Christmas in Haiti

Monday was the party at Agape for the school kids and the kids in the Sunday school class. We arrived early to decorate and when the kids were arriving we danced to music. Once everyone was there some of the kids went up front to perform a song or recite a poem. They have Christmas songs but I didn’t recognize any of them as being translated from English. Santa is Pere Noel (Father Christmas) here. After singing we had snacks and then presents. The child had each drawn a name at the beginning of December. Carline picked up each gift and the child who bought it went up front and said who it was for. That child came up and said thank you with a kiss on the cheek. This is a normal gesture. When we greet each other we shake hands and touch cheeks.

Tuesday we went to Mirebalis for the Christmas party at Loving Hearts. The kids were all dressed in their nicest clothes and excited to see us. After decorating we all sang songs and danced. Martin passed out the presents we brought and everyone played with their new toys until it was time to eat. We had a special dinner and got pop. We had to leave after that to get back for the youth party.

Since the first week I was here I have been hearing about this party on Christmas Eve that the youth throw. Lienka and I dressed in our nicest dresses (think Homecoming dance). We left the house around 9:30, which is usually when I am falling asleep, but I was excited. We arrived at church and were escorted to our seats. A group was already up front singing. The president welcomed everyone. Then a group performed a skit. It was the story of Ester so I knew what was going on. A group of girls did a dance. A couple of guys rapped and sang. The finale was a fashion show. The clothes were designed by some of the guys in the youth group. As the models/my friends walked down the runway the song “I’m a Barbie girl” played. These models didn’t just walk out turn around and walk back. They stopped several times to pose for pictures. Everyone was cheering. I’m so glad I got to be a part of it. The clothes were really well designed. I would wear some of them.

We had a meal of rice, chicken, and pasta. They set up a projector and we watched a movie. It was a Haitian made movie but I mostly understood what was going on. During the movie we had popcorn and later on cake. We got back home around 4:30am.

I had scheduled to Skype with my parents and sister at 7am Christmas morning so I decided to stay awake a little longer and sleep later. It was great to talk with them and see them opening presents. We had a good signal and the electricity stayed on so we could talk for a long time! After we said Good-bye I took a nap until 11am when I Skyped with more of my family!

Here on Christmas day it is a day of rest and that’s what we did. There was a Christmas program on TV and they were singing Christmas songs in English so I sang along. We had some visitors so I met more of the family. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

My first Haitian wedding

This weekend we went to three weddings. Friday we made two potato sides to take to the reception that night. Carline let me borrow one of her dresses and Asmene did my hair. Everyone was running around all day getting ready for the wedding at 3. We arrived just in time to see everyone walk down the aisle. The bride and groom sat down up front along with the best man and maid of honor. The preacher spoke. There was exchanging of vows and then rings. We sang and prayer for the couple. They signed the marriage certificate as a part of the ceremony. The preacher proclaimed them husband and wife, they kissed, and everyone cheered.

We took lots of pictures. The reception was in a banquet hall. It was very beautifully decorated. Members of the wedding party gave toasts. A couple people sang songs for the couple. There was good food. We left before the cutting of the cake. I think they told me it wouldn’t be over until around 1am. My first Haitian wedding was a great experience!

Saturday, there were two weddings, one right after the other. The first one had purple decorations, which were then torn down and gold ribbons put up for the second wedding. The second one was actually a 50^th wedding anniversary. I did learn that if a couple wants to get engaged the man’s parents go to the woman’s house. The woman’s parents call her and ask for these parents are here for her. She will say yes then leave. The parents will then discuss the arrangements for a wedding.

I had a busy weekend and it doesn’t look to be slowing down any with Christmas coming in the next few days.

Pignon

This past week Jim, the Regional Director, came to visit all the NMSI missionaries in Haiti. He saw the orphanage in Mirebalais and came to church with us on Sunday. It was good to have him here; to show him what I am doing and talk through things. I learned a lot more about NMSI and what they do. He traveled to Jacmel and Gonaives during the week.

