Hurricane Sandy: Christa

Leaving Haiti after living here for the summer was more painful than I thought it would be. I grew up in LA for 25 years of my life and all of a sudden it didn’t feel like home anymore. It was a lot to process, but it’s as if the Lord laid me down on an operation table and did surgery. He transplanted a slice of His heart for Haiti into mine, and I’ve fallen in love with the culture, the scenery and most of all the people, whom He also adores.

After a few weeks of processing, I returned back to my new found home in Haiti this past October, to practically walk straight into Hurricane Sandy. I’ll never be able to articulate what I saw and the feelings I experienced, but I’ll walk you through 24 hours of it.

The clouds started rolling over the island of Haiti and as the burning hot sun started to hide behind the thick, dark clouds… we knew this was more than just some rain. We had gotten news that a hurricane was supposed to hit Cuba, but it was clear it was headed for us as well. A team was visiting and they wondered if they were even going to be able to leave as scheduled.

That night, the team was sitting around the living room in fellowship, playing games and watching a movie, but I just sat it front of the window watching the rain pour down but be taken violently sideways by the wind. My heart sank as I started to think of all the teeth chattering in tents, literally across the street. Across the street! I asked myself, “why am I sitting in a thick concrete house, dry, and those kids are sleeping in mud.” Fighting back tears all night I went to bed and petitioned to the Lord.

I could barely sleep, such a mixture between the loud crashing water on tin roofs and an extremely heavy heart. My bed is next to a broken window and my sheets were wet from rain getting in and for the first time in Haiti, I was so cold. I can’t even imagine how uncomfortable and cold these kids where as they had no way to dry off, but to just sit and wait for the rain to stop. Every time I was woken up, I just lifted up those kids and families to the Lord. I asked for protection and comfort. I asked for the rain to stop. But after all that, I asked for the Lords will to be done. And then the Lord spoke.

The Lord took me on a journey that night as I lifted up the tent city, asking for the Lord’s will. He reminded me of the ‘storm’ in my life that drove me to my knees. Without this storm I would not have heard my Father’s voice. I would not have found the comfort that no human can offer me. I would not have experienced the miracles of healing when I thought my heart and my life was too broken to fix. He reminded me of that storm. It may not have been a physical storm, but it caused me to reach out to the only one who could save me from the drowning waves of my life.

After looking at this, He reminded me that He is so sovereign. It may not be the storm that He wants in our lives, but He uses the difficult things in this life to draw us near to Him. Who am I to say what these people need? It may not look like they have much, but they also don’t have masks to hide behind and money to stuff in a hole that only Jesus can fill. Jesus knows right where they are and He knows their deepest need, and that is Him. Period. He knows what it will take for someone to turn to Him and trust that He is faithful to fulfill all His promises. We get far too comfortable to even realize we need Jesus, and sometimes I think its almost better that this community has to be dependant on Him, they get to watch Him move. Watch Him provide. Watch Him heal. Watch Him show up in ways we don’t allow outside of our comforts. My prayer is to be dependent and desperate for the Lord. These people are, and I might go as far to say that they may experience Him in a way we don’t allow our lives to be a part of. Who knows how many prayers were answered that night, but I believe the Lord kept families completely dry and warm that rested in Him and clung to the provision of His wing.                “How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

 – Psalms 36:7

Lydel

            So that morning I was unsure what we would find. The storm lasted a couple days and we got news that 500 tents were destroyed. The visiting team graciously agreed to help us go in and put some tents back together. We heard of a woman who no longer had the ability to walk, who lost her tent in the hurricane and really needed help. We grabbed Lydel, a 17 year old boy we have quickly grown to love as he helps out at the feeding program and hangs out with us in the streets. He has many brothers who also agreed to help. So the team and essentially all of Lydel’s family took on this task to help a woman in desperate need.

     Clearly I am no tent-building master, so I just followed the tugging on my heart to go visit and be with the families after the storm as the team was fixing tents. I weaved through the narrowest pathway between tents (only room for single file) to find a huge muddy mess. The boys are somewhat clean… whoa - were the Americans dirty!! Somehow I think the Haitians have the ability to float on mud, where Americans… well, cannot. Knee deep in mud, the team is putting up posts to frame the tent with the goal to make it better than it was. We heard the conditions she lived in prior to the storm were one of the worst.

