Category: Haiti2017

THURSDAY morning I joined the group of missionaries headed to the school. We spent an hour or so interacting with the pre-K students. They were a lively bunch who enjoyed the various learning activities we presented. After that I took a different group to the soup kitchen. Although it was their first time serving there, it was also the last opportunity we will have to do this in 2017. As a matter of act when I shared that message with Lenice she grimaced at the reality of it. The group spent a pleasant hour serving food and cleaning up the kitchen area before we headed back to meet the entire team. After lunch two groups from the team headed to the Children of Grace where we spent an enjoyable afternoon. I was disappointed I didn’t get to see bossy Ms. Julie one last time. She took a nap when she came in from school and never came out before we had to leave. During our evening debrief we learned that a mother delivered a baby at the clinic earlier in the day. It turned out to be one of Cullen’s “ladies” named Gailine who suffered from placenta previa. She had two previous miscarriages and, in fact, the doctors at the clinic sent her to a hospital because of the potential complications with her diagnosis. It was a joy to hear both she and the baby had fared well.

FRIDAY was the last full day the team would spend in Haiti. We went to the Haitian cultural museum and then stopped at a nearby resort to have a late lunch. When we returned to the guest house the teens were already having a great time. We joined them at the beach and spent the remainder of the daylight hours just having fun. The goodbyes were a little tough. One teen tearfully was clinging to a missionary not wanting to let her leave. Ms. Faviola gave me the biggest hug and said she was really going to miss me. It was tough holding back my own tears after that. My son Paul came from Port Au Prince once more to visit. We spent the evening talking and playing pool. I did not sleep very well the night before so I had to call it an early night.

We rose to bright sunshine on SATURDAY morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast outdoors. The team packed their suitcases the night before so we were able to leave on time to head towards Port Au Prince for our flight home. We stopped by the 2010 earthquake memorial on the way. There are reports that up to 300,000 people were buried at this site. Our travel to the airport was completely uneventful and we were able to board our plane to return to the U.S. We are grateful for a rewarding time in Haiti and traveling mercies back home.

On Sunday this mission team contributed $400 (US) to purchase a weeks work of food for 20 needy families in Carries. Monday through Thursday a team is scheduled to go into the village to make deliveries to five homes each day. On WEDNESDAY morning I joined four other missionaries to take our turn making deliveries. As we went to pick up the food we came upon an elderly man sitting on his porch. Mr. Eluonie is well known in the village and I have often spoken to him and visited with him as I walked to and from the village. That morning we stopped and had a word of prayer with him. In August 2015 his former home was totally destroyed by a mudslide and he was buried up to his neck in mud and rocks for 3 days. His neighbors had to dig him out by hand because there were no tools or machinery in Carries to perform that task. He is a living witness of God’s grace and mercy, and he often had a word of praise as I passed by his current home.

The first house we visited was home to a mother of eight and she was happy to receive the donation. She has lived in the village a long time and had words of praise for the assistance she had received from the Mission of Grace over the years. I happened to pick up her youngest child while we were talking. As we were headed to our next stop I realized my shirt was a little wet. Almost immediately it occurred to me that her son had baptized me. A friend of mine shared, “if God can turn wine and bread into blood and flesh, surely He can turn pee into an anointing”.

As we continued to our next stop, I couldn’t help but laugh when I realized we were headed back to Mr. Eluonie’s home. I told those who were assembled there was no need to pray for him because we had already done so. However, Mr. Eluonie blew me away when he said, “that was the quickest God had ever answered his prayer”. You see he was hungry and in desperate need of a blessing. Little did any of us know that God had already worked it out.

Our travels took us to several other houses. One elderly woman told us she had trouble walking and thus had a hard time making a living. She shared that the food would be a tremendous blessing to her. Our final delivery was also to the home of a woman. I had met her on my walk with Cullen a few weeks ago. She willingly shared with the group that she had cancer and in fact freely lifted her blouse to show us her wound from a surgery to remove a mass from her breast. Cullen told me that cancer can be a death sentence in Haiti because cancer-fighting drugs are costly and thus unavailable. However, if it was not for her testimony we would not have know the extent of her situation. She, like everyone we met that day only asked that we pray for greater faith and trust in God.

Not only did these missionaries set aside $400 to feed families, they also contributed $150 to purchase food for an orphanage not affiliated with Mission of Grace. The donation meant 21 children would have enough food to last them for 30 days. Often these children don’t even get one meal a day. The “little orphanage” as we refer to it, is a place I look forward to visiting because the children are always so appreciative. When we last stopped by there a few weeks ago with the previous mission team, we noticed a little girl who showed signs of severe malnutrition. It was good to see she showed signs of improvement. She looked healthier, participated in our activities, and she even smiled at us. The pastor and proprietor of the orphanage expressed his appreciation for the much needed gift of food.

