Haiti - Day 5

Wednesday - January 2, 2013

This was one of the most emotionally, humbling, joyous days of my trip.

We began the day by walking to Sherrie's school and orphanage.  She gave us a tour of her place and it was spectacular to see how much has been done since 2009.  Allyson's first trip to Haiti in 2009 was to work on getting Sherri's school built. Here's a picture from 2009:



And here's a picture from our trip:






Big difference, huh?

Sherrie shared her testimony of how God brought her to Haiti.  There was a lot in that testimony that Allyson needed to hear.  I wanted to look at her and say, "Oh my gosh, that's you!"  but I was close to tears and figured she was too, so I didn't even look her way.

After that Sherri took us for a walk through the ravine - the poorest area of Port Au Prince.  Words cannot describe the conditions.  I'm posting a few pictures here, but even the pictures cannot truly share what walking through this was like:







After the ravine, Jim stopped by Elizabeth's house.  Elizabeth is an elderly woman who lives between the ravine and Jim's house who is dying of cancer.  He wanted to see if she felt like us coming in and singing to her.  She did, so we all packed into her little one room cement home and sang "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art" to her and then we prayed for her.  Jim asked if any of us wanted to pray for her and no one spoke up.  It wasn't because we didn't want to, it's because we couldn't speak without pure sobbing.

It was so hot.  I actually had sweat dripping off my face, and I don't sweat like that, but I wouldn't change the experience of this day for anything - AND - I'd go do it again tomorrow!

In the afternoon we went to Pastor Ceynor's orphanage and this is where the joyous part of the day came in.  The kids sang and danced for us, and then little Benji (sp?) prayed over each one of us.  And he took his praying seriously!  A good lesson for us all.   Pastor Ceynor said he was praying for wisdom and understanding for Pastor Randall.  It sounded like he was praying the same thing over all of us, but I can't be sure.






Pastor Ceynor shared his testimony with us also.  Voodoo is very prevalent in Haiti.  Pastor Ceynor came from a Voodoo background, but his parents were introduced to Christ.  His mother's faith in Christ remained strong even when his father's faith wavered.  Pastor Ceynor decided early on that he wanted Christ! At the age of 16 God called him to be an evangelist and he hasn't stopped since!  I know there is evil everywhere, and I know there are demons everywhere, but we here in the US do not recognize demons like the Haitians do.  We would do well to remember they are just as powerful here.

Our day is not over yet!!  Whew!  After lunch and a nap, we went to the Phillipine UN embassy place in Haiti.  A new group of military folks had just gotten to Haiti for a 6 - 9 month stay.  We were able to lead a worship service for them.  I sang again and Pastor Dan preached.  The funny thing was that all the men wanted a picture with all of the ladies from our group.  They let Pastor Dan in since he preached!  Ha!  Then we went outside and the girls wanted their picture taken, then one by one the Phillipino men wanted to jump into their picture.  It was hilarious!





Who knows where these pictures will show up!

On the way to the UN location, a mother with her child stopped the van to ask Jim for medical assistance for her child.  Jim told her her would contact someone and get a doctor to her.  The child was far too sick for Jim and Debbie to help.  Jim said she had worms.



We're waiting for an update about the outcome of this situation.

The night got better, as two Haitian ladies cooked us a traditional Haitian meal.  We thought we were going to have goat, but there wasn't enough in the freezer, so we got beef.  But it wasn't like anything I'd eaten before.  It was really good!!  We also had beet potato salad, pickley (sp?), rice, fried plantain . . . It was DELICIOUS!!!  I liked it all!!

The challenge I took away from today is this:  Seeing what I've seen and knowing what I now know, what am I going to do with it now that I'm back home?
     - I'm challenged to grow in my faith and to know my Jesus better.
     - I'm challenged to help Allyson in every way I can to get to Haiti.
     - I'm challenged to love people more and to be intentional about it.  This one is going to be more difficult for me.  I'm shy, and I shy away from talking to people I don't know.  I will go to the ATM at the bank because I don't have to deal with a person.  I need to be intentional about going through the same check out line in the grocery store and getting to know the cashier.  I need to be intentional about going into the bank and get to know the tellers.  Whew!  I have to psych my self up to do these kinds of things - you all just don't know!  But I'm definitely challenged and will begin with baby steps.  I'll get more sure on my feet, I know.

