I leave for 1 day and…Funded!

Ruth and I left Jacmel at about 4PM yesterday for a much needed date and mini-getaway.  We rode the moto down the coast past Cayes Jacmel to the Hotel Kabic, where we had a wonderful dinner and spent the night.  No A/C but I had 3 hot showers within about 12 hours!  We’ve now been in Haiti for almost 2 solid months and hot water has never felt like such a luxury.

We left the computer behind at Rue Petion.  So, for the past 24 hours, I’ve been away from the blog and giving website.  I’m ecstatic to announce that we surpassed our goal for the Saint Michel’s Hospital Feeding Program by $395.  In total, $995 was given to Lifeline Community in order to bless the hospital patients here in Jacmel.  Combined with the $1,200 remaining from March, there is enough money to provide 3 meals for each patient and their families.  In addition, we’ll have funds to purchase additional medical care (lab tests, prescription medicines, etc.) for the poorest of the patients who cannot afford to be treated properly.  The first visit will happen Wednesday and we’ll take a meal next Sunday.

I’m not surprised that we exceeded our goal.  However, I am humbled.  Thank you all once again for making our summer special and caring for the people of Jacmel, Haiti.

Here are a couple of pics Ruth snapped earlier of the Hotel Kabic restaurant and security guard:

Saint Michel’s Hospital Feeding Project & Other Random Updates

I’ve got some mediocre news and some great news.  Mediocre news first…  We set out a few days ago to raise $600 for feeding patients at Saint Michel’s hospital in Jacmel.  We’re still about $190 short of our $600 goal.  Would you please consider donating today?  There is no predetermined minimum amount to contribute.  Here is the link to Lifeline Community’s giving website:  https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=Lifeline  Be sure to select “Saint Michel’s Hospital Feeding Program” in the “Categories & Funds” drop-down.

Now for the great news…  We determined yesterday that Joy In Hope has $1,200 in project money remaining from Lifeline’s trip last March.  This money was previously designated for the Saint Michel’s Hospital Feeding Program.  Rather than 1 visit and 1 meal, we’re now aiming for 3 visits and 3 meals.  Woo-hoo!  And a couple of other random updates:

I found out today that we’re headed to Port-Au-Prince Saturday, August 13th to meet the Livesays (http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/) and visit their church, PAP Fellowship (http://heartlineministries.org/ourministries/portauprincefellowship.php).   We’re very much looking forward to this outing.

One of our friends from Lifeline Community, Scott Christensen,  is traveling to Haiti (Jacmel) for 5 or 6 weeks beginning August 16.  He is going to help the Community Coalition for Haiti tune up and repair their vehicle fleet.  Some of these poor machines are barely limping along, especially the Land Cruiser with a grocery sack wrapped around a hole on its air intake, seriously.  Also, he is going to build a bunk bed for our new friends, Jeff & Tammi Brown.  Their kids are currently sleeping on blow up mattresses on the floor : (  Pray that Scott will have a productive, safe & fun trip.

WordPress sent me an email the other day stating that my last post was number 20.  Since it’s inception, the Wannabehumanitarian blog has had over 2,500 visitors.  I’m sure the “pros” have that many hits in a couple of hours but – for me – this is a neat milestone.  FYI, I’m going to rename the blog soon.  Humanitarian isn’t quite what we’re going for.  More on that later.  As always, I  welcome your comments and feedback.

One last thing…  I miss Summer in Utah!  Here is a pic from a church sponsored Father/Daughter hike last year.  My day was able to make this one with me and the kids.  It was at Sundance.  What a great time!

Don’t stop me now, cause I’m having such a good time

Just in case you were wondering, I made pancakes for breakfast this morning.  All without a proper griddle or spatula, and missing some crucial ingredients (think sugar).  They weren’t great, though the kids seemed to like them just fine.  Our house worker, Lucet, probably thinks I’m nuts.  She isn’t used to seeing a man in the kitchen cooking and cleaning (neither is Ruth for that matter, lol).  Plus, I was just plain in her way.  Oh well, the result was mediocre pancakes, and I can live with that.

Right now I’m at the Isaiah 61 House, our internet café.  And it just so happens that iTunes is blaring “Fat Bottom Girls” by Queen.  I know that – technically – I’m not old enough, but I love Queen.  Track 15 is “Don’t Stop Me Now”, which is probably my favorite Queen tune, and definitely 1 of the top 10 or 20 best rock songs ever.  Next on my play list, “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes.  If you ask me, Myke Shawhan gives Linda Perry a run for her money with this one.  Just sayin’…  Don’t believe me?  Ask him for a run through next time you see him.  You’ll be sold.