After dinner we surprised Missionary Nicole Jackson with a cake to celebrate her birthday. We also said farewell to Cullen Vane who headed back to the United States after spending 7 months walking the trails and hills of the village. Like all who serve, he is headed home for a period of rest and rejuvenation. Cullen has been an exemplary missionary who travels far and wide. Everyone in the village knows “Mr. Cullen” and often as we have walked goat trails people call out to him. He has used is own funds to purchase food for those in need. He has personally carried or escorted many people to the clinic to get needed medical help and medicine. He embodies the Spirit of the Living God and I am sure if he encountered the woman at the well, he too would have stood with Jesus to defend her. His love for the babies and the elderly will be greatly missed. Many times in the last few weeks some people have referred me “Mr. Cullen”. I know they mean it as a compliment and I proudly wear it as a badge of honor.

The mission team from Lott Carey which arrived on Saturday has 22 people, with 16 never serving in foreign missions prior to this one. There are four individuals who were members of last years mission in Carries. They range in age from their mid-twenties to eighty-plus years old. I am uber excited to serve as their mission lead. I want them to get a taste of the glory I have experienced serving here in Haiti for the past 6 years, particularly what God has shown me during the last five weeks at Mission of Grace in Carries. I look forward to ushering them into the joy of serving God on the mission field and I take that responsibility seriously.

We awoke to a bright and sunny SUNDAY and enjoyed a delightful breakfast outdoors. I had the pleasure to introduce the team during church service. Just prior to the sermon Faviola, a spirit-filled teen with the mission, and I rendered a song together. We sang both in Kreyol and English. Pastor Duane Kay from First Baptist Church of North Brentwood, Maryland is a member of the team and delivered a powerful message of faith and hope in Jesus.

Later we invited the young people in the mission to join us for a period of constructive fun and an afternoon snack. They had a ball making jewelry for themselves and creating whirly things which we will give to the young children later in the week. The goal today was to spend time getting to know each other and, judging by the smiles and hugs which were freely given, I would say we accomplished that goal.

Around 4pm we began packaging food which we will distribute in the village to needy families later in the week. Each of twenty families will receive a delivery of rice, beans, dried fish, tomato sauce, spaghetti, meal, flavoring and spices. This food should last a family of five to six for at least a week. I am proud of the effort these missionaries put forth on their first day.

The various activities these missionaries will participate in this week were designed to push and challenge them spiritually, mentally, and physically. I have purposefully setup a very aggressive schedule for them and they hit the ground running on MONDAY with a tour of the various ministries which make up the Mission of Grace. After the tour a few of them get the opportunity to serve at the soup kitchen. The 22 servants are broken into smaller teams and headed out in different directions in the afternoon. The men ended Monday’s missional activities by leading bible study. The entire team ends each day recapping our experiences. The theme for our recap is “how did you see or experience God today as you served?” I thoroughly enjoy listening to how God revealed Herself to these servants on a nightly basis.

TUESDAY I joined the team going to the construction site to help build a house. The “Lott Carey model of service” encourages missionaries to come along side the natives we are serving to HELP them with various projects so we must wait while the men here get setup. After they get organized we all circle up for introductions and prayer. Our group was assigned the task of moving cement blocks into position so they could be used to build the walls of the house. The work was hard and arduous but the team served with enthusiasm. Of course I couldn’t resist playing with and loving on the little 2 year old who lived next door to the site. I was able to easily coax a smile out of him.

During the afternoon I served with the teams which went to the Children of Grace. We spent time holding babies, blowing bubbles, and playing card games and dominoes with the older children. Bossy little Ms. Julie saw me and said “Mr. Vernon push me on the swing”. It wasn’t exactly a request but you could guess where I spent a majority of my time. Julie is pictured in the white and pink dress below.

While the women went to church for bible study we invited the young men of the mission over to spend time with the us. It was delightful talking with them about God and sharing wisdom with them.