Haiti - Day 4

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

When I awoke this morning, I had no idea what kind of impact the first day of the new year would bring.

The day began just like yesterday did.  The guys worked around Jim and Debbie's and we ladies went back over to Dorothy's.
 
 
Dorothy wanted a plan today, so we decided it would be a good day to do a movie with the kids after lunch.  Allyson, Cassie, and Amanda went straight outside with the bigger kids while Amy and I stayed in with the babies.  It was soon time for lunch and then we did as planned and brought them in for a movie.  A "Wallace & Grommit" movie was chosen by one of the kids.  I had never seen one of these movies before but both my girls had loved them, as they used to watch them in school.  It was quite entertaining!   Some of the smaller kids lost interest after a little bit and began coloring and combing our hair and just anything but sitting and watching the movie.  The bigger kids were glued to it, though.  I know they understand a bit of English even though they don't speak it, but I wondered how much of the movie they understood. 





After the movie we left to go back to Jim and Debbie's.  Back at the house we got a nap and then had dinner and played some games.  Allyson and I had mentioned to Jim, Debbie, and Donna that we would like to schedule some time to talk to them and after dinner had been mentioned; however, between things needing to be done time got away from us.  Donna, Allyson, and I were playing Rummikub when they asked us about talking.  It was getting late and we said we could wait until tomorrow.  But, here is where my day turned around . . . somehow our conversation with Donna over the game turned serious and the talk begin without us really meaning for it to.  Shortly Jim came out and said he and Debbie could talk if we wanted, and so they did.  There had not been any real God moments for me today until this talk . . .

They all had some really good advice and brought up a lot of things we needed to think about.  There were also a lot of tears.  This evening was one of the most emotionally and spiritually challenging days of the week for me - if not THE most.  Here's what I wrote in my journal that night (without talking to Allyson):

This is what I came away from our talk with:
1) Allyson definitely feels a calling to go to Haiti, but she's in limbo as to where God wants her to work specifically.  Everyone agreed that is a tough place to be.
2) Jim advised to not sit and wait but to take the next step forward.  While taking that next step, continue praying for clarity.  Some of the next steps I gleaned are:
       a)  Begin learning the language
       b) Contact Amber, another 22 yr old missionary who just finished a year in Haiti.  She is from Virginia and has a dream to open a trade school in the ravine section of town.  (side note:  On Wednesday, Jim showed us the building she hopes to purchase)
       c) We need to begin making a list of expenses Allyson will have while living in Haiti; i.e.  rent, food, supplies, hiring Hatian help, travel expenses, etc.  so that we can come up with the total amount of support Allyson will need to raise in order to live in Haiti for a year.

I wondered even at that moment, if Jim giving Allyson Amber's name was God's way of getting them together to work together.  Amber needs some organizational and administrative help and Allyson is good a that.  I then thought that I'd mention to her (though I never did) that if that all worked out maybe they could also organize a day care for the people that came and that would provide Allyson a way to minister to the children also! I went to bed emotionally exhausted, yet very proud of my baby girl!   I cried myself to sleep.

Now that we've been home a week, I feel very strongly that I am to be Allyson's "CEO" if you will.  Help her in learning the language so that she has someone to "use" it with, help her with fund raising when the time comes, etc. etc.   I haven't mentioned this to her yet either - she'll probably read it here before I get the chance.  So, Allyson if you are hearing this for the first time from reading this - is that OK with you?

Now, remember how I said above that I wrote down those things that very night (without talking to Allyson) and the idea of a day care crossed my mind (but I never verbalized it)?  Well, I want you to read Allyson's blog about this very same conversation and what she took away from it.  (And she puts it into words much better than I ever could) . . .

http://livinghisdesign.blogspot.com/2013/01/escaping-limbo-im-moving-to-haiti.html

Did we come away with the same exact things?  And what about the conversation with Amber and the day care center part?   For BOTH of us to come out of that conversation - without talking to each other about it - with the same exact things, if that is not God confirming what our next forward steps are, then I don't know what is.   I, also, had been telling people that I felt like it might take us a year to do what we needed to do before she actually moved - and then Allyson is saying the same thing as well.   This may not seem like a big thing to you, but it is HUGE to me.   Allyson and I don't always see things the same way, but on this we are on the exact same page. I love you Allyson Hemric!!   And I am SO VERY proud of you!!


