My last Haiti reflection

The last day in Haiti.

We packed and relaxed Tuesday.  Left the hotel at noon for the trip to Port au Prince.  The trip is taxing. 4.5 hours of winding,  dusty and pot holed roads in the back of a land cruiser.
  The sights and smells are almost indescribable.  The beauty of the country, often one can see the sea out one window ,  mountains in the other.  The houses and shops in the frequent small villages sit quite close to the road,  giving one a quick glimpse into lives of ordinary Hatians.  People are doing laundry in almost dry river beds and drying clothes on nearby rocks or cacti;  playing with dolls or sticks on the front porch; sweeping rocky paths with traditional banana leaf brooms; repairing mopeds and bicycles which are the only source of transportation for most; cooking rice; soaking drying  shelling or grinding various kinds of beans or grains;  tending goats and chickens, or just sitting on the porch (clothing optional).  For many in Haiti survival is a full time job.  One of the missionaries I met named Andy,  said the first 6 months they were in the country, day to day tasks seemed to take about all their time.

Coming into PauP is an experience.  Many,  many. Homeless people; a very high unemployment rate;
An extremely dense population; and shocking lack of municipal services combine for a sensory  experience that is unforgettable.  The week gave us time to adjust to some of the cultural uniquenesses,  like street venders,  loud emotional speech patterns, swarms of mopeds,  and a quite assertive driving style that is based on "the biggest and bravest has the right of way." 

Even setting all that aside,  the poverty and what I can only describe as dehumanization (referring to the filth,  the tent cities, rooting through garbage and the stench of burning and rotting garbage) is unforgettable.  How can we ("we' being humanity) ever be forgiven for creating a situation in which this is the only life available to millions of Hatians? (I suspect that this is not unique to Haiti,  but is repeated in India,  Africa,  Asia and south America.  (I don't know of anywhere in North America or Europe That rivals PauP in this way.  Certainly to our credit it would never be tolerated in the US.)

As we are in the air over the Gulf of Mexico between ft.  Lauderdale and Dallas, I write this last reflection.  Wondering where this trip will lead us.  I don't mean whether we will get to CR tonight or not,  though that is a real question at this Moment.
The question I am asking is will our lives ever be the same (I hope not)  and how will they be different.

Today,  as I reflect I keep going back to a conversation I had with Avald last night.  Perhaps one of the most important conversation of the trip.  Without divulging personal information let me start by saying that Avald grew up in a pretty" normal " Hatian family.  2 sisters And his parents.  He talked about having very little food,  the difficulties of getting an education, his wish to get married to his fiance and start a family,  and most importantly the desire to make a different life for his children. He has pursued a US  education. (He says many of his cohorts don't because they say "I'll still be unemployed when I get home." ) He continues to improve himself with education. (he has a US  economics degree and is pursuing engineering now ) He wishes to own some land so he is not locked into living with his mother for the rest of his life.   (unlike the US, rental is for the wealthy in Haiti) He talks about how grateful he is to have this job with the Consolation center (which pays well compared to many of his peers) and how he tries to put a little money in his bank account every month.
This is a young man who has a real dream and a real chance of seeing it become a reality. (if he survives his own driving... You'll have to ask us about that)

Isn't that the answer for Haiti?  Avald reaching his dream doesn't fix Haiti,  but it would change the course of history for his family.

Perhaps it is people like Avald and Wadsene,  and the residents of the village of Hope,  and Eddie, and the girls at the consolation
Center reaching for their dreams that will begin to lift Haiti out of the desperation that has grown out of its history,  politics and geography. If we can give young men like Avald a leg up with employment;  families like Saint Louie's an opportunity to start over after the earthquake by giving them housing in the village;  and girls like Samula an education,  a faith foundation and some job skills so that she may not fall prey to the pitfalls so many young women in Haiti do... Perhaps... Just perhaps,  one person at a time,  one family at a time,  one child at a time we can begin to change the course of history for the whole Hatian nation. Just perhaps...  One person helping one other person...  One family encouraging one other family...  One church lifting up the people of another church.... Just perhaps.

Will life be different? How could it not be... how? I'm am not quite sure.  But I know it will have to do with projects like the Consolation center and village of Hope. I know it will have to do with people like Avald,  St Louie, and Samula.   I know it will be in partnership with people like Ken De young. And les deroo. Governments are not the answer.  Cookie cutter aid is not the answer. Stereotypes and Pity are not the answer.  People are the answer. People who love Jesus and are willing to take a risk to help,  to visit, and to give so that the dreams of people like Avald,  St.  Louie, Samula,  Ken, les, and our team can be realized.  That in Haiti and in all places like it, "justice will roll down like waters and  righteousness like an ever flowing stream."  and God's Kingdom will be a reality in my life your life and in the lives of all people everywhere.

Keep praying.  Thank you for coming on this journey with us,  and God bless you.

blessings,
terry

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1/28 mission trip update

The final day of service...  A joy and a sadness.  It is good to have accomplished so much,  but we know that it is almost over.

We finished projects at the Consolation center today.  The electrical in the library is as good as it can be.  The bed nets are as far as they can go. The plowing is done.  The solar panel rack is on the roof and the work is in the record books.

It was very hard saying goodbye to the girls today the smiles turned into blank looks as we got into the truck. I'm sure they have seen it many times before. Friends come, love them up, and then leave. We hope that they remember the love and not the goodbyes.

What wonderful hospitality we have been shown by all of our hosts. We have been fed authentic Haitian food all week long and chauffeured from 1 place to another meeting our every need. I'm sure they had many other things to be doing this week, but they graciously accepted us as part of their families and treated us as though they'd known us forever. We are so grateful for all them.

Even in his unavoidable absence,  Ken DeYoung provided friends who treated us as well as Ken himself could have.

Tonight's supper was hosted by Eddie and June. Eddie is the director at the consolation center. We didn't know it until after supper, but June returned to work today for the first day after being on maternity leave. I'm sure she was exhausted. She fixed. A wonderful meal of chicken, rice, bean sauce, and a delicious salad of beets plantaines and onions.

