Today’s Hero

I know I have very few readers – especially when I neglect to update because of numerous other important responsibilities, like reading, running, and doing nothing that’s productive.

It’s been a while since I did a Haiti’s Hero segment. Today is someone I’ve never met but has really inspired me over the past weekend and the weeks leading up to the weekend.

Nonetheless, some of you have read my blog and seen links to Tara Livesay’s family’s blog – they are missionaries to Port-au-Prince, and Tara is a insane person runner, too.

You gotta head over as she ran the Twin Cities Marathon this past weekend. After training in Haiti all summer (and that’s just dumb to me…) she came and ran in complete opposite conditions. 

This being “Run 4 Haiti” obviously has to include someone who literally ran for Haiti. 

There’s a medical peanut butter, grown in Haiti for malnourished children called Medika Mumba (if you go to Family Christian Bookstore, they’ll probably be able to tell you about it as the new Casting Crown’s album sends money for every pre-order to help with Medika Mumba.) I wish I knew Tara’s secret to running to raise money, because I fail greatly at the job where she has it down pat.  She raised….

$62,600!!!!!

Who cares about cramps?  Who cares about time?  Who cares about how the day goes at that point?

The kingdom of God was furthered by raising this money in order to have true religion – showing love to orphans and widows. 

Head over to her blog and read of her success. 

Hopefully some day on a trip to Haiti, I can finally meet a hero of the faith and running world and go for a jog.

Things Learned

I could type for hours about things I learned in Haiti.  I was only there a week, and I learned a lot, even this past week.  I can only imagine how much people who live there full time know and understand.  

Anyways, the power of God.  They understand.

The power of prayer.  They understand. 

The necessity for evangelism.  They understand.

The need for help – they understand.  But sometimes, I wonder, in the midst of all these things, how much Americans understand.

The first three, I could type for hours about the American church (including the one in which I work) and how most people are clueless when it comes to such facts.  But I want to focus on the need to help.  

In 2007, as I flew into Haiti, I wondered why I was there.  The filth and poverty was overwhelming.  But as I got to our compound in Saut d’Eau – 45 miles north, it hit me why.  There is a need.  There are people that must help.  But, the answer is not the typical American answer of “throw money at it.”  Instead, careful thought and consideration must be taken on how to help friends in Haiti.

Mountain Faith Mission is 100% evangelical efforts combined with 99.9% humanitarian efforts.  I say that to let people know that our mission is simply that – a mission work.  The first and foremost thing for MFM is to focus on evangelism of the local people.  But, combined with that, it’s there to help improve the life of the people in villages and churches that we work in.

Giving money to the people directly will not improve a lot of their life.  I mean, yes, it will improve it, but many times, seeing their need, I recognize the fact that there are so many things that need to be done.

Wednesday Update

This morning, I was reminded of two years ago.  I woke up on Wednesday morning with a stomach ache.  I spent a lot of time in the little boys room.  (If you read this, then you know me well now.)

This morning, SAME THING!  Except, it’s not as bad.  Feeling pretty decent right now.  Horrible headache, assuming from the lack of food.  Ready to get home, but loving every minute of being here.

Lots of new faces that I am meeting.  One of our churches is in Laboul.  One girl from there I remember from last year – named Lonez.  Remembering her means we meet the entire group.  They are awesome.  One girl, around 15 years old, officially declared herself my sister.  That always makes me laugh, because they think it’s so funny.

God is doing great things here.  Our classes are going wonderful.  Today I taught our teens.  They were receptive and asked good questions.  It was pretty cool.  I kinda got unwound a little bit.  I’m not a energetic teacher, but today, I got loud.  It was awesome feeling the spirit of God move through a simple class.

Anyways, we’re headed to the Saut d’Eau market right now.  Hoping to get some stuff for Lindsey as a souvenir or something.  Anyways, be praying for the sickness.

Most of all, pray for God’s hand to move amongst the people.

It’s Here

The next time I post, I will be in Haiti.

Nervous?  Not to go.  

Not super stoked about leaving my wife though.  First time and all, kinda nerve-wracking there.

Nonetheless, I covet prayers.

Marketing

I guess this subject has been on my mind lately.  I see a lot of promotional videos for missions, organizations, and the like.  Our mission is tiny in comparison to a lot of those.  An independent mission since 1948 won’t really ever grow to the size of Compassion and World Vision and whatnot.  

Yet, the need is the same.  

So, I leave in two days.  48 hours from now I think I’ll be boarding a plane in O’Hare to head for Miami.  The wheels are turning for ways to promote Mountain Faith Mission.  We’re tiny…but I know that people can and need to know of the NEED in Haiti.  

For all I care, they don’t have to support MFM, but just be aware of the need.  If they want to support through one of the many organizations in Haiti, that’s great.  My goal is to make people aware of the need. 

So, for now, the wheels are turning.  I am writing things down today and tomorrow of ideas needed within our mission.  I’ve got ideas for youth groups/churches to participate in in order to raise money.  

