{rice, beans & love}

First official day of school was nothing short of amazing. Instead of having a traditional first day, the staff decided they wanted to have a “thanksgiving” service instead. To celebrate the start of the fifth year, over 500 students with their proud parents gathered on the mountaintop to praise God for what He has done. Five years ago Webert started a very small school with 36 students, today we stand in awe of His work.

first day of school, what a sight!

morning prayer in a sea of grey and yellow

worshiping

fun with friend

barrettes and bows of orange

Thank you for keeping the school in your prayers, we are very excited for the school year and what it has in store! For information on how to get involved and how to sponsor a child please visit the Touch of Hope page on my blog and like “Touch of Hope Haiti” on Facebook to see more pictures!

This past week has been a blur. We have been running around, preparing for our first day of school, which is this coming Monday, October 1st. Webert and my emotions have been pretty high-strung, we have seen each other become quite stressed, and have had to be patient with each other. Today, I find myself wide awake at 5:30 a.m., knowing the day holds a lot of sweat and hard work as we clean and organize all the class rooms, doing all the finishing touches for the school. But, my mind is restless too.

This past week I was reminded of all the exciting emotions as you prepare for school. New books, new clothes, new shoes, a new start. The start of school means shopping and knowing you have to go back to school in style. “School shoes” were always a big deal, because you wanted the coolest ones to wear on your first day. I remember fifth grade, having a shiny new pair of adidas superstars and thinking I was a big deal, until I got to school and everyone else had a pair too!

I was once again reminded how blessed we are this past week too as I had numerous moms tell me their children were ready for school but they still didn’t have money to buy them new shoes. I was only able to give money to 3 families, because that is just what I can afford. Their faces lit up when they knew they were going to be able to get their new “school shoes”. My mind is restless this morning because I know out of our close to 600 students attending school on Monday, I’m sure only half of them have their new shoes.

I’m reminded I was blessed because I always got those new “school shoes”.

So, with my restless mind, I went searching in the Bible for an answer to this solution. I’ve thought about what I’ve wanted the purpose of my blog to be. I knew I never wanted it to be a place where I beg for money, but more of a place where I give purpose to my writing. I know I want to tell you about the good days, the bad days, the joyful things and the sad things. I want my blog to be a place where you know I’m doing okay, for that aunt of mine who worries about me so much (I think you know who you are, Rhonda?)

So, I found my answer in the Bible late last night. I opened to the book of 1 John Chapter 3 and verse 18 said “Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely talking about it.”

In this, I see God wants me to not only tell the stories of what breaks HIS heart, but give you, His disciples, a chance to help others. I know not everyone is called to live full-time in Haiti, or you haven’t been able to make the commit of sponsoring a child, but maybe that last pair of shiny shoes you bought has left you grateful and you want to bless a child with a new pair of shoes for his or her new school year.

I don’t want my blog to be repetitive, mundane or without purpose. God wants to give it a purpose.

So His word says enough talk already, there are children without shoes.

At this point, we don’t have space to ship 500 pairs of shoes to Haiti, so my vision is to receive the money, which can be sent to 205 Old Mill Lane Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246 (check can be made to Touch of Hope), with a memo note that the money is for shoes. After I know the total I have received, I will find the students who are in most need of a new pair of shoes, bless them, and show you a joyful smile painted on a child’s face who received new shoes. (If you are wondering how much a new pair may cost, this past week I gave 500 goudes, or 12.50 US for the mothers to buy new shoes for one child.)

Let the school year begin, posts to come about our first week next week! Keep us, the teachers and students in your prayers.

Love from Haiti.

Today was a good day.

We made real American bacon for breakfast and put on our best dress for church. We worshiped an amazing God and prayed in another language. For lunch we dined on Haitian food at my friend Gerard’s house with his family. He treated us with an ice cold Coca-Cola. 

I tried to put the boys down for a nap afterwards, but nap time turned into a game of hide-and-seek and hide-and-seek turned into swimming in the ocean. After floating and playing, we snacked on peanuts and watched the waves in the ocean.