Upon returning to the hotel we had worship, talking about where we have seen God this week. Unanimously, we spoke of people we met,  the hospitality we have been shown,  worship we have experienced,  and lives touched. The work was done, but the ministry was certainly in relationships, not tasks.

As we travel back to Port au Prince tomorrow we will once again be immersed in the depth of urban poverty. Not a trip we look forward to because it is so hard to admit that such want exists so close to our own shores. It w will be a humbling reminder that the work we have done is just a drop in the bucket.  As I have reflected before,  however, if we made a difference to one person for one day... We made a difference.  Indeed we made a difference to many.  I pray We made a difference to...
-Johnny the disabled boy who captured my heart.
-"Mama" who practiced both leadership and English on us.
-the families who will live in the two houses we built and the two others you bought.
-those who will eat food grown in the ground we plowed and those who may earn some badly needed income because of what they learn from that land.
-Wadsene and Jasmine who need special encouragement.
-the children who each have something of their own to play with.
- the two young men and one young woman who gave their lives to Christ sunday morning.
-40 beautiful young ladies who will have mosquito nets on their beds.
-Samula and Wenadine to whom I just tried to give special encouragement.
-Bernadette,  the house mother who showed such love for the girls.
- the missionaries ; Les,  Katherine,  Andy and his wife.
- Ministers and administrators Wadsene and Jasmine, Eddy and June, Evald, Daniel,  Jimmy and many others.
-our artist friend Honell.
-and anyone who saw that strange bunch of Blanche (white) people roaming around their neighborhood and realized that they are not alone...  Someone cares.

We do care, because God cares! Good cares for all of us more than we can imagine.

I'll write again tomorrow.

blessings,
terry

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1/27 mission trip reflections

Today, sunday, was little quieter day for rest and renewal.  While you guys were playing hookey because of the ice storm we worshipped twice today. Once at the village of Hope, and once at the orphanage.

I had the honor of preaching both locations. It is very strange preaching with a translator. I miss being able to get into the rhythm of what I'm saying. I hadn't appreciated how important that is to my style.

I preached about trusting God. About how we can trust God simply because God says he we can trust him,  and also because God has surrounded this with the church to lift us up when we fall and support us when we need to be supported. I used the trust fall like the speaker at the LIGHT concert used as the main illustration. It worked pretty well.

The morning service was led by Wadsone and Jasmine and their music team . It was very moving and included 3 commitments to Christ as the highlight.

Worshipping with the girls at the orphanage was in its own right a very special experience. A group from Les Cayes came to lead singing and did a very nice job. The difference was, none of the service was translated to English whereas the morning service was. If you've never attended a service where you could not understand the language you should try it sometime. It is strange to feel left out,  but that feeling is drowned out by a great closeness to God because worship transcends any words.

On the way to supper we drove through the city of les cayes were they are beginning to prepare for Carnival. The best way to imagine Carnival is to think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The streets were jammed with people and a large float with speakers and lights was being brought into town. It was very interesting to drive through but I don't think I would have been comfortable being in the crowd on the street. That's just the way I am personally.

Supper was at "nami's" which is an American style restaurant. Half of us had Chinese food the other half chicken fingers and french fries.

After being here for 1 week I think some of the shock of the culture has worn off. When we were driving to the center today I began looking at the houses in a different way. I realized that they are really not all that different from houses I have seen in appalachia

The houses are 1 and 2 rooms made of either concrete block or woven bamboo and having either a metal,  thatch or tarp roof. In Appalachia extra bedrooms are added using cardboard here they use tarps. Not really so different.
I think when we came into the country the sheer magnitude of the poverty was overwhelming. I was shocked to see that the conditions I have been looking at for 50 years in photographs  were actually there before my very eyes.

Setting aside the urban  poverty of Haiti for now (which I think it is of both greater depth and greater magnitude than anything I can imagine united states) and focusing on the rural poverty, which is really in our ministry this week, I think 1 of the main lessons is that poverty is poverty and people are people.

We need to stop thinking that their life is so bad because to them it is simply their life to live. Similarly we need to stop thinking of our lives as better and understand they too are simply our lives to live for better or worse.

I think God would like us to spend less time comparing & judging, and more time loving and sharing with the people of Haiti and all of God's people around the world.

As for tomorrow, I hope to find ways to love, share with and not judge those whom I meet.

Do you think you could do the same? Wouldn't this be a wonderful world if we could start a movement in which those were the fundamental values?... wait a minute. Jesus already did!

blessings,
terry

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1/27 pics.. I think I'll actually attach some this time.

The school at the orphanage.

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terry

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1/26 pictures #1

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1/26 Haiti trip update

What a day!

I knew it could only get better when Cliff found a tarantula!  He put it down thinking the girls at the orphanage wanted to watch it crawl... And they stoned it!  You sure don't want to be on their bad side!

It was all blessings from there on out.  The girls serenaded us on the bus ride to Port Salut. It was such a joy to hear their enthusiastic voices in unity.

The beach in Port Salut was beautiful. White sand, warm water,  lots of sunshine.  (and a few big puffy clouds for those who burn easily.) We played in the sand,  frolicked in the surf and combed the beach.  The girls enjoyed it so much that the bus ride home was significantly quieter. (I had a girl asleep on each side of me,  two in. Sabula's  lap across from me.

After passing out candy we left the Consolation center for the day. 

The shipping container arrived today.  (that is like Christmas for the village and the center.  Obviously we did not unload it,  but we saw new tires,  a canopy for the center,  a movie screen, and 10 new solar panels. (The power company is unreliable enough,  and supply lines are oftentimes not available.  24 volt Solar power is the most reliable power in many cases.) 8 homes for haiti also arrived.
Goat for supper tonight ...
Tasted kind of like pork. Not bad.

Great worship and sharing tonight lead by Allan on the theme of friends.

I'll preach at 8:30 and 4:30 tomorrow on the theme of trusting God to use the church as his hands and feet.

