“Sponsoring a child at Haiti Awake is believing in authenticity. Why? Because at Haiti Awake we are who we say we are, and we do what we say we’re doing.” Pastor Steeve
Why not let the heart grow big with a love large enough that it breaks your heart and gives bits of you away?
We at Haiti Awake are extremely happy to announce the addition of a new staff member, Manoucheka Derard Pierre. Manoucheka has been helping Haiti Awake since day one because she's Steeve's wife, but now she officially has her own position as the Health Care Manager for Haiti Awake.
Manoucheka will be responsible for overseeing both the staff and children's healthcare, as well as coordinating healthcare outreach in the future.
Congratulations, Manoucheka!
Yesterday I sat in a coffee shop, chatting with a friend about life and service and responsibility and what it means to live on mission. And my thoughts were directed back to this quote from Richard Stearns:
“The adventure that God invites each of us on is a life filled with meaning and purpose. His plan for each of us is unique, but it is always filled with a sense of passion to complete God’s mission to demonstrate and share His love. He may send you to Wall Street or the local soup kitchen. He may ask you to spend years in preparation or to drop everything and start doing what you feel totally unprepared to do.”
Two years ago God clearly called the Graves family and the Derard family to partner together in Haiti Awake. He has given us a passion for Haiti and her people, and He's continued to clearly show us what He would have us to do day-by-day.
On this special day, we are thankful for the many people, both Haitian and American, God has used over the last two years to teach us, to encourage us, to support us, to help us more clearly define our mission and our philosophy of ministry.
We are excited to watch our Haiti Awake family continue to grow, and we look forward to continuing to share the goodness and faithfulness of God in the years to come.
Below are just a few of the memories we're been blessed with here at Haiti Awake.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
“It was so hard (seeing the devastation in Les Cayes last week). Most of the people are homeless. They don’t know when they will have a new house. They lost everything. It is so hard for them when it is raining. They can’t even stand under a tree . . . because there is no tree.”
Psalm 4:8: 'In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."
2 Corinthians 4:18: "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Psalm 90:17: "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yea, establish the work of our hands!"
Psalm 40:2 "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."
James 2:15-16: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"
“As humans, we will miss seeing so many things without God’s eyes. That’s why I’m so thankful to Him, because He gave us His eyes to understand things that we couldn’t, and to show us that He is always in control.
He provided what we didn’t expect and make us feel useful to help our brothers and sisters.
We have crossed rivers by walking, taken out trees from bumpy roads...
As a photographer I couldn’t use my camera as often I used to... because I felt the necessity to carry things and to do my best to help our fellows Haitians in need.
We are also thankful to Haiti Awake team, Redgi from Heart United, and other friends that were there to help during these three days.”
We thought we had a plan for Monday. The men were supposed to meet a friend at the airport and caravan down to Les Cayes with her group to start relief work. Instead, that plan fell apart . . . just as another friend reached out to Haiti Awake and offered to partner with us for work in the same area. I am very thankful for Crystal Funk and Hearts United with Haiti. As the day unfolded on Monday, it became evident that this was the partnership God wanted for us to pursue for this week.
Here is the short version of what has happened on the ground so far this week.
Monday: Polo got to Les Cayes by airplane thanks to Gene Schmidt. Gene is a new friend, an amazing man, an excellent pilot. Hudson, Wesly, Fre Jack (a friend from church), and Redgi (from Hearts United with Haiti) headed down with the truck later in the day. Polo had already made contact with Pastor Joseph Jeneve Delpeche at Mission Eglise Baptiste Sud d'Haiti, and the men were able to sleep at his house all week.
On Tuesday the men bought supplies and distributed them. But the day was not without incident. According to Polo, they had a flat tire far away from where they could get help. He said it was difficult to get the help they needed, but in the end they were able to get the tire fixed and finish the work they had set out to do, including buying rice and re-bagging it for the Wednesday distribution.
Today the men gave out rice in the pastor's community before going to his church where they met with the people and gave rice. They then helped Redgi get iron sheets to people his organization knows and has worked with for years.
“We passed a beautiful 3 days with the Haitians in Les Cayes. The pastor who shared in his house is a good men.
I pray to God for the people in Les Cayes.
God bless Haiti Awake. It can help the people in Haiti.
We need your help, Dear Father, like the Haitian song says, ‘Papa Bondye nou bezwen ou kounye a.’”
Tomorrow the men plan to return to Port-au-Prince after helping Redgi with another project. The current plan is to return to the Les Cayes area next week - hopefully to help with fixing the roof at Mission Eglise Baptiste Sud d'Haiti.
“I am thankful because God had given us this opportunity to help our brothers and sisters who were in need. And I felt so good working with some of the Haiti Awake staff and Jean Frtiz and Redgi from Hearts United with Haiti.