In the next couple of days, Ruth is going to blog about the sewing classes.  However, I wanted to briefly just touch base on that subject.  The four of us (Kelli was teaching ESL), along with Jeff and Tammi Brown, spent several hours at the New Life Children’s Home yesterday.  The sewing classes are in full swing.  The resident girls are having fun and learning a valuable life skill.  The classes are being held Monday – Thursday from 9AM – 2PM.  Most of the sewing is being done by hand and needle, but there is some talk of using the “extra” money to purchase a foot-peddle powered sewing machine.  Thanks again to all of you who financially supported this project.  Your donations have been put to good use.  We’ve got some other ideas in the hopper and plan to spend more time with the orphan girls, but I’ll let Ruth elaborate later.

What’s next?  Well, there are lots of things almost going on.  Those of you who have been to Haiti know exactly what I’m talking about.  We’re hoping to visit Port-Au-Prince one weekend so that we meet the Livesays and get acquainted with their organization, Heartline Ministries (http://heartlineministries.org/).  The community part of Christianity is lacking in Jacmel, at least among the North American missionary population.  Gwenn Mangine sometimes says (somewhat cynically) that “unhealthy people make the best missionaries.”  However unfortunate, that’s probably at least somewhat true.  I hear that the Livesays are part of a dynamic and lively “missionary church” with a congregation made up of North Americans and Haitians.  Healthy Christian community in Jacmel would not only improve the moral and spiritual well-being of the missionaries living here, but would increase their strength and fortitude.  It’s remarkably tough just being here, even for just a few months.  The real missionaries in Jacmel fight uphill battles each and every day.  They desperately need all that comes from within strong Christian community.  Hopefully, we can learn glean a bit of knowledge from the Livesays and consider how it might be applied here in Jacmel.

We’re also about to start building a house for Yvelt.  Yvelt is a Haitian friend of Mikey and Georgette Riguel.  In March, he was part of our construction crew and mixed cement alongside Bryan Hurlbutt, Darren Summers, Todd Monte & Eric Rogers.  Throughout our trip these men, among others, developed a bond with Yvelt.  We were made aware that his home had been destroyed in the earthquake.  He and his family were living in a very tattered tent.  That tent has long since given up the ghost.  Before we left in March, Lifeline Community committed to providing the funds needed to rebuild his home.  Through several very generous donations and leftover project money from our March trip, Yvelt’s home is finally fully funded!  Just last week the money was wired by Lifeline Community to Joy In Hope (http://www.joyinhope.org/) via Hungry For Life (http://www.hungryforlife.org/).  Mikey, JIH’s Construction & Development Director, is in the planning stage this week.  We hope to break ground Monday.  One of the great aspects of this project is that it’s being completed primarily with Haitian labor.  This puts people to work and utilizes Joy In Hope’s rental housing for labor project.

The other big prospect on our radar right now is getting back to Saint Michel’s hospital.  This god forsaken place, nicknamed by the locals “The Morgue”, made a gigantic impression (in fact, it kind of broke our hearts) on our March team.  For several reasons (it’s government run, I don’t speak French or Creole – yet, and we have limited contacts) it’s been tough for us to get back and visit.  Georgette Riguel though has volunteered to jump in and help us out, again.  Thanks Georgette!  This weekend we’re going to start planning a visit and feeding to happen next Wednesday.  Meals for all of the patients and their visiting families are going to cost $600 USD.  Without volunteer organizations, sick patients often go hungry.  This meal isn’t just a nicety; it will provide vital nourishment for children and adults who are extremely ill, injured and/or dying and often hungry.  It’s hard for me to choose words that accurately portray this awful place.  Here is a pic of one of the patients we connected with in March.

I have two requests.  First, If you have been to Saint Michel’s, please leave comments in order help me better paint a picture for those who haven’t experienced it firsthand. Secondly, will you donate money to pay for the food?  Again, the cost is $600 USD.  The money is needed prior to Sunday afternoon.  Here is the link to Lifeline Community’s giving site:  https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=Lifeline  Choose “Saint Michel’s Hospital Feeding Program” in the “Categories & Funds” dropdown.  You can also visit www.lifelinecommunity.com and click on the “give” icon in the upper right-hand corner.  Remember, all of your donations are tax deductible.  I will personally see to it that 100% of these funds are used to feed the hungry at Saint Michel’s hospital.  Hopefully, this visit will also give us an opportunity to provide needy patients with medicines prescribed by their doctor, but which they cannot afford.   We wish to build some sort of long term relationship with Saint Michel’s hospital and this is but one step in that direction.  If we aren’t able to raise the money by Sunday morning, we will need to postpone our plans.  So, thank you in advance for your generosity.