At 5:00 Webert’s soccer team played in a championship soccer match and I enjoyed the view of a beautiful rainbow over the mountains as I played with the village kids.

To end the day, God spoke to me as I meditated on Matthew 12:18….

“Here is my servant (you and I) whom I have chose,

the one I love, in whom I delight (He truly delights in us);

I will put my Spirit on him (He dwells within us, making us His temple),

and he will proclaim justice to the nations (we can bring hope to the world).”

Hope you too had a blessed day.

Love from Haiti.

I’m not sure where to start with this blog, but I have some very sad news to share with everyone today.

Momma Noel, as many of you know, started labor Saturday night around 9 p.m. We spent the whole night at the hospital, walking and expecting the baby to come. After a sleepless night, the doctor checked her at 6 a.m. and said the baby was not making any progress and sent us home. I was able to catch up on sleep Sunday morning, and made my way to Tytoo around 4 p.m. to continue being her labor coach.

Around 7:30 Frank determined her to fully dilated and we decided to make the trip back to the hospital and this time I was not going to leave until that baby was born!

Around 9:30 p.m. last night, I screamed right alongside Momma Desir and held her hand as she gave birth to a baby boy. I’ve never intimately been apart of someone giving birth in this way, and as the baby came out I thought I was going to faint but my eyes locked with mother’s eyes and I knew we would get through.

When the baby arrived, I expected high-pitched crying, tears and joy. Instead, there wasn’t any sound. I immediately started panicking and when I got my first look I knew there was something severely wrong. This little baby boy, who I had already fallen in love with, had a very disformed head, a strange looking lump in his chest, and showed no reflexes.  They say he had swallowed waste while in the stomach. After 10 minutes, and still no cry, I knew this little life was in trouble.

After approximately 30 minutes, the baby, a family cousin and myself left in an ambulance, headed to Port-au-Prince to Petit Ferire, a children’s hospital. Upon arrival, the baby was pronounced dead. Frank and the mother were close behind and we quickly realized the mother was still losing a lot of blood, so our focus changed from the baby to the mother. The ambulance team was still with us, so we then took another trip to in the ambulance to another hospital in Port-au-Prince with the mother, since the first hospital was full.

I watched the doctors put her on an ivy and changed her out of her blood-soaked clothes. After she was settled in, Frank and I headed home.

This surely isn’t the story I want to be telling, today it seems more like a really bad dream. Not only did I see a baby be born for the first time, I also saw a life pass away before my eyes for the first time.

As I prayed for him to just start crying and prayed as we traveled in the ambulance, I was reminded that God is the creator of life. He can make, give and take away life as He pleases. We may not understand, nor will we ever be able to be grateful enough for the life He has given us. I’m remembering that He is a good God, a faithful One and He brings comfort and peace that trespasses all understanding.

Even though this was a very traumatic and sad event, I still see a light for the future. There is still hope for the family as their new house will be finished in the week to come and school will start in two weeks. They still have a chance at a new beginning, we will just be missing a special life as they start it.

As for Momma Noel, she is still in the hospital and I expect for her to come home either today or tomorrow. Pray for her to have comfort and a quick recovery.

Thank you for all the prayers and keeping myself, the mother and her family in your prayers.

My morning started as I headed north on Route National 1 toward Archaie. We had a full load, Fanfan driving, me in the passenger seat and four Haitian friends in the back. Mama Noel (refer to “Marantha needs your Attention” to read about her family) is estimated to be 40 weeks pregnant. She is a very high-risk pregnancy due to the fact that she has had a stroke and this will be her tenth child. Being that this is the first pregnancy I have been so involved with, I’m wishing God had given me an easier case. But, he didn’t and I’m acting like a pregnant lady myself, anxiously awaiting this baby.

As we cruised down the highway this morning, I did my daily social networking. Catching up on Facebook and Twitter, seeing what the outside world is up to. As I scrolled down the newsfeed, I could feel mama curiously watching over my shoulder. She has probably never even heard the words “facebook” or “twitter” and for that matter she has probably never typed on a keyboard or owned a simple telephone.