It is hard to say who has benefited most this week. We come to be Christ's hands and feet to the Hatians only to discover that the that the Hatians are being God's hands and feet for us. None of us can go home the same people we were.  I doubt that we will ever  watch The news with the same hard heart,  or think of poverty with the same judgmental attitude,  or even think about our own needs in exactly the same way we did before being here. Speaking for myself,  I hope I will be slower to judge,  quicker to love and more determined to do justice. The needs here may be greater in scale,  but they are the same as  we have at home; fair treatment of the poor,  decent employment, justice, and crazy drivers. I pray that together and as a nation we can at least admit that 3 of those 4 issues are important issues and be God's hands and feet working for compassionate justice in our world.

blessings,
terry

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1/25 pics

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January 25th mission trip update.

consolation
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: relief, comfort
Synonyms: alleviation, assuagement, cheer, comfort, compassion, ease, easement, encouragement, fellow feeling, help, lenity, pity, solace, succor, support, sympathy

I started with that because we don't use the word Consolation very much.  More often we use the verb form "to console. "

Today we spent our first day at the Consolation center girls home.

There are 39 beautiful little girls between the ages of 3 & 14 who live there full time because they have no where else to go.

The surroundings are simple.  8 (I think) shipping containers with doors and 2 - 4 windows each.  They are covered by thatch roofs to shade them and make them cooler. 4 are dormitories the rest are showers, staff, and storage.

When we arrived school was in session and many of the 300 children were in opening exercises.  These are children who could not afford any other school.  In fact many can not afford the $5 per year participants fee,  but they are never sent away.

Some children were on the "playground."  I went over to see what equipment they had.   It was a large dusty field with two talk sticks at one end with a rope between them. 30 or so kids were playing in small groups around the area supervised by an adult. No one ever said "I'm bored"  or. "I don't have anything to do."  look around you and think about that.

Projects include plowing "the back 4"  creating racks on which mosquito netting can hang,  putting up eye bolts for mosquito netting,  and building a rack on which a solar panel can be mounted at the missionaries house (Les,  if you have been following.)

I was putting eye bolts on beds,  and recruited me some help.  Sabula (sp?) was especially interested and adept at helping. We had a nice time.  It made me think of the times I spent with my children working beside me in the garage or yard.   It made me think of Noah and how he likes to work beside me especially in the train room.  And it made me wonder who else would ever take time to let Sabula do this? Not that she is not loved and cared for,  but she is among 39 who are loved and cared for. (hold that thought)

After lunch (at which we met the artist who decorated the shipping containers and had the opportunity to buy art.) Sabula,  about 6 other girls and I were talking (Sabula is a very good translator) and another child fell down and scraped her knee.  She cried and cried.  I finally turned around and realized no one was there for her.  She was doing her best,  as was the staff,  but it made me wonder who would be here for these girls when life serves up more than a skinned knee. All she needed was permission to sit on my lap and have someone acknowledge her pain. 

Thank God for people like Les and Katherine and Eddie and Evald and Sasa who dedicate their lives to providing at least the essentials to these girls. Sometimes just the essentials are a full time job. But then again,  for many of the people we have seen this week,  so is surviving.

I don't mean to say that they are at all deprived.  The girls enjoyed "Horton hears a who" tonight for their movie.  Tomorrow we take them to the beach.  It is a rare journey outside the confines of their little world. Praise God for the opportunity to share that with them.

A shipping container of homes arrives tomorrow also,  so I don't know what other opportunities might present themselves.  These could very well be the actual homes for which we paid.  I'll ask Ken tomorrow  when he arrives in country. (there may not be Any way of saying for sure. But it gives us a little different glimpse of the process. )
blessings,
terry

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1/24 mission trip update.

Bonsoire!

I am pretty excited because I was able to ask for the "door" and some "nuts"  today!  Not in proper creole,  but with a mixture of Creole,  English,  and the universal language of speaking English louder and slower.  Language is a challenge but we seem to find a way to get our point across.  I felt better when our missionary friend, Les had trouble asking for ketchup tonight at supper. (Sorry les, it just ticked me.)

We finished our work on the second Haiti house today.  What a joy it is to work alongside brothers and sisters from Haiti.  There is a young woman we call "mama"  because "when mana ain't happy,  nobody's happy."  She is a wonderful young woman,  perhaps 20 years old.  And she has obviously put a few of these houses together.   I finally heard her  speak English today.  I instead of "non" (which means no) and showing this dumb American how to do it,  she said "wait here for me."  let me tell you, I did. I say this with a big smile and in Christian love because she is a very hard worker and a good leader.  She will be an asset to village of Hope. 

I sluffed off this afternoon.  Actually refocused on visiting with Wadsone. (I think I got the spelling right this time) he is the director of the village. Remember I wrote that he is also pastor and counselor,  and manager and teacher and example? Well it goes further than that.  He is also mayor,  landlord, and judge.  His ministry load is very heavy,  and it is hard to not get frustrated or discouraged sometimes.  We need to keep these ministers and missionaries in prayer.  You have spent so much time on prayer for us,  and I am not telling you to stop,  but don't forget our new friends Les & Katherine,  Wadsone & Jasmine, Eddy,  and Evald. (corrected spelling). 

I also played with the kids today.  3-5 or more kids followed me around,  sang silly songs,  learned to sign
Jesus loves me (hand sign language) ,  played ring around the rosey,  and follow the leader. These children just crave attention,  especially adult male attention.  There is such a large number of homes headed by single mothers,  and teen mom's, <which is a  cultural cultural issue the missionaries are addressing.>  I feel that if we can give one or five of these children positive male interaction,  we are putting the on the right road to perhaps countering the low regard of women and marriage. It is one of those... "To this one I made a difference" situations.

Tonight we went into LeCayes to eat lobster creole and barbecued lobster on the half shell at a beach restaurant. (Also chicken for non seafood folk) It was overcast which is perfect for a red head freckle faced guy who is doing his best not to build up a big sunburn this week.

