{rice, beans & love}

All four years of college I lived four hours away from home, only seeing my family once every two months or so. Living in Haiti now, knowing that an ocean separates me from all the ones that I love, can be overwhelming at moments and makes me miss my family more than before. I was use to having my mom on speed dial, but now I have to sit in a certain place on the stairs to get a good connection to call home. 

After two months, my family finally came a week ago this past Sunday and we have been having a great time together. Last Friday we were able to have a day at the beach. It was so refreshing to be able to relax and “be still.” I reflected on the past three years and all the amazing things that have happened in our families’ life here in our new home we call Haiti. We also continue to plan great things to come in the future.

After weeks of asking “is Papi Dell coming today?” Jeffte was so excited to see everyone. This is everyone’s first time meeting Lovenson, too, and they have quickly fallen in love.

My “to do” list for the family has kept us pretty busy. We started painting the new school building, Luke and Ethan built new school benches, we have made the final plans for the school’s kitchen, and have taken lots of new pictures for the sponsorship program. We spent an afternoon delivering presents to children who are sponsored in our program. More than ever, I see purpose and meaning in our work to love and serve the people of Simonette and surrounding villages. 

When my dad took us on our first mission trip to Haiti three summers ago, I never would have imagined that this would be my life. I was quite content going about my selfish ways as a 20-year-old, but Haiti changed me. And now, I’m so blessed to be a part of a family whose mission is to be Jesus’s hands and feet. Beyond that, I feel even more blessed that my family can be so involved and supportive in the calling I feel in my life to serve in Haiti.

Grandma may not be able to speak the same language as her grandchildren, but we sure are one big happy family.

To start this blog, I just want to thank all of my blog followers. I have been blown away by the support I have received through this little tool. Not only is it encouraging to know I have so many people behind me, but I know when I even have the smallest prayer request it will be fulfilled through this blog.

So, today I have exciting news to tell you. The Lord heard our prayers and Magdela has officially been put into Tytoo orphanage. She officially has a bed to sleep on and a place where she will eat three times a day, have a bath and be able to go to school. We bathed her and put on a pretty pink dress, and her purple sandals fit perfectly.

Not only did we admit Magdela today, but we also admitted a 12-year-old named Merline. Merline has been the sole provider for Magdela, due to that fact that Magdela’s mother is deceased and her father is blind. She became emotionally upset as we were taking Magdela, so I really felt like I had no other choice but to ask Esther for permission to admit her, too.

As we assessed the two girls, we found out that Merline has never set foot in a school. In her 12 years, she has never had an opportunity to receive an education, but has instead been forced to provide for a baby and work in the markets. She is a cousin to Magdela, deserted by her own two parents, who live hours away. She says she cannot remember the last time she has seen them.

Although she doesn’t know how to write her name nor does she probably know 2+2, I can see in her eyes that she has a heart of gold. She is caring and seems very mature for her age. Her eyes lit up when we told her she will be able to start school in a month.

We also asked her if she knew who Jesus Christ is. She took a few moments to answer, but her answer was no. She has never been to church. Esther, with her amazing grace and love she has for the children, told Merline she will tell her all about her Heavenly Father when she becomes more comfortable. She described Him as “someone who loves you very much and knows everything about you.”

“it’s an amazing thing,” she stated.

And, indeed it is. Amazing indeed.

Thank you for all your prayers for little Magdela. Tonight she will be safe and sound within the walls of a wonderful orphanage. Hope is in their future now, and I’m so glad I get to share it with them.

ViBella is growing! Last week, Julie Hulstein, the founder of ViBella, visited Haiti and we started a new sewing project.

The project is going to focus on giving jobs to young women, who are transitioning out of orphanages. The job will start part-time, but is an amazing opportunity because when the time comes for a child to transition out of an orphanage it can be difficult for them to find jobs.

The center in Simonette has hired one lady, Viola, from the community and she will be working with five girls from Tytoo Gardens (orphanage in Simonette I work and partner with). Viola has a degree in sewing and is very excited to have her first official job, but is also excited to teach others how to sew.

Nephtalie, Louchemie, Christela, Marie Carmen, Lorca and Micamia (the five girls from Tytoo) had their first official day of work this past Monday. They will be working on small fabric flowers and small gift bags for the jewelry.

This past Monday, we had twelve Haitian women hard at work and it was such an amazing sight to see. We were all working on the outside porch, and as I scanned the scene, all I could see was hope.

Hope for a better future as the girls begin to face a lot of change in their lives during this transition period. Hope for Viola as she begins her first full-time job. Hope for other women in Haiti, that they one day could have a job, too.