 

This past weekend I went with him to Pignon. Mioche is the missionary living there. Pignon is quieter than Port-au-Prince and a lot easier to walk around. I joined some ladies from the church making paper beads for jewelry they send to the US to sell. They taught me how to make the beads. We visited the school and church Mioche has started. There is an American missionary couple running an orphanage just down the road from Mioche. I got to meet them and see their place. It was a good weekend seeing more of Haiti and meeting more people doing God’s work.

We got to fly back through MAF, Missions Aviation Fellowship. It was a five seat plane. I was reminded of how beautiful Haiti is from above.  

Skirts I've made

I've been making skirts and a dress this summer getting ready for Haiti. I got the idea for the elastic from this blog.

Kids to Kids Around the World

Each kid from Rachel's school that sent a pair of shoes wrote their
name on the bottom. The kids held up a sign with their own name
thanking the child in America for the shoes.

This week a team from Ohio came to deliver shoes to the kids we work with. When Rachel’s mom came back from her trip to Haiti, Rachel wanted to do something to help the kids she saw pictures of. For her birthday she asked for shoes for the kids of Haiti. In the past three years she has collected 2,500 pairs of shoes. With her mom, brother, and friend, Rachel came to us to give those shoes away. Her dream of collecting shoes is now a Non-Profit Organization, Kids to Kids around the world.

I got to join them as they gave shoes away at Agape school, Agape church, and Loving Hearts Home. It was defiantly a different experience being the one already here welcoming the missionaries. I’m glad I got to be a part of what they are doing.

They also brought backpacks with school
supplies for each child.

Early Mornings

"Some people associate Sunday morning with God. One of the things I associate with God is a sunrise." -Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts

The entire time I have been here in Haiti I have not once set an alarm to wake up in the morning. I have just woken up at 5; it’s not because of the noise or the sun shining in my window; somehow I wake up to spend time with God before the day starts.

This morning I woke up and was grabbing my Bible and journal when there was a knock on my door. This is very unusual especially at 5am. The only other time they have had to knock was around 7am one day when we were going to church and I didn’t know it. I opened the door and there stood Carline ready to go to Mirebalais. I quickly put on my skirt, put my laptop in my bag, and followed her out the door.

Let me back up a few days… we usually leave for Mirebalais after church on Sunday. So I packed my bag Saturday night. But yesterday, November 18^th, was a National Holiday. It was the anniversary of the Battle ofVertières, so there was no school. Sunday night Carline told me we would be going to Mirebalais around noon on Monday. Noon came and we couldn’t go because public transportation was taking the day off too. She didn’t tell me we would be leaving to get there before school started Tuesday morning but when I saw her at my door I knew.

As I was following her up the stairs, in the dark, to the street I thought about how I wouldn’t be starting my day reading the Bible and was worried how I could be ok. Then I thought, I get to see the sunrise! As we rode I worshiped God while watching the sunrise above the mountains and we got to Loving Hearts at 7am, an hour before school starts.

(Sorry I didn't take any pictures)





Worshiping Together

When the electricity comes on a night it is a celebration. The lights flicker once or twice and then stay on for several hours. We say, “Wé”, “Mesi, Jezi” and “Halleluiah.” Then we plug in our phones to charge and set up our chairs in front of the TV to see what is on for the night. But if it starts getting dark and the lights haven’t come on yet someone will get the oil lamp, light it, and set it on the table. Last night was one of those nights. We were sitting in the dining room with Ronika and Abed running around getting out energy before it was time for bed. Abed lifts his hands and says, “Halleluiah”. At least that’s what we think he says. He is only 16 months old. Asmene, his mom, starts singing “Broken Halleluiah”. Since it’s in English I join in, but neither of us know all the words so when we finish we look at Abed and he raises his hands and wants us to sing again. And again. And again.

