View

I can't imagine that I'm the only one who has moments of clarity that come simply by a changed point-of-view.  Perspective is this wonderful gift that we are given.  With just a slight change of perspective, we are able to look at people and circumstances and see them in a new way. 

Today I joined my friend Sarah on a trip to Mirebalais, a beautiful community out in the Haitian countryside. After a week of uncertainty and unrest in the middle of this hot and noisy city, it was honestly good for my soul to get a little change of perspective. There is so much that threatens to steal hope and joy in this life and lately it has been heartbreaking to see Haitian friends walking through moments of joy-stealing fear.

While I have been completely safe and sound during this recent moment of civil unrest in Haiti, I know that this nation has felt the rumblings of uncertainty and instability that must certainly bring to the mind times in the past when this nation was shaken.  While there are positive signs both in the return to normal routines and movement in the government, the real hope comes in seeing God at work even in the midst of what we may view as unstable circumstances.

How sweet it was today to be able to drive out of the city and see it all from a distance.  From this perspective up in the mountains, this city with all of the concerns and uncertainty didn't seem so big or complicated.  From the mountaintops, this city looked small.  It reminded me of that little song that children sing - He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.  

It's silly and maybe not the most theologically sound analogy, but viewing this city from the mountaintop and thinking about the fact that circumstances and lives - they are all in God's hands.  For all of the worries and fears, doubts and frustrations, God is seeing this life from a different, eternal perspective and He is interested in that long view of things.  He's interested in writing the story of creation restored, the story of making all things new, the story of redemption.  And this is a story that sometimes requires us to take a different view in order for us to see His work in our daily lives.

Tonight I am thankful for the views I saw today - mountains are just good for this country girl's soul.  And, I'm thankful for those moments when God allows me to glimpse views of His hand at work in the ups and downs of life...  Much love in Christ, Jessie 

P.S. - I will be headed to my own countryside adventures tomorrow - leading teacher training at the Matthew 28 Ministry School in Bohoc.  I will be out of wifi and electricity for the next two weeks.  Most certainly I will be doing a fair amount of journaling and will update the blog as soon as I'm back in the realm of connectivity! 

Healing

The Jehovah Rapha (The God Who Heals) Home has a beautiful mission - to care for the needs of children in Port au Prince with special needs.  Pastor Dare and his wife Yphosia are an amazing couple who have been blessed with great compassion for a group of people who are often marginalized in Haitian culture.  The Jehovah Rapha Home welcomes children with special needs - physical, developmental, and psychological.  Nannies and Yphosia, who is a registered nurse, care for the diverse needs of the children.  

It is not an easy or simple mission as children with special needs are stigmatized and often abandoned by families who can't or won't find ways to care for them.  Finding property to rent with understanding landlords and neighbors has been a struggle for the Dare family and their crew of children.  

Today we got to visit the Dares and their kiddos at their newest home.  It was a short but very sweet visit.  We sang and played and spoke in broken Creole and English.  



This handsome fella whose little legs don't work so well was glowing with excitement when I helped him to stand up and walk and even dance around a bit - simple, pure enjoyment.

I love how the story of gospel-healing is being spoken into the lives of these dear ones whose bodies are so in need of healing.  Through each loving touch, each medical treatment, each changing of diapers and clothing, each spoon-fed meal, each kind and affirming word, each moment of patient care and attention, the workers at the Jehovah Rapha Home are declaring the message, "God heals!" to these children.  What a beautiful declaration of the hope we all need to cling to - that our God heals brokenness.  While these children may not experience complete relief from the physical and emotional pains of this life, they most certainly are hearing and seeing lived out the gospel of Jesus that provides healing for our souls and restoration with our Maker.

If you're interested in learning more about the Jehovah Rapha Home, check out the links below:

Don Shire Ministries - Jehovah Rapha Home

Don Shire Ministries - Jehovah Rapha Home - Facebook Page

Many thanks for continuing to follow along during this summer in Haiti.  Much love in Christ, Jessie

Wash

Water is a cherished and sometimes scarce resource in our world.  In Haiti there are huge water trucks that deliver bathing and washing water to cisterns.  Drinking water is sold on the streets and at water stations in jugs or in small, single-serving plastic pouches. 

With the recent civil unrest, the normal comings and goings of the city of Port-au-Prince were interrupted.  This included the buying and selling of water.  

When the teachers came in yesterday morning, we spent our normal time in devotions - singing and praying and studying together.  Then the teachers were invited to share any positive experiences from the last few days that would be defined by many as days of uncertainty and turmoil for this city. 

Miss Losita, a teacher of the little ones, stood up and shared this sweet, simple story of gospel presence in the midst of the chaos of this life...