In America, even in the hard economic times, we see opportunities on every corner. Here in Haiti, not so much. But, I know that when people pass by our center they can see hope shining down from our porch.  Hope for a better Haiti. Hope for a better life. (Not only are we giving jobs to people in the community, but ViBella also gives back $1.00 to the community for each piece sold.)

For right now, we are starting the sewing project small. Viola is starting part-time, working 3 days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Tytoo girls are going to be working every Monday for the next month, and after a month we will be evaluating them and possibly offering them more days a week to work.

Julie believes that when we are obedient and attentive in the small things, the Lord will bless and reward us with the big things. I completely agree. The Lord stands faithful and will always provide for our needs when we stay obedient to His word and plan; Vibella is proof.

How can you pray for ViBella today? Pray for the young girls of Tytoo. Pray their transitioning phase into the community goes slowly. Pray for their new job. Pray for Viola. Pray she stays diligent in her job and can be a great role model to the younger girls. Pray for the ViBella artists, that God blesses all of their hands, minds and hearts.

Last week I found myself standing in an abandoned building constructed by crumbling cement blocks, a rusty tin roof, and a home to 35 people. You could consider it a homeless shelter, but you won’t find anyone serving them food or providing them with beds. What will you find is a concrete floor that serves as a bed, sheet scraps that hang to provide as a type of divider, piles of dirty old clothing, and a little girl named Magdala.

This place has somehow received the name as the “Grace House.” I have known of it ever since my first trip to Haiti. To get there, you have to walk past the crowds of people in market, up a rocky hill, through a garbage dump and down a little cement path. You enter through a steel gate and it will take your eyes a minute to adjust because it is so dark. You will soon find yourself also dripping with sweat because there is absolutely no movement of air.

We have visited this place on almost every trip and when we get a chance, we bring rice and other ingredients to provide a meal to the people.

The past ten days, I have been blessed to have three ladies come visit me from Sioux Center. When they first arrived, they made a list of all the things they wanted to do and accomplish while they were here. I made sure that a trip to the “Grace House” with a delivery of a full bag of rice was to happen.

So, that’s how I found myself standing in this abandoned building last week Wednesday. We talked and prayed with one particular woman, but the whole time I found my eye to be stuck on a little naked girl.

I knelt down and picked her up. I quickly noticed that her small body was covered in scars. There were burn scars that ran down her back, down the side of her hip and onto one leg. On the same hip, there was also a long narrow scar that appeared to be the result of a whipping or lashing. I ran my fingers along her scars, only trying to imagine what type of hell this young girl had been through. Her hair is short and colored orange (symptom of severe malnutrition) and scabies covered her chest and hands.

What I do know about little Magdala is that she is two-years-old. Her mother has passed away and her father is blind. The only life she has even known is the darkness of this building. She is yet another face, another child, and another young life that burns on my heart.

Last Friday, I went back to visit Magdala. I dragged Esther from Tytoo with, thinking maybe after she saw her conditions I could convince her that she needed to go into the orphanage. I actually had her pretty much convinced before we went, but regardless she had to go. We arrived and found Magdala naked and sleeping on the cement floor. We were told she had diarrhea and wasn’t feeling well. We gave the father the option of admitting her into Tytoo, he seemed all for it. We told gave him the week-end to decide and to make sure he was making the right decision. We told him we would return Monday.

Today is Monday. I returned. I was so excited to give little Magdala a chance at a better life. I went to market and bought her some new clothes, and of course a cute pair of purple sandals to go with.

I walked into the darkness and again found little Magdala asleep and naked on the floor. The father, although he is blind, found her birth certificate and handed it to me with ease.

We were preparing to leave when another man said the “inspector” of the place needed to give us permission first to take her. “Ok, no problem,” I thought to myself. The inspector arrived promptly 15 minutes later, and he seemed impressed by the work we told him we were doing in Simonette. He knew of Tytoo and shook my hand, telling me he appreciated me for coming and working for the people of Haiti.

We seemed to have grace from everyone, but for good measure I wanted to ask the dad one more time if he dako (accepted). All of a sudden, he was quiet. The crowd we had attracted encouraged him that this was what was best for the child. She would have a chance to have an education now. She would finally have a bed to sleep on. He didn’t seem convinced. I became worried.

Although worried and speaking far from perfect Creole, I confidently put my hands on his shoulder, telling him he could trust me. I told him I only wanted to do what was best for the child. I said it had to be his decision.

