What's in a name?

It is so important to know people's names and parents take great efforts in choosing their babies' name.   I have been thinking about this a lot lately ready to name my own baby. They say your name is your favorite word.  It sounds a little self-centered maybe, but it is attached to our identity - it is part of who we are.

In January of 2014, I helped lead the team from Peace Lutheran Church from Sioux Falls, SD with Helping Hands for Haiti.  The church has been connected to Haiti for many years and makes a voyage down to the little island every January.  It is rather a nice to time to go in January in the Dakotas.


Half the team was people who had already been to Haiti and couldn't wait until the day we went to Jumelle to see the smiling faces of all the children they met the year before.  One of the gentlemen on our team, Brian was looking forward to seeing one particular face Bebe.  He had found a special place in his heart for Bebe the year before as she has a glowing smile, it would seem you can almost see her pure heart of gold and she is maybe a little mischieveous.  Brian may see himself in her a bit.  However, Bebe also happens to be deaf and mute.





This could be a challenge to overcome in any country.  In the United States people who are born deaf or become deaf later in life have amazing opportunities.  There are schools specifically for the deaf, there is assistance within the public school systems and medical resources to help.  However, in a county like Haiti where your 'average' person struggles to survive there are more obstacles for a person who is deaf.

I appreciated hearing the compassion of the team and especially Brian of this young woman.  I also shared with them her name was not Bebe.  The group was all surprised.  But in Haiti almost everyone who is unable to speak is called Bebe because this is the word for baby.  The next day Brian was on a mission to find out this young ladies name.  It is Celentcia.  They also met many of her family members and learned one of her brothers is deaf and another is hard of hearing.  It was great to reach out to the family.

I am always excited when a new team arrives in Haiti.  Each person has their own gifts and graces in this life and if we can find a way to share those talents, where there is a need - that is where I think God exists and really shines!  This group from Peace Lutheran had a couple unique individuals on the trip. Kayla and Tyler both grew up with English being their 2nd language.  This seems a little atypical in Sioux Falls, SD.  But it probably isn't what you think - their first language was sign language.  Both of Kayla's and Tyler's parents are deaf.

This lent to a particularly beautiful moment in Jumelle, Haiti.  Everyday while most of the team was working with all the children on a Vacation Bible School; Kayla having a real heart for people, sat down with Celentcia and started working with her on learning sign language.

While the others were working with some locals on building furniture for the school.  Kayla and Celentcia worked on the alphabet and colors in sign language.  We spent 4 days there at the school and by the end of the week it seemed Celentcia had learned her colors.  It was exciting for the whole team to check the progress.  Not only that but the local children were amazed at what Celentcia had learned.  They had assumed because she was deaf she couldn't learn as well as the other children.  You could see that Celentcia had a lot more confidence too.  The other children were calling her by her name Celentcia and not just Bebe.

The last day of the week we had a large celebration.  There was a variety of games for all the children. We painted finger nails, taught baseball, played soccer, shared new games of bean bag toss and ladder golf, and played with the parachute.  As well as little hand slapping games.  Such as you see below.






You get in a circle and slap the persons hands next to you, while you sing a song.  If the song ends and your hand is the last slapped you are out. Celentcia not only had the confidence and support of her peers to participate but she ended up winning the game!  It was beautiful.
         






A month later another team went down with Helping Hands for Haiti and delivered books for Sign Language and flash cards to continue to help Celentcia and her family.  One of the members of that team, the pastor of the church also knew Sign Language and could communicate some with Celentcia.
It was a continued moment of grace.

Drinking Water

Sometimes water is a challenge at my house.  Actually this is probably a huge understatement in general about the water in Haiti.  This is bathing water and drinking water.  I buy drinking water in 5 gallon jugs from Jacmel which is a city that is a half hour down the mountain on a bad rocky dirt road about 1/2 hour.  The family that I stay with, often share the water too, at least for the little one.  Often times it is gone before I realize it. Sometimes it has been a day or two until I could buy some more.  I don’t go without, I drink local filtered water which is safe – but really does not taste very good.  Or I go to neighbor's house and borrow some or buy bags of water or a bottle in the street ‘downtown’ Mizak.  But we get by and then go and buy some more in the city; lugging a 5 gallon jug up the mountain tied to the back of the motorcycle.  “Se la vi” That's life.
So say a little prayer when you experience this - it really is a blessing!

On the way home, God hit me with inspiration....with a flat tire.