Tonight's worship included a reading from Cliff about hands.  We reflected on all that our hands have done this week,  from meeting new friends, to spinning a thousand nuts on the end of bin bolts.  From putting the hand to the plow to holding hands of 6 children while  walking through " village of Hope.)  let me tell you those six hands in mine (and the one kid on my Back) are the hands that will change Haiti.  Not outsiders coming here for a week. Not the UN or the red cross.  The hands that will change Haiti are the hands of the children who grow up in places like village of Hope believing that
1)things can be better
2) political and economic history don't have to determine the future, 
3)and finally knowing that nothing... Nothing... Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Neither poverty,  nor hunger,  nor nakedness,  nor government corruption,  nor political greed,  nor anything else in all creation will ever separate us from God's love in Jesus Christ.

blessings,
terry

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1/24 #1 MISSION TRIP PICTURES

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terry

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1/24 #2 mission trip pictures

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1/24 #1 MISSION TRIP PICTURES

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1/23 #2

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1/23 #2

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1/23 mission trip update

80° a clear bright night in Haiti. Entertaining ourselves watching the rats do a tight rope act on the power lines.  Actually one one rat,  one show per night. 

More seriously,  it has been another beautiful day for a mission trip,  but then isn't every day a good day to serve Jesus?

Everyone was well and working today.  Thank god.  Many many conversations. Many, many new friends made.

We were back at village of Hope today.  Projects included more plowing...  Remember no matter what anyone tells you Ken is "ballast" not "dead weight." 

We also assembld (actually fabricated) a loft for one of the houses belonging to a man named Saint Louis and his family.  He was chosen because he is a model leader in the community.  Kind of a reward or incentive.  The problem was... Well we don't know what the problem was,  but we got it up.  It. Covers 1/2 the house at 7 feet high.  Intended for storage not sleeping.  We don't know how this one will be used.  There are not very many houses that have these.  I wish I would have taken a picture of St. Louis and his family with this phone camera so I could served it to you.  You'll have to wait.   You can see the loft,  though.

You will see a picture of a foot bridge.  (Yes, wives,  we did walk on it!) We wanted to replace the missing decking (that is why we went there) but it turned out that materials are not available to do that. The interesting thing is,  however that we got to see the dump truck being loaded look in the back ground (yes one shovel at a time)   those men get about $3 for loading that truck.  They delivered to the hotel in the morning,  the village in the afternoon and back to the hotel with logs in the evening.  (did they make more trips between there?  Perhaps) We were in awe of those men.  Don't tell me that the economic problems here are caused by laziness.  Until we have shoveled 2-4 dump truck loads of large rocks (picture baked potato size)  and loaded a truck full of Logs,...  And Then be able get up to do it all over again tomorrow,  we should keep our pampered mouths closed.
Sure there is a culture of begging, and expecting charity,  but that does not at all represent what We have seen in our new friends.  They work circles around us for very little pay,  doing whatever they can to support their families.

House #50 has the roof on and #51 has a foundation.  Tomorrow will be the last day working at the village.  We will return to worship with then on Sunday.  I have the opportunity to preach! (the rumc people thought they were getting something better this we weekend... Sorry.)

We are making plans for our work at the orphanage (Consolation center)  for the remainder of the time.  We will do a variety of things including renting a  bus to take the girls to the beach on Saturday.  Not your normal. Mission trip project.  We will all enjoy it,  but it is requiring an unexpected opportunity to give.  (It is not Cheap) God is good, though, and we have it figured out.

One of the highlights of the day was our free "garage sale." Kim organized all the things we personally brought to donate. This included underwear,  clothes,  especially hats and t shirts,  wooden cars (from my dad) tabby blankets,  coloring books, crayons,  necklaces and more. (most of the personal care items except underwear are on their way via Ken DeYoung who will be here in the next days. They will be distributed then.)

The children sang to us and everyone thanked us.  But the real thanks came with the distribution.   I sat mesmerized as each family came to the door of the house and Jasmine handed things out as she thought they needed. 

I passed out toy cars to little boys,  necklaces to girls,  tabby blankets to babies,  and coloring books and crayons. Did we think we had enough?  Not a chance...  When we saw e everyone together I was embarrassed at the paltry offering we had. (just a couple of loaves and a few fish)   But we saw two things.

1. When we handed out the last of the little toy things,  Wasson came in to say that this was the last of the families from the village.  Does God provide or what? You know  when God provided mana in the wilderness there was no extra.  Everything that was not needed, rotted. Sometimes God provides JUST enough with no leftovers.  We are so used to excessive bounty. We could use a lesson on DAILY bread. (not weekly bread) Just enough is still enough!

2. We saw true thanks giving. Faces beamed  smiles from ear to ear.  A Hat for a teenage young man.  A car for a 4 year old. A new tshirt for mom.  The thing is that each and every one knew that we brought it,  but knew who REALLY sent it. It is God who provides all things. 

Don't have "anything" to wear... Stop.
Don't have the newest video game console... Stop.
Don't have enough time to go to the gym... Stop.
Look at the gifts God has given you since before you were born!  Look at the bounty good has spread before you today! Do you really think God will let you down tomorrow? "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever "  God is good all the time... All the time good is good.

blessings,
terry

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1/22 pics #4

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1/22 pics

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Tuesday January 22 Haiti trip update.

We finally did what we came to do!  We visited Village of Hope and it is better than we dreamed.  (See pics in separate email )

We helped to assemble 2/3 of a Haiti house.  The second roof must go on and the bolts have to be tightened.  That will be number 50! We will work on number 51 when rock arrives for the foundation.