In the end he said no.

My heart shattered.

I walked away confused and torn.

There are some children that I know God just places right in front of me to make sure they are taken care of. Jeffte was my first, Marantha and her family the next, and now Magdala.

I can’t get her off my mind, hence why I’m writing about her tonight. Those big chocolate eyes. Her small fragile body. The scars that show the life of pain she has endured. The future she could have. The small glimpse of hope I can give. The big and beautiful plan that God already has for her.

So, I made a promise to return. I said, “papa, panse anko, priye anpil, e konnen Bondye renmen ou.” (papa, think about it again, pray a lot and know that God loves you).

So, my prayer request tonight is that you just pray for Magdala and her papa. If God’s plan is for her to come to Tytoo, that that will happen. But, really just pray that no voodoo or evil is cast upon her. We fear that voodoo may have been practiced on her body already, and there are signs that it is still practiced in that place.

Magdala, standing in front of the piles of clothing that line of the back wall of her “home”

Pray that the light of Jesus may shine in the darkness and little Magdala will stay safe. Look at those eyes; they need life brought back into them. Pray that some day I can put on her new purple sandals and have a new life full of joy and hope.

I can’t believe it is already the end of July!

Almost two months have passed and the time is just flying by. My life in Haiti continues to reveal the hardship these people endure day in and day out, but also the grace and love of God. He proves Himself faithful everyday. People are hungry. They are thirsty. They are desperate. But, God is faithful. Day in and day out.

aunt Bert with the 2 boys!

This past week my aunt Bert and three ladies from Sioux Center, Iowa came to join in on the fun in Haiti. Bert spent her 55th birthday teaching me how to drive my dad’s stick-shift truck. We laughed as she mentioned, “I never thought I would spend my 55th birthday teaching my 22-year-old niece how to drive a stick-shift in Haiti!”

I feel a little more Haitian now that I can drive a stick-shift. I feel like a free woman, even drove on the highway today!

I also became a little more Haitian a few days ago when I bought a donkey! I had spotted the little guy a week ago, and joked about wanting a donkey. I saw the owner tying up the mom and baby donkey in the middle of Simonette, so I approached him and asked “how much would your baby donkey be?” I did it more to get a good laugh out of my friends, but the nice guy finished the conversation with “kile ou pral pran li? (when will you come take him?)”

man I bought the donkey from

I said I would have to talk to Webert first! I went home and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted that cute little donkey on the corner! We drove into Simonette, as a big game of soccer was happening. The whole village laughed as we caught the donkey and tied him up. One man asked, “You’re really buying a donkey? Ou fou! (You’re crazy!)”

I think that even if I’m not a good donkey owner, I at least brought some good laughter to the community. Now, I pass by and everyone asks “kijan ti bourik ou? (how is your little donkey)” and I say, “tre byen (very good)!” with a big smile on my face!

Arthur the donkey is great. I laugh as he greets me in the yard every morning.

Driving a stick-shift, buying a donkey, speaking in a foreign language, learning the ways of the Haitian people. I’m beginning to feel more at home day by day.

I’m blessed by all your support, your continued comments and prayers, and also your response to my last post. I will be updating soon on the progress of Marantha’s house! God is faithful, I will tell you that much.

Day in and day out. The Lord is faithful. (Arthur agrees!)

my donkey Arthur!

Marantha, age 4

I met Marantha two summers ago. At the time I didn’t know her name, but I looked forward to seeing her everyday.

In Haiti, white people stick out like a sore thumb. We would be the true definition of a minor in this land full of beautifully colored black people. It is not uncommon to travel down the road and have children yell out “blan” (white) as you pass by.

This was the way I met Marantha. I passed by her house, on the edge of the village everyday, and her and two other girls would always be waiting expectantly to yell out “blan, blan, blan” as I passed. It seemed to be their moment to shout and play as the foreign white girl drove past. It seemed to be their moment to cry for joy and forget about the pain they were living in.

My returning trip, I felt like something was missing. I soon realized it was the little girls on the hilltop that I hadn’t seen. I did some investigation and found out they had moved further up the hill and were living in a shack made of tarp and tin remnants. The three girls turned out to be sisters in a family of nine. I learned their names were Sonia, Velanda and Marantha. That was this past December.

Fast forward to this past month, specifically to my third day in Haiti. I was visiting with Esther at the Tytoo clinic and she told me about a mother, who was pregnant with her 10th child, she had been working with. She was 40-years-old and showed symptoms of having experienced a stroke. She told me her concerns for the high-risk pregnancy. She asked me if I would go visit the mother with her.