On Sunday, Raphael and I drove to Sioux Falls to be there while the group that I went to Haiti with in January presented to their church about their experiences.  It is always a great joy to be with folks who have a mutual love for Haiti and also to share about experiences in Haiti.

On the way home, God hit me with inspiration.  Just as we pulled onto the interstate I heard a strange noise.  It sounded like something was banging up against the side of the car.  We pulled over, I opened my door, and there it was; the back tire was flat.  We were now on the interstate, pulled over to the side of the road.  I have changed tires before, so we stepped outside.  It was VERY COLD!  The wind was blowing - to make that cold cut through you like glass.  Car after car went whipping by us.  It reminded me of a blog, my friend Lee shared about the differences between people helping you on the side of the road in Haiti vs. the U.S. http://thegreenmangoblog.com/2013/02/23/car-troubles/ and I thought no one is going to stop so we better get to it.  (In Haiti someone would have already stopped and a dozen more people would have asked if everything was ok.)

                Most the time when I pull over with road problems, I end up getting help; one of those advantages of being a woman I will take.  But Raphael was out there with me, so I had no hope of anyone stopping.  We got the tire and the jack out.  Then had to take a break inside the car, it was so cold!  Finally we stepped back out and Raphael was under  the car, trying to find a spot for the jack.  All of a sudden, I see an older man with long wild crazy greyish hair blowing in the wind walking toward us.  My first thought is he looked like a man who could have been living out of the his car.  I looked at his car and he had a woman in the seat beside him and a bumper sticker indicating he might be a Veteran.  I felt bad for being judgmental but just as in 'giving' the people who are most likely to help are those that have been there.

                He immediately grabbed a ‘real jack’ (instead of the crappy ones that come with the car) and started helping Raphael.  After giving Thanks and more thanks; I wrapped my scarf around Raphael .  I was going to wait in the car and let the men handle it (after all I had a skirt on).  When I thought they were about done, I popped out of the car again – thanking the man profusely!  He let us know the ‘donut tire’ was low and the Canton exit was only two miles down the road, we could get air there.  Next thing that happened; Raphael looked up at the tall crazy haired stranger and said “HUG!” in his heavy accented English.   It brought tears to my eyes.  The gentleman then said, “I don’t normally stop for people anymore but God said maybe I needed to this time.” 

“God Bless You!”  Raphael and I both said.

                As we proceeded back on the interstate going 45 miles an hour with our hazards on, I found this new found stranger (our Angel) following us also going 45.  Now this is what the Haitian would have done – gone one step above and beyond.  You might get lucky and find a stranger to help you.  You might even be that stranger that helps someone.  But do you go the extra 2 miles at 45 (when you could be going 75) and take the exit with this stranger you decided to help just to make sure they got on their journey.  Our Angel came over to the car and told us where the air pump was at the gas station.  We both exchanged “God bless You’s” and then he headed back to the interstate.  A stranger, an angel that blessed us that day and made a difference in 2 people’s lives; not only changing a tire – but by helping restore my faith in humanity.

Just one More!

                   “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  ~Romans 5:3-5 ESV

This passage was shared with me in Haiti during a devotional time by a pastor who was a member of a team.  We were to reflect on the message of this throughout our day.  These are my reflections from some time back.



This passage reigns true in Haiti, now more than ever. The people had a hard life before the earthquake but they managed. Now their suffering is very much being tested. Many, many Haitians are displaced throughout the county side, with no homes or jobs – they are living with family or lucky to have a tent on the side of the mountain top. But still they love life. They praise God for what they have. They enjoy visits from family and friends and strangers and welcome them.


I was joking with a friend about how many people can ride a tap-tap (Haitian taxi)?
the answer – 1 more.
How many people will we visit on the country side on our walk to the lake?
the answer – just 1 more.
How many people do we feed when we have food? one more.

Isn’t this the way Jesus fed the thousands with so very little food. He just kept sharing and said one more. All those who are weary come to me and I will give you shelter – HOPE – Truly Isaiah's words in 40:31 are never more true than in Haiti. God bring them refuge – let them soar on eagles wings so finally, finally they may live in a world where they are not weary, they will not be faint and they will have peace. This is the true peace and meaning of Shalom. Peace in and through you our eternal Savior. And when, everyone feels the true peace of your Shalom, we will all know love and we will share it with just one more, maybe one more Haitian, one more Sri Lankan, one more Korean, one more American.

