Celebrating Missions

On Monday, May 7, 2018, over 200 people gathered at Scotts Hill Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC, to celebrate missions around the world.  On this night, 25 tables were set to share more about missions based in the Wilmington area but operating all over the world.  

Two of the tables hosted by Pastor Roger Barnes, Sophie Leonard, Alexandria Augi and Jennifer Augi (all members of the March 2018 team) highlighted and told the story of Haiti Awake.

 Sophie Leonard and Alexandria Augi were also able to talk with the children in attendance at this event about the Bible schools they led in Haiti while traveling with Haiti Awake.  They encouraged the children not to feel limited by their age but to listen for God’s calling to go and serve being the hands and feet of Jesus.  

The mission night was a wonderful opportunity to share in our local community how lives in Haiti are being changed through friendship, discipleship, community, teaching, resources, time, and most importantly the unifying love of Jesus Christ.    

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, 
the people he chose for his inheritance.”

— Psalm 33:12

96 hours in Haiti

Exchange in the Atlanta airport last night.

Immigration agent:  "Where are you returning from?"

Me:  "Port au Prince, Haiti."

Agent:  "Why were you there?"

Me:  "To celebrate a 3 year old's birthday."

Agent:  "Excuse me?"

Me:  "To celebrate a child's birthday.  He's 3 years old now."

Agent:  "You went to Haiti to celebrate a child's birthday?'

Me:  "Yes.  That's right."

Agent:  "That's an unusual reason to visit Haiti.  But a good one.  Have a nice evening."

Caleb's last day as a two-year-old.

Yes, it was an unusual reason, but such a good one!  Going to Haiti this week was all about celebrating the goodness of God in the life of Caleb Steven Derard, my favorite 3-year-old.  Caleb's birthday is something I hope to be able to celebrate with him each year because his life is a miracle.

In case you've never read his birth story, you can find it here:

The short time in Hait this week was very productive, however, beyond just sharing a meal and cake with Caleb on Wednesday. 

To answer the question, "How was your week in Haiti?" I decided to share the schedule that we at Haiti Awake followed day-by-day.  I know sometimes people wonder what we do when there's not a team.  Well, this should give you some idea . . . at least of what we did April 16 - 20.

As I always say, no matter how long I am in Haiti, it's never enough time.  This short trip was definitely no exception.  Friday afternoon found us rushing to get to the airport and squeezing every last minute out of my time there.

---

Monday

• Arrive on Delta 685

• 3:30 p.m.   Meet with the children

• Spend evening unpacking

• 8 p.m. Meeting with Polo re: economic development and more

• 9:30 p.m. Meeting with Steeve

Tuesday

• Work out details of sewing project

• Look at new places to take summer teams

• Afternoon with the children

• 9:30 Meeting with Steeve

Wednesday

• Shop for the children's home

• Go to the market to get supplies for Caleb's party

• Visit other missionaries

• 11 am. Caleb’s birthday

• Gifts for friends in neighborhood

• Visit children

• 9:30 meeting with Steeve

Thursday

• 8:30 Go to immigration to finish application for my permis

• Noon Meeting at hospital with medical staff

• Pack bracelets and other Mission Made Jewelry items.   Pay everyone for a job well done.

• 3 pm April birthday party for children and staff

• Meeting with the wash ladies

• After dinner, rooftop meeting to close out the week

Friday

• 8:00 Meet with ladies again

• 9:30  Meet with Steeve and Polo re: children's home

• 11:00  Staff meeting

• Noon  Finish last minute packing, eat lunch, grab a shower and dress for airport

• 1 p.m.   Say goodbye to kids

• 1:15 Leave for airport

• Leave on Delta Flight 684  3:30. p.m.

The summer is coming up quickly.   We plan to host 6 separate teams in June and July.  Much of the next two months will be in preparation for hosting our friends and sharing more of what we believe God has called us to in Haiti - Community Development, Economic Development and Church Ministry Development based in Relationships, Gospel, and Hope.

Until next time . . . 

Mutuality

“But as the friendships on the streets and in the neighborhoods grew, we came to understand that we were not ministering “to” our friends, but in ministry “among” them. We ourselves were being ministered to as authentic and humanizing relationships emerged. ”

— Christopher Heuertz

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2017 in Review

It's been another year.  We have another opportunity to look back and see God's providence, His faithful hand, His leading...and to see that once again, we never walked alone.

The first four months of the year were marked by change as the children came under our care. We also began to discuss the idea of expanding Haiti Awake outside of Port au Prince, hosted teams in the new upstairs guesthouse, launched our child sponsorship program, and added stateside coordinators - Hannah Telman, Liz Kyle, and Alicia Mercer.

Glwa pou Bondye.