During the unrest, Losita went to a neighbor who sells water.  Her family was out of water for cleaning and bathing.  This man is known for being unkind and unhelpful, but apparently they were desperate for water and knew this was the only source they could turn to with road blocks preventing normal traffic from coming and going.  

When Losita went to ask the man about buying water, he was true to his reputation and refused.  She went away discouraged but returned later asking again for water for her family to bathe and do wash.  He explained to Losita that he needed the water for himself as he needed to wash his children's clothing.  He was frustrated because his wife had been unable to make it home because of the manifestations that had blocked roadways.

Instead of mirroring the aggression and anger of this man, Losita offered to help the man with the wash.  I suspect that Haitian men are generally less skilled than Haitian women in doing the laundry - which here usually means a huge basin, some powdered soap, and a long while of scrubbing clothing by hand.  

When Losita got home, her mom asked her why she had helped the man, considering that he was such a terrible neighbor.  Losita explained simply that the gospel isn't shared in what we say, but in how we live.

So, as I think on the recent unrest and trouble in Haiti, I'm thinking about a sweet Haitian lady who determined that what God wanted her to do in the middle of the chaos was to help with the wash.   I'm praying that I'll have a heart that is so gospel-focused that I'll be watching and waiting and ready for moments like these to live out the grace of Christ in everyday, ordinary ways.

Teachers take a break from the summer institute to watch the World Cup.

Many thanks for continuing to follow along on this summer in Haiti!  In Christ, Jessie

News

I am not really a news watcher.  Sometimes to my shame, as my students will occasionally come to school with questions or comments about current events that I've no knowledge of because I've failed to turn on the news or open a newspaper.  

It's not that I don't care about what's happening in the world, it's just that I find myself getting frustrated and cynical when I often hear news reports that sound sensationalized and smack more of soap opera than facts-based journalism.  

The recent events in Port au Prince seem to have fallen into the hands of worried, maybe well-meaning, folks who are keen to highlight the acts of violence and unrest rather than the countless acts of kindness, generosity, and hospitality occurring across the city.  It is frustrating to be here and feel like the news that is spread about this city is only the bad.  I know that it is tricky because the situation is complicated and changing, but reports of only the saddest and worst parts of a place and moment in time don't seem productive.  It doesn't build up this place or these people, it doesn't speak life and hope into these families and communities when the only news spread is negative.

And it is also frustrating to be waiting for news of what's yet to come.  Today the people of Port au Prince are waiting to see if roadblocks and manifestations will continue or if the normal rhythms of life will be restored.  So far, the news is positive - cars are driving up and down the roads in our area, planes are coming and going from the airport, the mechanic and builders next door are busy at work, and I see children playing soccer in the streets.

Just as the city is waiting for news, so too my family is waiting for news.  The results of my Mom's tests are meant to come in today.  Even as her body heals from recent surgery, we wait for the news that tells us the root of the trouble.  

I've been thinking a lot about news today.  And I've been praying.  Praying that the news on my lips and in my ears would be flavored by the Good News.  Whether it be the news of unrest in Haiti or news about my Mom's health, I'm praying for faith to hear all of these things through the megaphone of hope and peace in the Good News - the gospel - that God is with us and He is for us.

Yesterday when we went over to visit with the children from the Rev Home, Wilna, one of the older girls, was talking politics... This is another one of those topics that I'm generally fairly removed from.  In my heart I know that as Christians, as those who hold onto Good News, we need to be engaged in the government systems of this world.  

As we talked about things in Haiti, Wilna asked, "What would you do to fix a country?"  It was a big, broad, general question that honestly left me speechless.  My response was a shake of the head and a shrug of the shoulders.  It was really no response at all.  I've been thinking about it since Wilna asked and I think the answer is this - I would, should, and can even now, speak Good News into this country and into my own country.  I'm not sure what news will flash across your TV screen or social media feed next, but I'm praying that it would be taken in and shared out ringing with the melody of the Good News that we hold to, and sometimes desperately cling to.

Many thanks for following along with me on this summer in Haiti which has twists and turns that I didn't anticipate, but are absolutely not news to our good and faithful God!  
Much love in Him, Jessie

P.S.  Here are a few shots of times spent with kids from the Rev Home lately, because somehow just seeing their smiling faces and knowing they are growing up so well can make the burden of any news feel lighter...

Sweet Magdala - she's growing up so beautifully!  

We made a chain of paper cranes together 

and I loved every minute of it!

The boys watching Minions... I couldn't help but think that this crew of little rascals have a fair amount in common with the silly, trouble-making minions ;)