Now to a confession and another step - that I need to do.  It's been very difficult to relay what happened in Haiti to Randy.  I actually haven't tried very hard, as I really am still processing it all myself.  Part of that processing is re-living the days again through these posts.  As soon as I am finished processing it all - in the next few days - I need to be sure Randy is on board with this because Allyson is going to need us both behind her 110%!!   I have no doubt he will be on board, it is just so difficult to relay exactly what one experiences on a trip like this, and I so want to share it.  I'm really looking forward to what this year has in store for us, and because I know there is a lot to consider and to do, I'm trying to simplify my life.  I quit the Duke Chorus.  After this year of Baptist Singers (which ends in May) I am not going to participate in that any longer either.  Helping Allyson is going to be a BIG focus for me this year, and I can't wait to get started!!

Haiti - Day 3

Monday, December 31, 2012

NEW YEAR'S EVE - In Haiti!!  Cool huh?

Today started out with the guys of the group doing some projects around Jim and Debbie's:  Building more bunk beds, making screens for the windows, installing a hot water heater for the kitchen sink, installing a washing machine, etc.  

We girls went to Dorothy's orphanage.  The Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue orphanage.  This is the place that stole Allyson's heart way back in 2009 when she first visited Haiti.  Dorothy  nurses malnourished and special needs infants back to health and then returns them to their families.  She also provides permanent care for children with HIV and/or special needs.  There are currently over 25 children there, all hungry for attention and love.   I was so excited to finally meet Dorothy and all of the kids that Allyson has fallen in love with and Samuel, Dorothy's driver too!  

 
   (Dorothy and Lovensky)

You could hear the kids chanting "Cassie-Allyson! Cassie-Allyson!" as we pulled into the driveway.  Allyson couldn't get out of the truck and into that yard fast enough.  I followed her out to hear the chanting first hand!  They were all so excited to see "Cassie-Allyson".  They, of course, were excited to see all of us too and before we could even get down 2 steps we had 3 children climbing on us!  Johnny, Allyson's favorite, gave me a HUGE hug and was not shy at all.  When Allyson told him I was her Mama, he looked at us both with a sheepish little grin.  After the initial onslaught, we went back inside to see the babies and Allyson introduced all of them to me.  I met Tamara, the little girl with OI who broke her femur last time Allyson was there.  She has the most expressive eyes of any child I have ever seen.  Her break from last May is all healed now and that child can go where ever she wants to by scooting around on her elbows and knees.  I gathered that she is the "leader" in the baby room.  There was a new baby - Mathieu.  He is 3 months old and is only at Dorothy's because his mother died during childbirth and his grandmother cannot raise him.  So sweet!!  

(Amy and Tamara)

Me and Baby Mathieu

(OK, I know I look rough, but geez, it was HOT people!!  And you know my hair doesn't do well in the humidity anyway - plus there were no conveniences like a hairdryer.  It was what it was.)

Another missionary who Allyson became friends with last time there - and who helped her out with Tamara's broken leg - was there awaiting a ride to Gonaives where she is now serving.  Her name is Katie.  Katie walked us down to The Apparent Project to do a little bit of shopping.  The Apparent Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that empowers poor Hatian families.  It allows them to work a trade to make money for food.  They make some of the most beautiful jewelry - out of magazines and cereal boxes!  You should check out their website:  http://apparentproject.org/   

Shopping at The Apparent Project

Katie left us there to walk back by ourselves.  Allyson said she knew the way.  Well, on our way back we took a wrong turn at a fork in the road.  Thank goodness we realized that things looked different before we got too far.  I was laughing about getting lost in Haiti.  We got back to Dorothy's and loved on the kids for a while longer and then went back to Jim and Debbie's.

Back at the house we helped the guys finish up a project, took naps and then we all got showers.  Another mission team staying down the road at Sherrie's - she runs the Christian Light School and Children's Home - was going to come over after dinner for snacks, games, singing, etc.  We didn't get to games, but we had some really good snacks and then went up on the roof for some singing.  They brought guitars and we sang for over an hour.  

