Boat

“’Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said.” Matthew 14:28-29a

See the boat in the background? Sometimes the background subtly reminds us of our priorities or passions. It’s like when a tragic accident happens. We’re reminded of the importance of life, or basic physical abilities, or something that was floating in the background, unseen in daily life.

The focus of this picture is a baptism service. While at the baptism, no one noticed the boat. After seeing the pictures, it became a reminder. The background, now the focus, taught each person in the picture a lesson.

The boat is empty.

Someone got out of the boat.

Just as in baptism, getting out of the boat requires courage and opportunity.

What is your boat? What do you need to get out of? Perhaps it’s complacency, or maybe it’s fear. John Ortberg notes in his book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat that “Peter didn’t as for a guarantee, just an opportunity.” Hope for Haiti provides opportunities that best match your skills, priorities, and passions. We’re reminded of the things we take for granted, always running in the background. Who doesn’t have the guarantee of another opportunity for life? Who doesn’t have the basic physical ability to function? What is unseen in your daily life that can remind you to be courageous? It’s time to take a step. It’s time to get out of the boat.

Submitted by Mollie Bond

Respecting Culture

“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them” (Acts 14:14-18).

If you look in the center of the picture, a woven bag hangs from a tree. In that bag is food. Why hang it from a tree?

Barnabas and Paul ran into confusion during a trip. They had healed a lame man. The people, who based their reactions on their culture, decided that these two were gods. But Barnabas and Paul responded by using the culture to explain who God is. The people understood humanity, harsh gods, and nature’s seasons. So rather than let the communication gap divide them more, they explained how a loving God, much stronger than any god or human, provided for them. Was it instant change in the people or their culture? No. Yet Barnabas and Paul respected the culture they visited, and tried to communicate in terms the people would understand.

It’s possible we don’t understand other cultures. Why do Haitians hang food from trees? In Colorado, backpackers will hang their food from trees, but that’s because the bears might find a tasty treat, and bears don’t leave leftovers. However, bears are not found in Haiti. Haitians hang their food so that the rats do not get to the drying corn.

When there’s a chance for pride in your own culture, be aware. Sometimes the way we do things isn’t the best for the people visited. Perhaps the best way is to find out the why behind the reaction, and then introduce God, right where they are at.

Submitted by Mollie Bond

Generations

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” Psalm 100:5.

Kids in Haiti love the camera. In earlier generations, Haitian adults did not like their photo being taken. They would hide, or scowl, or be sure to let you know how it wasn’t appropriate. Slowly, that attitude is changing.

The kids are magnets to a camera. And now with digital cameras, it’s a game to have their photo taken, and to see the results instantaneously. They desire to be the center of attention.

God sees the children of Haiti. He knows them on a much deeper level, and longs to be the center of their attention. He has hope for the children of Haiti: the same faithful hope for each generation.

Hope for Haiti partners with families who have hope for their children, but not the financial means for them to attend school, or have a regular meal, or drink clean water. By sponsoring a child, you increase the likelihood that they’ll grow into an adult, and maybe one that likes their photo to be taken.

For more information on sponsoring a child through Hope for Haiti, visit the Sponsor a Child page. Would you consider this easy step? Maybe sponsor a child close to your own children’s age, or your grandchildren’s age. Leave an impression on a child that is longer than a snapshot. Leave an eternal impression.

By Mollie Bond, Photo by Dr. Susan

Celebrate

War Cry

“Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry” (1 Samuel 17:20).

David left early. He loaded up, set out, and did has he was told. When he got to camp, the army was ready for battle.

The annual camp conference is happening. Most Haitians had to leave early, some traveling by foot for hours to attend. They’ve loaded up, set out, and are prepared to do what God tells them. They’ll join the army ready to do spiritual battle for their country.

As part of that army, will you help them? Ask the Lord to ready their hearts, strengthen their minds, and protect their families. Let’s join them this year, even from far away, shouting the war cry.