As we were singing I was thinking how awesome it was to be worshiping God together. Because we are all God’s children. He doesn’t just love me because I came here. He doesn’t just love the ones who do all the right things and have all the right answers. He doesn’t just love the ones who have an eventful, redeeming story. He loves all of us. He loved us all before we did anything, before we had a story to tell. Sometimes having electricity can hinder these moments.  

Prayers: Because of your prayers I am able to sleep at night even though it is noisy, I am safe, I am healthy, I am learning Creole, I am willing and don't get too embarrassed when asked to do something out of my comfort zone, I am the closest I have ever been with God, and I have a desire to pray for others. Thank you.

Learning in School

At both schools now, Agape in PaP and Loving Hearts in Mirebalais, we have separated the kids into three classes. There are around 20 kids in Agape with six teachers, and 50 kids at Mirebalais with five teachers. I like that we have split the kids so there are not as many surrounding me and I can go faster with the older ones who are picking it up. I also like that there is routine in the day. Both schools start the day by raising the flag and singing the National Anthem.  

At Agape I start with the oldest kids; 2^nd through 4^th graders. They have already mastered colors, letters, and how to greet each other. We have worked on numbers up to 20, I write the day of the week and date on the chalkboard in English underneath where it is written in French, and I just started animals with them. Then I move to Kindergarten and 1^st graders. They know the words for the colors and can sing the alphabet song but don’t comprehend what the English word they are saying means.  After lunch and recess I work with the youngest kids; 3-5 year olds. They have the shortest attention span so try to switch up what I do when I see they are getting bored. I think they all understood numbers 1-10 this past week.

 In Mirebalais I start with the youngest kids. We have been working on the colors and I just started the alphabet. The middle and oldest kids know the alphabet now and can say 1-100 with help. This is the first year of school for a lot of the kids at Loving Hearts.

At first Carline told me what to teach the kids but now I am starting to plan what to teach next. This week I am going to try and teach the kids to make a sentence describing the color of an object. Ex. The hat is yellow.  

Sisters in Christ and fun times

Anna came to visit me! For those of you who don’t know Anna, we became two of four best friends our freshman year of college. Anna and I took our first trip to Haiti together…and 2^nd…and 3^rd. Well the third, she was here for two months and I visited her.

It was such an encouragement to have her here. I got to introduce her to all my new friends and family and share with her what life is like here. It was good to have another American who loves Haiti to talk with and process through some things with.

She brought some things for me with her. I thought it was just going to be a few things from my parents but I also got two very encouraging notes from two amazing sisters in Christ. I have been overwhelmed recently with the amount of love you all, brothers and sisters, have been pouring out on me. I know you are faithfully praying for me and I thank you so much!

Anna is visiting some other missionaries in Port-de-Paix now and will be back with me for a couple days next week before heading back to America.

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Ronika is the little girl I live with and sometimes her friend, Gonies, comes over with her mom. The last time she came over the two girls handed me paper, a pencil, and some crayons. They first pointed to the placemats and asked me to draw the picture of the wine bottle, grapes, and cheese.  I did and they were impressed. Then they started pointing to things around the room for me to draw. Each time I was finished they would say, “Bravo.” That’s what we tell the kids at school when they do something well.

After the page was full of drawings they would erase a couple so I could draw something else. It was fun to be creative without the pressure of approval or permanency and they got to have fun just being silly with me.

Back to Mirebalais

After church on Sunday we headed back to Mirebalais. LovingHearts orphanage and school is in Mirebalais, depending on traffic, about 2 hours north of Port-au-Prince. School started Monday with about 50 kids, including those from the community. We split up into two groups putting about 15 kids in the younger class. Carline and I taught the kids how to say Good Morning, how are you, I’m fine, what is your name, and my name is. The kids also learned the name of their school and about the five senses. In the older kids class we learned the English words for body parts and I taught the alphabet. I stood at the chalkboard and pointed to each letter as we said it. I felt like a real teacher.