I pondered on this idea, wondering what type of profile she would create. It would be Desir Rosemene Noel, age 42, lives in Simonette Haiti. She wouldn’t list her education, since she has never received one. And her relationship status would be Complicated with “Sperm Donor”. All ten of children have the same father, but I have never once met him nor know his name.

She would have photo albums full of her precious children. Her most recent album could be full of pictures showing off her new house that I’m currently building for her. And she could write an exciting status to introduce her newborn to the world once he or she is born.

As I write this blog, I think she could even have a blog of her own. Writing her own life story, she would be able to write many stories full of heartache, perseverance and poverty. She could write about the days she went without food and had to watch her own children fall asleep hungry. She could write about the days when she sold fish in the local market and lived out of a tin shack with a dirt floor. I’m sure her most personal stories, feelings and thoughts could write a beautiful novel.

Personally, I think her voice is way more important than mine. Her life is proof of a strong and faithful woman, who knows how to survive. We could point our fingers at her saying this is her fault for being pregnant with her tenth child or shake our heads calling her a foolish woman. But, I don’t see that in her for a moment.

She never received an education, because she never had the opportunity. She didn’t have an option for contraception, nor does she probably have a voice as Mr. Sperm Donor comes and goes as he pleases, never taking responsibility for what he leaves behind. I think it is time for her to have a voice and a place in this world.

I love that I can give her a voice, can be a part of her life, and most of all I love that she calls me her friend. God has placed her and her children in my life for a reason, and I’m just trying to be faithful as He shows me the people who need Him.

As for God, he sure is a faithful one. He is a God who gives power to the powerless. Strength to the weak. Sight to the blind. Hope to the hopeless and a voice to the voiceless. So, here’s to writing Desir’s story and being her voice.

Until the baby comes,

for I know I will be bragging and boasting all about him or her,

Love from Haiti,

Kayla

I am heading back to Haiti today and am anxious to get back. I had 2 great weeks here with family and friends. I got to watch my little brother play two football games, had good friends from college come visit, and got to indulge on grandma’s homemade cinnamon rolls.

Before coming back, I was warned that adjusting would be difficult. I didn’t know what to expect out of this, because I was anxious to be back in the States and have some time to relax. I found this myth to be true and struggled with the pulling and aching of my heart and mind. How, you might ask…this is how:

1.) Food Overload – for 3 months I never once ate at a restaurant in Haiti, upon arrival in Ft. Lauderdale I had a near panic attack because I couldn’t even decide which restaurant I wanted to eat at!

2.) Fingernail Polish – I wanted to buy a new fingernail polish for fun. It took me 20 minutes to decide which color I wanted, but I ended up not even buying any. I went shopping a couple days later with a friend and it was her who helped me choose. I’m not good at dealing with quantity anymore.

3.) Sandals – I needed new sandals because I had worn out all my other ones. After buying two new pairs, I felt ashamed because the faces of all the kids who asked me all summer for a new pair of flip-flops still didn’t have any.

4.) Nachos and a beer – I enjoyed supper and a beer with 3 of my closest friends one night in Sioux Falls, but the casualty of the night shamed me with guilt and I missed my boys.

5.) Technology – We have 3 tv’s and each member in my family now has a labtop. Isn’t that ridiculous?

6.) Material possessions – Everywhere you turn in the United States you are bombarded with “stuff”. You can’t get away from it and everyone strives to have it all. It’s like a war. We’re losing. We have closets stuffed with clothes, shelves lined with fancy shoes, dressers overflowing, cupboards stocked with the greatest last deal, garages with shiny, nice cars, but we still don’t have enough.

….I think you get the point. I struggled. I don’t want you to think that I don’t love every moment I have with my family and friends and I still love doing fun “American” things. I also had my own dose of retail therapy, but this is me being honest and what I struggle with. I keep this anger bottled up most of the time, but we seriously live in a society where we always want the next big and cool thing. Why do we feel this way, when we already have it all? We have awesome homes. They’re not made out of tarp and dirt floors, they have air conditioning, they have carpet, they have running water, sinks, washer and dryers, and toilets. We have smooth highways, interstates and sideroads that are paved. We have sewer systems and clean streets. We have stop signs, police who make us obey the rules and everyone has a vehicle to drive. We have full bellies and a hospital nearby incase we get an upset stomache. We have access to eye doctos, dentists, vaccinations, safe water to drink, fully stocked grocery stores and movie theatres with buttery popcorn. And most importantly, we have ice cream.

