Reflections on Four Years

On March 12, 2012, the Graves family landed in Haiti for the first time.  Little did we know how this one trip would change our lives in so many ways.

One of the first photos we took after we landed.  Mountains upon mountains.

We have learned so much, and we still have so much to learn.  Perhaps the most important thing we've learned is summed up in this quote from the book, Overrated:

“We need to do away with the “I can change the whole world” mentality and language because it’s impossible, and actually unhelpful.

But we can impact the worlds of some. And some may be many. Some may be just a few. Some may be just one family or one person, but we can make an impact and in the process, be changed ourselves. This, in my opinion, is the best part of wanting to change the world. Inevitably, we will be changed in the process.”

— Eugene Cho

There are so many people in Haiti.  So many.   We'll never know them all.  
But . . . we're incredibly thankful for the few we are privileged to call friends.  Because their story has become part of our story.  

And, si Dye vle, there are many chapters still to write.

“ Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.”

— I John 3:18

Happy Birthday, Polo!

We are blessed beyond words to have you as part of Haiti Awake, zanmi m.  May God richly bless you in the coming year.

Keep living out I Timothy 4:12:  "Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

 

Happy 13th Birthday, Cesnel!

Cesnel, you are loved.  

Praying Psalm 20:4 over you today: "May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose."

Seven Steps to Poverty

From this morning's reading in He Walks Among Us.

'One of the most difficult things to communicate is what it feels like to be poor in the developing world.  How can Americans really understand global poverty without travelling to see it?  Let me try to help you understand, simply by taking seven things away from you, one at a time.  Ready?

First, I take away your clothes.  Don’t panic, I won’t take them all.  You can keep the clothes on your back and wash them each night.  Your children feel the brunt of this humiliation at school.

Next, I take away your electricity.  Now you come home to a dark house each night.  None of your appliances work: no refrigerator, telephone, television, computer or stereo.  Your showers are cold and you have to wash your clothes by hand.  Your quality of life has dropped precipitously.  But you are still better off than most of the world.

Takeaway No. 3 is really tough: clean water.  None of your faucets, toilets, or showers work, and the only water source is a stagnant waterhole about a mile away.  It takes hours each day to fetch what you need, and because it is teeming with bacteria, you and your children are constantly sick.  Despair starts to set in.

 I’m afraid I have to take away even more: your home.  Now you and your whole family must live and sleep in a 20-by-20 mud hut with a dirt floor.  When it rains, the roof leaks and the floor turns muddy. 

Takeway No. 5 is devastating: food.  Your children have long ago lost their smiles; now they are hungry with a gnawing pain.  You find a little food by picking through your neighbor’s garbage.  Already sick from exposure to the elements and from drinking dirty water, your children’s bodies become severely malnourished and cannot fight off diseases.  Your 4-year old girl seems to be slipping away.

 Getting her to the doctor is urgent but, tragically, No. 6 takeaway is health care.  To your horror, your daughter dies before your very eyes – of diarrhea.  How can this be happening?  Why has no one stepped in to help? 

What else could I possibly take away?  No. 7 is Hope.  Without these basic necessities of life, you and your children have no hope for the future.

 Poverty, for most of us, is distant and remote.  But this is the pain that billions on our earth endure each day.”

Author - Richard Stearns

"You Can Tell All My Friends in Haiti Awake I Am a New Person Now"

2 Korentyen 5 v 17
Kifè ankò, depi yon moun nan Kris, li se yon nouvo kreyasyon. Ansyen bagay yo pase. Epi, gade! Tout bagay vin nouvo.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

We are rejoicing with Wesly. Glwa pou Bondye.