I took Paul to visit the various ministries which make up the Mission of Grace on THURSDAY morning.  It is Thanksgiving day in the U.S. and it felt a little surreal being in Haiti but our hosts did a masterful job of preparing a feast to celebrate this American tradition. About 20 guests including Pastor Francois Murat, a Haitian national who has served as Lott Carey’s liaison here in Haiti since I have been coming, were treated to staples for this holiday. The menu included roasted turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes, along with some traditional Haitian dishes like fried plantain, rice and beans, and fried pork. For desert we had apple pie, brownie cup cakes and ice cream. We also enjoyed a nice red wine which, coincidentally, bore the same name as our hosts, Pastor Jean and Lynn JOSEPH.

Schools are closed on FRIDAY so Paul and I went to see Shiena early in the day. He asked if he could work with her today so I sat quietly and observed their interaction. I (think) I get a glimpse of what I look like as he intently and patiently took her through the lesson. I could tell Paul enjoyed helping her, and he had the added advantage of speaking Kreyol so things flowed a lot smoother. We headed over to the soup kitchen afterwards and I beamed with joy as I watched Paul serve and envelop the little ones with extra TLC.

We spent the afternoon talking and enjoying each other’s company. We even went for a boat ride.

I was asked to participate in the baptism of nine candidates from the Grace Community Church. A good representation of members showed up to witness this very sacred event. Pastor Jean asked me to speak a word of encouragement to them before they were baptized. Using Matthew 3:13-17 as my text I reminded them that physically, they would be no different when they came up out of the water, just wet. However, in the eyes of God their life was truly changed at that point. I also shared with them that they were walking in Jesus’ feet and to not take that lightly.

Paul must return home tomorrow so we sat and talked well into the night. We ended our night as we had the past two, holding hands and praying for each other. I am a little tearful as I walk to my room.

SATURDAY we drove into Port Au Prince to meet a group of 22 missionaries I will have the pleasure of leading for the next 7 days. Paul and I stopped by our favorite restaurant for a light meal and then headed over to the airport. He helped me get luggage loaded on our bus and my charges settled in their seats before he got on a taptap and headed back home. Tomorrow I begins the final week of my 2017 HAITI MISSION.

Just when I thought I had done all I needed to do in church on SUNDAY as I was finishing breakfast Ms. Lynn says she wants me to sing “My Hallelujah Belongs To You” this morning. And I found out I am leading the men’s bible study on Monday. After service Faviola comes to me and says that was one of her favorite songs and she would like me to help her learn it. Ms Faviola is one of the praise and worship leaders at Grace Community Church and I can tell she is sold out for Jesus. “Of course” is my response and we set a time later in the week to work on the song.

TUESDAY Cullen, Reuben and I decide to go for a walk up the mountain. At first we talked about going to find a turkey since it is Thanksgiving later this week but we didn’t have the heart or energy for the +2 hour trek so we resolve to take the scenic route to Cap Calen to purchase sandals for the six young men at the mission. We see Whitlove on our journey up. This is the girl who has downs syndrome. She is all smiles and hugs as we stop by for a brief visit. Cullen’s prayer is that she is taken in and cared for at Mission of Grace. Of course we speak to and chat with people along our journey.

Even though I already know the view was spectacular up here I still get caught up when I see it. We came across a small, open sided school near the end of our ascent. Through our limited understanding of the language we find out from Madam Richardson, one of the two teachers, there forty-four students. We also pick up a young guest along the way. He joined us when we were near the school so I suspect he would love to be in school but his family doesn’t have the money. As we were resting from our journey we are joined by two beautiful young ladies who bear a striking resemblance to our young male visitor.

Cullen purchased some lollipops and gave them each one. After we recovered from our hike up the mountain we went a short distance to visit a lady Cullen met earlier who is an amputee. As we were talking with her our three young visitors, their mom and a younger sibling came over…it turns out they were next door neighbors. We said a word of prayer for them and headed on our way to make our purchase.

WEDNESDAY we finished our breakfast and walked to the clinic. It’s mother’s day…when moms-to-be get sonograms utilizing the “clinic in a can”. It’s a miracle that this technology even exists in this village. And again ALL services offered and ALL medications dispensed at THIS clinic are free. On our journey we came across a very pregnant young lady named Atonia. Cullen had been encouraging her to go to the clinic

“Clinic In A Can”

for some time and today he refused to take “no” for an answer. When the three of us arrived the place was packed with pregnant women. I immediately went to the “can” to see the doctor in action. While he was doing an exam I asked how many patients he had seen and was surprised by the answer; twenty-five…the clinic had only been open for 75 minutes. Cullen and I were both in the can when Atonia came in. This was her first visit since she became pregnant. The doctor told her she was 34 weeks and that she was having a boy. She was only a couple of weeks away from her full-term and had not seen a doctor.