 



Then at 11:30 Randall and Dan led us in a communion service on the rooftop and at midnight we watched fireworks all over the mountainside.   A very very nice way to bring in the new year!  Allyson said the fireworks were not as grandiose as they saw from Dorothy's roof last year, but we saw enough to make it worthwhile!   Donna shared a devotion about us having to be broken in order to really shine the light of Christ.  She used glow sticks as an example.  We all got one and broke it to make it shine in the dark of the night - the same way we need to shine Christ's love into the darkness of this world.

At 1:15 am when I was writing about the day in my journal, the music and partying was going strong - and LOUD - we girls put in earplugs and took a sleep aid to help us sleep through that because it went all.night.long.  Not only was it New Year's, but Jan. 1 is Haiti's Independence Day as well - so it was party week in Haiti! 

  

Haiti - Day 2

Sunday - December 30, 2012

We awoke at 6 am to a wonderful breakfast and then headed out to Pastor Ceynor's church.  This is the church that Grey Stone has helped so much with.  He used to be referred to as "the rooftop church", but that building was damaged in the earthquake so he had to move locations.  Below is a picture from his current location looking out over the hillside and his former location was out there somewhere.  He pointed out where, but I never fully understood where he was talking about.

Pastor Ceynor is a wonderful man of God.  I liked him immediately!!  It was very cool listening to this Hatian congregation singing in a different language.  They had an electric guitar and drums and a very expressive worship leader!  I wish now that I'd taken some video of the worship service - note to self:  Do this next time you go!!     It was also VERY LOUD.   I found out later; however, that the reason is so that the message is heard all over the mountainside for those that are unable to physically attend.  And not to mention, those that would not attend are also hearing the message!!  I sang 2 songs for them and Randall preached.

I thought I had a picture of me as well, but can't find it. - sorry!


At the end of the service Pastor Ceynor had 3 ladies and an older couple come up front for Randall to pray specifically for.  At the time we did not know the individual stories of these folks, but after the service when Pastor Ceynor was showing us the school area, he told us about the ladies.  They were all involved in prostitution.  They told Pastor Ceynor that they cannot be baptized because of this sin in their lives, but they cannot stop either.  One of the ladies in particular is basically a prostitute slave to a married man.  He pays her $100 a week (I believe) and that is how she feeds her family which consists of herself and several siblings.  If she were to break it off with this man, she would have to uproot her family and move very far away because he might kill her.  In trying to put his heartache into English words for us he said "I have tears in my heart."  What an incredible description of heartache.  I cannot fathom the magnitude of desperation that is to prostitute yourself just to put food on the table.

Every single person in that congregation came by to shake our hands, hug us, and even the children kissed our cheeks to let us know they were glad we were there.   I felt very welcome!   While Pastor Ceynor was showing us around the church property, which consisted of a couple of homes and a school, a couple of the ladies that lived in one of the homes came over and was rubbing my hair.  They did the same to Allyson's as well.  I think the liked the softness and the feel of it.  It was hilarious!!  I would never walk up to a stranger from another country and just start rubbing their head!!  I didn't mind - I just thought it very funny!!!  I wish someone had taken a picture of that!

Pastor Ceynor just hugged me in a big 'ole bear hug and told me how much my singing had blessed him.   I could sing for him all the time!   Below are some more pictures around Pastor Ceynor's church:

This afternoon we went to the Phillipine UN place.  I'm not exactly sure of the name of it.  The military folks there had just arrived a few days before and will be there for 6 - 9 months.  Pastor Lenny (whom we did not get to meet because he was out of the country) is a Phillipino pastor in Haiti.  He and Jim Hambrick work with the folks at the UN location.  We went and led a worship service for them.  I sang again and Dan Curry, our college/young adult pastor, preached.  They all speak English, so this was more "normal" for us.

The funny thing was that they all wanted to have their picture taken with us - - but not all of us - just the ladies - and Pastor Dan.  Ha!  Then outside Allyson, Amanda, and Cassie were posing to have their picture taken and each of the Phillipino guys wanted to jump in - individually - and have their picture taken with them. It was hilarious!!  Allyson said who knows where their pictures are going to end up!!  All over Facebook!!  Ha!