That is one thing we didn't expect.  Hatian time is not the same as ours,  or as I put it earlier today.. "There is that funny American idea of efficiency."  Time is more flexible,  and perhaps more valuable.   We are busy doing lots of things... This and that... Here and there.  The Hatians are busy living... (More than surviving in the case of village of Hope although that is certainly a big issue for many people.)   No,  I mean they are busy caring for children (about 10 per family) making a roof for a gazebo, threshing grain,  cooking rice,... Drying it... Cracking it... And cooking it again,  doing laundry (often in the creek - and often dried on rocks.  After hurricane Sandy,  in fact,  school was out for a day for laundry.  It is a real project!)   (back to living...) Fixing flat tires without a fancy tire changer,  sweeping the dirt path in front of the house,  plowing a field with a team of oxen (the farmers might correct me on the species...  Jim and Scott tried it too.  Ha! ) and a million other things.
These are aren't problems to be overcome which is the way many of us approach life.  They are simply what you do. God has given us enough time to live...  Why do we feel so driven to do SO SO SO much more?  Could we learn a lesson here?  Would life be qualitatively better if were to switch to God's time?... Remember God is the Lord of the Sabbath. Could we do a little less (which might mean making do with a little less)  in order to gain the important relationships with God and each other? ... Just asking ^o^

Back to village of Hope.  It is more than a village.   It is a living church,  where people live in the light of Christ. (a significant part of that light comes from two angels named Wasson (excuse the spelling that is the way it sounds )  and Jasmine.  The directors of the village who both just radiate Jesus love.  (They live in two h4h homes. One is a bedroom. The other the Kitchen and dining.  They live there it see seems with two other adults and 2 children.  I hope to get to know the family better.  See pics )
It appears that their job description is to love the least of these in a way that lifts them up so they can love God and neighbor also....
Wait! that is the job description god has given each of us.   I have not seen it lived out like this before... Although Wasson is honest about problems (like near by drug trafficking,  and neighbors not getting along)
Because they
1. Have had so little (while we were yet sinners)
2. Have received so much by being accepted here (Christ died for us all Romans 5:8)
3.  and even more, they have the love of Wasson and Jasmine (and Les and Eball and Eddie,  and Ken DeYoung and people like you and us.) They have A CHANCE. A chance to live in the village,  a chance to learn the love of god,  and a chance to love as they have been loved.
... They live the daily spiritual struggle of the early church in a way that We may never know. How exciting it is to be invited to preach in that context this Sunday. (do you suppose Dian will get bulletins ready and over here for me?)

I know this has been more of a smorgasbord than the previous blogs,  but there is so much to to tell. 

Cliff plowed a field today with Ken as ballast (not dead weight as some have said) standing on the plow. 

Everyone got the house started,  but Kim, Scott, Jimmy and I mostly helped with the home. I say helped because they have trained a crew of Hatians (residents of the village) to assemble them. ($10 equivalent per day is very generous pay and they make us look like lollygaggers!)  it is a joy to work with then knowing that it be helps them and it is a step toward changing the culture of dependence that is so prevalent here.  That $40 per day that global Compassion pays cam make such a difference.  Remember the Average Haitian family makes $68 per year. 8-)

We have had some sickness.  Allan was out of commission today with a bug he may have even brought from home.  Ken was out for 1/2 a day reacting to his malaria medicine. Pray for health.

Also pray for an extra gift of love.  They soak it up as fast as we can spread it around.

Finally pics #4 email contains a picture of EVE who may have CP.  His" buggy" is all he has.  Literally! It is an awful lot like the ones the Iowa UMM make!  Does anyone remember what they are called?

blessings,
terry

sent from my s3

Repeated post

Here is yesterday's post again there were many failures reported.  We'll try this again. 

blessings,
terry

sent from my s3
On Jan 22, 2013 7:12 AM, "terry plocher" <PASTORRUMC@reinbeck.net> wrote:
>
> There aren't very many words to describe what we have seen today. Some of the words that come to mind would be disturbing, Eye opening, gut wrenching,  and heartbreaking.
>
> We left the motel earlier than I care to think about right now,  had breakfast at a sushi bar,  ( Never thought I would say that!) and arrived in Haiti without incident.
>
> The airport deserves a whole blog to itself.   We had been warned about aggressive "skycap"  like helpers.  I was not prepared however for the persistence they showed.   I'm sure we looked like deer in the headlights to them.
>
> The following 4 hours was like Disney World. It was a combination between mister toads wild ride and the haunted mansion. The difference is,  for the people we saw, it is all too real,  and the ride never ends.
> Eball brought us the 80 miles safely,  but let's just say there are no traffic laws in Haiti except (in Eball's words)  "don't hit anything. "
> The sights... The sounds... The smells... Are unimaginable.  I have seen hundreds of pictures... Dozens of video clips,  even tried very hard to prepare myself for what I knew I would see.  Yet nothing even begins to prepare one for the dirt (actually garbage everywhere ) ,  the smells (of open sewers,  burning garbage, diesel exhaust and Oppressively compressed humanity ) , and the emotional upheaval of seeing this unimaginable reality  with ones own eyes.  It would be worth the trip if each of you, could experience even vicariously (through us) the harsh reality that is Hatian poverty.
> Let me try to help you understand by telling you about one woman I saw out of thousands. She was, I would guess 60, but I suspect this life ages one prematurely. She was in a pretty dress (no matter how little they have, Hatians put on their very best clothes to leave home)  with no shoes.  I don't know if she dropped it or found it,  but there was only one thing on her mind.  The 12-18 kernels of corn she was meticulously salvaging from the garbage strewn, makeshift sewer that passes for a gutter in Port au Prince. We never made eye contact,  because she was so focused on these few pieces of pure gold she was collecting.  I wonder if she ate all of them for supper or saved some for tomorrow's super,  or perhaps she shared them with her precious child or grand child. That Image is seared in to my heart.
>
> The Mimosa Motel is by many of your standards nothing  to brag about.  But these rooms feel like a mansion to me tonight,  and the authentic Haitian food a banquet because I know  what lies beyond that gate and armed guard.
>
> There is one other image, very different from the first that I want to share.  We visited the "Consolation House"  toward sunset tonight. Just as I will never forget t the things I saw earlier in the day,  I will also never forget the faces of those 35  beautiful young ladies between the ages of 3 and 13
> As they started with shyness and anxiety,  to sing first in creole and then in English "this is the day... This is the day... That the Lord has made... Let us rejoice and be glad in it." was it? I had to ask myself?  And then they sang. "we are glad to meet you Jimmy."  Followed by. "We are glad to meet you Kenny."  Followed by" we are glad to meet you Terry. "
> My heart melted and the rest is in the pictures!
>
> It sounds like I may have the opportunity to preach to them.  What could I possibly say that would be half as important to them as their message to me?
>
> It is time to retire. Today has been a long week!  I wonder what I will dream tonight? Will my subconscious be consumed with the images  of early in the day,  or the smiles of my new friends?
>
> We are all well and humbled.  Keep praying for us. 
>
> blessings,
> terry
>
> sent from my s3
> PS..  I have 150 better pics on my camera you can see when we get home. These come from when I remember to take with my phone.
blessings,
terry