We worked as a team. We worked hard. The road was bad - trees in some road, but God was with us.
The Pastor this morning said the fact we come to help them it a prayer come true; they were hopeless. They said they will pray for us.”
Further, having Fre Jack on the team has provided wisdom and experience, as well as a point of contact who already knew people in the area, including Pastor Joseph.
Please continue to pray for Haiti as the road to recovery will be a long one.
We are thankful for a great team of Haitian men who are helping their fellow Haitians and making a difference in the community in which they are working.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
The last 72 hours have been a whirlwind as I left Wilmington, arrived in Pensacola, flew to Haiti, and then went deep into the countryside.
The day yesterday was not what we had planned, but it was what God had planned.
We had planned to Les Cayes, and we did. But when the contacts in Les Cayes did not direct us to great need, we decided to go on to Jeremie.
From Jeremie we took motos for approximately 3 hours, going through Mafranc to Morow and finally arriving in Chambelan. From Chambelan we crossed the Riviere de la Grande-anse. And we climbed further up the mountain until we arrived at Maken's family's home.
When we arrived at Maken's family's house, we found a once lush, beautiful place barren. The breadfruit trees that surrounded his family home are gone. The plantain trees are gone. The coconut trees are gone. They lie all around on the ground. Amazingly, his parents' house still stands, but the same can not be said about many houses in the area.
We returned to Chambelan to locally purchase rice and oil and carry it back across the river. And this morning Maken's father was able to share food with his neighbors and friends. We returned to Port-au-Prince this afternoon.
Tomorrow Polo will be going to Les Cayes. We hope to have more news to share with you later tomorrow.
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
I wish I could tell this story better tonight, but we are all so tired. I hope I am at least conveying the information well. Please pray for Haiti. People are suffering. They need help.
Please consider donating through Haiti Awake. We assure you that 100% of the money that you donate will be used right here in Haiti . . . to benefit Haitians.
“The storm has reached the southern coast, and the very few reports we’ve seen are scary, mainly because no one fully knows how bad it is.
If you or people you know are thinking about making donations for relief....please wait. Wait to find out what the real needs are, and then find a grassroots organization that’s meeting those needs. I promise you, the big organizations are ineffective. We saw it after the earthquake. No one wants history repeated. See where God is working, and join Him.”
We are currently working with a trusted friend and mentor, Gloria Board, on a list of organizations you can trust in Haiti. If you feel led to give, whether it is through Haiti Awake or another organization, please do your research. Be discerning.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Two years ago right now, these kids were barely eating. We visited them in October of 2014 and found them dirty, hungry, thirsty . . . miserable.
And then something amazing happened. God spoke specifically to one family. And that one family made a commitment to these children.
Later, God spoke specifically to another man who had a vision for these children to not only have a safe place to live and daily food to eat but to have an education, as well.
That man shared his vision with others . . .
The first day of school - September 2016
And last year they went to school - many for the first time.
The first day of school - October 2015
Now look at them today. God does amazing things through the generosity of His children. We at Haiti Awake are thankful for the many people God has sent to Haiti on short-term missions teams in the last two years - people who have seen specific needs and addressed them with financial support. It is because of the generosity of many people that Haiti Awake is growing in its ability to fulfill its mission statement:
“Our goal is to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action.”
“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Those of you who know the children might notice that Idelmy is not with the rest of the children today. Please pray for him. He has been struggling with his health in recent weeks, and he was not able to attend the first day of school. I know this is difficult for him.
Special thanks to Hudson and Polo for getting some great photos to share this morning.
These two handsome young men started school at IMPAD this morning, too. We are thankful for the way God provides for everyone associated with Haiti Awake.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
“He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles. ”
Steeve and his precious family as he prepares to go to STEP for his first night of seminary, year 2.
As I look at this photo tonight, I am reminded of the story of the 12 stones Israel placed for a memorial after crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 4). Somehow I see Stevenly, Caleb, and Lorie asking a variation of "What do these stones mean?" when they grow up.
Haiti Awake is not even two years old, and already we can look back and see God's hand of guidance and faithfulness. God has done amazing, miraculous things for the Derard family during this time. It has been the Graves family's privilege to walk this journey with them, as friends, as ministry partners.
We eagerly anticipate the future.
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”
Steeve, here's our advice for you as you enter your 2nd year of seminary:
“Listen: Just do your thing with passion , joy, honor, and humility, and folks will notice.
Actually, even if no one notices, be faithful to what God has called you.
Remember, we do what we do not for people’s applause but for God’s glory.
Don’t be held captive to either praise or criticism.
Know who you are, what you’re about, and most important, who you serve.”
Three years ago today, God in His providence, caused my path to intersect with a little guy named Handy. Handy was three years old at the time. I met many, many children at different orphanages that day, but Handy was the one my heart could not forget.
