in Atlanta in less than 30 minutes. I'm pretty sure that's a record. Our flight left Atlanta at 9:15 p.m. and before we knew it we were in London.

Reagan Fromm decided long ago that a nine hour layover in London was only acceptable if we ventured out into the city. Reagan was right and she planned our time away from the airport down to the tee. We saw everything....and I do mean everything during our time in the city and it was fantastic.

We made it back to the airport in plenty of time to board our 7:15 flight non stop to Capetown, Africa. While all the passengers boarded the plane a small......well......large accident occured. Just when I thought I was the sleepiest person in London, one of the luggage cart drivers drove his vehicle into the side of the plane! It put a hole in the vehicle and they had to call a welder to fix the issue. Bottom line: this took an extra 2 hours. So we left at 9:30 p.m. instead of 7:15 p.m. Early this morning around 3:30 a.m. Dalton time, we landed in Capetown. You can verify that with Phillip, I thought I would send him an early morning text to make sure he knew. :)

 

I thought a lot during that flight. One of the features the plane offered was an on screen tracking device that showed you exactly where the plane was currently located on a world map. I woke up early in the morning and noticed the plane was over Spain. My mind was quickly taken to Romans when Paul discusses a possible trip to Spain. It was an electric time in the beginning of the church and its followers were literally taking the Good News to all parts of the world. As I sat in 35C on flight B27, I realized that First Baptist Dalton was doing the same thing. While we flew over Spain, God reminded me of the awesome and humbling experience we were about to have and just how proud I am of our students and the support you have given them. So for every dollar you gave, for every mother that cried, for every student that gave up 10 days of his or her summer, and for every chaperone that gave up 10 days of work or time with their family, thank you. In order for the Church to be the Church we must be selfless and willing to act in DRASTIC measures. I'd say flying across the world, leaving our comfort and safety zones to tell people about Jesus is drastic....how drastic? I'll tell you in 10 days.

After Haiti

Perspective is a fascinating thing. The very fact we know that it can change the way we operate within our systematic lives is proof that it's powerful, but it doesn't stop there. In fact, perspective is something I think we all crave deep down inside. So it's power can been seen through it's ability to change and our natural "want" for that change.

Three days removed from Haiti and things feel more blurry than ever before. I don't smell smoke in the morning from the burning trash. I haven't seen a soccer ball since I left. Animals such as pigs, goats, chickens, roosters, cows, horses, and donkey's are not walking around freely. While I can't say that I miss it, I can say that I can't stop thinking about it. Each time I walked away confused from Haiti it was directly linked with their lack of possessions. (ie. They have nothing but they're still happy.) I was basing the measuring stick of happiness off of possessions. What a capitalistic mindset. More than likely we all do it to some degree. The thought of living in a tent makes you cringe. I'm sure they're not happy about it but it's not the defining point in the determination of how they live their lives. We should pay attention.

So 72 hours removed from what seemed like another world, I am still feeling guilty about buying a coke for $2.25. As I lay my little girl down into her soft bed, I wonder what it's like for the friends I met who lay their children down on a dirty sheet on a rocky dirt floor. Every time I get something cold out of the refrigerator, I know that someone is drinking something warm or even hot. And when I take a shower (a warm one), I don't have to make sure the water doesn't get in my mouth. And this is how Haiti starts to change you...

These images are a painful reminder that all is not well in this world. It's not "ok" to be indifferent or to even ignore it. I honestly believe, for the people who went on this trip, that we're at a place where we won't forget how fortunate we are, because we can't. In many ways those images are haunting, but the smiles and laughter that make the people of Haiti strong and beautiful pull you in to the stronger realization that while we are more fortunate economically, they are more in tune with the things that matter. As one child looked at Charlie Bethel and said, "I will pray for you when you go home." A poor child who has very little to no family looks at a bright and successful father and husband and says, "I will pray for you." Do you see it now? If all you had was faith what kind of person would you be? God is speaking through these beautiful people.

There is no doubt that what we experienced changed us. And the funny thing is, I think we all wanted it to. Perspective has a way of doing that.

- Christian

Thursday - Friday PaP Update/Wrap Up

What a week it has been! We gave our time and effort, God added his glue and great things happened! Our group has endured sticky heat, cold showers and the lack of most every other convenience we 're used to. Not  a whiner in the bunch. But don't be misled, we have eaten well and been treated with wonderful kindness. We wish the entire 20 member team could have been together, but their mission was there and our's was here,  part of God's plan.

We almost completed our painting on Thursday, but time ran out as we finished up on the waiting area and we had a few hours left to do this morning. Except for the operating rooms and the odd broom closet, we put a coat of white paint on the entire inside of the hospital. As we were finishing today, a young man asked Gail about her "Show Love for the Children of Haiti" tee shirt. He said he had not heard of our group before. Gail and I explained that this was just a shirt made by our team and that FBC Dalton was where we were from. He complimented the job we had done and said he had heard good things about our work. After a long week, those words were music to our ears.

Kelida saying goodbye to Gail

We spent our last time with the children and once again they sang for us and gave us a hand painted picture for us to bring home.  It was very difficult to say goodbye, so maybe "au revoir", until we meet again.

Dr. Fromm and Sylvia were assisting in a very delicate operation on a 7 year old girl who was born with a horrible condition where her colon could not properly function. Along with a pediatric surgeon from Port-Au-Prince, the operation took most of the day and sadly, this won't be the last one for little Elanka.  Please join us in remembering her in your prayers.