Take that all away and then some… Then you will find how the poor really live. It is sad and so unfair that we get it all, while there are so many people who fight for their lives everyday. As I head back, I’m reminded of why I’m living there. I’m not changing the world, but it sure does feel good to know that I’m needed somewhere.

That’s why I love Haiti:

Your only choice is rice and beans in a village, they don’t wear fingernail polish, they wear shoes without the soles, they aren’t evaporated in a society full of technology and “stuff”. They’re simple people, living simple lives, just trying to get by.

Until next time,

Kayla

Although I’m home in the states, I just wanted to give everyone an update that all our loved ones in Haiti are safe. Webert said some trees fell in the village of Simonette, but not a lot of damage done.

It looks like the storm has officially passed them, but I just ask you to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers, especially the people living in tents and shacks. Living and sleeping on the dirt floor, a lot of rain can turn their “beds” into mud puddles. A lot of rain also causes a lot of standing water on the roads due to their lack of any type of sewer system. Standing water and puddles becomes the perfect place for mosquitoes to multiply and the threat of cholera and malaria to rise.

The little things we take for granted here in the States can become life-threatening risks to the lives of Haitians. So, continue to keep them in your prayers.

The bathroom always smells like pee. Toys lay scattered around the house and yard. Dirty clothes, belonging to two toddlers, cover the floor. Hitting my feet, waking me up each morning, my two kids have tipped my world upside down.

There is never a quiet moment in our house. Lovenson’s first words in the morning are “Bonjour mama” (good morning mama), sweet at first but then quickly followed by him informing me he either has to use the restroom or he is hungry. Jeffte rises awhile after the little one, but is always the first to get into trouble.

I have been called “mama” by these two little lives for exactly 80 days and I never thought being called that would mean so much. I think of where they came from, both having incredible stories of their own, and I find it amazing how they have somehow ended up as mine.

Jeffte was more or less handpicked by God for Webert and I. A story of a terribly run orphanage, severe sickness and a complicated story that ends with Webert and I beginning a new relationship together and agreeing to adopt our first child. We have recently received Jeffte’s birth certificate and have in writing that Webert is the legal guardian of Jeffte. He is quite the handful, doesn’t really know how to sit still, and will probably be sucking his darn thumb until he is 10, but he is mine and his big brown eyes make my heart melt every day.

Then there is Lovenson. We’ve all been told where babies come from: the stork of course. I always thought that was a bluff, but now I believe it after receiving Lovenson. Only having been in Haiti for 24 hours, Lovenson was just dropped into my life. My dad, Esther and I were part of an orphanage crash and Tytoo Gardens received 23 kids, I’m sure you remember me telling this story in the very beginning.

I took on Lovenson and one other little boy in the beginning to help with the transition. Lovenson and I became quickly attached and his little life brings me more joy than anything else. He is seriously the happiest human being I have ever met. He wakes up smiling and goes to sleep laughing. He has a belly laugh that is worth a million dollars and a sense of humor that might make him a million dollars someday. We all believe he has a future in stand up comedy!

Some days I stare in awe at this life, I have no idea where he came from, what type of family he was born into, or even how old he is. When he first came we were told he was 7, but since he was wearing 24 month clothes I said no way! But his imagination, vocabulary, and memory makes me believe he is older than Jeffte most days, who will be 5-years-old in November. For the sake of future sex talks, I will just continue to believe that Lovenson was dropped off by the stork!