            As I walk through, I myself being American suddenly have lost sight of the Nike’s on my feet and now only see rusty brown mess covering my shoe completely. I carry on and walk through the plot to the other side greeting Lydel and his brothers and they all surround me with hugs, beaming with smiles so full of life. I loved watching the community come together to help this woman. I find a flat spot to stand and within seconds I see kids from all directions pop out of tents with wide eyes at the sight of me. I soon have my arms full of kids I’ve had the honor to know through the feeding program. As I talk to them I see the surrounding neighbors start crowding around to watch and I start making conversations with them and laughing with them.

             It’s incredible to watch these people after hardship. They are so resilient as a nation, but they rejoice in the Lord through all circumstances. It reminds me of the scripture in Psalms 13:5 “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” Those that do know Jesus in this community are the ones who are literally singing praises to God for making a way for them. They know their ultimate need is salvation and they are rejoicing in their Savior. Its too often we forget that we have a Savior who has taken the worst for us and given us life eternally. How often do we loose perspective and just focus on our circumstances? Watching them snapped me right back to the real reality of all we have in Jesus.

            After spending time with these families making sure they were ok, I decided to go back and carefully made my way through the mud. Naturally Lydel started a mud fight with me so I definitely looked like I ROLLED in the mud. As I weave through tents people are popping out laughing at me asking me if I had fallen… thanks Lydel.

            I made it out to the main street that runs through Siniace where often kids are playing soccer and there are machann selling things from the baskets on their heads. I am about to turn the corner and a woman I have never met before greets me. She had seen me coming up the road and gone into her tent to get something. Once I walk past her she doesn’t say anything, but grabs my hands and starts washing me with her only clean bucket of water. I look at her and just as I am about to say, “its ok, save your water, I am fine…” a soft still voice just told me, “let her.” A tear streams down my face as she starts washing all the mud off of me and I’m overwhelmed by the service of a stranger.

As I stand there more humbled than I’ve ever felt, I think of Jesus, lowering Himself. As it says in Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God” he wore the costume of a salve and served us, washing the disciples’ feet. I was overwhelmed by the love of the Lord in this moment. I felt Him say, “you are here to serve these people, but here they are serving you. I am here serving you, I am washing you clean through this process.” I was reminded of all He’s done for me and couldn’t help but stand in awe, in the middle of the street, in a tent city, of how the Lord speaks.

He provides for our every need, little or big. Immediate or long term. Spiritual or physical. He used this team of people to BE the provision for the woman in need, no doubt she saw and heard of God’s provision on this day. And He provided a small, simple act of service towards me, but one that cost that woman her only bucket of clean water. How much more do I want to pour out all that I have within me to love these people with the abundant love the Lord has supplied me.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 

- Psalm 34:4-7 

Update - Next Steps: Christa

I am writing this update to keep you posted on what is next in this journey to Haiti.

I spent the last 3 months in Port-au-Prince teaching along side Rachel Harvey. The two of us had over 30 students Monday - Friday rotating between business classes and our skills & trade labs. Our vision was to teach the older children of the orphanage business concepts along with the trade they were learning so they can apply business skills and techniques to a potential business in these areas.  Through much prayer, the kids hearts were completely softened and they went from discouragement and no dreams of the future, to seeing a future in their dream businesses that they proposed to the class at the end of the program. We saw so much potential prior to this program and now that they are more equipped, motivated and eager, they are most definitely going to be successes in Haiti, the next generation to change the country one kid at a time. 

My main focus in teaching a trade was fostering a creative environment for the kids to create jewelry made of true materials from Haiti such as shells of the Caribbean beaches, broken glass, bottle caps, cans, tiles, etc. Recycling materials that are all around them, they were given the tools to make the most beautiful jewelry that is for sale, helping them provide for themselves upon graduation. Through much prayer, I have decided to come along side the Transition Program and launch the jewelry business. The biggest need is a job. Creating jobs in this country will help entire families survive so we hope that the Transition Program helps to do so in this city.

     

       

I've stepped out in faith feeling confident that this is where the Lord is leading me, that I have moved out of my apartment in LA and sold the rest of my belongings. I will be serving full time in Haiti and have committed to another 3 months, but with the intentions of staying longer. I will reevaluate in January when i am back in the states for a wedding. 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 

My heart is absolutely still in Haiti and particularly with very special kids that I've built relationships with both in the orphanage and in the surrounding community. I've had the honor of meeting the families of some of the kids at our feeding program, and I would love nothing more than to be given more opportunities to love and encourage them in a more consistent way. 