After school, some of the girls decided to do my hair. They took turns combing and braiding different parts. We played hand clapping games. I’m slowing learning the words to the songs. Carline found some coloring pages for me to paint to decorate the house. I let the kids choose which color I painted each object. I learned that where I would choose a similar color to what I think the object should be, red for tree trunks for example if there was no brown, the kids just pick any color they like. We ended up with pick leaves and lime green hair and it was beautiful.  

Instead of Martin picking us up today to come back, Carline and I rode in public transportation. It was a 15 passenger van that runs back and forth between Mirebalais and Port-au-Prince. We were the first ones in the van but only had to wait about 45 minutes for it to be full, so that’s not long at all.

First day of school!

We had 12 children at school. School is in the church building. Everyone arrived and was talking at their tables excited to see each other again and start a new school year. We started the day by praying and singing songs to God. We split up the younger kids from the older ones. Carline and I took the four younger ones. We sang “Good Morning, How are you? Very well thank you, and you?” in French and English. Then we practiced shaking hands and using the phrase in a conversation. Carline sang some other songs with them as well.

After eating and recess all the kids come to one table and I taught them colors in English. There was a song in one of the books Carline has and she gave me legos to point to and ask what color each one was. The kids seemed to be understanding and not just repeating after me. We also sang the Good Morning song with the older kids and added, “What is your name? My name is…” and everyone went around the table to introduce themselves. The kids learned other things today from the other teachers; they aren’t just learning English. Overall it was a great first day of school!

One month

I can’t believe I have been living in Haiti for a month! School doesn’t start until October so it is still summer break here in Haiti. It has been good to watch and learn before being tossed into a busy schedule. A couple of the guys from the church have stating working with me on my Creole. They say I’m getting better. I can read and pronounce the words but it is still difficult for me to hear and understand when anyone is talking.

I am so thankful for the home that I am in. I am defiantly building the closest relationships with these ladies and kids. We teach each other English and Creole phrases as we cook, clean, and hang out during the day. My favorite times are playing games like hide and seek, London Bride falling down, and hand clapping games; I think because the language barrier disappears and we just laugh.

Every Saturday when the electricity comes on we iron our clothes for church in the next morning. Then on Sundays we leave for church around 7am. I join Carline in children’s church where we pray, sing, memorize verses and have a Bible lesson. There are probably 40-50 kids every Sunday. Then I attend the main service. Either I look over the shoulder of the person next to me or borrow Asmene’s song book to sing along. There is a full band (keyboard, bass, drums) and singers leading the worship. When Pastor Martin speaks I can usually figure out the passage we are in and read it for myself but afterwards he explains to me what he talked about. When church is over everyone shakes hands and says, “God bless you”. I usually get back home around noon to eat and prepare the next meal before youth group at 3.

The youth is college-aged people. I’ve enjoyed going and meeting more people my age. The youth group is in transition right now from one president to another. So we are splitting up into groups to plan different parts of the Sunday night service. Every 2^nd Sunday the youth leads. Agenor sits next to me and translates what is going on. The first Sunday that I went they asked me to speak so I talked about what the tattoo on my neck means. In Haitian culture if you are a Christian you don’t have tattoos so I wanted to share why I have some. The word on my neck is makrothumia. It means the spirit which never loses patience with, hope for, or belief in. I explained how in Acts 7 Stephen was being persecuted and stoned but he still shared the story of God. In his last words he doesn’t hate the people but prays God has mercy on them. I shared that I always want to have this spirit of patience hope and belief.

If we aren't Facebook friends I have made my photo album public so you can see more pictures!

What have I been eating in Haiti?