We headed to the courtyard, and sitting under the big, shady tree I recognized Marantha’s mom. I instantly told Esther, “no way is this the woman, I know her! She is Marantha’s mom.”

We assessed Desir and told her we need her to have a sonogram done, because we needed to know how far along she is. The next day, I walked up the hill to their house and found their condition to be much worse than it was in December, and much worse than what I had expected having seen the mother the day before.

The three oldest children are over the age of 20 and do not live at home anymore. The father is never around, he seems only to show up when of convenience to him. Never taking responsibility for his children.

Elson, age 15

Elson, 15-years-old, takes responsibility and is a very hard worker. This past month, though, he has been fighting an infection and has pain in his lower abdomen, always having trouble peeing. He never sleeps well, the last time I visited their house he was resting inside, laying on the dirt floor of their house on a sheet. Marcus, 13-years-old, is quiet and seems very reserved. Not being able to act like kids, they become the “men of the household.”

Sonia, 9-years-old, appears to be her mom’s biggest helper. I always see her carrying water jugs up the hillside to their home. She is always helping with laundry and cooking, too.

Sonia, age 9

Velanda and Marantha, 8 and 4-years-old, are the only two in school. In December, I took pictures of all the kids, with hopes they would start school. The mother needed the older kids to stay home to help with work, so Velanda and Marantha are the only two in our school. You will always see they side-by-side. They are each other’s best friend. They always welcome me with a big smile, and will run up the hill, leading the way, as I walk up the path to their house.

Nachka clinging to her mom as the scary white girl snaps a photo

Nachka, the 2-year-old, is slow to trust. She wasn’t sure about the white girl taking her picture at first and is for sure a momma’s girl. With a head of orange-tinted hair (a sign of severe malnutrition) and with a runny nose, I’m most worried about her. This past week she had an ear infection so badly that flies were literally settling in her ear. I was sick to my stomach as her mom turned her head for me to look in her ear. We treated her with an antibiotic, but I wonder how will the infections ever truly go away? Her body is so malnourished, it is already fighting for its life. She is sleeping on a dirt floor, full of germs, infections and diseases.

This family has been burning on my heart for the past month. I’ve been praying for a way to help this family. I want to help them in a way that will truly change their life. Giving them ManaPacks (rice and soy) only fill their bellies for a night. Blessing them with clothes will help, but it won’t change their life.

Velanda, age 8

As the faces of these children were burning on my heart, I asked God to show me a better way to help this family. He reminded me of all the amazing support I have already had in the past month, of the 100’s of views each blog post has been getting. He showed me that this blog is a tool. A tool to tell loved ones and supporters in the states the stories of the hurting in Haiti. How I can tell the people far away about His hurting children who are hungry, thirsty and in need.

So, here I am typing away and there is something burning on my heart. When it rains, I think of this family huddling in their shack as their floor turns to mud. When the sun shines, I think of this family hoping they stay hydrated as they walk up the path to their house with no shade. When my belly is full at night, I think of this family praying they found food for the day. As I lay in my big, soft bed at night, I think about this family hoping the Lord covers them with His peace and comfort to get them through another night.

Me with all the children in front of their home

I’m writing to you and I’m thinking how amazing it would be to come together, as Jesus’s followers, and change the life of this family. To give them a concrete foundation, four walls, running water and beds. By giving them this, we will eliminate the infections and give them rest at night. By giving them running water, we will allow the children to be children and not spend their days fetching water. We will give them a chance to attend school. We will welcome a newborn child into this world who will never know what sleeping on a dirt floor felt like. I want this child to never know the pains of hunger, either.

$3,000 US dollars will change the life and give hope to a family.

Allow these faces to burn on your heart like they do to me.

$3,000 US dollars. Plain and simple. To build them a new house.

You can send donations to Touch of Hope Haiti at 205 Old Mill Lane, Rock Rapids, IA 51246

(make a note that the donation is for Marantha)

“Christ has no body on earth but yours,

no hands but yours,

no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out;

yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;

and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”

-Mother Teresa

I found this quote in the book that changed my perspective of the world. The Hole in the Gospel challenges its reader to the difficult question of “are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?” It is a book that focuses on all the scriptures that talks about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and helping the poor. It is a book arguing that our church and world are living and acting as if all of those scriptures have been cut out of the Bible. It was a book that inspired me and encouraged me in my spiritual life.  It was a book that made me realize I could not ignore God’s calling in my life. It is a book I highly recommend.

