Haiti2020 – Missional Journey

2020 Haiti Mission break

I took a few days away from my regular activities at the mission and connected with my friend Pastor Francois Murat for a more culturally related adventure. I realized I had not had the opportunity to visit other parts of this beautiful island so this was much anticipated. Pastor Francois agreed to take me to the southern part of Haiti to visit the port city of Jacmel. As a point of reference Carries, where the Mission of Grace is located is in northwest Haiti.

Knowing we were headed to that region Pastor Francois asked if we could first visit the mountaintop village of Sheridan. Sheridan is supported by an organization Pastor Francois works with, and is the direct responsibility of one of his employees named Edward Delbrun. Edward, Pastor and I embarked on a five-hour car ride through Port Au Prince towards the southwest. At some point we started driving up the mountain in our 4-wheel-drive vehicle and it was readily apparent the car would not get us very far. Sure enough after about 10 minutes we parked the car and called for motorcycles to take us the rest of the way. After 30 minutes of traveling along treacherous goat trails and switchbacks on the back of these bikes the three of us reached the summit and Sheridan. You can get a glimpse of the magnificent view in the pictures below.

The coolness and clouds which occasionally obstructed the view of the valley below made me realize just how high up we were. The folks in Sheridan were friendly and the children were very inquisitive, particularly of the “blanc”, a term used to denote non-Haitians (that would be me). They peppered me with questions about where I lived, my family, what I did in the US, and why I was there in their village. We spent about two hours visiting with the children. One of the little ones was sitting with me and I noticed he was getting sleepy. Before too long he had fallen asleep in my arms.

While I thought the ride up the mountain was arduous, the ride back down was no piece of cake and we were all glad to get back in the car. Pastor Francois and I dropped Edward off and headed further west, and up over the southern mountains of Haiti towards the beautiful port city of Jacmel.

It was enjoyable playing the role of tourists as we walked the streets of this quaint town. There are many older buildings in Jacmel, some dating as far back as the 1800s. This town definitely has “artsy” feel to it which is evident on some of the streets and walls of several structures. Jacmel is high on my list of places to visit again when I am in Haiti.

On our way back to Carries we visited Lambi Village in Carefour. This is where I served the first three years as a missionary in Haiti. It was good to see faces I remember from the past. And it was heartwarming to be fondly remembered by people in the village I haven’t laid eyes on in more than six years.

2020 Haiti Mission update

It has been a while since I have updated you on the mission so this may be a little lengthy. By the way, when there is a grouping of pictures in my blog you should be able to click on the pictures and get a larger view.

They don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving here in Haiti. Knowing this I had planned to chill out that day and think on God’s goodness in my life. Around midday I received a call to come to the mission where I discovered they had planned a “Day of Thanks” very similar to our traditional Thanksgiving in the States. As I looked around during the celebration, I found many reasons to “give thanks”: the elderly lady getting her hair braided is terminally ill and she is lovingly cared for. Despite her age and infirmities she always greets me with a praise on her lips for God’s goodness…I am thankful she calls the Mission of Grace her home; Guivenson (in the green shirt) is a happy kid with a thousand-watt smile which he readily flashes often…I am thankful for his light; Jobez’ (in the orange shirt) legs are under developed, he can not walk and is confined to a wheelchair. However he gets so excited to see me because he knows WE will go for a walk when I am around…I am thankful for his miracle; although you can not see her face, Gabriella (yellow top) truly lives the words on her tee shirt in her personality…I am thankful for her joy; I love Marie Claude’s (in pink) passion and playfulness. I can see her maturity in God and I love the intensity in her prayers.

School ended for the Christmas recess on Friday December 18th so on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the week of December 21st the kids came over to the guest house to hang out with me and swim “in the ocean”. We had such a good time!

On December 23rd the children decorated Gingerbread houses. Things seemed to be going along pretty well considering there were almost 100 houses in various stages of “construction”. Much to my surprise most of the kids started eating their Gingerbread houses before they even finished building them. I guess I was the only one who did not know this was the plan all along.

We celebrated Christmas at the orphanage with the young people on December 24th. Mission of Grace is blessed to partner with a church in California which provides gifts for everyone. As I watched the kids unwrap their gifts I was struck by the care and thoughtfulness which went into each one. Madna, in the red dress below asked me to read the card in her gift and I was moved to tears by the words expressed. The kids were so very excited. Oh, her twin, Madna is in the white top and turquoise skirt.