Only God could have known what the future would hold. About six months later, God brought our lives back together. The circumstances surrounding our reunion can only be explained as God's enabling.
When we said goodbye that day in early 2014, we had no idea when . . . or even if . . .we would ever see each other again. But God knew!
In July 2014, our paths intersected again. And this time, Rick and I knew we had to do something. We weren't sure what something was, but we knew we had a future with Handy.
When Haiti Awake was founded in October that year, the very first children's Bible school we did was with Handy and the other children at his home.
Since that first trip, every Haiti Awake team has held Bible schools with the children, and thanks to team members who came and got a vision for the future, we are now doing life with Handy and his friends. The children now have better living conditions and a constant food supply, and they are going to school.
One life encounter has turned into many friendships and lots of love for Handy.
“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.”
This photo was taken in January of 2015 as we said goodbye after a week of Bible schools with the children. It was so hard to leave that day because, at that time, we had no communication between trips. This entire team felt so burdened for the children, but we still didn't know what the future would hold. But God knew.
Just over three months later, God provided a way for the children to move to their current home . . . which is roughly a mile away from our Haiti Awake home. He provided funds for monthly food. And He provided a vision of the future.
Just a month after that, God added Polo to our Haiti Awake staff . . . with his primary responsibility being the children.
And one month after that, God provided the finances for the children . . . Handy and all of his friends . . .to go to school for the first time.
Now goodbyes look like this. . . because goodbyes aren't goodbyes. They're "see you later"s. We know there will be another trip soon, and we know Polo, Hudson and Wesly will send plenty of photos in the meantime.
“You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.”
Yesterday our kids had the opportunity to go on a summer field trip with Hudson, Polo, Dieussait, and Wesly. One of our goals as we walk through life with them is to expand their world, helping them to see possibilities they never imagined. Each trip outside of the orphanage allows them an opportunity to learn and grow.
Thankful for monthly support that provides the funds needed for days like this.
So . . . I've been home for a week. But it feels like much longer. And, I'm counting down the days until I go back to Haiti.
As usual, people ask, "How was Haiti?" and as usual, I don't really have an answer. It's like there's no explanation, no way to explain everything that's in my heart, everything that's on my mind, everything I'm still trying to sort through.
On the one hand, this trip was AMAZING. For the first time ever, our family spent several days in Haiti . . . just "being" with our friends and co-workers. It was incredible.
It's been a year since we were all in Haiti at the same time. I treasured the days we passed together!
Also, I had the privilege of being with Steeve and Manoucheka again as they welcomed a new addition to their family . . . this time it was Baby Lorie.
Further, we hosted some wonderful people who encouraged us all greatly, including the group from Mission Made Jewelry - the first-of-its-kind trip for Haiti Awake.
On the other hand, this trip ripped my heart up all over again. I tell myself that after 20 trips I should know "that"/ be able to process "that"/ be numb to "that" . . . and yet "that" can bring my tears time and time again.
Often, the "thats" are too personal to share publicly, out of respect to our Haitian friends and co-workers. And often a "that" can't be shared because, unless you've been there, unless you've seen it, unless you have some true idea of what life is like in Haiti, you won't understand why "that" is the way it is, or why it is so hurtful, or why it can't be fixed with a simple solution.
I'm thankful for American friends who, like us, want to understand Haiti better, who are investing their hearts, their time, their money alongside of us. I'm thankful for Haitian co-workers who are infinitely patient with our American ways, our impatience, and our lack of understanding on so many issues, Haitian friends who love us as we are and give us so much grace time and time again.
“True love flows out of mutuality, where we blur the lines between those who are serving and those who are receiving, and where we humbly acknowledge that we all have something to offer and something to receive from one another. ”
I journal a great deal, especially when I am in Haiti. But I've never really shared any of that publicly. But I think today is a good day to share a little bit of what I wrote back in 2013.
“July 15:
I am sitting at EpiDor waiting for Steeve. Maybe I will be able to bear the next few days if he visits for a while. The last 24 hours have been very difficult for me - emotional ups and downs . . . mostly downs.
I feel so isolated up there at Children’s Lifeline. I hope it will get easier as the days go by. I don’t know why I feel this way . . .
Sitting here, I am beginning to wonder, “Have I become too comfortable where we are at MTH?” God is definitely stretching me.
Micah 6:8 is running through my mind: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Evening:
Lunch with Steeve was encouraging. He had the words to say that I needed to hear. He reminded me of how the Bensons are leaving and it’s God’s plan. He reminded me that God has a plan for my life - each moment.
July 17:
Today I went with Hillary, Assiah, and Robenson into PaP to do sponsorship work. Three different orphanages. All so different.
July 18:
From Dan Huffstutler’s Facebook this morning. Luke 17:10: “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’
What an incredible week of seeing a land God has not forgotten.”