My heart is torn between the kids in the orphanage and the kids roaming the streets, but one way or another, my heart is in Haiti. I cannot wait to be back in the country with all my kids, but I can definitely use your support. The first way I can use your support is in prayer. I know that what I am committing to is a very challenging decision. I am aware of the obstacles I will face and it will certainly be difficult, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. Please pray for the following:

• Wisdom: It says in James 1:5 "if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." I definitely need wisdom as I launch a business and guide these kids in learning to be hard workers with integrity. 
• Discernment: I am surrounded by so much need constantly, but I know the Lord will give me discernment in who and how to help. I know I cannot help everyone and I am just called to love the person in front of me. I need Him to completely remove my understanding of "help" and give me His eyes to see.
• Love/Patience: Kids are always challenging to work with, but these kids are severely abused and neglected and need so much love. Sometimes they refuse my love but its just a sign I need more of Jesus' love for them, to pursue them with love through patience. A constant picture of Christ's love for us. 
• Provision: I am blown away by the support I have received and I know the Lord always provides. I am still a few hundred dollars away from my monthly goal, and the transition program has decided we need an iPad for a number of different reasons. The online business I am starting will require photographs, photo editing, uploading to the internet site, and the ability to swipe a credit card for the gift shop purchases. The ipad has the ability to do all of these things with out having to buy 3 or 4 separate expensive devices. If you have an iPad you would like to donate, please contact me. Or if you feel led to financially support me for my rent, food, airfare, or other costs such as supplies for the program, please follow the link and it will already have my name in the subject box and be added to my Child Hope account for the listed purposes. 

       click here:   Support Christa

      

"I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:9, 10

If you have any specific questions or need more information, please contact me! I cannot tell you all how blessed and encouraged I am by each one of you. I could not have followed the Lord's calling on my life without your support both prayerfully and financially. I am so incredibly thankful to each of you. I love you so much.

A Brother's Love: Christa

In line for hand sanitizer before their meal!

         Imagine 12 empty tables and a wide-open slab of cement just screaming out for kids that have no food to eat and no toys to play with. I almost itch at the anticipation sitting in the Bens waiting for the vacant benches to be filled and the soccer field to be bustling with 150 kids from Siniace, the tent city. My empty arms and anxious heart burst when the gates open, and like a flood, 150 kids come pouring into the Bens with smiles that fill up my heart again.

Every other day we commit to being with these kids to love and serve them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We feed them beans and rice with a slice of meat, along with clean water and vitamins. Emotionally these kids are often mistreated and uncared for, so inviting them into our open arms and smothering them with kisses is not a daily comfort they find in their own family. Then once playtime is over, Ivens leads the kids in worship and a message about Jesus.

These kids are so desperate for love and affection. As soon as they see you, their faces light up and they run straight for you. I could have six children at my waist but I can only manage to hold two or three at a time. I try to take turns but there are always a few that the Lord blesses you with a special bond. Let me share about them.

family.

One Monday I walked into the feeding program and I saw a young boy rocking his baby sister back and forth to get her to stop crying. He was doing everything he could to get her to stop screaming. I walked by (as this is very common for the older siblings to take care of their younger brothers and sisters), but this time was different. I sat in the back and I watched him care for his little sister in a way that I’ve never seen in the States. By now I had been consistently at the program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for over a month. As the little girl continues to scream, I see him look around. He makes eye contact with me from afar and brings her over. I know we have a language burier, but his eyes said everything, “Please take good care of her, I just want to be a kid and play…”

Milanda & Dana singing and dancing

I scooped her up and got her to stop crying, and the boy wrapped his arms around my waist after he got to play for a while and looked up at me with such thankfulness and appreciation. The most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. But I could tell he needed care and love too. Who was looking after him? After all, he is still a kid. I asked him his name and he said Stevenson, with that beautiful smile. He held on for at least five minutes and I just knew he needed to feel that someone cared.

Everyday after Stevenson would walk into the program with his other brothers, he would hand me his 2 year old sister Dana. He would hold on to me for a while, but knowing his sister was safe with me, he'd go play soccer. Every 10 minutes he’d come around and check on Dana. He was such a faithful, loyal brother to her. As the days went on, Stevenson trusted me more and more to leave her with me. He stopped checking on her knowing I would take good care of her. I loved watching his trust build in me.

