Give thanks.

My dad and I, as well as Pastor and Sandy, have been lucky enough to have several visits and conversations with our friends from previous trips as well as with pastors from all over Haiti. We have learned new things about our old friends and we the pastors have taken time out of their very busy schedules to speak with us about their churches. I want to write this post today about something weighing very heavy on my heart, my dad's heart and on the hearts of those who have been here and those who live here as well. Two days ago my dad and I were sitting with Steevenson on the front porch and my dad asked him how often he was able to eat on a normal day. This question came up because the day before when we spent time with Steevenson he seemed almost lethargic and did mention that he was not feeling well and later on we wondered if he had had anything to eat that day. Well the next day he answered our question, according to him on a good day he might eat twice, but most days he only eats one time. He said it very matter of fact and my dad and I immediately looked at each other and were speechless. What can you say to that? I thought to myself, half of the time I can barely function without some kind of food in my body before 9 am and here is my brother, spending his vacation from school studying his English notes and the Bible as well as (we found out today) spending two hours every Friday teaching a small group about the Bible. My body is trained and relies on eating three meals a day to function, to focus, etc but Steevenson carries on. Similarly almost all of the pastors we've spoken with have expressed the same problem in their communities. Many of the churches all over Haiti have schools that associate with them, many share the same building and every pastor has a story that mirrors the next: not enough food. The children come to church and come to school having not eaten in who knows how long, which, as most of you can probably imagine, doesn't create a helpful learning environment. How can the brain thrive when it doesn't have food? I admire the strength and the perseverance of the Haitian people and I hope that this touches the hearts of those reading this so that something can be done about it, however small or large. So give thanks tonight for what you have and pray for those who don't have enough.

Luke 1:37

Yesterday the four of us were able to visit with some of our oldest friends here in Haiti: Events, Melissa and Steevenson. If anyone is unfamiliar with these names they are three of some of the originals we met our first year here. I consider Steevenson my brother and has been a part of our family since the first year we met him. Events and Melissa were the first to come to the guest house but shortly after a phone call was made to Steevenson he rode up on his new bike. We spent the next hour or so visiting and catching up. Steevenson's English is amazing, especially considering that when we first met him we could barely communicate. Now we're able to have full conversations in English. He's a determined and meticulous student. He's pensive and ambitious, he told us later on that he had to go home to study his English and his Bible. Mind you, he's on vacation from school right now.  As we were sitting on the porch with our friends we asked Steevenson what his favorite Bible verse is and he responded with Luke 1:37, which reads, "For nothing is impossible with God." What a fitting verse for here, for home, for any time and any place. The verse is almost hidden, squeezed between two longer verses and at first we passed right over it, but once we saw it and read it  it just clicked, at least for me. Haiti has opened up dozens of possibilities for us and none would have been accomplished without the group's faith in God and the faith that He will provide for us as we continue to come here. As we prepared ourselves for this trip the heat and humidity (and BUGS) were on our minds, however after reading that verse it seemed to put those small things into perspective. Yes, it's hot and yes, I sweat through my clothes from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, but being able to see all of my friends within 24 hours of arriving makes all of those things seem unimportant. I imagine that by the end of the week I'll be thriving in the heat, no problem!
Another friend of mine, Wolking (who has decorated my house in Illinois with several of his paintings and other artwork), asked for an English bible and when I gave one to him I asked what his favorite verse was and without hesitation he said, "Psalm 121." So I'll leave you with this group of verses, which again seem to just fit.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?
My help comes from The Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you--
The Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm--
he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."