sent from my s3

Haiti mission trip Sunday January 20

We were seen off by cold temperatures today,  but the love of those who gathered around us to support us and send us off kept us  warm. Snow was falling at the Cedar Rapids airport, but there's very little danger of snow tonight in Miami, and none in Haiti tomorrow!

So far travel has gone well and we have enjoyed each other's company.

You might guess that Jim's day was made by seeing James Vandenberg,  the Hawkeye quarterback, at the Cedar Rapids airport. 

After a short ride to the hotel we had a leisurely dinner (read between the lines...  Slow service)  together before a time of worship.

Worship included Matthew 25 and a reading from Adam Hamilton about how God uses people to answer prayers and in order to do the work that God wants done in this world. "when God wants the hungry fed He sends people. When God wants justice to be done He sends people stand up for what is right."   We closed with the song "I refuse" (check out the lyrics. it's very appropriate) and prayer.

Tomorrow morning will come early, meeting in the lobby at 4:50 a.m. to catch a shuttle and be on the plane at 7:20. A short 2 hours and we will go from South Florida where some of the richest people in the Western Hemisphere live, to Port au Prince were some of the poorest live.

May our eyes and hearts be opened to both unimaginable poverty and the and the awesome beauty of the country and her people who (I am certain,  like most of us) do their best to live their lives with Thanksgiving and joy.

Follow us on the REINBECK UMC Facebook page or my "outside my window" blog. They receive exactly the same updates that I am sending by email.

blessings,
terry

sent from my s3

Haiti pics w we're on the way!

blessings,
terry

sent from my s3

Re: Here we go... we depart at 9:30 tomorrow morning

www.conolaitoncenterhaiti.blog.com is much more up to date along with www.globalcn.us.   

 

See you in Haiti Terry!

 

Ken

On Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 11:02 PM, terry plocher <PASTORRUMC@reinbeck.net> wrote:

I found the web page for the orphanage- "Consolation Center"

Check it out

http://www.consolationcenterhaiti.com/index.html

Consolation Center video

Village of hope video

Here we go... we depart at 9:30 tomorrow morning

I found the web page for the orphanage- "Consolation Center"

Check it out

http://www.consolationcenterhaiti.com/index.html

Welcome to the Haiti mission trip email group

I have added a number of people that I thought might be interested in receiving our updates as we travel to Haiti over the next days.

We will be going to work with the Global Compassion Network  Visit their website at 

http://www.globalcn.us

I found the timeline to be really interesting too    http://www.globalcn.us/gcn/about_files/GCN-Timeline.pdf

Sunday morning 7 of us leave for Haiti on a mission trip. The country of Haiti fits inside the borders of the state of Iowa. We will be on the southern coast near LeCayes. Les Cayes (Haitian Creole: Okay), is a town and seaport in southwestern Haiti, with a population of approximately 45,904 people (1995 estimate). Estimates from 2008 place the population at close to 70,000 people. Due to its isolation from the political turmoil of the capital, Port-au-Prince, it is one of Haiti's major ports, with export trade concentrating on mostly coffee and sugarcane. As the world's largest supplier of vetiver, it exports 250 tons annually of this ingredient of perfume and fragrance manufacturing. Minor exports include bananas and timber.

Our Gifts to the King

Our Gifts to the King                                 

January 6, 2013

RUMC Epiphany

 

We three kings of orient are…

Although the Magi are relatively minor characters in the story of Jesus' life, they capture our imagination, don't they?  We can just imagine these three mighty kings from the Far East, leaving their kingdoms to bow before the king that is mightier than all of them put together.  They bring these wonderful gifts to lay before him, and they trick Herod by going home a different way. 

It makes a great story, but it isn't quite true. 

 

v Let's look at the story a little closer.  First, there are three clues that give us some time references. 

·        In the time of King Herod, in Bethlehem of Judea,

·        Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 

·        On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother;

Here we learn, much to our disappointment, that the wise men and the shepherds didn't all join in the classic nativity scene as we often picture them.  That's why I have taken the shepherds out of the nativity today: to remind us that the wise men came later.  "After Jesus was born," the passage says; they "entered the house," not the stable.  Even though this story is next to the Christmas story, it is not chronologically part of it. 

In fact, we think the wise men might have arrived as much as 2 years after that first Christmas.  Do you remember, Herod asks about the exact time when the star appeared?  In the next story, he has all the children under 2 years of age killed.  If it had only been a year since the star appeared, he could have chosen 1 year of age.  Do you follow me?  We don't know when for sure, but somewhere in here there is a time lapse.  Perhaps the wise men came 2 years after Jesus was born.  Perhaps they were there sooner, but Herod was waiting for them to come back, and of course, they didn't.  He might have been waiting quite some time. 