Most everything is fresh, bought every morning. Haitians have four meals a day. A light meal when they wake up, something heavy before going to school or work, another heavy meal when they get home around 3, and then another light meal before bed. I like all the food. The hardest part is adjusting to the timing of eating. Most everything is cooked in several pots over a fire. A casserole can be made by placing the dish inside the pot and treating it like a Dutch oven, putting charcoal pieces on top.

Here’s a list of some of the things I’ve been eating:

Avacados-zaboka-they are as big as your hand!

Eggs-Zu-hard boiled and omelet

Mangos-mango

Sugar cane

Coconut- drank the milk and then ate the inside 

Labape- I’ve never had boiled peanuts but this is what I would imagine they taste like

Bananas- bannann-can be eaten out of the peeling, boiled, or fried

Spaghetti-espageti, and other pasta noodles

Fish-pwason

Chicken-poul

Crab-krab

Rice-diri

Beans-pwq

Corn- mayi-corn on the cob and mashed corn with beans

Potatos-pomdete

Breadfruit- mashed with an okra sauce is called Tom tom ak kalalou

Carrots-kawot

Onions-zonyon, Green peppers, and Green onions are in almost every meal

Keneps

Chips-Doritos, Pringles, and Cheetos

Bread-pen

Coffee-café       

Tea-te

Juice- ji-we squeeze our own lemons, limes, passion fruit, and oranges

Milk-let-comes in a can and you add sugar

7Up and Fruit Champagne- comes in a glass bottle

Also, I drink a 5 gallon jug of water a week

Three stories

Cannon, nothing was here before

The city of Cannon did not exist on January 12, 2010. It was created by displaced people after the earthquake. Cannon added itself to the east of the greater Port-au-Prince area. After initially living in tents, some Haitians chose a new place to live and started building. Now there are business, churches, and schools in Cannon. The department of agriculture planted olive trees in Cannon because you can eat virtually every part of it; the fruit, leaves, and roots.

I’ve been saying yes a lot here. Would you like to try a coconut? Yes. Would you like to help cook? Yes. Would you like to go to the beach? Wi. Would you like to learn a game? Wi. Would you like to go to Cannon? Wi. Would you like to go to church with Carline? Um…I don’t know what happens at church at 10am on a Saturday morning but ok, wi. I ended up at choir practice. A maestro from the big Baptist church in town comes to our church to teach the ladies new songs. He wrote the words on the board and everyone wrote them down in their notebooks. He played the keyboard and led us in singing. Since see and hear the words at the same time. The ladies were s excited that I was singing along.

Every first Saturday night of the month the church had Communion. They moved it to Saturday night because they want to dedicate the proper amount of time to the practice. There is singing, prayer, and a message before the bread and juice is taken. Whether you call it Communion, Eucharist, or Common Meal as Christians we remember Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection together.

For Someone

In Florida (at the end of May, I went for training) God revealed to me that this trip to Haiti wasn’t going to be about building houses. It was going to be about building relationships so that they can be in a closer relationship with God.

So its day 6 and I have learned that God is not just in control of the big things. He takes care of the little things too; and not just general small things but things that pertain to my personality specifically.

Today I got online and saw an email disusing the budget and it said I needed to keep track of spending money with receipts if possible. Well we had already bought some things and I figured the receipts were long gone but at dinner Carline gave them to me. If I hadn’t read that email earlier I would have no idea why she was giving them to me.

Meals are cooked out back and I’ve glanced out there but hadn’t really been out yet. The other night I was trying to think of a way to ask without intruding and Asmen asked if I liked to cook. I said yes! So she got me a knife and showed me what to cut.

Tonight Carline braided my hair without my asking. I don’t share these stories to say I’m never going to try and learn how to ask more questions but to show that God has been showing me He loves me. He created me and knows everything about me.

I titled this post “for someone” because it may not just be the Haitians I am supposed to show God’s love to but also everyone reading this. So I am writing this Saturday night but whenever I post it I know it will be perfect timing for you.

The truth is you are treasured.

You are perfect even as your Father is perfect.