Once he felt he could trust me with his sister and he knew how much I loved him, he started asking me everyday as the leaders were kicking him out, “vin lakay mwen pou wè manman m” which means come to my house to see/meet my mom. To maintain the trust and relationship that I built with him, it was an honor to me that I could go meet his family. Stevenson and his brothers led the way, and I walked to Siniace with them.

Like I’ve mentioned before, its never safe for me to go by myself or even me and Ray together, so we took Chillup with us to help translate and to have a Haitian adult who knows a lot of the people there. As Stevenson brought us to his tent, Winsley and Geurson went to go find their mom. As we wait in front of the tent, we saw some new and some familiar little faces pop out from behind tents. In a small intersection of pathways between tents, we loved on some babies just roaming free.

Suddenly a woman with a concerned but shocked face comes around the corner. We look at her with an uncertain face and she says, “Oh! Winsley told his mom that there were Americans at the tent waiting to meet her, and she didn’t believe that could be true, so she sent me to prove that they were lying… but you really are here! I’ll go get her!” Soon after, their cautious and surprised mom turned the corner and invited us in.

I was introduced to Ivenitte, their mother, and she took us inside. We walked into a square tent that was sectioned off by sheets into three rooms. It smelled musty and there was nowhere to sit but on a cement block in the corner. To fit all four adults, we lined up against the edge and stood to talk with her. At the age of 31, she began to share that Geurson was actually her 12 year old brother that she was taking care of, as well as her 12 year old son Stevenson, her 10 year old son Winsley, and her 2 year old Cheldana, (Dana for short). They were all in school until their father left them and now they don’t have enough income to support all three older boys to go to school and eat. We talked a little bit about how she was trying to sell food on the side making plantains. But all the while, in the back of my head I knew I couldn’t do anything. My stomach sank.

Friend Angelica, Dana, Stevenson, Geurson

Overwhelmed by hopelessness and devastation around me, I could easily get caught up in how much need surrounds and how incapable I am of fixing it. But when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, he takes that burden and shows us how to love the person in front of us. Sometimes that is one person and sometimes that leads to a vision that serves an entire tent city, but he knows these people's needs more than I do and he is sovereign over their faith and what their walk with Him looks like. 

I am certain that these people are the richer. Being richer in faith is greater than any earthly material and who am I to say what these people need. He should be the one to show me out of His love for them, and not out of my own frantic, overwhelmed flesh. That would lead to a quick fix that hurts later and I know Jesus would want to heal the whole person, not just the current circumstance. He is concerned for the eternal needs even more than their immediate needs, but He does provide thru and thru.

I hugged Ivenitte, kissed her cheek and told her how much I love her kids. I am praying for a vision. My heart is broken for these people and I can’t do one single good thing if Jesus doesn’t show me. Join me in prayer as I desire to love these hurting people the way Jesus would serve the broken. 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,because the Lord has anointed meto bring good news to the poor;he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and the opening of the prison to those who are bound"

- Isaiah 61:1

God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed

Give me vision to see things like You do

God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from

Give me wisdom; You know just what to do

Streets: Christa

Christina, Tasha, me, Luciana, Mona

I was brought to tears the other night during worship, overwhelmed by how much I love these street kids. We open the Saturday Night Worship to the community, so that we can all worship our God together. It is one of my favorite times with the street kids, most who we have built relationships with during the week at our feeding programs.

Tasha & Luciana

There is a group of tween girls around the ages of 11 and 12 that we have been able to talk to consistently. They live in the tent city just around the corner from where I live. Ray and I got the privilege to go into the tent city with our nurse Paula, who was taking care of a few sick kids. There’s just really no words to describe what we saw, and because we are American, we choose to keep a low profile and not take pictures since we already stand out and are walking through their homes. So I will include some links to give you a visual, but we were invited into some tents by the kids and what we saw is heartbreaking. It’s exactly what we were afraid of.

Siniace, the edge of the tent city across from our home

Tent City Pictures:

Flag Over Tent City

Small Tent

To paint a picture, the distance between each tent is just enough to walk through. It is a small pathway, but its not even enough width for two people to walk side by side. Some tents are bigger than others, but there is a family of at least 4 or 5 in each one, most have more, such as a common family of 7. Lucley brought us into her tent, which consists of a tarp all the way around 4 sticks and another tarp across the top. Her door was made of tin and had a wooden stick on the inside to slide it closed to give them some sort of feeling secure, when really there is nothing safe about it.