On Christmas Day we spent time at the Elderly Home. Again the church in California provided personal and thoughtful gifts for each person. We had a brief program, the residents opened their gifts, and then we all enjoyed a tasty meal together.

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Finally, let me share with you a few of the people in my life here in Haiti:

I believe Marie France, pictured below is one of the reasons God didn’t bless me with a daughter. Two years ago she captured my heart while applying pink and green finger nail polish. I sometimes use the Haitian word “gaté” when we talk. In English it means “spoiled”. Judging by our expressions in the second photo below I most likely said something to that affect to her. Isn’t she gorgeous?

Ms. Julie and I got off to a rough start when I first came to serve here in 2015. I thought she was mean-spirited and a bully. On top of that she would not give me the time of day even if she was wearing a watch on both wrists. However, now we are as thick as thieves. She is often the first child to greet me when I come to the orphanage by wrapping her arms around my neck. Recently she asked me to comb her hair. While I have had a little bit of practice with my grandson Quentin’s hair, I really didn’t think I was up to the task however, Julie insisted. When I finished she thanked me and then told me she loved me. What more could a guy ask for.

Farouna is a loving child who has some “challenges”. Many mornings at school during the assembly she and I will stand off to the side while the other students are lined up. This not only keeps her from being disruptive, it also provides her with some one-on-one attention. A few weeks ago I drove Farouna to school which, I believe, was the very first time she had ever been in a car. She was so giddy and laughed so hard she literally snorted a couple of times. When we arrived at school she refused to get out of the car until all of the other kids saw her. You could tell she felt very special. My mom taught me that giving just a little love can pay huge dividends. And I try to love on Farouna every chance I can.

Samara came to the orphanage with her twin sister Selah a little over two years ago when they were infants. Their mother died not long after giving birth. Since I have been serving this year neither of them would give me the time of day and often ran from me. Selah finally allowed me to hold her but Samara, pictured here, held out until recently. She sat long enough for me to take this picture and then decided she had enough of me for the day. Although I am still not the first person she will come to, at least she no longer runs away screaming (she still runs away occasionally).

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Ryan’s Reflections

I left Haiti believing all the more heartedly that God is indeed close to the brokenhearted.

On November 11, 2020 I returned to Haiti after 10 days in the US and brought my adopted son Bryan Nails and my niece Ryan Arrendell along with me. For both of them it was their first opportunity to serve as missionaries in a foreign land. Bryan and Ryan had not met before arriving at the airport in Port Au Prince but took to each other right away. I can tell there is now a lasting friendship forged by their shared experiences during the five days they were in Haiti. Below are Ryan’s reflections the mission. Bryan’s experiences are shared in a separate post. Vernon.

2020 Haiti Mission Reflection by Ryan Lindsay Arrendell

To know the Haitian children, women and men served by Mission of Grace is to know God’s profound and unconditional love for His children. Haiti is a country that continues to be impacted by colonialism, capitalism and corruption. On my morning ride to the airport from Carries to Port au Prince, I saw buildings that were still standing, some barely, some surrounded by rubble, and the people who have made those buildings homes and businesses of many kinds. Just ten years ago, more than 220,000 Haitian lives were swiftly ended because of a devastating earthquake. Over 300,000 people were injured and more than 1.5 million became homeless. I saw those still living, those homeless, and from a distance, a mass gravesite. Carries, the village where Mission of Grace’s soup kitchen operated was burned and pillaged earlier this year because of civil unrest. Despite that, Mission of Grace’s school, orphanage, church, elderly home, and clinic still thrive.

Each day, children eager to learn arrive at the gates of the school, dressed in their uniforms. The day begins at the flagpole where the Haitian flag waves in the wind, as students join together in song and prayer. The focus is not on what they don’t have—like windows, running water or electricity—but what they do have: a safe space to learn with educators who are committed to their success, and a place where meals and clean water are available without question. It was an honor to be able serve lunch, observe the children learning and to help get computers, tables and equipment ready for the solar-powered computer lab that’s in the works.