Atoned.

Beautiful.

Tuesday night is prayer service at the church. When we arrived there were already about 70 people all praying out loud. When it was time for Pastor Martin to speak he introduced me. I came up front and told a little about myself. Then everyone prayed for me. All out loud with their arms stretched towards me. It was powerful and overwhelming.

Another pastor gave the message and Martin interpreted some as he sat beside me. The pastor talked about the will of God. He said it’s the sweetest place you can be. Not the easiest, but you will have joy. It was so confirming in what I am doing here.

Ok more day to day things… I have not eaten any rice or beans yet. I’ve eaten some things that I didn’t know what was in them but everything has been delicious. I live in a house of all women. Martin and his family live across the street. That’s the only place we have walked to so far. We take a car to the church and the store. There is usually electricity during the evening into night. But don’t plan your schedule around it. I was taking a shower and the lights went out. That probably won’t be the last time it happens.

The house is a concrete building with an entryway, dining room, bathroom, and two bedrooms. There is a TV in the entry way. A dining room table, refrigerator, books, and dishes in the dining room. I have a bed, chair, fan, and night stand in my room. On the back patio is where they cook the food on a fire and wash the dishes. My door locks, the front door locks, and the gate locks.

Prayers:

Praise God for bringing me here! For safety, no sickness, and smooth travels!
Pray I ask questions so I can learn more.
Pray that I am seeking the Holy Spirit and staying in the Word every day.
Pray that I go to God first in every situation.

Writing my name on the kids' hands

Learning hand clapping games

Cutting out snowflakes

Drawing pictures

When helping hurts

This summer I have been reading a lot of books to prepare for Haiti.  One in particular I thought I would share my thoughts on with you. I have heard a lot of great things about When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert and have been told many times I should read it. So I found a copy and want to share with you today what I have learned.

I found the theme of this book to be poverty alleviation. I really like the definitios they give . First, looking as poverty being more than material poor they say, poverty alleviation is the ministery of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation. 

They also give a definition of material poor alleviation as working to reconcile the four foundational relationships so that people can fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their familes with the fruit of that work.

There are three steps to this process: relief, rehabilitation, and development.  No one can do all three. The point is to find out what you do best and what the people you are trying to help need. I wanted to be a part of the relief effort in Haiti, but it is too late for that now. They need to be moving into the rehabilitation and development stages. In these stages they don't necessarily need my money to build up their community. It is now about working on building that third relationship, with others, working together and helping each other.
After reading this book I have formed some goals for my time in Haiti:

• To build realationships with the kids I will be living with
• To teach the youth at the church about God
• To build relationships with the women I interact with on a daily basis 
• To be seen positively in the community

P.S. I am 52% funded, if you would like to give you can here

P.P.S. I have a friend who is planning on going to Egypt for nine months to minister to the Muslim community but with everything going on there right now he doesn't know if that trip will still be able to happen. Please pray that God will lead him to where He wants work done.

Pre-Field Orientation

Last week I went to the NMSI office and campus in Florida. Twenty interns came as well for pre-field training. They are spending June and July in several different countries around the world. Everyone is going with a team except for me.

When I arrived in the airport Derek and Ashley were there to pick me up. I joined the group of girls going to Cambodia for our first task. We were driven to different parks and asked to complete different tasks. Like communicating with a woman speaking a different language, finding our way to a skate  park, speaking at a church, and eating an international meal. Afterward we talked about our experiences and the part that impacted me the most was being asked to speak at the church and having no time to prepare. We were each asked to share our favorite verse and sing some songs. Then the ladies and gentlemen in the audience asked us questions like, "What is that book you are reading out of?" "What is sin?" and "Why are you singing about blood?" It was good practice to be put on the spot to think about how to explain something so common to us but never heard of to them.

After dinner we were shown our rooms and I shared mine with girls from the Kenya team. Every night we had different worship leaders from area churches lead the praise and a staff member give the teaching.