Well, it’s lunch time, and I need to go pick up Ruth and the girls on the mighty Dayang.  Somewhere along the line iTunes skipped over 4 Non Blondes and starting playing Patsy Cline.  I hate Patsy Cline, well, at least her music.  She’s dead, right?  To this day, my dislike of her still disappoints my father-in law.  I don’t think he likes 4 Non Blondes either.  Weirdo.

Please help us out with the fundraising, have a great afternoon, and God Bless!

P.S.  I could use some more subscribers.  If you enjoy reading our blog, please subscribe!

Kelli forgot to name her post, again.

Greetings from Jacmel!

So it’s my turn to blog again. Actually, it probably should have happened a long time ago but I have discovered that blogging is definitely not my forte. I have now been sitting in front of the computer for approximately 30-40 minutes and still there is nothing! However, I have researched how to book my next trip to outer space, thanks to my new friend. Check it out: Virgin Galactic, only $200,000 with a $20,000 deposit.  So with all the distractions, please forgive me as I attempt to share with you my experience.

The first couple weeks of our trip were rather slow. With the exception of helping out with Vacation Bible School and routine trips to the beach, things were fairly uneventful. But, alas, things have changed! Boredom is no longer a concern and I feel like I have a clear purpose here. What’s changed?? New friends…Jacob and Sofie .Jacob and Sofie are college students from the states. They, too, are spending their summer in Jacmel. Together, we teach English classes at a local Lutheran church. It has been an amazing experience! We teach 2 classes each day; a morning class and an evening class. Classes combined, we have about 100 students, mostly young adults.

Daily lessons have included healthy competitions of Red Rover, Simon Says, and Tug-of-War. AND, if you know me at all, you know I don’t teach without singing. There has been plenty of singing! The great thing is that the Haitians love it. And we love it! The Lord has provided such a wonderful opportunity to serve fellow believers here in Haiti.

Every lesson we begin with prayer and a Bible verse. Yesterday’s verse brought overwhelming joy to my heart:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

-I Peter 2:9

As we read this verse together, God spoke to my heart. The realization of why I am here and God’s love for these people completely overwhelmed me.  Honestly, it just made we want to shout of the glory of God.

Praise be to God; I am so thankful to be here!

Kelli

Sewing Classes for Orphans – Funded!

Thank you all so much for your generous donations and for letting others know about this project.  We have now received over $1,000!  I’m removing the “Sewing Classes for Orphans” link from the Lifeline Community giving website, as this project is now fully funded.  Woo-hoo!  I’ll hand deliver the money to HSM this afternoon.  Once the class is started, I’ll send out an update and post some pics.  Thanks again.

Sewing Classes for Orphans

I received a text message from Mike Bell yesterday that went something (err, exactly) like this:

“Dude, howz it goin?  BTW, u haven’t posted to your blog since June 24th :)”.

Spelling & Grammar check had a heyday with that one!  Ok, I get it; but it seems like I always begin my posts with an apology for the lack of posts.  Not going to do that this time…  Nope, I’m going to make excuses rather than apologize.  So, here we go with my “Top 10” excuses for not blogging:

1. Shoddy internet connection
2. No electricity = no internet connection
3. My sister, though she was unauthorized, took my computer
4. Windows error message KB7007897 “It’s too hot”
5. Generalized anxiety (currently treatable)
6. Generalized grumpiness (not currently treatable)
7. Generalized laziness in the evenings (you decide)
8. Nothing to write about
9. Too much to write about
10. I stink at blogging

So, I’m blogging today.  “What changed?” you might ask.  Plans, projects, etc. seem to ALWAYS fall apart in Haiti.  Seriously, they do, really.  If you don’t believe me, ask around.  Nick Mangine just put together a great post regarding failure and quitting.  (http://www.itsjustathoug.ht/2011/07/double-or-nothin.html) But alas, we’ve been presented with an opportunity and – knock on wood – it hasn’t fallen apart.