When the school day ends, some children head home to their village. For many others, the Children of Grace Orphanage is home. There, they play, dance, sing, sleep, and eat in safety. In many ways, it’s like one big family. The children will quickly capture your heart with the sheer joy they have for living and laughing. I, “Madame Wyan”, was quickly welcomed by the girls. We spent afternoons talking, many convinced that I knew exactly what they were saying in Kreyol, learning games (I taught the hand game Slide, they taught me theirs), and challenging each other to arm-wrestling and thumb-wars because, why not? I photographed some of the children using my Fujifilm instant-photo camera—“Madame, photo?” I wished I had enough film for everyone. A four-year-old boy and I bonded as well. I often picked him up and walked around the grounds with him on my hip. He was quiet and observant but could sometimes be caught cracking a smile, even if only with his eyes.

It became harder to leave each day because of just how much a blessing the children were to me by just being themselves. The reality is that for many of these children, their lives have been colored by abandonment, abuse & other adverse experiences that are too painful to even imagine. And yet, their joy persists. For that, I am grateful. Through them, I see God’s enduring love.

On Sunday, it was a true joy to be in the house of the Lord! We sang songs that were recognizable by their melodies alone and became even more familiar when the praise & worship team would sing a few verses in English before returning to French or Kreyol. My years of French in school were certainly put to use during my time in Haiti, perhaps the most special moment when reading Psalm 40:1-5 from a weathered French bible. After service, we worked alongside Mission of Grace staff to sort items for a distribution that would provide over 100 people from the mountains and villages near and far with clothes and shoes for themselves and their families.

A charred portion of Ocean View, Mission of Grace’s resort property, is a solemn yet poignant reminder that God is with His people even in the flames. Earlier this year a fire partially destroyed one of the buildings on the property. Thankfully, no lives were lost and the building, though harmed, is still standing. The view of the Caribbean Sea, the sunsets and mountains are beautiful to say the least but truly beyond words.

It is evident that every single person working with and for Mission of Grace believes that how Haiti is amidst the unrest is not how it will always be and that audacious hope, love and humble service can counteract those profound C’s—colonialism, capitalism and corruption. I left Haiti believing all the more heartedly that God is indeed close to the brokenhearted and that indeed, blessed are the meek, the pure in spirit, the peacemakers, and those who mourn and are persecuted.

Bryan’s Reflections

“this experience…truly stained my soul, in a good way.”

On November 11, 2020 I returned to Haiti after 10 days in the US and brought my adopted son Bryan Nails and my niece Ryan Arrendell along with me. For both of them it was their first opportunity to serve as missionaries in a foreign land. Bryan and Ryan had not met before arriving at the airport in Port Au Prince but took to each other right away. I can tell there is now a lasting friendship forged by their shared experiences during the five days they were in Haiti. Below are Bryan’s reflections on what he saw and felt. Ryan’s experiences are shared in a separate post. Vernon.

AN INDELIBLE MARK by Bryan Nails

2020 Haiti Mission Reflections

Being close to and working alongside Vernon for so many years, I quickly sensed his passion for Haiti, the Mission of Grace, and the children of the orphanage. I knew that, before long, I would have an opportunity to go and feel what he felt so passionately about. However, I did not know it would happen so quick! I was fortunate to be one of two individuals sponsored through JJS Missions donors to make the trip and I am so grateful.

Arrival into the airport felt like a cultural immersion. There were a lot of people and they were all speaking Kreyol. Luckily, I flew with Vernon so it required little thought for me to get through the airport wickets. We were met by a good friend of his, Pastor Francois, who [as a local] readily guided us out of the airport to the transport vehicle. Although I had heard of the mass amount of the poverty that had stricken Haiti, actually seeing it was a very different and real experience. Literally right outside the airport in Port Au Prince were so many people who seemed to be in grave need. I could see how this could cause the violence and in-fighting amongst the citizens that is often reported. Following a quick meal while we waited for one additional traveler arriving on a later flight from the US we headed off to the village of Carries which was a little under a 2-hour drive.

We pulled into Ocean View, where the volunteers/missionaries normally stay, and were warmly greeted by Ms. Kim, the director of Missions, and the Ocean View Staff. The next morning we woke up to the waves crashing on the beach and a hot cooked breakfast. This is when I truly saw the beauty of Haiti. The velvety smooth turquoise waters, warm weather and beautiful mountainous ranges were enough to leave me in awe of God’s creation. How could something so beautiful be so wrought with poverty? The only answer that I could come up with is “man”. But just as the greed of man caused such destruction so could “we” [man] assist in the rebuilding of this beautiful place. And I believe that Mission of Grace [the Mission] is a major part of that plan.

