Haiti Day One: Pastor Moise

One stop we made in Port au Prince was at the church of Pastor Moise Vaval. You may have seen this 60 Minutes video about him. He is a remarkable man doing remarkable things for the lost children of Haiti. They have set up a temporary outdoor chapel while they make plans to rebuild the church building that was destroyed by the quake. Josey, the Children's Minister that works for Global Orphan Project, led the kids in games and music and it was beautiful to see the joy these children have.

Joseph Volcy is a young Haitian man who grew up at Mission of Hope, one of Global Orphan's projects. He speaks both Creole and English and is affectionately called, "party in a box." His love for the children just shines and they love him completely and light up every time they see him.

A couple members of our team went and sat on some of the empty benches and their laps were immediately full of children. They seem so hungry for affection. I know they are well cared for in the places we visited but there are so many children and so few workers, the luxury of just being held probably doesn't happen for them very often.

So I joined the others and sat on the end of one of the benches. This young man was at the other end of the bench. I caught him looking at me out of the corner of my eye, then looking around to see if anyone would notice, he scooted over to me an inch or two at a time. I draped my arm around the back of the bench and that was the only invitation he needed to move right over next to me so I could put my arm around him. He was very sweet just sitting there allowing me to hold him.

This sweet face, likewise, took her turn sitting next to me, giving and receiving lots of hugs and affection. But she was a little more spunky and asked for me to take photo after photo so she and her little friend could see their faces on the screen of my camera.

After an hour or so, we had to say our goodbyes so we could go to the hotel for dinner and a pow-wow. The kids hung on us, not wanting us to leave and we hung onto them not wanting to leave. But there were more children to be seen on this trip and we knew they were in good hands.

Haiti Day One: Port au Prince

We spent Thursday traveling and arrived in Port au Prince around 3:10 p.m. I felt so excited to finally be there and ready for anything. The airport was busy and chaotic, full of activity and color. We were met by a small band playing some lively music. My heart was happy. We boarded our bus to take a quick tour of the city and suddenly the realization of what life was really like for the people there hit me hard.

There were tent cities everywhere.

And the devastation of the earthquake with collapsing buildings and piles of rubble. Notice the pigs scavaging for food.

Trash and garbage filled the streets because there is no means and no place to dispose of it.

But there was also color and the activities of the people all around us.

Tap-taps are the primary means of transportation for the Haitian people. Look between the rales and you will see that this tap-tap was packed. Often you would see people spilling over and hanging onto the sides of the truck or even sitting on top.

And there were makeshift markets set up along all the sidewalks with things people would find and gather to sell so they could provide for themselves and their families.

Once in a while we would see colorful murals on the buildings. Women and men carrying bags of things on their heads.

I can tell you stories and show you photos but the reality of it doesn't really hit until you see it in person. All of these photos were taken from inside a very comfortable air-conditioned bus. I could feel my heart breaking over the hopelessness of the people I saw. I couldn't speak, but only take in what I saw and let the tears fall.

More about our evening in Port au Prince to come...

Haiti: What shall I pack?

Clothes, check.

Good walking shoes, check.

Toothbrush, check.

Camera, check.

Backpack, check.

What else? Cell phone, money, hair products? Hand sanitizer - definitely.

But how were the first missionaries sent out? What was on their packing list?

From Matthew Chapter 10:

“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed."

Wow, they didn't even need to take a change of clothes? Well what did they take with them?

Read Matthew 10:1-20 for the complete list.

They were equipped with spiritual authority, power to heal, a testimony, a giving spirit, peace, discernment, courage, and the Holy Spirit to lead them.

Lord, help me to remember that my spiritual preparation for this trip is much more important than my physical preparations.

17 days!

Haiti: Why am I going?

During the next 18 days, I'm going to try to spend some time preparing myself spiritually for this trip. One of the first questions I was asked when I began telling people I was going was, "Do you believe God is leading you in this?"

I have been drawn into compassion for those who are considered "less than" by the rest of society for as long as I can remember. I learned early in my Christian walk that God had given me a gift of mercy and a heart that loves rather than one that judges. These are spiritual gifts that He has granted so that I can serve him. My home has always been open to anyone needing a soft place to fall and it gives me joy to be the caretaker. This is the role He has placed me in with both my family and in my church.

