When God Calls Us to Live & Stop Planning

A Life That Is Planned Is Not Life At All Because A Life That Is Planned Cannot Be Lived

If you know me, you know I’m a planner and organizer. I have my moments of being cool as a cucumber and not planning and organizing. But honestly it takes a lot of talking with God to get there.

While in Haiti this summer, I was co-leading our team. One of our goals was to paint the Tap-Tap. And again if you know me when I plan out art or pretty much anything, I’ve envisioned how I EXPECT or WANT it to be. And I EXPECT what I WANT to be the end result.

How self centered and selfish does that sound! Wow! You’re probably wondering if there is any redeeming to this story.

But GOD!! I talked with God pretty much every minute of the two evenings we spent painting the Tap-Tap. Asking him to give me patience, ability to let go, be okay with not controlling the painting technique.

I was afraid of running out of our base color. I was afraid the lettering wouldn’t look perfect & clean if I wasn’t the one painting it. I was focused on what had to get done so we could get to the fun part where I’d been promising myself that’s when I can let go & allow the kids to do what they want.

But GOD!! In all that talking to God through out those two evenings He showed me the beauty of not planning. Well planning to an extent haha…

The older boys finished painting the inside even when I told them we were done for the night and to save paint. Did we run out of paint? Nope! Did the inside look okay? It was more than okay. The boys had it gleaming white!

Could I do the lettering on my own? Nope! Bradley held stencils while I traced, Lizzie and the older kids asking to paint the letters. Did the letters come out prefect? Well close enough! Was one of the letters technically upside down?  Yep, but hey that’s okay (if you can find it, you get a gold star). I honestly forgot about this part until writing this post haha

Did amazing designs get painted without it being part of my plan? Yep! And they are beautiful and glorified God through the skills He has given Wesly and Hudson.

Did everyone have fun. Were we LIVING?? Yep! That’s all that matters!

God doesn’t want us to not plan. Nor does He want us to plan so much that we miss out on living in His presence, in His glory, in His beauty, in His grace, and in His joy.

Remember to LIVE today and everyday!

Erin Meyer-Cuno

You lose a part of yourself

I think it’s easy to look at our social media and believe that somehow life at Kay Timoun is a fairy tale, that the children have been “rescued” and somehow they’ll just live happily ever after.

That is not real life.

The children have suffered immeasurable loss in their lives. Issues of abuse, neglect, abandonment are not easily overcome, and in many ways this is a daily struggle for all of us. The deep wounds and scars they bear are unique to each child, but they are there. And they are real.

This summer God impressed on my heart the need for us to find some familial connection for Idelmy, in particular. Idelmy and I talked a lot last summer about his family. We had similar conversations this summer. One of those conversations including him trying to explain himself by saying, “When a person loses his mom and dad, he loses a part of himself.”

It has been 7 years since Idelmy was abandoned, 7 years since he has seen a blood relative. And his heart has yearned to find that connection again.

We knew Idelmy was from Cap Haitian. We were going to Cap Haitian for Leadership Retreat. It made sense to see if we could find Idelmy’s extended family while we were there. And by God’s grace and in His Divine providence, we did.

Idelmy and his uncle

Reconnecting with family for two days filled a void in Idelmy’s heart, and left him asking if he could possibly visit them next summer for an extended period of time. By God’s grace, we want to see that happen.

Idelmy and his cousin

Please continue to pray with us as we seek to bridge gaps between the children and their families, bridges that will bring emotional healing and restoration.

Saying “see you next time”

They are more than can be numbered

As I sit here this morning thinking back over 40 days in Haiti, all I can say is “Thank you, Jesus.” My heart is full. The blessings of God, the favor He showed - “if I should declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5)

Our guests

The teams we hosted blessed us. They served us. They refreshed us. They came alongside us with unity of vision and purpose.