The middle four months were characterized by teams - five of them to be exact . . . in addition to the four we had already hosted in the first four months of 2017.  Fun times.  Busy times.  Times of growth.  Many of this summer's team members became sponsors to our children, and for that we are grateful.  

Relationships. 

Gospel. 

Hope.

The latter part of 2017 brought great joy, as well as some hard times.  The children returned to school for their 3rd year of schooling since Haiti Awake began providing for their tuition, and we rejoiced. Haiti Awake was also able to open the copy center and begin its first chicken project during this same period. We are thankful that God continues to expand our resonsibilities. We also were forced to think about the brevity of life when Wesly and Idelmy were involved in a serious accident.   And we finished out the year with a wonderful Christmas celebration provided by friends and sponsors.

We look forward with great anticipation to where God will providentially lead in 2018.  We anticipate growth through new business opportunities as well as outreach and expansion of responsibility outside of Port au Prince.  But we recognize and affirm the truth found in Proverbs 16:9:

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

Tout glwa pou Bondye. Toutan.

Celebrating Christmas on a Sunday afternoon in Haiti

Thanks to the generous donations of so many of you, Christmas for our Community was a blessed time on Sunday afternoon, December 17th.  All of the families and individuals we had featured were sponsored, and God multiplied your gifts in such a way that we were able to not only provide the items listed in the original announcement, but each family got two bags of beans and $150 in Haitian money, as well.

Steeve prayed with everyone and shared the truth of I John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is.  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us."  God loved us so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, in the flesh, as a baby, to be our Redeemer.  

Steeve shared that we at Haiti Awake and those of you who support our ministry are motivated by love, true love, love found only in Jesus Christ.  He explained that the gifts were not from the staff but from others - most of whom have never been to Haiti and have never met anyone in our community.

Steeve went on to explain that our community is important to Haiti Awake, and how the gifts being distributed were not benefiting anyone associated with Haiti Awake.  Instead, we are looking outward, to care for people in our community.  We want our community to know that they matter to Jesus; and because they matter to Jesus, they matter to us.

“I have community with others and will continue to have it only through Jesus Christ.  The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more everything else between us will recede, and the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is alive between us.  ”

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thank you to all who showed love by financially giving to this initiative.  We pray that it will be an annual event that God will continue to grow for His glory.

Glwa pou Bondye.

“Where there is hope, there is a life.”

— Louis Hudson

“For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

— Psalm 92:4

Happy birthday, Boss Man

From our first meeting . . . 

2013

2014

2015

2016

Until today . . . 

2017

You are loved, Handy Oge. 

Happy 8th birthday!

“The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.”

— Numbers 6:24-26

Hope that's hard to find

Let me first say, I’m not an author. I’m not a blogger. I do not pride myself on my ability to write, but I was asked to write something about the day I visited Centre de Reeducation des Mineurs en Conflit avec le Loi (CERMICOL), a boy’s prison in Haiti. I will attempt to do that.

I was taught from a young age, just like many American boys, that men don’t cry.  I’m not in any way saying my parents raised me wrong, but I deal with emotions like many other American men - I bottle them up.

The night that followed my trip to the boy’s prison, I cried,  and then I cried some more. I wept in a way I haven’t wept in a very long time. I cried at the position these boys were in, the hopelessness of the situation, how their entire life is altered. Forever. I cried because if I had been born into poverty, I could have faced a situation that some of these young men faced, made a similar decision, and ended up in a boys prison at age 14.

This could have been me.  

I have an 11 year old son. He’s a good kid, but he’s done things that are, well, regrettable. Just like every other kid. I could not help but picture him when I was at the prison. I don’t know the kid's ages, but some were young. Probably 12 or 13 years old.

The boys are locked up for various reasons, I don’t know what each one did, I didn’t care.

I saw children. I saw my son. In a green jump suit with CERMICOL on his back. Hopeless.

Now, I’m far from saying that these boys should not be held responsible. But to see a kid that has been locked up for a crime, and find out some go 2 years before they ever see a judge, that’s heartbreaking. Some of them committed crimes, some terrible crimes, stuff we spoiled Americans only see in TV shows. They do not need to be told that’s ok. They need tough love. They need to be educated. And they need hope.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

— Jeremiah 29:11

When we arrived, we unloaded the supplies we brought - rice, sodas, toiletries, a hand written scripture for each boy. Each item was inspected by guards and then loaded into a wheelbarrow. There were 3 prisoners that were pushing the loaded wheelbarrows into the prison. Quite obvious this was their reward for good behavior. Once it was all in, there were a few conversations between guards, some more waiting, and then we got to enter. They escorted us to a room, set up similar to a classroom, with a chalkboard, seating for 30 or so, one door.