Mona, Luciana, Tasha

Tasha is one of the girls I have gotten to know the most and her sister Jessica has been really sick, so Paula went to visit her and we went along. Her beautiful and young mother was at the door greeting us in her broken English with a glowing smile telling us to please come in and sit down, “chita, chita!!” As we sat down on cement blocks (holding at least 3 neighboring babies in our laps) and we all started to just drip in sweat, she told Evans, (one of our older orphanage boys who was translating), “I know its really hot in here and its hard for you to see this, but I can't thank you enough for coming here and making sure we are ok. It’s so good to have you here and meet you. Thank you for coming...."

At that point I was just trying to process the fact that in this little square of a tent there was one makeshift cot, one table with all their belongings and a sheet to separate the room and the sitting area. There are at least 4 people living in that tent, which probably means they all sleep in the dirt on the floor.

Luciana

I think back to when I was this age and it is probably the worst as a girl. I can’t imagine what it is like without people really investing in their lives as they are going through so many new things at this age. I pray for their purity and protection and that they would follow so close to God. In worship I had 11 year old Mona in my arms, we were standing up praising our God that is so good, and she has her arms wrapped around me like a hug, but her hands are lifted up to God behind me. It was so powerful to be the affection and comfort for her while worshiping together. I just pray that their hands stay lifted so high to the Lord who is reaching down into their lives and pulling them out of where they are. I can see that they are not rich in material things, but they are rich in ways we have never grasped.

Eddlie, Jeff, Me, Dupren, Rachel, Kellens, Peterson

There is also a pack of teenage boys that call themselves the street boys and have a secret handshake (that they so proudly have shared with us). A few of them are Sonson, Peterson, Jivenson, Jeff, Yvell, Kellens, Dupren, Edlie, Ledell and Jaytwoh, who we see everyday hanging out in front of our gate. My life just wouldn’t be the same with out them. They started this saying, “not today, cherie…” just to be funny, like when we say get over here and give me a big hug, of course their response is, “not today, cherie…” while all of them laugh, but really they cant wait to get a big hug from us each day. We were making a joke about how all Haitians love Sean Paul and Akon and somehow it came out Sean John (Puff Daddy’s clothing line)… which then it turned into, “not today, Sean John…” Please enjoy this video of Sonson and then Jivenson and Sonson rapping about who knows what…

We love these boys so much it’s hard to even begin how to describe them to you. But they have touched our hearts in ways no other kids can. They wait for us outside our house everyday, they call us by name and yell from the top of the street, “ME LOVE YOU SO MUCHHHHHH” in their Creole accents, and they walk us to work in the mornings telling us that they are our security guards and that they are here to protect us. As tough as they try to be, we know they are just dying for love. We are overjoyed to be a vessel for God’s love to them as we continue to teach them about Jesus and how He is our ultimate comforter. A few of them come to church with us every Sunday, and some are making jewelry with the pastor’s wife to make a little extra cash for their family to eat.

Jeff and his beautiful cousin

Jeff was one who stole our hearts back in November when he stood crying at the gate as we departed from Haiti in a big white truck. That image was forever burnt in my mind. He shared with me the other day that his dad was murdered and he now lives with his mom and 5 other brothers and sisters in one tent and they go two days without eating often, so he is thankful for the feeding program, but he still doesn’t know how to get food for his mom. Sonson’s dad was also murdered, but by his own brother, Sonson’s uncle, so his family is very torn and he is tossed around sometimes between aunts and other family. He also lost his older brother to what probably was another violent act. Peterson also lives with an aunt and his brothers and sisters are spread out among other family.

These boys roam the streets night and day because they don’t have money to barely eat so they definitely don’t have any to go to school, so they joined together and are the street boys. They desperately need prayer because these streets are rough. They think they are tough and they are all prone to get in fights growing up and seeing so much crime. We pray that the love of God transforms their minds and their past’s wont shape who they are, but Jesus will. I am sure their situations seem hopeless at times, but we pray that Jesus would be their hope in this desperate time. God loves each one of them so deeply and we just pray He leads us in ways of showing them just how full Gods love is for them. A few of them have now been sponsored to go to school, which is a huge blessing but a long road starting school in their early/mid teens.