I need your help.   Actually, Haiti needs your help.  More specifically, a group of orphaned girls at the New Life Children’s Home needs our help.  You see, summers in Haiti are hot and boring (no TV, PS3, or even Candyland) and hot, especially when school is not in session.  Living in an orphanage only exacerbates the heat and boredom, not to mention so many other problems.  How can we help?  That’s simple, sewing classes.

Besides something to do, these sewing classes will provide the orphan girls at New Life Children’s home with an extremely valuable life skill.  The reality is that many of these girls will not finish school; some will probably even grow up illiterate.  Knowing how to sew can help them, as adults, earn a living.  Even now, this skill can be put to good use.  You should see these kids on Sunday mornings with their missing buttons and tattered ill-fitting dresses, trying so hard to look their best.

The cost estimate is $732.50 USD for 20 girls to receive 2 months of classes.  Here’s the actual bid, in French, and totally Haitiriffic.  Gwenn, thanks for  letting me use your term, you trendsetter you.

Since Haitian cost estimation lacks in the accuracy department, I would like to raise $1,000 USD to cover the sure-to-be yet “unexpected” additional expenses.  Do the math.  This breaks down to only $50.00 USD per child.  Without sounding too much like a late-night fundraising infomercial, I would like to say that this is a small price to pay in order to better these girls’ lives.

Help us out!  The money is being collected by our church, Lifeline Community in West Jordan, Utah.  You can donate securely by visiting the church’s website www.lifelinecommunity.com and clicking “give” in the upper right hand corner or by navigating directly to https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=Lifeline.  Be sure to select “Sewing Classes for Orphans” from the dropdown list.

A “good” blog post might generate 100 visits to my blog site.  I’m not yet extremely popular on the internet.  Sorry for the added pressure but keep this in mind.  With 100 unique visitors, 1 out of every 5 will need to donate $50.00 in order for us to reach our goal and fund sewing classes for 20 orphan girls.  Let’s step up and make this happen, pretty please : )  Doing so will – at the very least – bring some joy into the lives of these young girls.

The New Life Children’s Home is a ministry run and by Haitian Support Ministries.  Some of our new missionary friends in Jacmel, Jeff and Tami Brown, are the in country administrators for HSM.   You can check out HSM on the web at http://www.haitiansupportministries.org/.  However, for the sewing project, please give online at www.lifelinecommunity.com or https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=Lifeline as I will not be able to track funds given by you directly to HSM.

I will be in Jacmel long enough to see this project come to fruition.  I’ll remove the “Sewing Classes for Orphans” dropdown from our website once we reach the goal.  If we raise $1,000 and the cost ends up being only $732.50, 100% of the remaining money will fund future Lifeline Community projects in Haiti.  We’re already planning another trip for November.  If my boss, Jim Beech, is reading this, no I am not personally planning on coming back in November.  I’m so out of vacation days!

Here is a pic of the girls at the orphanage.  I took it myself earlier today.  These are the actual girls (not a fictitious representation, lol) you will be sending to sewing classes with your generous donations.

Here’s your chance to be connected directly to Jacmel, Haiti.  Let’s be His hands and feet.

Stories from the home front

Here is a note I received from my house-sitter and friend, Trevor Crump.  I hope you find it as amusing as our family did.  Sad (for poor Trevor and his wife) but HILARIOUS!  By the way Trevor, Scott is our neighbor and the truck is a 1968 model.  Thanks for the easy blog post!  Here ya go:

“Weber Fam,

So we just wanted to update you with a few fun thing that have happened while you’ve been gone.  First of all I would like to point out my signature Timothy notice anything different?

Everything has been going really good.  We love living in a house and being in charge of it, it makes us feel like grown ups (I dont think that we can rent ever again…) Taking care of a dog is great Maverick and I have a very special bond it seems that everywhere I go he tends to come with me, the other day I was putting on the carpet and he would lay down in front of me so that I couldnt putt….. he is kind of a perve he is alway trying to come into the bathroom with me when I shower or go to the bathroom.  We had a wonderful experience with the first Friday that we were in the house.  We went out with some friends and put Maverick in the laundry room.  We came back and right as we opened up the garage a wall of oder pierced our very senses to the point that it made our eyes water.  When we opened up the laundry room door we had the pleasure of seeing diarrhea everywhere!!! I mean everywhere! HAHA quite possible the worst smell I have ever beheld.  But we manned up made some make shift gloves and shovels to scoop it up, got every cleaner we could find in the house and we went to town on that room for 2 hrs! I wish we would have taken pictures we had toilet paper stuffed up our noses and cellophane wrap around our hands cleaning it up it was hilarious!  The miracle of the whole situation was Magician Maverick had not poop on him at all, it was crazy I checked his whole body and there was nothing on him nothing at all! Since this event all three of us have grown closer together in a way that would have never been possible, for that we are grateful.  I promise we didnt feed him any table scraps I think he may have just been nervous being with new people.