A Year of Abundant Blessings

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

— 2 Corinthians 9:8

January - March

Highlights

• The 2nd Haiti Awake team

• Food for Haiti Yard Sale 2015

• Steeve's 2nd visit to the United States

April - May

Highlights

• Time together

• Caleb's birth

• The children move into their new home

June - July

• Three Amazing Teams

• Strengthening relationships and growing together

August - September 

• Funding received for the children's schooling

• A 4th summer team

• Steeve began seminary

October - December

• Haiti Awake's 6th team 

• The children's first day of school

• A new wheelchair for a special boy

 

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ”

— Ephesians 3:20-21

Believing Ephesians 3:20-21 as we enter 2016.

 

Why?

One of the things that I love about hosting American teams in Haiti is hearing them ask questions.  No matter how many times you go to Haiti, you'll always leave with more questions than answers.  And many times that question is a "Why?" question.

The roads that are now routine to me, the things that no longer surprise me, the questions I no longer ask, the things I no longer even see . . .   These are all new and exciting to first-time visitors.  Beyond that, those who are new to Haiti have so much optimism and enthusiasm.  They ask questions and challenge the status-quo in a new way.  They don't realize, "We can't do that."  And when you don't realize you CAN'T do something, you do it.

 

“Why are the children living like this?”

— January Team

That why question took the children from the house above to the house below.

“Why aren’t the children in school?”

— June Team, Week 2

That question took the children from no school to the first day of school photo below.

1st Day of School - October 2015

“Why can’t we get a new wheelchair for Wendy Divine?”

— October Team

Because of that question, Wendy was in his new wheelchair just over a month later.  And . . . it didn't even cost anything.  Someone had a nearly new wheelchair they didn't need.  And they gave it to Wendy.  We just had to ask.

Isn't God amazing in how He provides?

I'm looking forward to more questions from team members in 2016, questions that help us all see more clearly the direction in which God is moving Haiti Awake.
 

12/09/09

December 9, 2009.

That was the day this amazing little man was born.

Happy birthday, Handy.  We love you more than words.  God used you to start a chain of events which brought us to where we are today.

You are loved.

You are valued.

You have a hope.

You have a future.

We're so excited to see where God takes you!

July 17, 2013

“Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

— Psalm 40 v. 5

Let Us Use Them

Romans 12:6 says, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."

We are thrilled that God has led Kay Rowe to use her gifts to assist us at Haiti Awake. Kay will be volunteering weekly, helping with paperwork, donations, and other needs as they arise.

Kay has a heart for Haiti Awake and an understanding of our ministry objectives because of the time she spent with us in Haiti this summer.

She's the perfect person for this new position!

#GIVINGTUESDAY

Today is "Giving Tuesday."

Yes, it is a made-up event that was not on the calendar before 2012, but it is noble.

As the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday has turned Thanksgiving into "Thanksgetting" (I borrowed that from a cell phone advertisement that was sadly spot-on), it is refreshing to see any effort that is not self-absorbed.

Giving is the transfer of something as a gift, something given with nothing tangible received in exchange.

This day is a timely reminder as we enter a season of giving inspired by God's greatest gift of all, and this time between Thanksgiving and the year-end has become vitally important to charities and ministries. Givers inspired by the season, and encouraged by a tax deduction, of course, give more during this month and than any other month of the year.

Please pause today and think about the charities and ministries that you believe in, then . . . give. Be a part of something more significant than the latest gadget or knick-knack that will soon be broken, lost, and forgotten. ---Rick

Amazon Approved Charity

Haiti Awake is now an approved charity on Amazon Smile! Some of you might not know this, but if you make your Amazon purchases throughhttp://smile.amazon.com/ .5% of your purchase is given to a charity that you can designate. It is easy. Simply go tohttp://smile.amazon.com and sign into your Amazon account. Search for and choose Haiti Awake (Wilmington NC) and you are all set. Just make sure in the future that you start with smile.Amazon.com when you shop on Amazon (and most of the time it will assume you do or it will remind you). This is a great way you can support Haiti Awake as you shop for Christmas and all year long.

The Illusion of Safety

Americans value safety.   We value the illusion of safety.  We want to believe that if we plan things just right, nothing bad can happen.

Until it does.

“Is it safe to travel to Haiti?”