So, let’s talk about the Mission!

Our first day was like a tour of the different parts of the Mission. We visited the school, the clinic, the home for the elderly, the orphanage and drove by the church. Each was very touching. I could see that Mrs. Lynn and her husband Pastor Jean sought to meet the needs of the community in creating this Mission. That’s what makes Mission of Grace so special! The clinic was staffed with a few nurses and a doctor that, even through the civil unrest of the nation, sought to treat the people who came in infirmed. I was able to personally donate some Albuterol to help those who might be asthmatic. I then found out that a child had passed away from breathing issues some time ago and maybe, if they had that medication, the child might have lived. Each day and each step through the Mission I learned that lesson, that each little bit helps, no matter what it is.

Our first interaction with the children was at the school. The school was simply a building, no AC, no electricity, no windows, and few doors – just a building with rooms. It’s easy for us to see despair coming from what we are used to in the US but the children were filled with excitement and unspeakable joy! I could tell that they took their studies serious and that the teachers were serious about teaching them. In fact, I felt as though we were interrupting their classes during our brief tour but the teachers were ok with the little break for us to say hello. We later served the kids their lunch for the day and were able to interact with them during their lunch break. You wouldn’t believe how excited the kids were just to see us, ask us questions and find out who we were. Most of all, they were thankful for us to come and spend time with them. In the coming days we went back to the school when class was out of session and put in some sweat equity by staining some tables and doors,

specifically for the Principal’s office and the new computer lab that would be stocked full of donated computer systems that the children would use for their coursework. This is a big deal for the school and it will be fully functional as soon as they are able to run electricity to the room. We also helped sort donated school uniforms for the children which were handed out while we were there.

While the kids finished their school day, we went to the home for the elderly, affectionately called the “Grandma’s House”. Entering this space caught me by surprise because I initially thought that the Mission was solely focused on orphaned children and I didn’t think about “orphaned” seniors. It was amazing to see that the Mission cared for and provided for ALL those who couldn’t care for themselves. The seniors are served 3 meals a day and have daily activities they could partake in as well as a bed to call their own. Many had been abandoned by their families because their needs outweighed their contributions. This was the heart of Mission of Grace on display.

Later that day, and the following days, because we enjoyed it so much, we went to the orphanage to spend quality time with the children. Honestly, there isn’t much to describe other than we went to have fun, play games, talk, dance and sing with the children. There are four separate homes at the orphanage and they are split up by gender and age group so the children can bond with one

another. I spent most of my time in the boy’s home. When I initially walked up, the first thing the boys said to me was “come play basketball!”. Not at all what I expected but like I said, there was unspeakable joy and love in the hearts of the children. They just wanted to play and get to know me. So that’s what we did. We played basketball, laughed, played Uno, Spoons, Jenga, sang, danced and laughed some more. The time there flew by…Vernon had to come get us every time it was time to leave. I titled this writing “An Indelible Mark” because this experience, especially with the children, truly stained my soul, in a good way. I made connections with some of the children that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Looking at their situation from a privileged perspective you see all of what they don’t have and wonder how they could be so happy? But when you get to know them and talk to them you realize that they don’t focus on what they don’t have, their only focus is on what God has provided them. If we could only have the mindset of these children, the world would be so different. I left the orphanage changed in a way that is indescribable. I wanted more and even made a special connection with one of the younger boys that rests on my heart to this day.

On our last day we attended church service, organized a clothing donation distribution for the village and went back to the orphanage. The church service was great. I don’t think I have cried so much in a service before in my life! Tears of joy and gratefulness to God for what He was doing through Pastor Jean, Mrs. Lynn and Mission of Grace. To hear all of the children singing praises to our God for what He has given them was the most powerful thing I have ever heard. Most of the service was in Kreyol but I honestly felt that I understood every word that was spoken on a spirit level. The Holy Spirit dwelled (heavily/strongly…) in that church house and I could only cry tears of joy for being able to witness His greatness. I recorded one the songs of praise and as I listen, I can hear God speaking through the mouths of the children. What a mighty God we serve…hallelujah! I thank God for allowing me to be in the place to witness this worship.