Our interns

Words are inadequate to describe how God used these amazing young people to point so many people to Jesus this summer - myself included. These young people are the real deal. They love people. They love Jesus. They are self-sacrificing. And they are pursuing what it means to Seek Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. (Micah 6:8)

I thought I would pour into their lives this summer. Instead, they did that for me and helped heal some of the parts of my heart that had been hurting for so long.

Our staff

Steeve, Vorb, Polo, Wesly, Big, Dieussait, Manoucheka, Alantah, Makendy and Donalson, you are dear to my heart. You are more than friends. You are family.

Our leadership retreat was far more productive than we could have anticipated, producing good memories and renewed focus for the days ahead.

Looking forward with great anticipation to the days ahead.

Happy Graduation!

On May 16, 2019, the dream that in essence birthed the ministry of Haiti Awake came to fruition. Steeve Derard graduated from seminary.

We praise God for His work in Steeve’s life, and we wanted to share what Steeve wrote on the morning of his graduation:

I want to start by expressing my gratitude towards God for His faithfulness, His abundant grace and His unending love. 
This is a dream that God had put in my heart 6 years ago, and it becomes a reality today. 
And, yes, after 4 years God has done it. I do not complete it with my own strength, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"(Phil 4:13).

This is the end of a short journey, and a longer one will begin. But I have no doubt that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

I want to thank all of you, friends and family, who have been praying for me.

I am so thankful for Haiti Awake and my family who supported me in this hard journey.

Thank you very much!

- Steeve Derard

We are anticipating great things in the days ahead, as Steeve is able to fully devote his time and energy to being the Director of Church Ministry Development at Haiti Awake.

Glwa pou Bondye.

A new friend and partner

Carine Robert is currently a junior at Madonna University, where she is completing her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Leadership.

As a community service learner at Haiti Awake, she has been offering her time and talents as volunteer hours the last several weeks.

According to Carine, she has felt welcomed and supported at Haiti Awake.

Recognizing that our children’s home gives our children access to education and better living conditions, she has assisted in a number of tasks, as indicated by Saturday photos, including but not limited to, helping the children improve their French pronunciation, gardening, and assisting the children (especially the girls) in other activities.

This experience has made her aware of volunteering and the love of serving others.

As a service-learner, she is now part of the Haiti Awake family.

We at Haiti Awake are thankful for the diversity of viewpoint and experience Carine has brought to Haiti Awake.

A Time to Weep

Very unexpectedly on Monday, April 8, Davensky and Widecherline's mother, Benita Etienne ("Pauline"), passed away. We are all shocked and so very sad.

When we gained custody of the children in January 2017, Pauline came to us and asked if she could do laundry for the children each week. It was such a sweet, sincere request, and out of it grew a beautiful relationship and time of reconciliation and healing for their family.

Each Friday and Saturday, she has faithfully come to the children's home and done so much more than laundry. She has been a mother figure to all of the children - loving them well, doing little things for each of them that endeared her to all of us in the Haiti Awake family.

One of my sweetest memories of Pauline is watching her take candies and other treats from her bag to give to each of the children. On a personal level, she touched my heart in November when she made fresh juice at home and brought some to share with me. I also remember how well she welcomed Steeve and me to her Cite Soleil home the first time we went to visit - offering us chicken, rice, and bags of water. She had a heart of generosity.

There were so many good qualities I saw in Pauline. I had always hoped that one day she would be able to care for the children and take them back into her own home.

Of course, Kiki and Widecherline are incredibly sad as they have lost the only biological parent they know, but truly all of the children are suffering as she was a stable figure in their lives - someone they could depend on. The children have suffered so much loss. Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the heartbreaks they have already endured in their young lives.

Please pray for everyone in the days ahead. We are currently trying to coordinate funeral arrangements with extended family and hoping to be as involved as possible.

In Haiti people often say, "Lavi pa fasil" (Life's not easy.) With the losses to our extended Haiti Awake family in recent weeks, as well as the political unrest and other disappointments, this proverb seems even more true than before.

Please pray for hearts to find peace and healing as we trust the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:3, "God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort."