I headed to the soup kitchen after I left the clinic. As I neared my destination I spot Billy about the same time he saw me and I could see his face light up. I realized one of the joys I look forward to on a daily basis it being his playmate. I get the impression this routine was working for him also.

Paul, the young man from Port Au Prince Judy and I have been sponsoring came to Carries for visit today. I arranged for us to spend quality time through Saturday. I introduced him to Shiena as we began our daily tutoring session and he jumped right in to help. He shared with me that he tutors a girl in his village in math and English. After we finished with Shiena we go back to Cap Calen to pick up the items we paid for on Tuesday. As we were walking there we passed a school where the students were singing “Here I Am To Worship” in harmony and it sounded so awesome. After we finish dinner Paul and I sat and talked for a long time.

It occurred to me that this week marks my halfway point…I have just a couple of weeks left here in Haiti. And what a week this has been! My time here has exceeded all of my expectations and has really wet my appetite for more. I wonder what God has in store for me in the future?

School is closed Friday so on THURSDAY I give my morning math students their final exam. They have all shown improvement in their ability to work through division problems so I am releasing them back to their classroom after they complete a 30 question test. They all did exceptionally well.

I go up the mountain to take a look at the houses the missionary team is building so I am a little late arriving at the soup kitchen. And the police arrive shortly after I do to take a lady into custody for an assault which happened in the village earlier in the week. It has really upset many of the people here including LaNice who is crying as she serves up lunch. I stop her at one point so we can pray together.

On my way to my 3pm appointment with Shiena I ran into Claudi. He was bending over what I thought was a discarded  plastic bag. As I looked on I realized he had taped two plastic bags together to make a kite. I must admit I watched in wonder as he and another child ran around having the best time.

When I got to the Children of Grace I find there is a lot of activity. Since Shiena has a hard enough time staying focused with minimal distractions, I already know our session today is not going to go well. After a few minutes of trying to keep her attention I gave up and gave in. I opened a bag of Strawberry Twizzlers and we started having fun. Young Abraham was there and I realized right away he was not a fan of Twizzlers…shame on him! We had the best time playing around and making funny faces.

After breakfast on FRIDAY morning Cullen and I went into the village. It was his birthday and he wanted to celebrate it by loving on people. As we meandered along this  long circuitous 6-mile route the question was raised, “why did we come this way?” God was quick to answer this question as we stopped along the way to visit with and pray with people.  At one point while we were walking we heard someone singing “You Raise Me Up”. We couldn’t resist singing along as we moved past the house…that’s why we came THIS way. We also stopped by the Grandma House a share a soft drink with the residents there and get showered with love…that’s why we came THIS way. Little Ms. Abilene, who stays at the Grandma House, was absolutely giddy when she saw Cullen. Abilene has sickle cell anemia but she is one of the happiest children I have run across. She sat in her pink chair, wearing a pink outfit AND her toes were painted hot pink. She may not always feel her best but on her good days she is truly a bright light…that’s why we came THIS way. I ended my workday at the Children of Grace enjoying these precious bundles of joy…that’s why we came THIS way. Oh, seeing a port-o-potty door being used as the entryway to a property was one of the funniest things and made going THIS way so worth it!

SATURDAY Cullen and I accompany 10 children to a place in the mountain called The Grapes. It is a mausoleum where two wealthy people who lived in this region are buried. We took several of the tweens (early teenagers) with us and it was a real treat for them to go on an excursion like this. It took us more than an hour to trek uphill, on goat trails, through a forested area but once we arrived the view was breath-taking. You could see the entire valley below. This place was very peaceful and well kept. There was a caretaker onsite and you could tell he diligently tends to the area.  And there really was a small grape vineyard there. The best part of this heart-pounding, muscle-aching, sweat-dripping journey was the quality time we spent with these young people. They joked Cullen and I about avoiding the numerous piles of animal poop both on the way up and back. We stopped and had soft drinks before we escorted them back to the Children of Grace. We made it back to the village in time for me to serve at the soup kitchen. I needed a shower and a nap before I could face the remainder of the day.

I presented the message at the Grace Community Church on SUNDAY. Man was it nerve-racking! I have new found respect for those who stand regularly to deliver the message to a waiting congregation. I told God immediately afterwards  “no mas” but then remembered that was Spanish and not Kreyol. However, since She is an all knowing God I know She got the message…at least that’s my earnest prayer. Lol.