We went back to Jim and Debbie's for dinner and games.  NOTE:  Dan is funny when he is tired!  Enough said.

Haiti - Day 1

(NOTE:  These Haiti blogs are being written after the trip because I could not get onto a piece of technology due to the fact that everyone.else.had.one and was on it constantly.  I just need to invest in my own for my next trip.)

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Departure day for Haiti.  I did not sleep well the night before.  Part excitement and part scared that I would oversleep.  My night went like this:

10:30 - go to bed
11:30 - look @ clock
1:00 - look @ clock, get up and go to bathroom
2:00 - look @ clock
3:30 - look @ clock
4:00 - ALARM!  (now I'm sleeping good - go figure!)

Allyson and I arrive at church at 5:00 (our meeting time) and we're the last ones there - again, go figure (Strike 1).  We get our luggage on the bus, have a prayer, and head out to the airport.  We all get checked in and through security.  I stop at the bathroom.  When I come out Allyson, Cassie & Amanda have stopped to get a muffin, so I wait for them.  We are walking to our gate when we here Randall saying "Run!!! They are about to close the door to the plane!!"  Seriously?  I had no idea we were THAT close to time. (Strike 2). We did, of course, make it and found out that they'd been calling our names!!!!  OMG!  None of us heard our names.  HA HA HA!  Wouldn't THAT have been something if we'd missed our flight!  I don't even want to think about it!

I guess because of the last minute rushing, etc., Allyson gets hot and light headed on the plane.  I had somehow ended up with her breakfast and we were not sitting anywhere close to each other.  When the pilot finally turned off the seat belt sing, I asked Ken to take the breakfast to Allyson since he was in the aisle seat.  He came back and said he thought she was sick because she had the barf bag out.  Mama worry for her baby came out then. I could see her and kept an eye on her the rest of the flight.  I think the water and muffin helped.  From there on out we were fine!!

We arrived in Haiti around 4pm.  The airport in Haiti has been updated with air conditioning, a baggage conveyor belt.  It is still behind the times compared to airports in the US, but Allyson was bummed that those of us who had never been to Haiti before did not get to experience the Haitian airport like it used to be!!  We'd been warned about guys trying to help us with our luggage - they are all standing around in red shirts and look "official", but they are not and just want you to pay them.   It wasn't as bad as I expected.  Jim was waiting for us with a nice 12 passenger van.  Again, Allyson and Danny both thought we were not getting the true Haitian experience since we didn't have to sit on our luggage in a tap-tap.   I was good with the van.

Jim and Debbie's place is already amazing and it is going to be even better when it is all finished!!  We got all settled in and had a wonderful spaghetti dinner.  Jim' sister, Donna, is in Haiti with them and within the first 5 minutes they all made us feel so at home and it was as if we'd known them all our lives.

1ST IMPRESSIONS OF HAITI:
1.  I would have been in a major culture shock overload if I had not already heard and seen Haiti through Allyson.
2.  It is chaos!  People everywhere, cars everywhere, if there are traffic laws - well . . .
3.  They try to get money - especially from Americans - any way they can.  I mentioned the lugged at the airport already, but on the streets when the van comes to a stop, the come from every corner and begin wiping down you vehicle wanting you to tip them.  Jim just kept shaking his head no and would pull off when he could move again.
4.  The roads are horrible.  They beat you to death.  Most of them are just dirt roads with major bumps and holes, etc.  I don't know how Jim keeps tires on that van!
5.  When we first got out of the van, there was this wonderful aroma.  I thought it was our dinner!!  I later learned it was the bakery next door - - oh my goodness!

After dinner we made plans for our next day.  We got ready for bed with a cold shower (no hot water) - but after the initial shock, it felt good!  We had screens on our door and windows and had a fan so I was pretty comfortable during the  night.  I slept pretty good being in a new strange place, but I think not sleeping the night before helped that as well.  I went to sleep with big anticipation for the week!!

Final Thoughts Before Departing for Haiti

Well, we are down to 10 hours before departing for Haiti.  So, what goes through your mind before one departs for their first international mission trip?   A lot of things!!