Jesus said that the poor will always be with us.  Many people have struggled with this statement. Why? Why do people have to suffer? Why will there always be poor? What is truly sad is many Haitians believe that being poor is their plight in life.  Jesus says their will always be poor among us. This does not mean to say we have no choice to change matters.   But I think until everyone gets it, until everyone understands we have to take care of each other it will be true. This is why we are supposed to truly love and share with our neighbor. We will always have the poor with us until we get it. Get the real message of Jesus’ love for us and for all people and our responsibilities for living a life of love and justice for all people in the world.  It no easy task, it is difficult. 




My hope this Christmas season is that you see the true meaning of the season.  It is not about getting the newest gadget, the new look of the year, or upgrading what you have.  It is to share the blessings you have already been given to others.  Share with just 1 more! ...the love of the Christmas Season.  Thank you Baby Jesus for teaching us to love.


The pictures are taken from 'Heifer International' Pass on the Gift
If you are interested in purchasing an animal and giving to Heifer please let me know the 1st UMC in Vermillion is doing it this year. 
You/I can send a gift to your loved one saying - For Example:
$20 was sent to buy Ducks and Geese in your name.  They are easy to care for and provide a hungry family with nutritious, protein packed eggs to eat and sell at the market. Or if you would like to give to the Kids Club Christmas party in Haiti I will have more info on the next blog.  Thanks.

Struggles and JOYS!?

“Stuck on crutches, stuck in bed, feeling just stuck.  I have a new found appreciation for my legs.  Our bodies really are amazing devices we are given to do anything we imagine and we so take them for granted.  I always have at least.  Even something as simple as walking and carrying something in your arms is a struggle.” ~Angelica

 I wrote these words sometime in the middle of July I think.  I had broken my leg and was losing it.  It is amazing the psychological trials you go through when you experience something like that.  It wasn’t really my leg that was the main problem.  It was all the other symptoms.  Not being able to do things myself being the main one!  I am very independent.  I love to do things for others, I am the care giver.  So when roles were reversed I felt miserable and helpless; completely dependent on others.

 “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”  ~ James 1:2-4

                JOY!?! Not what I was feeling.  I was trying to embrace – I actually did know I was going through some sort of trial so I tried to learn from it…but let’s be honest – it still sucked!  But learning I did.  I think maybe it taught me to be a better care-giver.  It showed me that persons needing help may not want the help, but are left with no other choice.  It tears at your self- worth and leaves you feeling helpless.  After a while I found myself even giving up trying and completely relying on others.  I thought I just can’t do this anymore and I was slipping into depression. 

I started searching for things I could do!  I made beads, and I talked with the staff – I let them talk out their day if they were having struggles and became a sounding board.  I was accomplishing something and encouraged them and …I felt better.  I felt, I had worth again and I found myself being able to do more.

I think this is something to think about when we are ‘helping’ others.  It should be a partnership with what each of you can do in the situation.  Sometimes in order to ‘help’ others you have to walk with them and help them see themselves again.  Encourage them to endure the trial and walk with them through it and in the end you both will have JOY!

Hope through suffering - Share with Just one more

Romans 5:3-5 ESV - “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

This passage reigns true in Haiti, now more than ever. The people had a hard life before the earthquake but they managed. Now their suffering is very much being tested. Many, many Haitians are displaced throughout the county side, with no homes or jobs – they are living with family or lucky to have a tent on the side of the mountain top. But still they love life. They praise God for what they have. They enjoy visits from family and friends and strangers and welcome them.

I was joking with a friend about how many people can ride a tap-tap; the answer – 1 more.
How many people will we visit on the country side on our walk to the lake; the answer – just 1 more.
And how many people do Haitians feed when they have food; - just 1 more.

 

Isn’t this the way Jesus fed the thousands with so very little food. He just kept sharing and said one more. All those who are weary come to me and I will give you shelter – HOPE – Truly Isaiah’s words in 40:31 are never more true than in Haiti. God bring them refuge – let them soar on eagles wings so finally, finally they may live in a world where they are not weary, they will not be faint and they will have peace. This is the true peace and meaning of Shalom. Peace in and through you our eternal Savior. And when, everyone feels the true peace of your Shalom, we will all know love and we will share it with just one more, maybe one more American, one more Si Lankan, and one more Korean. And that suffering of the Haitians will lead to hospitality to the world, sharing with just 1 more.

Jesus said that the poor will always be with us. And many people have struggled with this statement. Why? Why do people have to suffer? Why will there always be poor? But I think until everyone gets it, until everyone understands we have to take care of each other - it will be true. This is why we are supposed to truly love and share with our neighbor. We will always have the poor with us until we get it. Get the real message of Jesus’ love for us and for all people and our responsibilities for living a life of love and justice for all people in the world. Share with just one more.