Tonight was a very fun experience.  So ever since we have been staying here there has been this old 1930’s GMC  truck outside of the house in beween your place and the neighbors.  I have noticed that the truck has never moved once I have just assumed that the neighbor just leaves after me and gets home before me.  When we got home this evening there was a notice on the door that said all cars in this neighborhood needed to be removed before 7am tomorrow because they were going to be re paving the roads.  Around 7 this evening we were getting ready to walk the pooch and Jerry I believe your next door neighbor was outside asked me if I needed help moving the truck.  I replied that I had no idea what he was talking about and wondered why I would move a truck that isnt mine or yours…. it turns out that, that truck is your truck.. haha I have a feeling that I must have completely spaced that one.  So the next bit of time we spent searching for the key.  After we found the key I hopped in the truck to simply move it as I turned the key it didnt start in fact it didnt even make a noise.  We thought to our selves no biggie Jerry went and grabbed his jumpers and we put my car up to it and started to charge it.  After about 20 minutes of charging we tried it again and we got a noise but nothing more than that.  Jerry decided that he would go and get his battery charger.  It turns out that he had left it up in Wyoming and didnt have it.  We wend to scott’s or steves across the street and he didnt have one either.  I then went to my in laws house and it turns out that he was out four wheeling and he bought it with him.  So we decided that we would put it in neutral, but sure enough we couldnt do that unless we could start the car.  Finally around 10 o clock we decided to hook it up again to Jerry’s truck this time and it worked!  So we got the car up in the driveway, I think that everything that could have gone wrong went wrong but your guys have such an awesome neighbor he was awesome and helped so much!

I thought that you guys would like to hear a couple of funny stories.  Everything has been going great here we really do love it.  Thank you so much for letting us stay here we are having a blast!  I hope that everything is going well for you guys we want to hear how things are but dont feel like you have to email us back I heard that you have a blog shoot us out the website and we will take a look at it!

– Hide quoted text –

On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 8:35 AM, Trevor Crump <trevorcrump@directcorp.com> wrote:

Tim,

Here is a copy of the bills that you have received.  Do you want me looking through your sisters mail?

Trevor Crump
Manager
Direct Services, LLC
(801) 924-1894 direct dial
(801) 924-2222 main
(801) 924-7726 fax
TrevorCrump@DirectCorp.com

The Best Mortgage Related Services. Go Direct.

www.DirectServicesCorp.com

PRIVACY NOTICE: The contents of this email and any attachments to it are confidential and may be privileged. If you received this email by mistake, you are duly notified that any copying, distribution, disclosure or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, notify us immediately by reply email or telephone and delete this email from your system.

—
Trevor Crump

Through Little Eyes – by Ruth

I have had so many strange conversations with my children since we arrived in Haiti; things I thought I would NEVER do or say.  For example: “Just try to eat around the bugs.” or “Let’s name all of the dead cockroaches so it’s not scary to go into the bathroom!”

As strange as it is for me to live in a third world country, I can only image how it must be for my girls. They are experiencing a whole new world.  Even though it has been difficult for them at times, they have done great thus far.  I thought it would be interesting for you to hear about Haiti through their little eyes.  So, here you go.

Madelynn – Age 6

What’s your favorite food in Haiti?

“Mangos, they are juicy!  I also like the cherry/watermelon juice that Madam Naomi makes.  I haven’t had coconuts yet, but I want to try them.”

Do you like to ride on the moto with Daddy?

“I like to ride with daddy but it’s pretty bumpy.”

What do you like best about Haiti so far?

“The trees are pretty cool.  The leaves are huge.  I’ve never seen trees like this before.  I also really like Madam Lucid.  She is so nice.  I have made lots of new friends.”

What do you not like about Haiti?

“I do not like the mosquito bites and the heat.  I don’t like the potties.  They are pretty gross.  One day I met a boy at the beach.  He did not have a mommy or a daddy, they died.  That was really sad.”