There was a large window that opened to the common area. The cells with bars were across from this. We could see the boys. They looked at us, they didn’t look angry, or threatening, they looked like my son. Some were a few years older, but they were young men, trying to find their place in life. While in a holding cell with 125 other prisoners. Hopeless.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

— Deuteronomy 31:6

The guards ushered in about 40 at a time, 3 groups. The groups came in, we spoke to them. Told them God loved each one of them, that we at Haiti Awake loved each one of them. We prayed. Then they left, back to their cells.

We left, empty handed, sad with the situation, angry thinking the boys may not get a fair shake, disappointed that decisions were made to put them here, but hopeful that some of these young men heard our words. Hopeful they heard us pray for them. Hopeful they heard the message we had for them. Heard that it’s not over. They have decisions to make every day going forward. Maybe as they make one of these decisions, they will think back and remember the Haiti Awake team, and remember some words we shared, or a prayer, or a verse written to them.

Maybe this will be what they need to get through a rough day. Maybe it’ll help them make a good decision in the future.

Maybe it will give them hope.

That Day When Your Dream Comes True

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

— Ephesians 3:20

In January when we asked the children, "What is your dream?", most responded with traditional jobs like "block layer," "translator," "nurse" . . . and as I looked at their responses, it was easy to envision how they could grow up to be these things.  

When I saw Kiki's card, however, I knew that it would have to be a God thing.

Today, however, Kiki had his first experience toward fulfilling his dream.  He had the opportunity to be the "co-pilot" on a Mission Aviation Fellowship flight.  

The very fact that this little 6 year old with big dreams was up in an airplane today, able to see the amazing beauty of his country, confirms for us at Haiti Awake that God has BIG plans for our Kiki . . . and that Jesus will complete the work He has started in Kiki's life (Phil. 1:6).... as He will for all of the children in our care.

To all the children, we say, "Dream big!'  

“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

— Psalm 138:8

Oh, and we did realize today that Kiki's not quite ready for flight school.   Nap time called during the flight, and even though he was so excited to be flying . . . he couldn't fight off the need for some zzzz's.

Thank you MAF Haiti for making a little boy's dream become reality.

I was sick, & you visited Me (Matt. 25:36)

I often get a different perspective on a familiar passage of Scripture when I attempt to put aside my American interpretation and try to see things the way a Haitian would see them.

For example, "Give us this day our daily bread" means something completely different when a person is actually depending on God each day to provide sustenance . . . in absence of a well-stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.

While I was in Haiti this week, I was asked to read Matthew 25:31-46 at The Bridge tomorrow morning.  Reading that passage in Haiti as we were back and forth to the hospital, it took on a whole new meaning . . . especially because we now have a new friend, Herby Joseph.

Herby Joseph is from St. Marc, a town about 2 hours north of Tabarre.  While in Port-au-Prince over two weeks ago, he had a moto accident and severely injured his leg.  And he's been at Medecins San Frontiers since that time.  With no one to visit him.  Day after day.  His family is too far away to come to see him.

Herby's bed was next to Wesly's, so as we visited Wesly day-by-day, Herby became our friend.  His face would light up when we'd come into the room, and he was more than eager to play a hand of cards with Steeve or Polo to pass the time.  (There were 9 men in the room with nothing to do all day.)  He, along with the other men, were very happy when we brought snacks for them each day (snacks that many of you donated this summer).

This is what ministry often looks like - just loving the people God puts in front of us each day. There's not a big plan or agenda.  It's just opening our eyes to the people around us who are in need.  It's loving our neighbor . . . and that neighbor might be the person in the hospital bed next to our loved one.

“Being in the hospital in Haiti is such a lonely place. We never know when the little we do changes a life.

I really don’t pay attention to people who say, ‘Oh, coming in and doing something like that isn’t a lasting work.’

We don’t get to say what a lasting work is. God does.”

— Gloria Guignard Board

On Tuesday when Polo and I went to the hospital for my last visit before Wesly would be discharged and I would return to the United States, Herby asked to take a photo with me.  It was so hard to say goodbye knowing that Herby would be without visitors and because we don't know if or when we'll see each other again.  He doesn't have a telephone, but he has Steeve and Wesly's phone numbers, and we're hopeful he'll call when he is released from the hospital.

There are many Herby Josephs in Haitian hospitals tonight. Some of them, like Herby, do not have family nearby who can visit.  Some of their families do not have the money necessary to hire a moto or take a tap tap to the hospital.   Some of them actually don't have anyone that cares. (There was a man like this in Wesly's room). 

These people need someone to visit them, to encourage them, to show them Jesus' love.  Will you pray with us that God will allow Haiti Awake to have an outreach to the hospitals in Haiti?

“When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

— Matthew 25:39-40