Today was an interesting day in Haiti. (written about a year ago)

It is amazing how one day can go from awful to wonderful.  It started in Port au Prince and ended at my house in Mizak so it doesn’t seem so strange when you throw that in there.  I took Cassie and Adam to PaP yesterday so that they could catch their flights early this morning. 

We just stayed with some friends so I slept on the floor, a concrete floor with a carpet.  And there are so many more noises in PaP then in the countryside, music playing all night, cars passing by and people praying.  And it is hot, HOT, sticky nasty and no air conditioner, which is also makes the misquitos fun to deal with!  Needless to say even with the Benadryl I didn’t sleep so much.  We had to get up about 5:30am to see them off to the airport.  The drive there was not bad, not a lot of traffic.  They were safely on their way.

But we were off on our own journey back through the hot noisy city, trying to find several different Tap-Taps (trucks- of different sizes that serve as Taxi’s. They call them Tap-Taps because people tap on the side of the truck when they arrive at their destination.)  At one point in time in the main market strip in PaP we were not moving at all, for some time.  We decided to get off the Tap-Tap and walk  That was until I was walking in sludge, this nasty grey gunk on the ground and said we need to get back in a machine.  The nasty grey sludge was splashing up on my legs if we walked to fast.

 Lucky, we found a truck about that time.  It may have been one of the most interesting Tap-Tap rides I have had, or at least the most interesting conversations.  A lady boarded the Tap-Tap with her 4 small children under the age of 7, the youngest being about 5 months.  The boy was fussy and the other merchant ladies thought he was hungry as he was grabbing at his mother’s shirt.  The ladies in the Tap-tap ranging in age of 25-60 then proceeded to discuss breast feeding, talking about benefits of and how long and how many kids they all fed.  I couldn’t believe I was in my current setting listening to this conversation among knowledgeable women. 

                We finally arrived at the Bus Station to catch the bus to Jacmel.  After negotiating with 3 different vans we finally got one to let us take the 10 year old that was coming with us only ¼ of the way for free on Papi’s lap.  These normal sized mini-vans ride 19 with the driver.  You sit in rows 4 across; you are pressed up against the person next to you so tight you should know their life story.  If you think of the space you have on the airplane with the 3 seats across if it was a van you could squeeze one more person in that row.  So there we were I had 2 backpacks on my lap, my own and Yadlee (the 10 year old we were dropping off) was part on my lap, part on Papi’s lap.  Not to mention the 2 ladies on either side of us each had a lap full of goods too.  It was hot and miserable!  To survive, you really just end up sort of in a trance, sort of in a dreamy, sleepy state of mind trying to imagine you are already at home.

 When we dropped off Yadlee it seemed we were in heaven with all the room we had, now just squished between the 2 people with one backpack; riding in the middle of Papi and I.  Now time for some sleep, however shortly after climbing the mountain we ran into ‘road construction’.  Pretty much the whole mountain has become eroded and is falling down on the road, so we were waiting for what seemed like forever in this van with 19 people and no breeze!  I got out my DVD player, I don’t usually ever like to do this because it seems rude and I just don’t’ like to announce I have one.  But I thought it would pass time so I started ‘Julie and Julia’.  Once we got going though I had to stop it due to road sickness to many curvy roads to be watching a film.

                After getting off the van at DiMez and eating some rice and beans in a small restaurant and changing into shorts behind the shack or a restaurant, instead of my tight short skirt to ride the motorcycle; it was smooth sailing.  I was so happy to be bouncing up that mountain with the breeze, almost home! 

                Right after the road where I always think to myself ‘almost there!’, we see a family of 3 walking with 8 full size chairs and 4 small Haitian Kitchen Chairs (looks like a kid’s chair) on their heads.  I immediately nudged Papi, because since being in the country again I have been looking for dining room chairs.  We have 4 at the house for the 7 people who live on the property.  Which is usually fine because it doesn’t seem everyone is ever home at the same time, but when there were 2 more Americans at the house – I felt bad stealing the chairs from other family members.  After much negotiation we ended up with 4 large chairs and 1 small kitchen chair.  Our driver actually helped negotiate the price.  After arriving home I was so excited to be home, I sat and relaxed on my bed and a bit later I had new chairs show up on another motorcycle.  I rested from the long journey by taking a big nap on my bed.  We had left early enough that when I awoke from the nap I still had plenty of time to organize and clean in the house before dinner. 

The happenings of one day.