Following church, the donations from Alfred Street Baptist Church and other churches/organizations in the DMV were brought up and organized for distribution to the community. This was a highlight for the surrounding community [those not part of the Mission]. It was a full circle experience for me since I helped pack some of the very items that were being distributed. The

best part of this experience was to see Mrs. Lynn talk to the people about God and the vision that God had given her on the future of the village. This was a true evangelistic moment as some of these people were not believers in God, so to witness to them while they were able to enjoy what God had provided was a big moment that was not missed. They received clothes, food and a hearty word. We then went to the orphanage for our last day and to say our “see you laters” to the children. I asked the boys what I could bring them back when I returned…and they didn’t know how to answer but one of them said, “just come back”. So, while the material things might excite them, what really mattered was my presence and just being there with them. This spoke volumes to me.

Thank you to the benefactors of this trip for allowing God to use you in this way so that I could walk in the path God had laid out for me. It is through your generosity that this was possible. I cannot wait to go back. There is work to do, God’s work to do and I plan on seeing it through. For me, this experience was an encounter with God that He orchestrated and it might not be for everyone. If you are “on the fence” about going then that means it’s been placed on your heart…don’t tarry, GO! A blessing from above awaits you.

As I sit in reflection, I know that I am forever changed…forever grateful…and will continue to enjoy this ride.

selah

2020 Haiti Mission – November update

I came home on November 1st for a brief 10 day visit. Primarily it was to cast my vote in the general election during the last day of early voting in Maryland. I pray each of you also exercised your civic duty and cast your vote.

As some of you know God placed a vision in my spirit to start a nonprofit to support mission related activities. In December 2019 JJS Missions, Inc. was formed to spread the witness and love of Jesus all over the world. The inspiration for JJS Missions is taken from Acts 1:8 where Jesus commands His disciples to spread the “good news” in Jerusalem (this represents the 1st “J” in our name), in Judea (the 2nd “J”), and in Samaria (this is where the “S” comes from). I will share more about JJS Missions in a later post however, if you would like more information on us click here or go to http://www.jjsmissions.org.

Before I came to Haiti this September God placed a few people on my heart and told me to invite them to come serve with me. Although none of them were able to join me this time two of these individuals said they would like to sponsor two people to go in their place. I thank God for this gift as it allowed me to prayerfully consider inviting two individuals who may not have been able to serve. Thankfully Bryan Nails, who is like a son to me, and Ryan Arrendell, who affectionately calls me “Uncle V” said yes and joined with me to serve the Mission of Grace (MoG) for five days. Although Bryan and Ryan met each other for the first time at the airport in Port Au Prince, it seemed like they had known each other since childhood. As a matter of fact most people who met them asked first if they were boyfriend/girlfriend and, when I said “no” the next question was whether they were brother and sister. That is the kind of vibe these two have.

On Thursday (November 12th) we visited the elderly home and the clinic in the morning, and timed our arrival at the school to coincide with the children’s lunch/recess period. These two were an instant hit with the kids…everyone kept asking me their names and how long they would be here. Some of the kids were so engaged in conversations with Bryan and Ryan that I had to chastise them to get them to return to their classes after lunch/recess was over.

After untangling the kids, we were tasked with applying a coat of stain to some tables and a door which we completed in no time at all. And when the school day ended we joined with the children as they walked to the orphanage. As the kids changed into their play clothes and began their homework I gave Bryan and Ryan a brief tour the grounds of the orphanage and they had the opportunity to see how the kids live. There are four homes in this complex, one for babies and little people, one for girls, a boys home, and the teen girls house. There are nannies in each of the homes tasked with caring for their charges and a central kitchen where meals are prepared. I reminded them these missionaries that these kids are fortunate to have a roof over their heads, that there is always food to eat so they are never hungry, they have clothes to wear, and their medical needs are attended to. This is not the case with children in other areas of the country.

We had some downtime on Friday morning because a project we were scheduled to work on got derailed. In the afternoon we descended on the orphanage again for some more fun time with the kids. By the way, Bryan had quite a following of young ladies. I heard he was even queried at length about his age and marital status. You can see some of his admirers in the last picture below.

On Saturday morning we staged computers in the recently completed computer lab. The four tables we previously stained each accommodated three computers, that is 12 computers in all. I love the fact that Mission of Grace operates totally on faith. You see, now the computer lab is setup and ready to go but what is lacking is electricity to run the computers and internet/networking capabilities for the kids to use them. Even the lead administrator/teacher has already been identified! They know God will provide whatever else is needed and they want to be prepared to go when God does His thing…”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…”.