How is Haiti different from home?

“The potties are different.  It’s noisy at night.  It sounds like there is a party outside.  Even when it’s way past my bedtime!  There are loud roosters that crow all the time!  Our house is kind of outside in Haiti.  You can buy a goat and put it in your car!”

How is Haiti the same as home?

“We can buy Cheez-Its here!” (By the way, they are extremely overpriced.)  We can have friends over to play games.”

Olivia – Age 4

Have you learned any Kreyol words?

“I’m not gonna say it.”  (This is going to be a loooong interview!)

Tell me about the new friends you’ve made in Haiti.

“I really like Denea.” (Denea is an Occupational Therapist who works in the CCH clinic.)

Liv has been pretty shy with everyone.  All of the Haitians want to pick her up and it makes her very nervous.  But one day, out of the blue, she walked up to one of the guys that works for CCH and pinched him right on the butt!  The poor guy was so embarrassed.  I so wanted to crawl under the table!  I was mortified!!!  I don’t think I won any parenting awards that day!

Do you like all of the bugs here?

“I only like the lady bugs.” (WWWWHHHAT?? I haven’t seen any ladybugs in Haiti.)  “I don’t like the crabs.  But I like the geckos and lizards.”  (Technically not bugs Liv.)

Do you like the beach?

“Yeah, I like the water.  I love to play in the sand.  I make sandcastles with the Haitian kids.   And I love chocolate milk.”  (Random thought Liv… I have no idea what she is talking about here.)

Do you like the cold showers now?

“I love the cold showers.  Because they cool me off when it’s sweaty hot!  I used to cry when I got cold showers, but now I like them.”

Do you like the food in Haiti?

“I like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”  (I’ll take that as a no…)

What do you like about Haiti?

“Peanut butter and jelly.”  (Ok, this interview is done)

Crappy Wheelchairs

Dear Mr. Wheelchair Donor Person,

Please do not send us your old, broken & crummy wheelchairs.  We need functioning wheelchairs that are not missing parts.  It’s hard getting around here in Haiti.  Most places aren’t yet even wheelchair accessable.  Some of the wheelchairs you sent us earlier are unusable and we must find new homes for them.  Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Respectfully,

The crippled people of Jacmel

Kelli’s (she’s my sister) First Post

I realize that most readers of this blog are close friends and supporters of Tim and Ruth. You are more than likely familiar with their story and call to Haiti. They have shared their vision and hearts with you. I look forward to getting to know all of you when we return; but for now would like to share how I, too, have landed in Haiti.

During the past few years of my life, the Lord has revealed to me His abiding faithfulness. Through difficult circumstances He has been my Provider, Healer, Comforter, and Friend. Through a time in my life that it seemed I should have felt the most unloved; He lavished on me His unfailing love! He has blessed me with friends who have become my family, opening their hearts and homes to me and with family who have supported me, unconditionally, holding my arms high when I could not.

God has used this time in my life to grow me in relationship with Him; to seek Him with my whole heart and to serve Him. As I’ve started my career as a teacher and settled into the routine of “life”, I expected to feel satisfaction and fulfillment; however, I have consequently learned that the Holy Spirit does not rest. He has stirred in me a discontentment that I had for so long contributed to my desire for companionship and family. Now the Lord is opening my eyes and revealing that this discontentment is from the Holy Spirit causing me to examine my heart and faithfulness to Him.  I began praying for direction and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ as I realized it is a picture much larger than me and my own desires.

In the midst of those prayers, I inserted one genuine request: “Lord, please send someone to lead me in this journey”. It should be no surprise that the Holy Spirit had already been moving. As Tim and Ruth were preparing for their first trip to Haiti, the Lord began rising in their hearts a love for the Haitian people before they had ever met them. Tim called a few weeks before they left asking if the Lord called them to move to Haiti, would I consider going with them to teach the girls. My heart cried, “Yes!” but not in response to Tim but to God.

As I was contemplating the idea of coming to Haiti for the summer and what exactly that would mean, I often mentioned to a dear friend of mine back home, “Oh how much God must love me that if He called me to a place like Haiti He would allow me to go with my family!” I say this because, as I have mentioned before, my heart has longed to be with family for so long.

So here we are on this endeavor together. I’m so excited to be here and thankful for the opportunity. We have already met so many wonderful people with whom we will minister. I look forward to sharing much more with you as our trip progresses. I believe this will truly be an amazing summer!

Kelli