Robert Stern, president of World Vision and author of the Hole in the Gospel, concludes that if a person truly commits him or herself to the Lord, his or her purpose then becomes loving, serving and obeying God. “Very simple, yet extremely profound. If we all woke up every morning asking ‘How can I love, serve and obey God today?’ it might change everything ­– it might even change the world.” (page 94)

Here in Haiti, I wake up every morning not ever knowing what to expect. I know I will see naked babies; I know I will see hungry children; I know I will see broken homes, constructed of cement, tin remnants and stone; I know I will see the face of poverty. What I don’t know is what problem will be brought to my attention, what needy person will cross my path or what story of hurt I will hear. I never know how God will use me in one single day.

God has led me to a life where I see, talk and have relationships with people who are “the least of these”. My opportunities to love, serve and obey God are always pretty evident because God seems to always place them right in front of me. I feel Him using me quite literally as His “hands and feet” daily.

I consider myself pretty blessed that way.

(left to right) Cherby, Daphta with their mom, Sonia

How do I feel him using me? Let me tell you a story.

Cherby and Daphta are two sisters who attend our school. They live in a tent village about 2 miles away from Simonette. This past March, their mom was struggling to feed, clothe and provide for the two girls. A mother’s worse nightmare came true, and she had to resort to putting Daphta into an orphanage near Port-au-Prince because she had run out of all other options.

The next day, when Daphta was not in school, Webert was very distraught by the situation because he knew Daphta was a bright, young girl who did not deserve to be living in an orphanage.

Through Touch of Hope, we were able to give Daphta’s mom a job cooking for the school and Daphta, after 3 days in the orphanage, was reunited with her mom and sister. If it had not been for the cooking job, Daphta would still be away from her family.

This past Saturday, Webert talked to me about the need of this family and he wanted to help them some more. We went through some recent donations, found some clothes and bought them a few groceries.

When we arrived at their tent, (I would call it their house, but it really isn’t one at all) I felt

outside of their “house”

Jesus there. It wasn’t me delivering the clothes and food; it was God showing a family in need that He would continue to provide for them.

They welcomed us with big smiles, Daphta’s face literally lit up as we came around the corner. We talked about the past school year and everything that has happened in their lives. The mother recognizes she is still struggling, but you can see hope shimmering in her eyes as she welcomed me into her home.

I’m happy to say both girls are also now sponsored through Touch of Hope’s child sponsorship program.

tent village in Minoterie, where Daphta and Cherby live

I’m seeing how God uses us when we make ourselves available to be His hands and feet. Not only does he bless me beyond belief, but he allows me to do some blessing to others also.  What an amazing cycle.

God is using me. I am a 22-year-old, white girl, with no money and a college education in graphic design. I’m not a doctor, I have no degree in education, and I’m definitely no businesswoman either.

But, I’m here. He is using me, and I know He will use you too, that is, if you are willing to make yourself available.

My favorite quote from The Hole in the Gospel…..

“He does not call the equipped, He equips the called.”

A year ago I barely knew Jeffte. Now, I hear him laughing in the background and I can’t imagine my life without him. Even though I haven’t actually spent that much time with him, since I was in America most of the past year, I feel like I’ve known him his whole life.

Last July I feared for his life, as I watched him battle a severe intestinal infection from worms. I remember walking into the orphanage and asking my mom “are we going to watch this little boy die?” It took us 7 days before we finally believed he was better.We learned quickly that he has an incredible drive in life, must be how he survived those first rough years in the orphanage. Jeffte’s personality brightens up the room and he gets along with everyone. In school, in Simonette, at Tytoo, wherever we go, people are always calling for him.

Webert and I have gone through a lot to get him in our custody, and still are currently working on the final legal papers, but I know that God has it all figured out for us. I know He handpicked Jeffte out for Webert and I and He has an incredible plan for Jeffte’s life. We ask you to pray for Jeffte and for the final legal papers to be a smooth and quick process for us.

Today, Jeffte finished his first year of school. I couldn’t help but be filled with joy as I took this picture. I remember when Webert sent me his first day of school picture over the phone, and I got to be here to take his last day of school picture.

I praise God for what He has done in Webert, Jeffte and my life. I praise him for healing Jeffte and giving him the drive that he has in life. I praise him for blessing us with Lovenson, who has quickly found his place right into our little family. I praise Him for His perfect and wonderful plan. I praise him for revealing his plan to me day-by-day, and equipping me as I need to be.

So, today I’m celebrating Jeffte. I’m celebrating Jeffte’s young life and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him in the future.