This is the reason we celebrate the wise men on Epiphany day rather than Christmas.  They are really two separate stories. 

v The Story calls them "wise men.  " The word is Magi, from which we get the word magic.  However, they were not magicians.  They were more like astrologers.  "Magi" was a term that referred to priests of the Zoroastrian religion, which is also called Ma-gi'-an-ism.  It comes from the part of the world that is now Iraq, and there are still Ma-gi'-an-ists today perhaps somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000.  Therefore, we know that they didn't come from the FAR EAST, but from about 600 miles east, and probably traveled about 3 weeks. 

v They "observed his star at its rising" This is one of the great mysteries of the gospels.  What is this star?  It wasn't likely a comet, or an asteroid, or even a supernova.  There have been theories about astrological alignment and retrograde movements that are quite interesting, but the bottom line is, we don't know.  Astronomers struggle to explain how any star but the North Star can stay over one place for very long.  We just have to be honest and say… we don't know. 

v The story goes on to say that they came to Herod.  That is a mystery to me because they were following the star and it had not stopped yet.  Why would they stop?  Of course, it was a natural mistake to believe that the current king who rules over the Jews would be the father of the next king.  That is usually the way those things worked, but not in this case. 

v When the magi find Jesus, they worship him.  That is what "paying homage" means.  As their offering, they brought 3 gifts.  Now this is the time to point out that there are three gifts so we envision each king carrying one gift.  The truth is we don't know how many Magi there were.  There could have been two there could have been 20. 

v The gifts are of Gold (which represents Christ as King) frankincense (which was an incense used in the temple by the priests so that represents that he is our High Priest) and Myrrh (which was used for anointing the dead- symbolizing his death) And let's be clear, these were not bribes, they were not obligatory, these were true gifts given simply because they believed that this baby was God's greatest gift to all people. 

 

Let's zoom back from some of those details, and ask what message we are to hear from this story. 

First, I am intrigued by the involvement of the stars.  So far, we have had angels doing all the speaking.  In this story, we see that this birth of Jesus was much bigger than we thought.  If the stars are proclaiming the birth of Christ, this is not just a normal baby.  This is not even a special baby.  If the heavens are declaring his glory, the whole creation is involved with this special birth.  This is the most important thing since creation.  It is literally a "cosmic event"

There are plenty of religions that tell stories about a savior.  Plenty of religions have great teachers.  Plenty of religions have messiah figures.  In Christ, however, something completely different is happening.  God himself is taking on flesh.  Do you realize how earth shattering that is?  Those of us who have heard this story 1000 times don't realize the cosmic significance of a creator who voluntarily becomes the created in order to save all creation.  No other religion believes in a God that loves people so much, that he will take on the fullness of humanity, to the point of even dying, in order to deliver all people from sin and death. 

 

And when I say all people, I mean ALL PEOPLE.  At risk of stating the obvious, the story is not about the priests coming to worship Jesus.  It is not about Pharisees coming to worship Jesus.  It is not even about Samaritans coming to worship Jesus.  These Magi are foreigners.  They aren't children of the covenant.  Let me go one step further, they were not just foreigners, they were gentile foreigners because they did not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Let me go one step further.  They were not only foreigners and gentiles; they were pagan.  These guys were Zoroastrianists, which is a whole different religion. 

So, why do you suppose God let these Magi- these foreigners- these gentiles- these pagans be part of the story?  Because he loves them and died for them too.  This little story of the Magi is the best news possible for those who are outside of the mainstream of faith.  Because it says that no one is too far outside the mainstream to be loved by God.  No one is too different to be accepted by God.  No one is too far away to be redeemed by God.  No one-- no one is beyond the reach of God's saving work.  Not even us, no matter what our fears and failures might be.  If God uses the magi for his purposes, God for sure can find a job for you. 

 

And finally, how do we respond to this gift of cosmic proportions, the proper response to God's greatest gift to all people is … worship… paying homage… adoration… devotion.  When we receive a gift, we say "thank you.  " When we are offered such a magnificent gift, as we are in the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, "thank you" just doesn't seem like enough. 

But, what more can we do?  We can follow the lead of the wise men and offer gifts.  Oh, man!  I left my frankincense in my other pants, right?  No, I am not talking about Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. 

I am not even talking about money- not directly anyway.  Let me ask you this. 

Do you think God would rather have your money, or your love?  Love. 

Do you think God would rather have your money, or your adoration?  Adoration. 

Do you think God would rather have your money, or your prayers?  I Thessalonians 5:17 says "pray without ceasing.  " If God get's a hold of you in prayer, he can get your whole life. 

 Do you think God would rather have your money, or your presence?  I'll bet God is like me.  I'll take one person who shows up to do ministry over 2 that just send their money any day. 

 Do you think God would rather have your money, or your gifts?  By that, I mean the passions, and skills and abilities that God loaned to you so he could use them any time he wants. 

Do you think God would rather have your money, or your service?  "IF you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.  "

Do you think God would rather have your money, or your witness?  I don't remember God saying write a check to all the world, but I do remember Jesus saying, "Go into all the world, and preach."

You can leave your frankincense and Myrrh at home, because your whole life is your gift to God.  Bring that gift to God just like the Magi.  Never, ever forget, however, why they brought their gifts and why we bring our gifts.  Because in Jesus Christ God gave the greatest gift of all to us. 

We give because God first gave to us. 

We serve because in Jesus Christ God first knelt down and washed our feet. 

We love because God first loved us. 

 

AMEN  

“This is my beloved son”

"This is my beloved son"

RUMC 1/13/12

 

"This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."

The first two chapters of Matthew have all been leading up to this moment. The lineage, the angels, the journey, the stable, the star, the wise men, even the baptism all leading up to God's proclamation. In fact one could say that the history of salvation, even the history of creation has been leading up to this moment when the voice of the father, and the power of the holy spirit would join with the waters of baptism in pronouncing the son to be God incarnate.

Strangely enough, this story almost didn't happen. Jesus showed up in the wilderness of Judea for baptism.  At first John refused saying, "You should be baptizing me."  True enough, but Jesus insists that he be baptized, "so that all righteousness might be fulfilled."

When John stopped arguing and started baptizing, amazing things happened.

·        The spirit descended - like a dove

·        The voice of God himself

·        The confirmation "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased"

 

Let's take each of those separately.