We hear this question quite frequently.  In fact, it was the very question that nearly kept our family from going to Haiti in March of 2012 for the first time.  It's a valid question.  And a complicated question.  And a question without a quick and easy answer.

I asked a recent team member for her input, and here's what she had to say.

“One thing Jason (her husband) and I have talked about, especially in making the decision to send Vivian and Martha (their pre-teen daughters), is that we are all on God’s time.
It is not my time, his time, her time. It is God’s time. If God decides to take us, He is going to take us no matter where we are or what we are doing.
As a parent it is hard to concede that or to release that control . . . ”

— Tamara Smith

Recent events in Haiti have created additional concerns for foreigners looking to travel to Haiti for humanitarian work.  The murder of an American missionary and presidential elections led to a sharp downturn in ticket sales for Delta Airlines, forcing the company to consolidate some flights for November, thus interrupting daily service.

We recently hosted the October 2015 team during the week of presidential elections.  It was interesting to be in country comparing what we could see with what is often reported worldwide about the election process in Haiti.  

This is what I saw at the polls on election day:  many people and a great deal of national pride.

For the team, the day of National Elections was quiet.  They walked to church.  They walked home from church.  They went to the orphanage to visit the children.  And we all encouraged our Haitian co-workers to go to the polls and vote.  

Sunday morning before church

Was I ever afraid to be in Haiti in October?  The answer is a simple, "No."  Did we need to be wise in what we did?  Yes.

Sunday afternoon after a wonderful time at Federick's

Recently I was talking to someone who asked me if I felt safe working in Haiti.  I was able to truthfully say that I've never felt afraid while working with Haiti Awake.  Never.  Not one time.  

In fact, the only time I feared for my safety was on my very first trip to Haiti, and looking back, I don't believe I was in any danger.  I just didn't understand people.  And hunger.  And desperation.  And the emotion and energy that comes with that.  And I remember during that moment of fear a Haitian friend coming alongside me and saying, "Don't worry.  Just walk.  I am here with you."  And everything was okay.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment”

— 2 Timothy 1:7

Ironically last Thursday evening I sat at Starbucks for an hour, talking with parents whose teenage daughter wants to travel with Haiti Awake over spring break.  Her parents had many questions.  Rightfully so.   Their daughter is their responsibility.  And Haiti is not always safe. ("Have you read the US State Department's website?" I often ask, tongue-in-cheek.) 

Her dad often apologized for his questions, but I shared my own story, my own journey from fear to confidence.  I validated his questions, his concerns.  I told him, "I can't guarantee your daughter's safety.  I can't promise you that.  I can only promise we will do everything we can to be wise about what we do."  

We do take wise precautions, but we are not hindered by the fear of what might happen.

And then I told him I couldn't guarantee his daughter's safety anywhere.  Here in Wilmington, NC.  In Haiti.  In any country.  

And then Friday night happened.

And I was reminded of our conversation on Thursday.   If someone had offered you a round-trip, all-expense paid vacation to Paris last week, would you have asked, "Is it safe?"

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”

— Psalm 4:8

Walking out the journey as friends with this crew brings a great deal of peace and security to my heart

“So if I move to the right, or I move to the left
Move up north, move down south, the east or the west
No matter how far I go, or if I stay right here
If I’m in the middle of Your will, there’s nothing left to fear”

— Audio Adrenaline, "He Moves, You Move"

Missions Conference at GBC

In late October, we had the opportunity to share Haiti Awake a number of times during the Grace Baptist Church Missions Conference. 

Steeve Derard was able to travel from Port-au-Prince and speak a number of times, both at GBC and at Wilmington Christian Academy.

Chris Snowden produced a special video on Haiti Awake for the conference, and it was a tool to help people understand the heart of our ministry.

The Heart of Haiti Awake. (Produced by Chris Snowden).

On Sunday evening, the children's choir of GBC shared a special number . . . in Haitian Creole!

Uploaded by Becky Graves on 2015-10-19.