I have served in my church as a missions teacher to young girls. I've supported missionaries in financies and prayer. I've been on trips with the youth of my old church to hold VBS and build in Mexico and on the Navaho reservation in New Mexico and Nevada.

I returned to school in my late 40s and received an education in social work. And though I am not working in that field, my heart is drawn to opportunities to empower others to effect change in they own lives as well as do what I can to advocate for those who are marginalized by society.

I tell you these things not in a prideful way, but to tell you that this is how God created me. This is the person He created me to be: A servant to those who the world has forgotten. So when this opportunity to go to Haiti presented itself, I didn't hesitate to say, SEND ME.

I'm not going to Haiti to show the people we'll be working with a better way to do things. I am going to learn from them and partner with them in providing for the children that have been placed in their care. Working together to find ways to give these children a future of hope. If we can raise up this next generation of Haitians to be adults who are educated and healthy and who love the Lord, that will be the best way to effect change in Haiti.

God had also given me a vision that this will not be the only trip I make to Haiti. My prayer is that He will clarify that in the time I spend there and the weeks afterward as I reflect on my experience. But my heart is already open and willing to just follow where He leads.

If you are reading this, I ask you to please pause and say a prayer for the people we'll be partnering with, for the children in the orphanage in Gonaives, and for the team I'll be traveling with. Pray for safe travels, for us to be led by God's Spirit, and for Him to be at the center of all we experience there.

Grace to you,

Pearle

Your Hands

My prayer for you today is that you feel safe and secure in His Hands.

Grace and Peace,

Pearle

Soul Painting

As a child, I was always so envious of the ones whose creative abilities seemed to come so effortlessly. There were always a select few in school who were known as the "artistic ones." I was not one of them. However, throughout my life it seems I've always been drawn to one creative endeavor or another. There was sewing for my children when they were young, latchhooking, cross-stitch, painting of birdhouses. I decorated birthday cakes. I took piano lessons, guitar lessons, a creative writing class. I just never seemed to stick with anything long enough to get good at it.

A couple of years ago in the midst of some struggles with an anxiety disorder, a friend invited me to something called a "soul painting" class at her church. I was desperate for something to help me deal with my anxiety and the opportunity to be creative again drew me in.

The class began with the lighting of candles and prayer. We were then asked to meditate and open our spirits up to God's creative powers. We were given an hour to go to one of several painting stations which consisted of a large sheet of paper attached to the wall. In the center of the room were buckets and buckets of all colors of paint, paintbrushes, aprons, palettes, water, everything we needed to create.

As I was meditating I had a vision in my mind of what I was to paint. It began with 4 mountain like structures, each one with a name: judgment, rejection, abandonment and failure. These were the fears in my life that seemed to be causing the anxiety I was dealing with. The mountains became more human-like in their form and I imagined myself walking among them, yet finally escaping along a path that led to an altar of peace. The painting is very simple and childlike, lacking in any detail or true talent. But the release I experienced from the painting of it was enormous.

This is what led me to begin to explore more about painting. That was just a little over 2 years ago. Locking myself away in my art room and spending hours creatining and painting has provided me with a safe haven, a place to express all those fears and emotions that have caused me anxiety and pain. I had no imposed expectations on being "good enough" to do this. It was simple play.

Now looking back over the things I have created over the past 2 years, I can see how much I have grown and evolved. I am no longer imprisoned by the fears I once had. I am accepting myself as the person I was created to be. I see growth in the way I create, too. It's a wonderful journey that will continue with no expectations on where it will lead.

Sacrifice

Art by Sammy Britt

I am a vessel. I am filled by a kind word, a gentle touch, watching another person rise up out of the ashes to overcome, kisses from my grandchildren, divine revelations, answered prayers, art, music, quiet moments at home, walking in the woods, connections with another creative spirit.

These are the things that fill me up. They fill my heart and they fill my life. These are the things that make me grateful. And these are the gifts I sacrifice and pour out into the hearts and lives of others so that they too can be filled.

There is joy in the sacrifice. And with every emptying of my life for another comes a fresh filling so that I can do it all over again.