 

First, the spirit descended from heaven like a dove. It wasn't a dove.  It was the spirit.  Matthew says it hovers like a dove, just as the same spirit hovered across the face of the waters at creation.  It was the same spirit that came upon such Old Testament giants as Joshua, the judges, David, Saul, and the prophets.  In this story, the spirit is not just present.  It is visibly present.  It not only descends on Jesus it visibly descends.  The real presence of the Holy Spirit was a real witness to all creation that this was indeed God in the flesh.  In Jesus, the spirit of the lord is indeed come to preach good news and proclaim the day of the Lord.

 

Second, there is the voice.  Do you suppose it was like James Earl Jones?  Or was it more like Fran Dresher?  I know what God's voice sounds like in my heart; I just wonder what it sounds like to our ears.  There is another issue here.  That is, who heard the voice? In Matthew, the message is one of announcing or introducing Jesus to the crowd and by extension to us. "This is my beloved son."  In Mark and Luke, the quote is "YOU are my beloved son." As though it was a message to Jesus and others may or may not have heard it. Regardless of who heard it, this was an actual voice that produced sound waves.  I don't know what it sounded like, but it is yet another affirmation of the reality and power of the incarnation.

 

Finally there is the message itself.  We're going to take the announcement out of Matthew as it is, and not worry about Mark and Luke today.  But I think the same argument could be made with them.  

"This is my beloved son."  In the first two chapters of Matthew, Jesus has been called every name in the book. He has been called "the Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, Jesus, Emmanuel, king of the Jews, Nazarene, and the Lord, and John the Baptist calls him "the one who is mightier than I." The voice at baptism tops all of those names, all of those titles, and goes beyond them.  After his baptism, after the Holy Spirit came upon him, the voice of God speaks from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

This is the title that makes sense of all the rest.

v Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one.  He is the Son of God.

v  Jesus is not only

o   the royal son of King David

o   and not only the fulfillment of Abraham's blessing

o   Even more is the Son of God.

v  Jesus is not only savior. Jesus is, as the Nicene Creed says, "The only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds; God of God; Light of Light; Very God of Very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father," and for this reason, he bears the name Emmanuel. God with us.

v He is not only king of the Jews, but he is also, as Son of the Creator, Lord of the Universe.

Whatever else is said of Jesus must be measured against God's declaration at baptism that "Jesus is his beloved Son, with whom God is well pleased."

 

That, however, is not the best news. The best news is that we can share in that. 

·        By baptism, we too can experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

·        By baptism, we too can experience the assuring and confirming voice of God in our lives.

·        In our baptism, we experience God's voice… (maybe not with the same audible voice- maybe in more a still small voice) 

·        In baptism, we feel God's grace washing over us declaring, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." "This is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased"

The word translated "well pleased" here means to be delighted- to bring great joy. The passage harkens back to Isaiah 42:1 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One, in whom my soul delights!"  God's delight in his servant echoes through the pages of scripture until we hear it again here at the baptism of Jesus, and yet again at our own baptisms.

How can that be?  Look at us.  How can God be pleased with us?  I understand how God is pleased with Jesus.  But, us?  How can God be pleased with THIS… or this?

Let me tell you…

Two things please God.

First when people come to him in faith. That is absolutely the ONLY requirement for baptism. Faith. You don't have to know anything. You don't have to be able to pass any tests. You don't have to be a superstar. You just need faith and God will delight in you. God will be pleased with you.

You need to know, if you don't already, that neither faith nor Baptism will make you perfect.  But faith is mighty important.

In April 1988, the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver.  He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes.  On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went berserk.  The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without a parachute for himself. Until he reached for the absent ripcord and realized he was freefalling without a parachute… Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun.  Suddenly it wasn't.

Life without faith in God may be exciting and fun for a while, but if we fail to strap on the parachute of faith the fun goes away in the blink of an eye.

We come to God in faith, and God is delighted. When we are baptized with that baptism of faith, God says, "You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."

 

The second thing that pleases God is a servant heart. Remember in Isaiah 42. God is pouring his delight upon his servant.  In Jesus' baptism, God pours out his delight on the one who would become servant of all, and lay down his life for all.  

v He doesn't delight on the observers. The ones who take a seat and wait for others to do the work of the kingdom.  

v  He doesn't delight in the preachers who tell others what to do but fail to do it themselves. 

v He doesn't delight in those who believe themselves to be so important- that they never have time to do the kingdom work.  

God is pouring his delight upon his servant.  The one who lays down their time, their love, their labor, their strength, and even their lives for the God who makes all things new.  God delights when the baptismal waters bring life to our servant spirits and drip off our newly baptized heads in the form of acts of love and justice and servanthood.

 

God delights in you when you come to baptism in faith and walk away as a servant.

God delights in you when you have the heart of faith and the hands of a servant.

 

As you, renew your baptism today. Remember-

·        Remember it is God's love for you that brings you here. The gift of FAITH.

·        And remember that is God's love for the least and lost that sends you out. SERVANTHOOD

 

I pray that you will hear those wonderful words. 

·        You are my beloved son in you I am well pleased.<<<xxxx>>>

·        You are my beloved daughter in you I am well pleased. <<xxxxx>>>

AMEN

 

This is the water of creation, the water of the Red Sea, the water that sprang forth from the rock, the water of the Jordan, the water of Mary's womb, the water that became wine, the water of  the calmed storm.  It is living water.  The water of life itself.

 

It is the water that cleanses you from sin, it is the water that brings you life,  it is the water of baptism, the water of new life. 

 

Come renew your baptism.  I invite you to come touch the water, feel the water.

In the bottom of the bowl, you will find some stones.  Help yourself to a stone.  Put it in your pocket or purse, and every time you feel it let it remind you of the life of faith a service to which you are called by Christ in Baptism.

 

Spend some time at the altar rail on the way up or on the way back to your seat, and give thanks for the life of faith and service to which God calls you.

 

If you have never been baptized, come to me and we can celebrate your baptism today too.. 

 

Come and remember your baptism!!