This photo of this sign eventually led us back to the children I met on July 17 - the children we now have under our care.
You see, today, April 12, 2016, is a day that brought all of this full circle. A day when I can look back and see how God was working everything together for good.
Without that difficult week, I would never have met Tyler. We would never have become friends. And I'd have one less person in my life who gets me, gets my love for Haiti . . . and loves Haiti just as much . . . if not more! Tyler knows how hard that week was for me because he was right there to listen to me cry. We didn't know each other before, but we became friends and have kept in touch ever since. And I'm so thankful for that!
Without that difficult week, I would never have met the children we now consider part of our Haiti Awake family . . . children we feel tremendous responsibility for . . . children we know by name and love with our whole hearts.
First photo of Handy and me together. Such precious memories!
Without that difficult week, I probably wouldn't speak nor understand Creole as well as I do because a little over a year ago, Tyler introduced me to Gloria Board who became my Creole teacher, as well as a mentor. I love Gloria, and I am so thankful that God providentially put her in my life to help me learn and grow and understand more.
In June of 2014 Tyler and I got the opportunity to visit Gloria and her husband at their home in Haiti. What a blessing that was! Gloria has helped me in so many ways in understanding and loving Haiti better.
Today I got a series of photos from Polo. He was at our orphanage . . . and Tyler was visiting with some of his friends from Children's Lifeline. And I was so struck by the goodness of God in bringing all of the circumstances of the last three years together.
Partnerships in Haiti are so important. Those of us who love Haiti need each other. We can't do this alone.
“My God is awesome
He can move mountains
Keep me in the valley
Hide me from the rain
My God is awesome
Heals me when I’m broken
Gives strength where I’ve been weakened
Forever He will reign”
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”
July of 2013 found me in Haiti for the 5th time. But I was not in Port-au-Prince. Instead, I was north of the capitol, in unfamiliar territory, with unfamiliar people, and feeling quite lonely and out of place. In fact, I felt so "homesick" for PAP that the day after I arrived, I found a way to get back to PAP, and I asked Steeve to meet me at EpiDor to talk.
Once there I explained to him how miserable I was, how isolated I felt, how much I didn't think I was in the right place. I was having trouble integrating with my team, I felt marginalized, I felt I had no place or purpose where I was.
Steeve reminded me that God has a plan in every situation, and he told me that I needed to stay where I was and learn what I needed to learn.
Two days later, I was still struggling to find my place with the team I was with, but another team welcomed me with open arms. So I basically joined up with them, and I was invited to visit some orphanages back in the PAP area.
That day we visited three locations. I had no idea where we were, and I did not know the people I was in the vehicle with. I had never been involved with orphan care before, and this new experience tugged at my heart in a real way.
I remember seeing this sign in the first orphanage. It had a profound impact on my thinking the rest of the day.
That day we visited three orphanages, but one grabbed my heart in a special way. And at that one orphanage, one little boy stole my heart. His name is Handy.
When it was time to leave these children, I felt so helpless. I had nothing with me that I could share with them. Nothing but a pack of gum that didn't even have enough pieces for each child to have one. As we drove away, my heart ached for those precious children.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Fast forward seven months. Rick and I were taking a short trip to Haiti to visit Steeve and Manoucheka. And I thought, "Hey! We could see those kids again. We could take some things to them . . ." Except there was one problem. I didn't know where "those kids" lived, and I had no contact information for them.
But I had photos. So I sent the following photos to Steeve and asked him if he could possibly find these children. I knew it was a long shot, but I also felt God really wanted Rick and me to see these children.
And you know what? I was right because Steeve found the director and was able to make contact with him. He agreed to let us visit in February of 2014.
The summer of 2014 found us once visiting the precious children under Federick's care.
“The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.”
The fall brought unexpected changes regarding Haiti for the Graves family . . . and the first Haiti Awake team in October of 2014. It seemed like a natural choice to do a 4 day Bible school with these children who were quickly becoming a big part of each trip to Haiti.
And in January, the 2nd Haiti Awake team spent 4 days with these precious children. We all felt there was more we should be doing for them.
And God has made that possible. Through the generous monthly donations which have come in, we are now able to help these children in a real, tangible way each month. They are "our" children. There are still many needs (school, furniture, toiletries, more caregivers) and we need more monthly support, but we are doing SOMETHING now. We are so thankful for what God has done.
God is sovereign over all circumstances in our lives. We don't always understand why He has us in the place He puts us. We might feel alone, forgotten, unneeded. But the beauty of those moments comes later when we can look back and see WHY God had us where we were . . .
I am thankful for that very hard week in July of 2013. I'm now thankful that I didn't fit in with the team I *thought* I was supposed to be on. I am thankful God had another plan. And I'm thankful that He directs each step we take.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