I’ve got ideas for promotion on our website in order for people to buy benches for our new church on the compound in Saut d’Eau.  

I’ve got ideas for videos. 

I’ve got ideas for pictures.

But, I don’t really know where to go from there.  It kinda stinks really.

Thus, I am venting and complaining here, not really knowing what to do about it, other than complain.  

So, I retire with this question:

How do you make people care about something beyond their four walls?

T-7 days

Leaving soon. 

Prepping hard.

Had a donation of 36 teddy bears from Family Christian Bookstore today.  Was checking out, and with the new Casting Crown’s CD they donate $xx.xx to Haiti.  I explained my upcoming trip and the dude offered some free bears.  Sweet!  Got three dozen to give to some of our kids in the orphanage.

Then, a new reader and I are meeting up on Tuesday.  Hopefully some more exciting news to come for that.

Just  back from a run – 7 miles – longest since June.  Feeling great now – we’ll see how that feels tomorrow.

Christ in the Passover

This is my topic for VBS.  For those of you who don’t know what that means, each year at VBS (in America called church camp), we have classes starting at 10 am.  There are four classes: 7 and down (usually 50-60 kids), 8-12 (usually 80-110 kids), 13-21ish (usually 160-200), and adults (usually however many can be there and not working with their respective churches).

In 2007, we taught on Paul’s life.  His shipwreck, etc.  Last year, we did something in my opinion that was way too deep in studying the seven “I am” statements of Christ.  I mean, they were ok, but nothing like storytelling.

So this year, we are bringing the Old Testament to meet the New Testament.  Dad informed me that most of the time, they don’t hear many of the Old Testament stories (because most of the people don’t even own a Bible. When they do, it’s usually just a NT.)  Nonetheless, we’re connecting Old Testament passages to Christ. 

When I found this out, I jumped on the chance to teach about Christ and the Passover.  I know I am taking in some red powdered paint in order to show the blood applied to the doorposts.  Other than that though, I am still up in the air.  I am trying to figure out exactly what to teach and how to go about it.  It’s difficult, because I don’t want to go over their heads.  Likewise, I am teaching through an interpreter.  Object lessons are great, so the paint is good, but even beyond that, I am trying to figure out the essentials to teaching the Passover and connecting it to Christ.  

Any thoughts?  They’d be greatly appreciated.

Other than that…it’s 9 days away.  I wish Lindsey could go with me.  We expected her to have a job, but unfortunately none came available.  She is working at a consignment shop the week I am gone owned by a lady in the church, so that is definitely awesome.  We looked at tickets to come down with me….700 bucks.  I’d love to take her, but without a job, almost $1000 total trip seems risky to me.  Me and my logical financial decisions…I’ll tell ya, sometimes it gets me in trouble.  

This also means I have nine days to rid myself of the Bubonic Plague or whatever it is I have (in America, I think it’s called the common cold).  This morning, I was expecting to be almost fully recovered, but my throat is still tender, I’m still fatigued, and I still cough up fun colors.  Maybe tomorrow?

Until next time, keep reading.  Every day that I sit in my office, I see my map of Haiti on the wall.  I know that a lot of people who read this blog are probably confused with my obsession.  I read lots of blogs of missionaries in Haiti, and they are passionate as can be.  People read mine, I live in Indiana, and it’s all I want to talk about.  There’s a huge hole in my heart for that country.  The people that I have met have blessed my life. I’ve talked to people who have gone in with us before, and they get back and question whether or not their money they used for a plane ticket could better be used. 

 This question has always confused me.  I don’t know how people can go to Haiti, spend a week worshipping God with other believers, and come back questioning whether or not it was worth it.  

When there, I catch a glimpse of Heaven it seems. 

 People from every tribe, tongue, and nation around the throne of God.  I see the smile that it puts on people’s faces that the “blanc” has come to visit and teach the Bible.  But for me, it does so much more.  Isn’t that the way that missions trips go? 

 We go to be a blessing, and come back with tenfold the blessing we intended to give.  Oh, we silly American Christians. 

So here’s Haiti.  Poor.  Lost.  Sad.  Disease.  Malnutrition.  Right?  I look at it in a completely different light than most people, I recognize.  I’ve experienced God and His love in ways down there I would have never imagined.  In fact, in comparison to America, I’ve felt God in services there, in the two weeks I’ve spent down there, than I have in a lifetime in America.  Why?  Hunger.  Not physically, but spiritually.  So why do I love Haiti?  Why do I talk about it non-stop. Why do I waste time in my office looking at hundreds of photos 

when I could be doing something else?  Why not?  The place has impacted me. My spiritual life is much better because of the country.  My heart longs to be with the people, because God uses them to challenge me spiritually.  God uses them to bless me spiritually.  It’s amazing really.  I can’t really explain it.  

I just use this blog to try.

I’ve got a fever

No really, I have a fever.

Camp gave me and a lot of other people a great surprise.  They sent home 11 kids and about 10-11 kids every day came to the nurse with a fever.  It was like a great epidemic spread across Beechwood Lake Christian Camp.  