I had the joy of introducing Bryan and Ryan to the church during Sunday morning service. They both gave brief remarks and, without prompting, Bryan, paraphrasing Romans 8:28, and Ryan reading Psalm 40:1-5 from the French translation (in perfect diction I might add) encouraged the church to be patient while God is working and to have complete trust in Him. This was truly a proud poppa/uncle moment for me. On Sunday afternoon we helped MoG with a community-wide clothing and food distribution. Many of the items available for the residents of Carries were donated by my Alfred Street family, my Grace UMC (Fort Washington) family, as well as other organizations and individuals. The recipients were very grateful.

(Sunday, November 15th) This is the last day Ryan and Bryan will be here and it is difficult for them to say their goodbyes and leave the orphanage. And I see by the reaction of the kids that they don’t want them to leave either. I can tell my friends are forever changed by what they experienced and, to me, this is the greatest reward and my ultimate goal…to share with others what I love doing and have them love doing it also. I am so very proud of and thankful for them both.

After seeing Ryan and Bryan off, I went to the school for their daily opening ceremony. The kids gather each day before going to class for prayer, to sing the Haitian National Anthem, and raise the flag. I actually arrived a little early and Widline and Micherlange decided to see if they could improve my hairstyle. They didn’t accomplish much more than having a good laugh. Several other young ladies allow to me to take pictures of them in their new uniforms.

As the week progressed I try to stop by the orphanage as much as possible after school is over. Generally we play card games like Uno and Spoons. We also have had a few rounds of Jenga and dominos. I think the kids feel like I am their personal play date and I am alright with that. Oh, and the word is out that I love popcorn and it magically shows up on a regular basis.

2020 Haiti Mission (continues)

On March 6th I left Haiti to come home for a “couple of weeks”. However Covid-19 changed my plans as it gripped the entire world. On September 21st I was finally able to restart my mission commitment, praise God. I have had some serious challenges with internet access this time so I have not been able to blog. This is not an uncommon occurrence in 3rd world countries. Anyway, here is a brief summary of what I have been up to:

Kayaking

I met a young man who invited me to go kayaking. We have been on several excursions together and I am learning to love this. However, it is a lot of work.

Hands down my most favorite thing to do is spend time with the kids at the orphanage and, as you can see from the pictures below, they love posing for pictures. Periodically I will spend the night at the orphanage. The kids think my overnight visits are a special treat for them however their devotional time just prior to the younger ones going to bed is truly inspirational to me.

I conducted leadership meetings with the staff at the clinic, the school teachers and the elderly home in an effort to help these individuals understand their importance to the mission and ministry here. We also formed the Young Men’s Council. The council is comprised of boys 11 through 15 who are committed to modeling acceptable behavior and decorum for their younger brothers at the orphanage.

Youngmens council

There are several young ladies I have become very fond of during my time at the Mission of Grace. Pictured below are: three year old boss-lady Nyrah; Ms. Gloria, who periodically visits with me at the guest house; Marie France who celebrated her 18th birthday in October, and; Fabiola who is an anointed worship leader at the church.

The kids in Haiti had a trying 2019-2020 school year. September through December of 2019 schools were closed because of wide spread civil unrest in Haiti. And then Covid-19 shut things down again from March until June this year. The children were able to restart their school year in July, spending their summer making up for lost time. Some of the older students were even required to attend school on Saturdays and Sundays! The school year ended mid-October, and the 2020-2021 school year begins November 9th.

Judith (pictured below in the white outfit) and Fabiola (in yellow) successfully completed their studies and graduated from high school. These two young ladies are an affirmation of all that the Mission of Grace does as they encourage their wards to strive for higher and better. I am very proud of both of them. Judith and Fabiola

Finally, I am truly enjoying the beautiful tapestry God continues to unfold. Pictured below are a few of the moments I get to experience on a regular basis.

You are all caught up! – Love you, Vernon

2020 Haiti Mission – On Hold

Blessings.

I wanted to reach out to let you know that I am home and safe. I left Haiti on March 7th for a week-long vacation with Judy. My plan was to come home for a week after that and then return to Haiti. With the outbreak of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) the Haitian government has banned travel from the US into their country. This ban is open-ended. I pray it will be lifted so I may return.