1.  I'm really excited!  So excited that I hope I can sleep tonight!!
2.  Allyson had to help me pack - she said I was struggling.   She was right.  I was trying to pack "perfectly".
3.  I really want to be used and hope that I can get out of the way of myself so that God can use me as He wants to.
4.  My american, wealthy self is worried about "looking bad" with no hairdryer to "fix" my hair, and minimal make-up.  I'm sure I'll get over that really quickly - - at least I hope so.  I don't want my vanity to get in the way either. 
5.  Even though I've seen Allyson's pictures and heard her stories, etc., I'm wondering what it is going to be like. 
6.  I'm a little scared of being pulled out of my comfort zone - - but then that is really when I'll depend on God and He can really do His work - - so it is exciting at the same time!!
7.  Be prepared to share my testimony . . . hmmmm.  I'd been wondering how to share my testimony to people that live in so much poverty - at least compared to what I live in.  So I asked God what part of my testimony I needed to share.  He impressed upon me that He created us to have a relationship with us.  A personal relationship.  He wants to walk with us in every aspect of our lives - like he did with Adam in the Garden in the beginning.  So my testimony goes like this:

I was fortunate to grow up in a place where there are churches everywhere and we have our pick of which one to attend.  Because of this I cannot remember a time when I did not know who God was.  I knew His Son, Jesus, came to earth and died on the cross.  I'm not sure I really understood the significance of what He did or why He did it.  I knew there was a Heaven and a Hell, but my little brain thought you went to Heaven if you were a good person and Hell if you were a bad person.  I was OK with that because I was a good person.  I just didn't understand at the time what the measuring stick was Perfection!  No one is perfect.  I learned that when I was in my early 20s.  That's when I realized I was not good enough for Heaven and that I needed a Savior.  That's when I asked Jesus to be my Savior and my Lord.   THEN, , , it got really good because it was then that I began to learn that not only did God want to save me, He wanted a relationship with me.  He, God Almighty Himself, wanted to know me and wanted me to know Him - like a friend.   This was another life changing moment for me.  Right now in my life I am working to cultivate that relationship.  Some days I do really well at it, and others - - well, not so well.  Just like with my human relationships - some days they are great, and other days - - - well, not so well.  Thankfully, my God is patient with me and He is always right there when I come back to work on that relationship again.   He knows you!  He knows your name, He knows how many hairs are on your head.  And He wants you to know Him and to have a relationship with Him.

Please pray that this testimony is one that someone needs to hear and that I can get out of the way for God to use it.

Christmas Eve

Hello, Christmas Eve!  You have arrived!!!  (It's currently 12:20am on 12/24)

I was finished wrapping presents BEFORE you arrived!! (barely, but I was)

Earlier in the year, I felt like you were coming way too soon; but, now that you are here, it's not too soon at all!

I'm looking forward to what you have to bring this year:
     - time with family
     - good food
     - gifts, of course, make the day fun
     - games
     - but this year, I've been challenged to really take a look at how well I know the person that we are really celebrating - - Jesus!

You see, as we begin to really celebrate Jesus' birth, I have been reminded twice already - in one day no less -  that we are wise when we seek Him.  I've also been reading a book that has challenged me to determine if I really depend on Him.  In this country, we are really very wealthy people, even if we think we are not.  And I've been challenged to look deep to determine if I rely and depend on God to provide for me - in ALL ways.  I think because we are a wealthy people that we don't tend to really rely on God as we should.

I'm about to embark on a mission trip to Haiti.  I began planning to go on this trip because my daughter's heart is in Haiti.  I thought it was time to go see this place and these people that she loves so much, and I thought it would be great to experience it with her.  And I am REALLY excited to be able to do that.  I have already begun to be challenged; however, by another missionary (the book I mentioned above is written by a Ugandan missionary).  We will only be in Haiti for basically 7 days, but I want to show and share Christ's love to whomever I am supposed to.   LOVE - that's really all mission work is.  Love on those God has put in your path in order to show His love - which is the ultimate love.  I hope I can do that.  I'm beginning to think that God has way more in store for me than just experiencing this land and people with my daughter.   I don't know what will happen, but I am really getting excited about it!!

More to come . . .