Market near Port

The rest of the team rode down to the port and we saw worse conditions than we had seen all week. It's hard to believe that worse conditions could exist, but they do. The earthquake damge was more fierce in that area and so were the expressions on the people we encountered.  The area around the port contains a large market area and from all appearances was not in good condition prior to the earthquake.  The sanitation in this area is about as bad as one can imagine.  We then rode into the mountians over looking PaP and saw somewhat better conditions altough the problems faced by the people of Haiti seem universal. The landscape was incredible with the clouds dipping down into the lush valley below.

Mountains near Port Au Prince

Packing has begun and we have talked about the memorable moments we have experienced this week. The lives we have touched and more so the lives that have touched us. Thank you all for your prayers while we have been away. They mean more than you know. Thanks to our families for allowing us to answer God's call, for by doing so you too have answered His call. We head to the airport at about 9am tomorrow and we will touch down in Atlanta about 9pm. We hope you have enjoyed the blog and we look forward to seeing you Sunday.   Pray for Haiti, God is good!

Lamar McClure

Closing Time (Jacmel Team)

Well, here we are. Our final day was dedicated to travel courtesy of our wonderful hosts. We went to the market and spent time in a variety of shops unique to Haitian culture. At one point I looked up and saw one of the most beautiful ocean views I've ever seen. Unfortunately that beach was littered with trash which is a common scene in Haiti. Several miles up ahead a river comes down off the mountains and it is polluted with trash, etc. This runs into the ocean and is washed up on it's beaches. You have to travel down the coastline for 5-10 miles before you're free of it. There are no garbage trucks or public trash cans here. People literally throw things down, but in this case, it simply washed ashore.

After our trip to the market we came back to the church for a pumpkin soup that was fantastic. I was cautious but soon fell in love with stew. Our eating area was decorated with flowers and it was another reminder that our Haitian friends gave their absolute best to us. It was truly humbling.

Following lunch our team ventured down the coastline for an hour long drive. As we left Jacmel we noticed several fishing communities that were much more free of litter. They were beautiful and I took pictures of several breathtaking views. While I'm ready to come home and kiss my wife and little girl and see my church, a part of me will miss this place. Even at it's worst, its beautiful. These people are beautiful.

After an hour of driving we stopped on the side of the road and walked down an alley ( I was very skeptical at this point.) After walking about 50 yards we came to the side a very large foothill and there it was. People were coming in rows walking down in the earth into a natural cave system. The drop off was steep and wet but they people maneuvered incredibly well considering they were carrying things. Ellen decided to stay behind and Austin couldn't have said "I'm with you" any quicker. Randy was the first to start walking down and the rest of the team followed. What we found at the bottom was clean, clear, natural water system. The people continued to file down collect the water and take it back for cooking, cleaning, drinking, etc. Beau and I decided that we would take a picture by the natural spring. As Beth focused in several bats flew by which yielded a response from Beau and I similar to an entire but of middle school girls being dropped off at a Justin Bieber concert. Run. Climb. Slip. Scream. Get up. Run. Climb. Scream. Run.

Our night concluded with another wonderful meal at Pastor Duplessey's house. Our team then gathered together for a closing time in which we discussed God's presence on the trip. I love these people. They would make you proud. Many of them have before. Know that they represented you in a way that brought me to tears, laughter, and confirmed everything I believed about FBC Dalton. We are doing Kingdom work.

- Christian

Thursday Update (Jacmel) "Finishing Up"

After completing our work benches yesterday, we finished staining them today. We got some help from the kids who were happy to do anything out of the norm. In the picture above, Beth and a young boy or working on several pew benches (which we sanded down and stained.)

We finished the roof on the back of the church which will be used as a cover for the rest rooms. The Pastor was VERY excited. After taking pictures of the church and making several notes, Dalton's textile industries could transform this church and I hope this is a possibility in the future. It is one of the few buildings it's size that was not destroyed by the earthquake. The give complete and total praise to God due to it still standing.

We handed out punch balloons today and literally every child in the area ran up to get one. Two kids helped pass them out and even gave their own punch balloons. It was another sign of selflessness within these beautiful people. We ended up having enough punch balloons for every single child. No one went home empty handed and we had none left to spare.

As we were walking back to our living area, several children approached Beau and I. They issued a simple challenge, "Play ball." Oh, the beauty of a simple challenge. Little did Beau and I know, we weren't winning this one. Two twelve year old's stood across from two adults. There was a 5 foot imaginary net which consisted of two cinder blocks. The ball was kicked...game on. The first goal was quick, Beau made an excellent pass to me coming around the corner and I hit the back left portion of the goal and it went in. 1-0 adults. This goal was quickly answered by a similar pass to Denny (12 year old Haitian) and he promptly exploded pass me (the goalie) coming up to clear the area. Goal. 1-1. The final score was something I'd never seen before. An 11 year old was playing (on rocks...) barefooted. He but squeezed the ball together with his ankles and look at me as sweat was dripping down both of our faces. This was it. He popped up behind him with both feet over his back shoulder and, believe it or not, over mind. I stood there spinning in circles. He raced behind me and caught the ball on his knee before it hit the ground, dropped it to the ground and smoked it past Beau. Game. Set. Match. As Beau and I walked back in our own self defeat we laughed. We've never enjoyed losing so much in all of our lives.

- Christian