Thank you for your prayers, Vernon

2020 Haiti Mission – Communion Feast and God moments

This past Sunday, March 1st, was the first one of the month. Once again JJS Missions along with the Mission of Grace provided a Communion Feast featuring a delicious meal of chicken and gravy, rice and beans, salad and a drink. More than 300 people in Carries were blessed by this endeavor. We were thankful to have the assistance of several young ladies from the orphanage, along with visiting missionaries, and the Mission of Grace staff to help feed them. Knowing that many of the children in the village received a substantial meal was heartwarming. What a joyous time!

I try to get to the school each day in time to help serve lunch, and I generally stay until the children return to their classes. A couple of weeks ago I saw Mary France, one of the older kids from the orphanage go into a classroom during lunch. I wondered what was going on so I went into the class also. I was surprised to see her feeding one of the students in the special needs class. His name is Angleson and he has been diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. Occasionally I would see him standing around while other children were running and playing. One day I invited him to sit with me and we quietly observed the mayhem that is recess at school. We have become regular lunch buddies. Angleson routinely seeks me out during recess…if I am upstairs that’s where he will end up. If I am standing downstairs he will come by and grab my hand. And if I sit on the step, his favorite place is on the step right in front of me. The other day as we were chilling I pulled out my phone to take a couple of pictures and did a selfie of the two of us. When he saw a picture of himself on my phone he could not stop laughing…he thought it was the funniest thing he had ever come across. Ms. Lynn said she has never seen him smile before! I know this was one of the God Ordained Moments…one of the reasons HE has me here.

Another God Ordained Moment happened at the soup kitchen today (March 5th). It really started the day before when I was at the clinic. There was a mother with what I thought was her very young child seeking medical help. I later saw her at the soup kitchen. She said she needed to talk with someone about her “situation”. No one was available to talk with her at the moment so she decided to come back to tomorrow. The next day when I arrived at the soup kitchen she was there and decided she wanted to talk with me. My Kreyol is nowhere near the conversational level so I asked Ms. Lynn to stop by on her way back to our guest house. The young lady’s story floored me.
The mom explained that her husband and brother recently died in an automobile accident and she was struggling to take care of twin three-month olds still at home in addition to the child she had with her. She had no income, no home of her own, and no way to provide for her family. In fact she was currently staying with friends and, even though it was a big burden she didn’t have any other options.

It turns out the “very young” child she was holding was in fact her four year old son who had not yet developed the ability to sit up on his own. Right away Ms. Lynn deduced the child has some medical problems which need to be addressed. However, without money no hospital would even give her an appointment, except of course the one operated by Mission of Grace.

After prayer and careful consideration, Ms. Lynn told me to take the child to the orphanage where they would clean him up and do an assessment. They would make sure the child was examined by the local doctor and, if necessary would take him to larger medical facility for a more thorough exam. In short, Ms. Lynn accepted another child into the Mission of Grace and would make sure he was cared for in every possible way. As we circled to pray for the mom and child I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit and realized this was another one of those moments I was to brought here to witness.

This will be my last post for a couple of weeks as I will be traveling outside of Haiti. I will be back in country around March 21st.

Blessings, Vernon

2020 Haiti Mission – Team work, help and art project

For the past couple of weeks I have been leading and assisting “short term” missionary teams who have come to Mission of Grace(MoG) to serve. It’s a blessing that everyone came with a gracious heart, willing to help in any way they could.

The first team was from the Tidewater area of Virginia. I had the pleasure of serving with both Rev. Crawley and Bro. Abel on previous missions. These two brought a lot of enthusiasm and laughs to the tasks they were assigned. In 4 days they managed to paint the new bathrooms at the school, install gutters on the boys home, and paint the exterior of the Grandma’s house, and found time to enjoy the children at the orphanage.

The second team of missionaries was from Hampton, Virginia. This team purchased toilets and sinks for the new bathrooms at the school, and brought much needed medical supplies for the clinic. They also refinished almost all of the benches and tables at the orphanage, and constructed new shelving and a closet for the girls home. In their downtime they had planned activities for the children. There were some very sad faces when this team departed to return to the U.S.