Nonetheless, I am pretty excited to be sick.  That sounds nuts, right?  But, I figure, it is much better to be sick now, because most likely I won’t be or get sick in the next two weeks.  We leave on the 22nd, which is in 13 days.  For me, it seems there would be absolutely nothing worse than having to fly with a head cold, as well as having a sore throat and not wanting to be in contact with anyone down there.  Thus, I find it a blessing in disguise that it came on now.

So, what’s on my plate for the next two weeks?  I plan on working in the office to establish a few things at church.  I have to work on my lesson for VBS in Haiti.  I also need to rest.  Other than that, not a lot…(heh, anyone notice that there’s a crapload to do in the next 2 weeks?)

Be in prayer.

1.) For my sickness.

2.) For our trip.

Back to the regularly scheduled programming

Well, we’ll get there in September.  

If you’ve read lately, you recognize that this summer has been BUSY.  One week after another week of constant work and business.  Junior week of camp is next week – and it’s gonna be a great week.  Then, home for two weeks before heading to Saut d’Eau for VBS.  Yep, I’m obviously stoked.

For an awesome perspective, read Tara’s newest blog post.

Running has dwindled.  Presently I am at 241 straight days.  I’m cool with that.  My mileage has cut in half.  I’m cool with that.  I am still trying to figure out how to get some mileage when I am in Haiti.  My streak might have to end.  I’d be okay with that.  Honestly, most of the time I don’t want to miss a single minute of watching the kids play and reek havoc around me.  Or maybe it’s I don’t want the kids to miss a single minute of me playing and reeking havoc.  Anyways, running is there, but it’s not my main focus at the moment.  

I have mentioned VBS many times before, but for those who read, maybe I haven’t explained it before (maybe I have, but I’m too lazy to look back – so get over it and read it with a smile on your face you pansy).  

VBS for our mission is not really VBS in the states.  I mean, VBS in the states is crazy songs, amazing crafts, awesome snacks, games, sets, skits, etc.  By VBS, we mean nothing more than church camp.  

Beginning Sunday, August 23*, youth groups from our mission’s churches will load up in a tap-tap (or two) and head to Saut d’Eau.  Then, they spread out throughout the compound into different buildings. For you Americans, I hate to tell you but it’s co-ed dorms, and guess what, that’s cool with us.  In some of the buildings, which are tiny, there have been 40-50 children, teens, and adults on their mats at night.  

Every morning, the Haitian people have an early morning prayer service.  In 2007, I awoke on Wednesday morning with what we’ll call a stomach ache (which lasted a week and caused me to lose a lot of weight if you get my drift). It was 5 am, and I walked to the back of the house, which overlooks part of the Arbonite valley region to watch the sunrise (which is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen). In the distance, I heard the Haitians at the church, screaming out their prayers unto God. It was an amazing thing to hear.  It was completely dark, yet they were committing the day to the Lord.

After prayer, they usually end around 6am, by this time, I am the only American up, because for me, VBS mornings are like Christmas mornings.  I can’t sleep in.  I have way too much to see.  So I will always go to the front porch, read my Bible and watch soccer games and people milling around.  Before long, there are about 15 kids who come to hang out, and then we just goof off by not communicating with one another.

The Haitians will eat breakfast (usually spaghetti – yes, spaghetti – although TiPaul, one of our Haitian leaders swears to me that it is must be different than what it is in America) while the Americans eat something inside the house. At 9am we have morning chapel.  My father usually speaks a series of things to the entire crowd, usually numbering close to 400 students from our churches, as well as some who come in for the chapel from Saut d’Eau.

We then break for

Just Around The Corner

Yeah, my trip is still some 59 days away, but it’s getting here.  As of last night, I finished my freelance writing for this quarter, so I have a bit more free time. Today in the office, I don’t really know what to do.  I’m ahead of schedule.  Isn’t it great how that works?

My running has been up and down lately.  Last week, I got in 40 miles.  No long run.  This week should be good though.  Yesterday I ran 7 miles before I came into the office.  I tried the same thing this morning with less luck.  I didn’t exactly get up, and it’s basically hot in the day, so I might cut it down today to around 6 miles.  Tomorrow morning, the goal is to get in at least 10 miles before I come into the office.  Who knows.  We’ll have to see.

I don’t really have a running goal, so that makes it definitely tough.  

For regular readers, please be praying for Lindsey (my wife) as she is in the search of a job. Elementary jobs are hard to come by here.  As a youth pastor, it’d be great for my wife to work for financial reasons…  With a couple of colleges close, other people join in the fight for positions.  Two jobs have already been filled that she applied for.  It’s just nervewracking.  I know that God is in control in the midst of it all, but it’s still a bit nervewracking being a newly wed.

Other than that, it’s been quiet here with R4H.  Not a lot of training.  A pretty boring life.  Check back though, because it’s getting close to heading back to Haiti, and I plan on using this to let off some steam about worries, frustrations, plans, goals, and ideas.