- Becky Graves, Executive Director

#haiti #haitiawake #glwapoubondye

Remembering a dear friend

Friends and all of you who knew our dear friend " Antony", I want to let you know that he is with the Lord right now.
Antony was a good friend to us, a good friend to Haiti Awake's staff members.
Antony is the young man who used to come by and selling artisan products at Haiti Awake's yard when we have a team.
Antony is the one, where the last Haiti Awake team members who were in Haiti went to pray with at his house. 
Antony was the one the Haiti Awake's team members went to pray with when he was at the hospital last year. 
Antony was the one who always come by and make maintenance for Haiti Awake's generators.
Antony was the one who knew very well how to struggle with life after he had lost one leg about 11 years ago in a motorcycle accident.
Antony was the one who loved the Lord, his family, and his friends.

Please keep his family in your prayers.

We are going to miss you, Brother.

May your soul rest in peace! - written by Steeve Derard

#haiti #haitiawake #glwapoubondye

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted - Psalm 34:18

Grace upon Grace - 2018 in Review

January

Highlights:

Mission Made Jewelry Team

Doko

Jewelry production for MMJ begins

February

Highlight:

Creole Boot Camp

March

Highlight:

Moores Creek Baptist Church Team

April

Highlight:

Caleb turns 3!

May

Highlight:

Ansanm pou Ayiti Conference

June

Highlights:

Three teams

Relocation to new children’s home

July

Civil Unrest

August

Hudson and Maken to Doko

September

Back to School

October

Highlights:

New members of our team:

• Kelsey Stott, Child Sponsorship Coordinator

• Vorb Charles - Staff Member

• Erin Meyer Cuno - Creative Development Coordinator

• Alexandria Augi - Board member

Happy Birthday, Haiti Awake!

November

Highlights:

Grace Community of Topsail
Launch of Haiti Awake Chauffeur Services

Polo to the US

December

Highlights:

Live Oak team

Haiti Awake Christmas party

Christmas for our Community - Doko

Anticipating great things in 2019. . .

“From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”

— John 1:16

Because He First Loved Us

Back in October, we first told you about our Christmas for our Community - Doko project. This evening, our staff and children who participated returned safely to Port au Prince.

“There will always be a reason why you meet people. Either you need them to change your life or you’re the one who helps to change theirs. And everywhere you go you will learn something different. For me going to Doko helped me see a lot of things in a different way. It was so good to see so much joy in people face and how they welcomed us. They were so thankful.”

— Polo Charles, Director of Economic Development for Haiti Awake

Thank you to all who participated this year, and we look forward to more opportunities to show love in action in the future.

“Thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen. Thanks for speaking life this way to fill people’s hearts with joy.”

— Louis Hudson, Photographer for Haiti Awake

“I was happy to know Doko and people in Doko. I was glad also to spend some of my time there for Christmas this year.”

— Dieussait Dera, House Supervisor for Haiti Awake

“Doko is one of the greatest place in Haiti, and people there are awesome . After receiving their Christmas gifts yesterday for the first time in their community, they were so happy.”

— Steeve Derard, Ground Director

“People were so happy to receive their Christmas gifts. They didn’t expect that, but God who knows everything sent our team on time to share hope, love, joy to people in that community which I am from and where my parents are living. They are very grateful for that and so are we!”

— Makendy Lindor, Staff at Haiti Awake

We love because He first loved us.

I John 4:19

Stories We Have Heard and Known

I am in Arkansas for a couple weeks, helping my son and his soon-to-be bride prepare for their big day. Being here brings a pause from the normal and extra time for morning reflection.

This morning’s readings took me to Psalm 78:

“I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.”

— verses 3 and 4

A fun time for Handy at his 9th birthday party yesterday. Oh, how God is redeeming his story.

May we always remember what God has done at Haiti Awake through the years, and may we never fail to remind the next generation of all we ourselves have seen and experienced.

“So the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.”

— verses 6 and 7

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Thomas Chisholm