A few days ago a couple came to the MoG with three of their six children seeking help. They live in an area of Port Au Prince which is prone to violence. Bypassing a number of orphanages and help agencies, they traveled several hours specifically seeking out MoG. Their request was that the mission take their three youngest children, seven year old twin girls and five year old son into the orphanage. The parents have been struggling to provide food and shelter for their family and, out of desperation, thought the better option was to give their children to someone else to raise knowing they would be cared for. It was painfully obvious the parents loved their children and didn’t come to this choice hastily or selfishly

Rest asure the people who manage the MoG have a heart for children. Countless times children have been brought to the front gates and abandoned right there. Other times the signs of malnourishment, abuse, or neglect are so obvious that the mission will intervene. The newest wards of the mission came as infants whose mothers died during child birth.

Although it was a difficult and heart wrenching decision, the orphanage is at capacity and unable to accept these children at this time. It was apparent the children have been lovingly cared for, were clean, and very mannerable. While the parents had hoped for a different outcome, one of the leaders at MoG said, first and foremost it is there fervent prayer to try to keep families together as a unit.

The family was taken to the soup kitchen where they ate lunch. The mission also provided some groceries for them to take with them on their return journey. And a few of the missionaries serving here gathered to pray for the family and even reached into their own pockets to provide a monetary donation to the family. MoG promised to keep in touch with the family and to prayfully consider how they may be of assistance to them in the future.

As I reflect on this encounter, I am reminded, that no matter my situation or lot in life, I AM abundantly blessed. I HAVE shelter and the promise of a meal (not starving). I HAVE reasonable health. I AM surrounded by people who love and care for me. I AM covered under the wings of the All Mighty God. Psalm 91.

Friday (February 28th) I spent the night at the boys home. This is something I did when I was here in 2018. However, back then there was violence in the village and protests throughout Haiti. At that time the children were very frightened. My presence was reassuring that I was there for them and things were going to be ok. However this time it was obvious I was there just to hang out. While the guys were excited I was there, after a few minutes they returned their attention away from me and return to the movie they were watching. I was extremely tired but managed to sit with them for a while but I had to give up the ghost and go to bed before too long. Funny though, the question of the day (the next day) was, “are you sleeping in our house again tonight?

Saturday (February 29th) I did an art project with the younger children. It turned out very well and they seemed to enjoy themselves. For me, the real highlight was seeing the excitement in Jobez when it was his turn to participate. Thinking about it even now brings tears to my eyes…”Jobez tears”.

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2020 Haiti Mission – Tears, Work and Laughs

Each day when I come into the orphanage young Jobez gets so excited to see me that he is literally bouncing up and down. He is eight years old, has cerebral palsy and can not walk on his own. However, he knows that he and I will go for a leisurely walk throughout the orphanage because one of the first things I do is scoop him up into my arms and carry him around. He gets so much joy out of our walks but not nearly as much as I do.

I took him on a swing set recently and noticed a tear falling from his eye when we were done…”Jobez tears”. I want to believe that it was his first time on a swing and he enjoyed himself so much. Jobez has also gotten into the habit of making it difficult for me to put him in the highchair they use to make sure he doesn’t fall and hurt himself. It tickles me that he is that clever enough to do that. A few days ago, after I returned Jobez to his chair one of the children came up to me and asked if I was sad. He said I looked like I was going to cry. I WAS on the verge of tears but it was not because I was sad. I was relishing the joy of spending time with Jobez…those were “Jobez tears”.

Check out the laundry mat at the orphanage below. The “machines” are constantly in use as each child of age is responsible for washing their clothes.

On a recent visit to the Grandma House two of the mothers there had a boisterous conversation in Kreyol after I arrived. It seems that Ms. Fleurizia, pictured on my left and Ms. Servil both want to take me as their husband. I have learned if I kiss one on both cheeks, I had better treat the other one the same way. The good thing is I don’t have to offer a dowry of goats, sheep, cows, or chickens…they will accept me as I am with nothing. It doesn’t get much better than this. I feel abundantly blessed to be loved and accepted by these two women for who I am. Please don’t tell Judy…it’s our secret!

On Sunday February 16th I was asked to give the morning message at church service AND sing a song. With just one day’s notice I managed to bring a word entitled “It’s All Good” based on Romans 8:28. That really was hard work and I needed a 2-hour nap just to recuperate. I keep reminding God to NOT dial my number to don the pulpit. I pray He is listening. By the way, folks said it was a good message.

And finally, check out these photos. I just can’t get enough of these babies. Yes, there are several sets of twins.