By Mollie Bond

Wash

“‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me’” (John 13:14).

The rain made the trail almost impossible. Ankles twisted, clothes muddied, Bibles forever wrinkled from the rain seeping into the backpacks. After the team arrived, dried off, and rested, the earth still made traveling to the outdoor restroom difficult. The bathroom was down the side of a steep slope, still muddy from the hours of rain.

So the Haitians built steps. Without a lumber store, or even scraps of wood, they chose to find large stones, carried them back, and made the steps so the foreigners used the restroom. They traveled with the team, and still found the energy to find the largest stones in the area.

It seems backwards. The mission team came from thousands of miles away to serve, and instead the locals served the team. Looking back on the uncomfortable feeling, it’s easier to understand Peter’s resistance of Jesus washing his feet. Peter didn’t want that uncomfortable feeling. Jesus washed his feet, because Jesus served. Peter needed to accept that. Just like the foreigners needed to accept the locals building the steps. Sometimes accepting Jesus’ service is uncomfortable.

If you don’t allow others to serve you, then both parties loose out on blessings. Accept help, accept service, and accept grace, even if it’s uncomfortable.

By Mollie Bond, based on a devotion by Kathy Hart

Reality

Hope for Haiti Newsletter April 2013

Lets just call this reality.  Something to think about  anyway.  Have you ever done something and later the light came on to reveal something that was right before you the whole time?  Welcome to my world, next time maybe the light will come on first.

A few years ago a request was brought before us to see  if there might be an interest out there for sponsors to walk with children from Bataille.  Simple enough and we prayed.  Yes, we moved forward and photo’s were taken, names were gathered to match the photo’s and it all began.  School in this area was started back up about that same time and it was obvious that this need was great.  90% of the adults do not read or write in this area and if things stay the same there’s little hope of that changing.  So we embarked on this journey and started to process the information that had been collected.  Somewhere along the way the names and photo’s did not all line up.  Let me explain, the information about the children had been collected and shared by the people at Bataille.  Then it was sent on to another person for “processing” and something seemed out of place.  Further investigation proved that we needed to look further into this so we did.  Updated information was gathered and still something did not add up.  A copy of what was collected was sent with a team to Bataille so that both photo and name were together to make a positive id.  Finally it looked like all was well.  If only that were true!  Next trip an attempt to acquire birth dates and simple bio info came up as a priority.  A teacher at the school took the info and hand wrote all the names and birth dates, for those that had it recorded.  Back home once again and as this information was being recorded it became apparent that many of the names had misspellings.  So just what is going on!?  Remember the light coming on?  In a land that time had pretty much forgotten and the people were even called “The Forgotten One’s” things are just different.  Many of the people go by nicknames such as “Let it go” and “When he was good”, few have recorded vital statistics, Most cannot read or write and I had expectations of clear and accurate information to share with those that would sponsor children!  Go figure.  So here we are today with more children sponsored at Bataille than we imagined, a school that started with 30 children in October 2010 and is now over 250 and growing.  This has been a humbling season and a great season to see all that the Lord is doing in a land that once was Forgotten.  Maybe you would like to sponsor a child there, just come with foreknowledge that the “information” may be sketchy but the photo’s and children are very real as well as the need.  Check them out here Bataille Children.  Or check out the children at the other schools, Bois Neuf, Colmini or Charrette.

Lots more going on right now with preparations for Annual Conference at Bois Neuf.  The building is in full swing this week with roofing going up.  Walls will come at a later date as well as a concrete floor.  This, though, will be the first year the conference will be held under a permanent roof with the addition of a tarp for the small section that will wait completion for a future date.  Over 1000 people gather each year for this time of worship, teaching, baptisms and more.  Photo’s of the current work are available right here, Bois Neuf Building.  Please pray for Marcel and the EMEVI Team as they work towards this goal.

Lots more at the website www.hopeforhaiti.ws - saintmarchaiti@gmail.com - Art R.