We are thankful for the love and support of our church family, as well as many people who attend other churches.  

God has been so good to Haiti Awake this year, and we're looking forward to great things in 2016.  Thank you for your support.

“Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.”

— I Corinthians 12:27

Today's the day!

The first day of the 2015-2016 school year for some special kids.  For most of them, this is the first day of school they've ever attended in their entire lives.  A day to remember.

Thankful to the friends who saw the need and helped us believe it was possible to do something.  Thankful to the friends who financially gave to make this day possible.  Thankful to those who continue to pray for Haiti Awake as we seek God's will regarding our future with these children.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

— Ephesians 3:20-21

The Clarity of Compassion

And if we take the risk of personally touching and being touched by a suffering person, the miracle of sight can break into our own darkness.

When the clarity of compassion illuminates our vision, we can visualize healing that goes far deeper than physical cure. Through eyes of faith we recognize that this could be an opportunity for tragedy to be transformed into celebration so that the power of God may be seen at work in him and in her.

And even more amazing , when we stoop to personally touch one of these “undesirables” with hands-on care, we are touching the very heart of God :

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me”

— Matthew 25:40

                                                                                               ---Thoughts from Bob Lupton.

Romans 12:13

One of our goals at Haiti Awake is "to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action."

Today our Haiti Awake staff was able to live that out in a very practical way.

A local minister has been sick and unable to work. Today, because of money raised at the Food for Haiti Yard Sale 2015, Haiti Awake provided his family with some basic provisions. These provisions meet so much more than a physical need.

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

— Romans 12:13

Thank you to those who helped make last year's yard sale a success. Please consider what part you might have in making the 2016 Sale even better.

The 2016 Food for Haiti Yard Sale will take place on January 30 in the fellowship hall at Grace Baptist Church.

‪#‎foodforhaiti2016‬
‪#‎haitiawake‬
‪#‎haiti‬

Now that I know.

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

— William Wilberforce

Some days my heart is just so full of Haiti.   Today is one of those days.

Prior to the August trip, I didn't know every single child at the orphanage by name.  I knew their faces, and I had a list with all of their names and birthdays.  But I couldn't match each individual child to his or her name.

But now I can.

And some days that's just so hard.

Like today.

This is Handy.  He's the one who captured my heart in 2013.  He has a way of capturing everyone's heart who has the chance to meet him.

This is Augustin.  He's the oldest boy at Federick's.  He dreams of being a pastor one day.

This is Phebe.  She's small for her age (9 years old but the size of a 5 year old), and all she wants is to sit in your lap and be loved.  And . . . she has the most adorable dimples.

This is Davensky.   He's four years old.  He's the smallest child living with Federick.  Federick's son is younger, but Davensky is smaller.

This is Antonide.  She'll be 13 in October.  She's interested in learning and helping, and she mothers the younger boys and girls.

Esterlin is 10 years old.  He has the kindest, most gentle spirit.  

The is Fabenson.  He's a clown.  He likes to make people laugh.

This is Antoine.  He will be 9 years old on September 11.

This is Yvenson.  He's slow to warm up to people, but when he does, he lets you see his sweet spirit.  He feels things so deeply.

This is Lorvens.  He has the best smile.  He loves people and having fun . . . and he has some great dance moves.

Widcherline will be 8 years old in just a few weeks.  She is Davensky's older sister.

I'm just getting to know Cesnel.    My favorite thing about him?  His birthday is the same as mine!

This is Migerlson.  He's quiet.  He's easy to miss.  And I've got to make a great effort to get to know him better.

The other 4 children are Federick's own.  And they're loved by us, too.

Fenley

Fedlin

Roudelin

Kertchie

“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.
”

— Wess Stafford

 I have called you by name, you are mine.  Isaiah 43:1

A Time for Celebration

“ Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”

— Psalm 147:1

Today we are extremely proud to announce that Steeve Derard passed his national exams and has completed high school!  This is an amazing accomplishment and the result of a year-long journey of difficult decisions, sacrifice, and hard work.