During the week we had sessions over different subjects to prepare us for the field. Different staff members shared about expectations, partnership with the people we are going to serve with, what it looks like to surrender to God and His plans, how dependency should turn into sustainability, how a true follower lifts up their leader, how to deal with conflict within the team and with the locals, what is looks like to make the gospel relatable to the people we are trying to share it with, and writing our purpose statement for why we want to go and what we want to do. Usually after a session we would break off and talk about what we learned. For these times I was with the Myanmar team.

In between sessions we would play games or do team building activities. One day each team sat at their own tables (I was with Cambodia) and was handed an envelope. In each envelope were several shapes that would make a square. We were told we could not talk or gesture. We could only pass our pieces to someone else. The hardest part was not gesturing. Each of us could see what we thought needed to be done next but until the person who the piece was in front of realized how it would work there was nothing we could do. It was a really good exercise, there was one point when I thought I knew what pieces needed to be moved but it ended up different ones needed to be moved. If I was allowed to talk or move the pieces myself the squares would not have been made.

While the teams split up and learned more specifically what they would be doing this summer I met with Jim the Regional Director. He showed me some pictures of the school I will be working at. It is an elementary school. He shared some of his goals for me; that I would build relationships with the people because the Haitian culture is very relational and that I would share at youth group at the church. Seeing pictures and hearing more plans I am so much more excited for all the work God is going to do. Jim would like me to leave the first week of August.

Near the end of the week we learned how to write our purpose statement for this trip. The teams broke up and brainstormed what their purpose statement would be. This time I was by myself thinking about why God wants me in Haiti now. My purpose in going to Haiti is to learn the language and culture. To show love and share what it means to be a follower of Christ. So that the men will love their families, the women will know they are worthy, and the youth will rise up and proclaim the name of Jesus to other Haitians.

I am 18% funded for this trip. I have two months to raise the rest of my support. If you would like to give online you can go to my page on the NMSI website. 

If you would like to receive emails or newsletters from me when I am on the field please leave that address in the comment section or email me.

If you would like to talk about my plans or have me come and speak to your church or small group please let me know and I would be happy to.

Q & A

Some questions you might be interested in learning the answers to…

When will you be in Haiti?

Since I will be helping mostly at the school they would like me there before the school year starts, so the end of August sometime. I am looking at a 3 -6 month apprenticeship. It is stated that way, in case I decide to stop at 3 months or want to continue it as long as six months.

What language do they speak in Haiti?

The two official languages are French and Creole. The pastor I will be working with knows English and the woman I will be living with knows some English. A couple hours each week I will hopefully be taught Creole. The youth at the church are excited to learn English from me as well.

Will you have electricity/running water/internet?

I will have electricity and running water. I won’t have internet in the house I will be living in but I will have access to it during my stay. So I will be able to send updates and talk with people back home! Please don’t try to mail anything. Going through the Haiti mail system your package will probably not reach me.

Who is New Mission Systems International?

A Christian mission sending agency http://www.nmsi.org/who_we_are/about_nmsi/

Are you scared/nervous/excited?

Yes. All of the above and more. I am scared because of the uncertainty but I am at peace with the direction I am headed because I have hope. Timothy Keller defines biblical hope as life-shaping joyous certainty that your future is the eternal love and glory of God in a new heaven and a new earth.  

How much money do you need to raise and what will it be spent on?

Apartment $100/mo

Food $300/mo

Drinking water $25/mo

Transpotation $30/mo

Laundry $30/mo

Spending money (whatever you'd like here, $200 USD of you can)

Medical Insurance (already covered with the provider I have now!)

Internet $30/mo

NMSI Pre Field Orientation $220 (at the end of May in Fort Myers, FL)

NMSI team share (NMSI collects 10% of your total budget for NMSI administrative frees.)

Airfare

That comes to around $6,000 for six months

What my parents are thinking...