Open the front gate... and this is what you find! Sonson, Peterson, Jivenson, Ledell

Jeff

Then there are the babies. I will have to write another post about his one, but all I can say is the babies who call out our names while RUNNING full force towards you just to leap into your arms… well…. It just melts your heart. It’s the best feeling in the world, really. They get smothered with kisses, and they know just what’s coming when they jump in these arms.

Nancy, Angline, Diana, Milanda, Ganiva, Guerson, Stevenson

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” – James 2:5

Support Junior

JUNIOR FANFAN

Junior is a seventeen-year-old young man with a heart of gold. Most who have had the privilege of meeting him, know within a few minutes that God has placed a special calling on his life. His heart for the Lord inspires both his peers and the spiritually mature. Many of the kids nicknamed him "Pastor Junior" because of his dedication and diligence to studying and preaching God's Word.


Although it is difficult to imagine, Junior used to beg on the streets of Delmas Blvd. in Port-au-Prince with many other young kids. He was ushered from the streets into living in the MDL Boys' Home through a friend’s street ministry. Shortly after coming into the safely of MDL, his mother was murdered in Cite Soleil and then his father later passed away in the countryside. Today, Junior, this once timid child, boldly preaches the Gospel, having put his faith and hope in Christ more than four years ago. He often teaches at devotionals and even partnered with other children from MDL two summers ago in doing an evangelistic outreach for their extended family members and community in the village where they grew up.

Junior has long expressed his hope of becoming an evangelist. Ranch Church in SantaYnez, California has expressed a desire to come alongside Junior’s calling and financially support him at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California. Needing an American high-school equivalent education to apply, Junior is currently enrolled in an American school in Haiti called Morning Star Christian Academy. We are praying that more people would come alongside to support his tuition fees until he finishes in 2014. To help Junior to continue to prepare for the work God is calling him to do we need to raise $475.00 a month for tuition and lunch money. Please prayerfully consider whether you would like to become involved in helping Junior by committing to financially sponsor him for half a month's tuition, one month, or multiple months of school. 

As interns, working with him for the past three months has been truly a blessing. He is one of the most respectful kids and we really see so many attributes in him that prove he will be one to rise up and make a difference in his home, community and generation. He is one of the leaders in our Transition Program helping teach and oversea the silk screening business, and demonstrating a great deal of knowledge of business in our classes. We are so encouraged each time he raised his hand in class to share his thoughts and ideas for his future businesses.  We know he is more than capable of running all the businesses that he dreams of one day and we are praying over his steps in getting there.

Click here to sponsor him half month or whole month:
http://www.childhope.org/work/education/juniors_school.html

If you would like to sponsor him in a different amount, follow this link to the main donation page, then specify your contribution is for Junior's school fund:

https://childhope.webconnex.com/donation_form?category=14207

In category, please click "other". 

God Bless Amerika: Christa

“Our body is like a tent we live in here on earth. When it is destroyed, we know that God has another body for us in heaven. The new one will not be made by human hands as a house is made. This body will last forever. It is God who has made us ready for this change. He has given us His Spirit to show us what He has for us.” - 2 Cor 5:1,5

          
 I can’t help but think of this passage as I look at Amerika running around the Feeding Program. Her frail bones look like they could shatter at any small trip and those sad eyes have so much pain behind them. Amerkia lives in the tent city and is most likely only fed 3 times a week at this program. She has numerous brothers and sister and her mother is mentally unstable. The mother will often tell you she herself is 9 years old, when in fact she is probably around 30+. Needless to say, these kids are devastatingly uncared for.

The first time I met Amerika in November, I was put in charge of her to make sure she ate all her food. Because she is (probably) autistic, the kids in the neighborhood treat her like dirt, pushing her down, slapping her arms as she walks by and even taking her food from her. Any kind of disorder or deformities are strongly looked down upon in this culture and treated very differently. Watching the kids treat her like this broke my heart and the mama bear inside of me scooped her up to get her into safe arms.

About a year ago, she was so skinny they thought she was going to die, often fainting in your arms from dehydration. Her hair was bright orange, showing signs of major malnutrition. As she sat on my lap to eat, I experienced something that changed me forever. I have never seen a child inhale food like that. She was so hungry, I was scared she was going to choke. She would tip the bowl over to stack as much beans and rice on her spoon and shove it all in her mouth as fast as she could, scooping up the next bite before she could even swallow her first.