Today, the three of us just hung out all day. It is crazy how much fun I can have with them. We started our day by chasing Arthur the donkey down the road, watched a movie, ate Macaroni and Cheese for lunch, played in the outside shower with our water guns and had a dance party on my bed. (Don’t worry I did get some work done, started making Touch of Hope sponsorship cards!) We just finished throwing rocks into the ocean and now I hear them running outside playing with their water guns again, looks like we will be having our third bath of the day in a little bit!

Next week Wednesday I will be leaving them to go home to the United States for 2 weeks; I’m beginning to have separation anxiety. The past 80 days in Haiti have been nothing short of amazing for many reasons, but these two little lives are what make it the best. Although it has been amazing, I am also in need of a break, more or less an emotional break.

As I travel home for two weeks, I will be doing a lot of work for Touch of Hope, making over 230 new sponsorship cards and updating the whole system with all of the new kids. We have over 520 kids registered for next year, so there is lots of work to do! I also hope to have some time to relax with family and friends and also have an emotional break from everything, too.

Being apart from them, and of course Webert, will be the hardest part. I know it will only be 14 short days, but I’m quite attached. I will miss the simple things we do together each day. The “bonjour mama”, the sweet kisses, their laughs, our prayers before supper and our nighttime love you’s.

These simple things lead me to thank God for life. For waking us up, letting us laugh and play, and for the simple things in life of course. I thank him for children. For the two little special ones in my life, for the 500+ kids who will be in our school, for the children in Tytoo Gardens orphanage, for my village kids and for every other life that crosses my path.

Love from Haiti.

I met Job a year ago. Tiny arms, tiny legs, tiny everything. He was the most malnourished boy I had ever met and he had fallen into the care of my family, having come from Good Samaritan’s orphanage (orphanage where Jeffte and Matthew were rescued from and an awful place).

It took him a few days before he finally started to laugh. He had a high-pitched whimpering whine but big brown eyes that can break anyone’s heart. Three of my best friends were visiting me when we received Job and I think they would all agree that Job is a warrior. Having been through hell, he’s survived days without food and conditions I can’t even find the words to describe.

A year ago we placed Job into a well-run orphanage with hopes for a better future for a well-deserving boy. Unfortunately his weak immune system has kept him from progressing. He continues to fight, but as I held his fragile, extremely tiny body in the hospital today I don’t know how he continues to survive. He has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and also has pneumonia. On top of this he has absolutely no reserve because of his severe malnutrition.

I wrapped my fingers around his wrists and ankles and they are no bigger than the circumference of a nickel. At four-years-old, he weighs less than twenty pounds. I stared long and hard into those dark brown eyes to find some light. He clings his little arm around my shoulder and my heart shatters, but I know he’s a warrior even if his stature doesn’t show that.

So tonight, I’m asking for prayers for Job. Pray his body can fight off the pneumonia. Pray his lungs will gain strength and the infection will be cured. Pray the tuberculosis treatment will be effective, which takes a total of six months. Pray for direction and guidance for the people who are to make the decisions about Job’s future. Pray that the Lord will just lay His mighty hand on this fragile body and cure him from the illness he is enduring.

Job a year ago, he is smaller and weaker today if you can imagine

I knew it was going to be an eventful day when it was sprinkling as I drove to work. Usually the rain doesn’t come until the afternoon, after making its way over the mountains. When I arrived to work, I had over 300 ViBella ornaments to check and re-check for mistakes. When I only found 3, I praised the ladies for a job well-done.

Aside from ViBella keeping me busy, this past week we have started yet another new and exciting project. I had two friends from home visit this past week. A mom and a daughter. To raise money, Kendra, a 10-year-old, made over 450 pens decorated in duct tape. Half-way through their visit, we realized we had a business opportunity right under our nose. So, this past Tuesday, Kendra and Joni taught 13 teenage girls in Simonette how to make duct tape pens. Today we finished all the supplies that we currently have, so among all of the ViBella business, I spent time correcting and directing, laughing and smiling with girls who are so excited about their new job. (More to come on this project in a few weeks after we get it running and more supplies come….stay tuned 🙂 )