          I asked my parents to share some of their thoughts about me going to Haiti. I thought it would be good for you to read about how they are feeling. The first one is from by dad and the second is from my mom.

           How do I feel about my oldest daughter going to Haiti? How would any parent feel about one of their children serving and helping other people? I.E. a teacher, military, nurse, counselor; so many people help others. I am very proud.
           Could I have ever guessed she was going to go to Haiti when she was 5 years old? No. But I am thankful my daughters have bigger dreams than I did. My wife and I have told our girls; whatever you do in life for a vocation you better enjoy it. You will be doing it for a long time.
            Am I afraid of her safety going out of the states? Sure I am. But if God created the earth and everything in it, which I believe He did, then He is more capable of taking care of her than I am. Some people would be afraid to minister in Kansas City let alone another country. 
           Am I worried? A little. Not knowing is always kind of scary. Like what will happen when we get married or change jobs or have children or have surgery?
            God has prepared my wife and me by taking baby steps. Megan went away to college – scary. She went to be a camp counselor in Chicago – scary. She went to Europe – scary. She went to Haiti, then to Mexico, Haiti, Philadelphia, Haiti, Haiti, and Amsterdam. She always came back home safe. I thank God He has taken us through by using baby steps. I am very proud of Megan and respect her for her decisions.

-Dale

             How do I say Goodbye to a piece of my heart? By releasing my child into God’s hands. When Megan goes into the Word of God on a daily basis, it isn’t because she has to but because she wants to. She wants to know God’s heart. I know that if Megan says that Haiti is where God wants her to go then that is where she should go. God has given Megan a heart for the Haitian people. I admire Megan so much for stepping out of her comfort zone and going where God wants her to go.

“For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing.” Isaiah 55:12

Along with that verse God gave me the knowledge and assurance that after the initial pain of releasing my child there comes joy and peace, for both of us. Because we know that no matter what stages of life our children are in, when we release them to God they are in good hands.

-Debbie
 

Email from Regional Director

This is part of an email I recieved from Jim, the NMSI Americas and Caribbean Regioanl Director, giving me more specifics about my upcoming apprenticeship to Haiti.

"Your aprenticeship is set to be 3-6 months in the capital of Haiti, Port of Prince, (PAP), working with our NMSI affiliate couple Martin and Jacquemise Etienne who have a church, school and orphanage. They have several children of their own. You would be living with the Director of their school (Carline) and have your own room. She lives nearby the church building and you would be going to the school each day and returning with her. At school each day you would be an assistant to the teachers and interact with children and help even if you don't speak their language, you will be a big help!

On the church youth nights and events you will be interacting with them and if you are willing you could help them learn basic English phrases. They will probably want to teach you phrases and words too in Creole. I understand from Martin, the pastor, most all Haitian youth desire to speak more or better English, so it should be a fun time.

Carline and Pastor Martin are also going to work out a plan for you to learn Creole a few hours a week. This should help to be a good, authentic way to learn about the language and speak some. If you decide to become a full time missionary to Haiti in the future you can go to formal school to go further.

On Sundays after the main Port auPrince church services, pastor Martin and his family travel to a small village where they have a second smaller church and a new orphanage with about 25 children of different ages. I believe they stay the night there and return to PAP on Monday. You will be able to see this village and how it differs from PAP life and interact with church members and the children at the orphanage." -Jim

Please be praying as I Skype with him this Wednesday as we go over things and ask questions.

To help fund my travels you can donate online at www.nmsi.org/donate and click on the D for David, Megan. I will be getting more specifics on the amount I need to raise this week.

Or you can send in donations to:

New Mission Systems International

2701 CLEVELAND AVE SUITE 200,

FORT MYERS, FL 33901

Please remember to put my name in the memo.

NMSI honors preference of gifts solicited and, in accordance with IRS regulations, retains discretion and control over their use.