 Something in your heart changes when you see a child that hungry get a meal and clean water. I did my best to get her to eat a gummy vitamin, but she spit it out about 5 times. I think the combination of the sugar and the gummy texture hurt her teeth, which are probably starting to rot due to lack of care.  I pray for her whenever I have her in my arms.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, I’m reminded that, “we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” As we look not to the things that are seen, such as Amerika’s suffering and all the shortcomings and trials of her young fragile life, but to the things that are unseen, one day the full restoration of all things, including Amerika, at the resurrection to come, and the sure fulfillment of God’s purposes for history. Eternal refers not to timelessness but to that which lasts forever.

Having her here at the program after one year she looks like a different child… although she is not to perfect health, she actually runs around with a smile and her hair is a beautiful brown, fashionably braided. Its been such a joy to see Amerika in better spirits. I have played a chasing game with her to give her kisses and she just melts with laughter when she finally gets caught and attacked with my kisses. I call her trè bèl, which means very pretty in Creole, and she laughs and smiles and I just am so encouraged to see her on a healthy path. 
Her brothers also come to the feeding program. Dupren is 11 and he helps watch over the younger kids as the program is in process. His smile will melt your heart and he is always so shy, but is glad to give you hugs when you pursue him for them. He is hanging out with the older street boys so we are praying he doesn’t get caught up in the destructive path a lot of those boys get caught up in. His best friends are at least 4 years older than him, but are making an effort to learn about Jesus and they come to church with the pastor’s wife, Josie. Dupren and his best friends, Jeff (16) and Eddlie (15) are making jewelry with Josie a few days a week to help make a little extra money for their families.

Her other brother, Jameson (4) is often found running around the program non-stop! He has so much energy, it’s overwhelming. He most likely has ADHD and then his diet (or lack there of), causes him to be a dezoid (which is ‘troublemaker’ in Creole). We often see him chomping on sugar cane, and that may be the only thing he ate that day, so its no wonder he is bouncing off the walls. We are frequently just monitoring him to keep his clothes on… He thinks its funny to pull all his clothes off and run around. But once you catch him, and you have him tight in your loving arms, he finally feels loved and falls asleep. Finally.

This family is so dear to all of our hearts. The Manassero family has tried taking them in for 7 years now, but the mother will not give them over. She has been known to sell her body when she has no money, so we are praying against her giving her children over to this devastating alternative to earning money. Needless to say, none of them know their father. Please pray that they would know the love of their perfect Father in heaven.

“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” 

-Psalm 27:10

Dinosaur Eyes: Ray

 

            A few weeks ago, at the feeding program, as I scanned over the mass of dark, beautiful, expressive faces waiting in line to be seated for food, I came in a locked stare with the eyes above. Standing taller than all of the other heads was a lighter skinned boy, arms at his side, with a look that could break your heart, but a face that had these piercing eyes. He looked sad or hurt. Having never seen him at any feeding program before on either of my last two trips or up to this point on this one, I was interested. I couldn't break the stare. I smiled and he let out a small, but barely there smirk. As the feeding program went on, I continued to smile and he just continued to look back at me. Normally, if I want to talk to or love on kid I just go and pick them up. This wasn't going to be that easy as he was a boy and an older one, at least 12. Not knowing if he spoke any English and being a bit timid on my Creole speaking skills, I said nothing.  I did however inquire about him to Susette (mom of the family who started Child Hope) and Chillup (who runs the feeding program) to see if they knew anything about him. They did not, but spoke with him and gave him extra food and water. I continued to watch him while washing dishes, waiting to see a real smile. Then it happened! It was like I had struck a pot of gold! From that smile, it was like his arms just wrapped themselves around my heart and I wouldn't be able to shake them even if I tried. He made sure to come say bye to me that day before leaving and I must admit my heart melted a little.

           Now Jimsteve is one of the older helpers at the feeding program and I get to see that smile a lot more often... along with a hug or nudge when he is feeling generous. ;) I made him a friendship bracelet made from yarn (just about the only thing we are allowed to give the kids) and we have had broken conversations here and there. I am not sure of his full background, but I know that he lives in the tent city down the street and has two pairs of shoes and does not go to school. I pray for his heart, his safety and health, and his future and I ask that you join me in prayer for Jimsteve. Pray that he does not fall in to the street boy mentality, but grows to have a personal relationship with the Lord.