A classical high school education in Haiti isn't easy.   In fact, it's quite intense.

Steeve sacrificed a great deal in the last year - including spending time with our summer teams - in order to study.  It wasn't easy staying behind while everyone else went out in June, but the results are evidence of his determination to succeed.

Steeve studied so many hours, writing on the chalkboard behind the house.

The next step for Steeve is seminary training.  Please continue to pray for him as he pursues God's best for his life.

STEP is the seminary Steeve hopes to attend

Steeve's test scores were the 2nd highest in his class, and he was class president this school year.  His resolve and dedication certainly paid off.

“Successful: coming about, taking place or turning out as hoped for.

”

— Webster's Dictionary

Watching the Parable Come to Life

Luke 15:2 may be one of my favorite verses in the Gospels.

“And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!’”

This verse is at the beginning of a chapter rich in love and understanding, showing how our God pursues us and loves us and is merciful and gracious to us.  Chapter 15 goes on to record Jesus' telling three parables - The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

On June 19th, we got to experience our own version of the parable of the lost coin at Haiti Awake.  And it had everything to do with the young man pictured below.

This is my friend, Hudson.  I call him my "sweet friend," and he calls me the same.  There's just something special about our friendship.  It's comfortable.  It's easy.  Maybe it's because he's young (23 years old).  Maybe it's because he has a tender heart like his uncle (Steeve Derard).  Maybe it's because we're about the same size (I love walking side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, with him). Maybe it's because he's helped me expand my music choices (TobyMac, Lacrae).  Maybe it's just because . . . because Hudson hasn't trust Christ yet, and I pray for that every.  single.  day.  

When you pray for someone on a regular basis, they just become so dear to you.

On June 19th, the last Haiti Awake June team went home.  After driving them to the airport that morning, Steeve and I decided to do our accounting  and pay all of our Haitian staff for a month of hard work.  In talking, I realized Steeve hadn't paid anyone on the first of the June, and we decided to pay everyone for June 1 AND July 1, as well as their wage for daily work.  It was a BIG payday for everyone.  

Fast forward a couple of hours.  It was a time to celebrate three successful teams, so Wendy (an American friend who was staying a few extra days) and I asked some of the Haiti Awake staff to go with us to Petionville for lunch.

Here's where Hudson's part of the story begins.  He ran home to get ready . . . and change his clothing. And he came back just in time to jump in the back of the truck at 11:30 a.m. 

We had a great lunch in Petitionville, and we returned to our home, Hudson and a couple of the other men took a nap.  The rest of us just spent the day relaxing.

About 9:00 that night, Polo and I were sitting on the porch talking, and Hudson came to ask if he could have the keys to the truck.  It was dark (no city power and we weren't running the generator), and I could see Hudson using his phone to look for something in the cab of the truck.

When he went back into the house, I asked him what he was looking for in the truck.  And he told me he couldn't find his envelope.  THE envelope.  The envelope that contained so much cash.  The last pay he would receive until August 1. 

Hudson had last seen that envelope BEFORE we left for Petionville that morning.  

Soon everyone in the house was looking.  And praying.  And searching.   As we were searching in the dark using various devices to light our way, I was reminded of the parable of the lost coin and how the woman diligently searched by candlelight.  

And we found . . . nothing.

And soon it was time for Hudson to go home so that Steeve could lock our gate.  When he left, he was so sad.  We were all so sad for him.   In my mind, I was running through all of the possible scenarios of how God COULD answer our prayer, IF He answered our prayer.

“so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power”

— I Corinthians 2:5

A few minutes later as Steeve and I were sitting  in the dark, his phone lit up.  It was a text message from Hudson.  He had returned to our gate and found it locked, but he wanted us to know something very important:

He had found his lost envelope . . . but not in the way any of us had expected.