My text was James 1:2-8 and the message was an encouragement for us all (I told them this message was really for me) to stay the course which God has laid out for us no matter what events may occur or what things look like. The passage in James begins by saying we should rejoice WHEN we have trials. It doesn’t say “if” but “when”. And my first point was throughout our lives we all should expect to be tried and tested. However, we need keep our faith intact no matter what because God is ever present to help and guide us…if we would only ask Him. An illustration I used to get my second point across was that of a wood craftsman. The craftsman begins with piece of wood (raw material), tools, and an idea in his mind of what the finished product will look like. He then methodically and patiently works at it until it is complete. The take away here was we are the raw material God is constantly shaping and refining until we become the masterpiece She had in mind. However, we must be patient as She molds and makes us. We must not try to rush to the end…God has a specific plan which will unfold/take shape in due time. Finally, utilizing the message in Verse 6, I shared that we can’t be like the sea and allow the rolling tides in our lives (the ups and downs), the winds (those things which may have a strong/powerful impact on us), or the gravitational pull (those people and things which attempt to move us from where God wants us to be) to dictate our direction. We must remember to rely on God for wisdom and trust that She will give it to us because, (we know) God is always faithful.

SUNDAY afternoon Mr. Cullen tells me to come take a walk with him up the mountain. His passion and heart for the people here have taken him all over the mountain for the past 7 months. As we embark on our journey we stop regularly so he can visit with people. With personal funds he purchased enough food for a few days and a couple of bars of soap for a family in need. Today’s recipient is a young lady with 3 children. As we approach I can see the two younger ones have the distinct profile of being malnourished…protruding bellies and thinning, reddish hair. I am astonished to watch the older child dig into what I know is an empty ketchup package with his finger trying to get a morsel of sustenance from it. Cullen kisses each of them on the forehead and then grabs the soap from the bag and tells the mother she has to wash her baby who is soiled and smelly. It’s as if she needs to be reminded to do so. He then hands the baby to me and we circle up to pray. He explains that the mission offered to take the mother and her children in but she has refused. She knows about the village soup kitchen where she can get free meals but she doesn’t avail herself. Nor has she taken her children to the free clinic in the village. At least she has food for a few days and the family is on his watch list. Cullen says he will check back with them in a few days. As we leave he is chastised by others near this family because he didn’t bring them anything. He tells them he will try to bring them something the next time.

Around 9am on MONDAY I head over to the school and greet the smiling faces of my 4 students. We spend an hour or so going over multiplication tables and solving 2, 3, and 4 digit multiplication problems. About 11 am I head down to the soup kitchen to serve meals and help clean tables. I was a busboy when I was a teenager and, while I liked earning $1.60 per hour back then, I didn’t really care for the work. I must admit I look forward to my “job” and the time I spend here. Also admittedly, not being more conversant in the language is a hindrance as there is always quite a bit of lively conversations going on.

After I am finished I walk over and check on the progress at the construction site where the team was working a week ago. The walls have been constructed but the materials for the roof have not arrived yet. This 3-room house with an outdoor cooking area will be the home of  Dedine, one of the cooks at the kitchen. She introduced me to her son Levinski on Sunday and I found Yvens, one of my math students, is also her son. There are two other children I haven’t met. I ask Dedine if she is anxious to get in her new home and her answer is a very polite smile and nothing more but I guess I really know the answer. Below are side-by-side pictures of her existing home and partially completed new home.

I am free to roam the village and often take casual strolls to and from my work assignments by myself, logging 5 to 7 miles a day. Everyone I meet is friendly and often the “bonjou” we exchange is given in a sing-song-y way (I know that’s not a word but it works). Most people know right away I am a visitor or “blanc” as we are called. There are no paved roads in the village and many of the paths we use are rocky so I often find my focus on my footing as I walk. Take a look at the path I walk between the school and soup kitchen in the photo below.

I complete my afternoon assignments and head back to the guest house to finish preparing for tonight. This evening the men gather at the church for bible study and I have been asked to lead it. I chose Acts 1:8 as my focus text where Jesus commands the disciples to go and witness “to the uttermost parts of the earth”. The central theme for the men for the past few weeks has been “discipleship” so this text is right in line. Surprisingly the turnout is good. There are twice as many men as we had the previous week. We talk about being effective witnesses not only in what we say but what we do. I remind them that everyone in the village is watching them. Just as we start to get into the meat of our discussion there is a heavy downpour. We wait a few minutes because the rain hitting the tin roof make it difficult to hear. After about 15 minutes of continuous rain we are advised to head back down the mountain immediately just in case there is severe flooding or mudslides. We heed the advice, stop our study, and hop in a car to return to the guest house. May be we can pick this up again next week.