Around 11:00 I headed to the school to find Webert. I needed to go to market to get money exchanged because tomorrow is pay day at ViBella. At the school, I found Webert talking to a gorgeous teenage girl. She had come to sign up for a new school year and I quickly realized her deformed hand and arm. Webert asked her what had happened and her answer was that her dad is a “voodoo master.” She explained that she didn’t want to serve the same demons her dad was serving and that she believed in Jesus. Through torture and voodoo ceremonies she was burnt and now her deformed hand shows proof of the evil. Even after all the trauma, something I don’t think I could ever live through, I saw hope in her eyes as she proclaimed her love for Jesus and confessed herself as a Christian. She told Webert she loves school, so what were we to do? Our school has officially admitted over 400 students for next fall (100 more than we expected) and we are trying not to admit anymore, but how could we deny a girl with a story like that?

After finishing her paper work, we headed to Cabaret on the motorcycle. When we got off the motorcycle and made our way into market, Webert received a phone call.

Rewind: In the past 3 days, Magdela’s father has come and taken her away from Tytoo. Frank (who runs Tytoo) and Webert spent all day Tuesday at the court trying to gain custody. The judge ended up giving the father the ultimate decision and he took Magdela. Mereny, the 12-year-old was able to make her own decision and decided to return back to Tytoo, was very upset that night. We have all been diligently praying for Magdela to be reunited with Mereny and the Tytoo family.

It took 2 days and her father called Webert today as we were in market. He said he wanted to give her back. Webert and I were literally skipping down the street in joy as we quickly ran to the shelter to see Magdela and the dad. He gave his reasons why and said he would give her, but Mereny needed to be with to take her. So, Webert and I did our shopping, exchanged the money and quickly headed home to give all the good news to my parents and Esther and Frank in Tytoo.

As I walked up to my house, from the side window was Sonia, the oldest of the girls from the Noel family (Marantha’s older sister). All four of the girls were here and my mom was showering and putting them in pretty new dresses. They ran around the corner all excited to see me and I asked “what is going on?!” Turns out momma Noel is having trouble breathing, sleeping at night (I don’t blame her since she sleeps on the dirt floor) and the baby has dropped. We expect the baby to come any day! We admitted the whole family, momma with her 6 kids, into Tytoo this afternoon so that we can have 24 hour watch over the mom.

As we dropped the four girls off, all shiny and clean with their new dresses on, I gave Esther and Frank the good news: Magdela can come back home!

Esther and Frank rejoiced in tears and all we could do was thank our heavenly father. This whole time we have just been praying for His will to be done and we are witnessing it. My mom, Webert, Mereny Lovenson (he of course had to come along) and I headed to Caberat to get Magdela. We had two witnesses sign the custody papers saying the father can come and visit Magdela whenever he wishes, but cannot take her out of Tytoo again. Praise the Lord!

Afterwards, I said goodnight to the Noel family and told them I would be back tomorrow. I told the momma I will right beside her, holding her hand, whenever that baby decides to come. I will be the first to admit I don’t think I will be able to handle watching the birth, but I would have to say I love this momma. Every time I see her, there is no shortage of hugs and kisses. We have laughed and cried together and she doesn’t even know that I have money to build her a house yet! (By the way, the Lord provided and so many people were faithful in their giving to this family. We are in the process of hiring the boss and choosing the final location and hope to have construction under way in the next month. Future blogs to come! I would like to call it Extreme Home Makeover: Haiti Edition. Stay tuned!)

Jeffte and I headed home on the four-wheeler and Jeffte decided to leave the gate open, so the excitement wasn’t over until I chased my donkey down the road and literally carried him back into the yard because his halter had somehow fallen off!

My amazing boyfriend cooked chicken, rice and my favorite red sauce for supper and now I’m enjoying the sound of the ocean as I type away.

My days are usually nothing short of boring. But, somedays I feel like I’m just going through the motions. Other days though, like today, I feel so used. I’m worn out, tired, dirty and I have awful BO (yes, I thought that detail was necessary for all of you to know!) but there is no other way I want to feel at the end of the day.

As disciples of Christ isn’t that how we should all feel? Completely emptied, tired and used.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles,

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

Love from Haiti.