Walking home in the dark, using his phone as a light,  he found his envelope lying on the road.  Lying on the road.  All day.  And no one had touched it.  No one had taken it.  No one had seen it.  If you've ever been to Haiti, you know how impossible this seems.  First, at night dark is dark.  Second, the streets are always busy.  People are everywhere all the time.  Third, there is trash everywhere!  Why would one object stick out from all the others at dark?

But Hudson found it . . . in the dark . . . hours later.  And the only explanation we had was : God did this.

As we had been searching that night, I had been reminded of the parable of the lost coin.  And I had been praying for us to find Hudson's "lost coin."  And God had answered our prayers.  Just.  like.  that.  Wow.

The next morning, I read through Luke 15, and one verse just hopped off the page at me:

“And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’”

— Luke 15:9

And that's exactly what we did the next morning when Hudson came to the house.  We rejoiced together.

But there's more to the story.    The next verse (v. 10) - the point of the entire chapter - is this:

Many of the June team members fell in love with Hudson.   They saw his sweet spirit, his kind heart, his attention to detail, his work ethic . . . and they loved him.  And many of us are motivated in the same way  - the need to pray for Hudson every day because he hasn't trusted Christ as Savior.

Will you join us in praying for his salvation?  As happy as we are that he found his lost envelope, we will rejoice even more the day he accepts Jesus as his Savior.

Polo and Hudson the day after the envelope was found

“It doesn’t matter what the world says
I’ve seen what you can do
I know it’s more than just coincidence
It’s amazing how you move

It’s not always parting oceans
Sometimes it’s the little moments
When you show how close you are
Some would say it’s only chance
I’m not gonna second guess
I’ve seen the hand of God

’Cause I believe in miracles
You can do the impossible
Every single heartbeat means
There’s a God who’s in control

”

— Audio Adrenaline

Giving Opportunities to Specific Funds Related to the Home for Orphans (a.k.a. Federick’s Orphanage)

Haiti Awake maintains the following separate funds for use with the Home for Orphans.  Donors may designate their gifts to these various funds and then these funds will be used as provided in the fund description below.  Recurring annual or monthly donations are particularly helpful for planning to cover the needs of these children.  

Consistent with federal law and to preserve the tax deductibility of donor contributions, there can be no legal requirement that Haiti Awake use a contribution for a particular purpose.  We do not anticipate this occurring; but, if funds are ever used other than for the purpose of the designated fund, then the donors will be contacted and informed of the reason for the different use of the funds. 

Tuition

We have found a suitable school for the 17 children for this school year.  It is the school where our coworker, Polo, teaches English classes. He will be able to see the children daily and provide oversight for Haiti Awake.  

Public education is not an option.  Even government schools charge tuition in Haiti and require uniforms.  However, they do not always pay their teachers, and teachers are frequently not in the classroom because they have not been paid.  A reasonable private school is the best option.  

Medical

The children have a variety of medical needs, including head fungus, rashes, and other complications from malnutrition/under-nutrition in the past.  All of the children need a basic health assessment and ongoing screening.  The benefits of good general health are obvious, but better health has a specific positive impact on young students as they are able to concentrate on their studies rather than their empty stomachs.  The children need regular visits from health care professionals who can distribute needed medications, vitamins, and offer on-going education in basic hygiene.  

Clothing

Like children everywhere, these children need basic outerwear, underwear, socks, and shoes in order to be properly clothed for school and for normal life.  

Schools in Haiti require students to have uniforms and an extra uniform, with underwear, shoes, and socks.

Food

Existing generous monthly donations to this fund provide the children with basic daily rations (beans and rice and other simple dinners).  Other donations to this fund are used to add meat and fresh fruits and vegetables to the children’s diet and may also provide a snack and water to each child for school each day.  

Housing

Land cost in Haiti is very high compared to rent.  Because rent has been reasonable to this point, and because we do not have the funds to purchase facilities at this point, at this time we are renting a house for the home for the children.  

 

 

while unrestricted donations are always appreciated, gifts to these funds a great way to know exactly where your donations are being used.  Thank you for your generosity.