Electricity

There was a recent snow storm that went through the tri-state area the other day. My Facebook news feed was full of mobile status updates talking about the fact that there was no electricity.

Let me tell you about the electricity in Haiti!

For those of you who don't know, the electricity in Haiti is such that we get power...well, no one really knows when we will get it. When we do, we don't know how long it will last. Sometimes it will be on for five minutes sometimes it will last for 5 hours. When we don't have it we light candles and pray that it comes back in a timely manner. It could be an entire day before we can charge our cellphones and surf the web.  Life is hard when you don't have electricity; no internet, no water pressure, no fans.


There's something that I've realized; when there isn't any electricity there are less things that can distract and more time to think. So when you have a blackout just sit in the dark and think (of Haiti, perhaps).

You might find it quite peaceful. Before you know it, you'll have power once again.

It's Not As Easy As It Looks

Day after day some how the clothes become clean , the sink isn't overflowing with dishes and the food isn't, well, burned.

I've learned that it's not magic that makes sure the laundry gets done nor God who empties the sink.

It's mom.

Dishes, laundry, cooking, baths, cleaning and disciplining are some of the tasks my mom completes on a daily basis.

She's been gone for a couple days now so I've been doing some "filling in" so to speak. Yesterday it was my turn to cook lunch. On the menu was rice and beans. The rice came out perfect. The beans, burnt. This morning I was on breakfast duty. The task was to make pancakes. There were a few black ones in the bunch.

I am experiencing so much anticipation for her return tomorrow. A big hug awaits her along with the passing of the baton, also known as "the spatula" ,which she knows how to handle way better than myself! It's so easy to take mom for granted, but right now I appreciate all she does for us!

Is That A Star?

I was sitting outside in front of the house,this evening, taking out Estherline's many small hair twists as Gladimy relayed his day at school to the both of us. As he spoke he looked up at the sky.

"Is that a star?!" He asked with excitement.

"Yes, a star." I responded not really looking up to see what it was.

He got quiet and fixed his eyes upward. So... I stopped and looked up too.

"Oh, that's a plane." I realized, "A plane that is very high up..."

He interrupted,
"Who's in THAT plane?"

"I don't know."

"Jesus is in that plane." He concluded since it is so far up in the heavens, "Is he in there?"

"No, Jesus isn't in there." I answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

Unsatisfied with my response, he decided to ask his sister.

"Is Jesus in there?"

Estherline responded with all sincerity,

"Gladimy, I love Jesus very much, but I have no idea if he's in that plane."

I looked up at the passing plane again and smiled. I guess Jesus IS in that plane. He IS everywhere!

The Business of Missions

To be a person called to missions is to be a Christian.

Yep, it's that simple.

Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, who died to be our Savior and Lord and rose on the third day, and ascended into heaven, leaving the Holy Spirit as a guide is called to missions. Whether your young or old, large or small every one is a missionary. Does this mean that every American christian must sell their car, buy a ton of bug spray and water bottles, and hop on the next flight to Africa?! No, not unless, you feel like that's your calling. My point is this; every child of God must make it a priority to share what they have, which is salvation, with others. Missions is what every Christian is called to.

There are the "tract passer-outers" who dedicate thier weekends to praying and witnessing to people at a local park or supermarket. I've learned that these people have a strong stomachs. I've tried it but when I did my nerves played basketball in my belly. There's something about walking up to a complete stranger and telling then something that is so dear to your heart and knowing that they probably won't feel the same way about it as you. It's intimidating.

There are the ones who grab someone on the corner and drag them into the church doors (I love them!).

We have the "short terms", the faithful church goers who raise a specfic amount of support from thier friends and family to take a two or three week long trip to another country. This type of missions is life changing, but usually the messanger is the one who experiences change rather than changing the country they visit (at least this is what happened to me).

There are the "long terms", (This would be me, now) who go live in another country and depend on others to give them consistant support for what they do. Long terms usually work for a missions organization or are sent by a church in their country.

Missions doesn't stop there! 

I only listed the "go and doers". There is an ENTIRE branch of missions called, "donors and supporters". These are the people who do things like Walk-a-thons, or commit to give a specific amount of funds to a mission overseas. I can not stress to you enough the value of these people. It's easy to suppose that the "real missionaries" are the those who fit the descriptions I mentioned in the earlier part, but missions can't function without the aid of the "money givers". Not every person is purposed to travel to China and smuggle Bibles to underground churches. Some are called to buy those bibles or the flight ticket that will send the "goer" to that country.

Missions is a business-a business we are all a part of. Within a business there are positions, jobs that must be filled in order for the operation to be a success. Like wise, we have the "goers" but just as important are the "givers". One isn't more important than the other, both jobs are needed in order to get things accomplished. I encourage you, find your job position and let's get this operation going!

www.lovehaitischildren.com

Baths, Bedtime and Songs

As many of you may know, the family has committed to another year in the country of Haiti. We live at an orphanage that received its first batch of children about 2 weeks ago. The transition experience has been character building and life lesson teaching (and I'm not just talking about the children). Within only a couple weeks I have what seems like suitcases of stories to tell.

Let me introduce you to Gladimy.

He's 5 years old and in the 1st grade. He loves movies with action in them, like, The Incredibles or Kung Fu Panda. He likes eating, well, anything. He knows how to do cart wheels and other things that others wish they could pull-off.

Gladimy is one of the more rambunctious children here and when it's time for bed he's not one to leap into his pjs.

This changed 4 days ago.

We were getting ready for bed; bathing, pjs, teeth brushing, kisses and, last, laying in bed, when he asked me to pray with him. "Wi", I responded and started talking to God in English.

He rolled to his belly and closed his eyes.

The next night, a similar thing happened, this time he asked me to sing to him. So, I sang the song my mother sang to me as I rubbed his back.

We did the same the next night and the next.

It's become beautiful routine; praying and singing.

He doesn't fuss to go to bed now. In fact, he takes my hand around bedtime and asks, "Is it time for bed."