Compassion International ~ Haiti

November 4th, 2010

Today we spent with Compassion International here in Haiti. It was an incredibly encouraging day as we saw the work they are doing…but as we visited one of the Compassion Projects we also found it to be one of the hardest days we have encountered yet. Once again we were up front and with the people of the project. The faces of the children and families who have hope is in stark contrast to the families and faces which keep distance from the people of the project. No matter where we go we are quick to draw attention because not many white Americans venture into these communities. The great thing with a few of the organizations we have been with is they empower the local people and local church to do the ministry in their own community. This allows for the most effective and sustainable ministry. The volunteers and aid organizations come along side and support the project work.

One of the places we went today was to visit a school which has over 200 sponsored children in it. We were greeted by over half of these students who came in on their day off to meet us. School has been cancelled both today and tomorrow for Hurricane Tomas which is to make landfall early tomorrow morning (Friday). While visiting this community project we also visited two micro-financed businesses which are foundational in the community. One is a fresh-purified water store and the other is a small retail street vendor. This family has seven children, 3 of which are in the program.

Today we saw more of the evidence of the utter devastation which occurred January 12th, 2010. But today in seeing these things it became evident that there are many many places which still have not been searched for bodies. The pancaking which happened to so many buildings during those minutes the earth shook here…a picture just can’t manifest itself in enough words to describe the site. Looking at a few of these buildings there is no way anyone could search the rubble for bodies, without heavy equipment and there is no evidence that the site has been disturbed since the day it happened. This home/business actually looks as if there may have been an initial search done.

From the children of this project….they say Thank You for your sponsorship of so many of them.

The Epicenter and Starting Over

Wednesday November 3rd, 2010

Today we spent with Baptist Global Response which is part of International Mission Board. They have a small compound very near where the epicenter of the quake was. They are focusing on building homes in the surrounding communities and have built a few hundred since April. After spending some time getting to know the team onsite we ventured out to visit one of the communities in which they are working. The homes for the most part are 12’x16’, with cinder block walls and a tin roof. They do have a concrete floor as well. No indoor plumbing and no indoor kitchen, simply a safe room in which to sleep and gather together. Here is a picture of the tent community which is left in the area..

Here is a picture of what the new homes being built look like….

While wandering through the “streets” and “alleys” we came to a small yellow home where Jimmy and his wife live. They have converted their little home into one of the cleanest orphanages we have seen this trip. Inside this home are 16 orphan children from about age 2-3 up to a set of 14 year old twins. The smiles were genuine and each child was clean and polite. It is clear that Jimmy and his wife poor everything they have into caring for the children..yet they have only one church who helps them…sometimes. What they have been able to accomplish so far is incredible yet what they could accomplish with support is amazing to think of.   

James 1:27 (New International Version)

²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Mission of Hope - Haiti

Tuesday November 2, 2010

Today we spent the day with Mission of Hope here in Haiti.They have a pretty incredible work going which was started 11 years ago. They have a big vision for today and for the future. The facilities they are building are well made and have a purpose. At they core of what they do is to provide the best education in the country of Haiti…and they are achieving that. Through a great set of teachers and a solid curriculum they have just achieved a 100% pass rate for their students. They are giving hope to not just the orphans on their campus but also to the children in the community.

While driving to and from the mission, we passed hundreds or thousands of tent homes which still house hundreds of thousands of people from the earthquake. Some of the tent villages were sponsored by Samaritans Purse and yet others were just tarps.

Yet one of the most striking things we saw today is the smiles of the children in the missions. They have love and they have hope. They are safe and get to eat. When we as strangers entered the area we were quickly welcomed and word spread quickly among the children that there were visitors.

What are you doing to make a difference in the life of others? There are millions of opportunities to make a difference…and they are waiting for you.

We don’t have consistent power or water so my posts will be short when I can get a connection.

WinShape International

In 1984, Truett and Jeannette Cathy, founders of Chick-fil-A® established the WinShape Foundation. They had a vision to create an organization that would cultivate relationships and transform lives. That vision exists and thrives as the WinShape Foundation.

WinShape International

WinShape International, started in 2005, equips motivated young adults to become Christian leaders within their own culture.

WinShape International provides opportunities for Chick-fil-A Operators and corporate staff to have meaningful overseas experiences. WinShape International pursues projects that are sustainable, reproducible, measurable and beneficial over a long period of time. WSI staff works alongside the project leaders and assists each participant during the application process.

Our commitment is to identify young adults who will be the leaders of tomorrow, and give them the training that will equip them to reach their long term potential..

At WinShape International our mission is to mobilize leaders to transform young adults and communities around the world. We do this by connecting Chick-fil-A Operators and corporate personnel with opportunities to serve. We work diligently to involve anyone in the Chick-fil-A family who feels God's calling, and it has been a blessing to see how God has used these incredible people to impact the nations.

Our projects include:

* SERVE Leadership Model
Based on the book, "The Secret," written by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller, the model bases great leadership in service. To be more successful SERVE teaches a leader to:

-See and shape the future
-Engage and develop others
-Reinvent continuously
-Value results and relationships
-Embody the values

Connecting the Dots

I have a friend who has an incredible network of contacts. He thrives on the privilege of introducing people. As he calls it…it’s just “connecting the dots”.

A few months ago, this friend introduced me to another of his friends who is from WinShape International. After our introduction I was invited to go to WinShape and spend the afternoon with him. It was through this meeting that I had the opportunity to share our family’s journey of adoption. Throughout this journey God has moved in pretty incredible ways and has been working to mold the hearts of each one of us for both missions and orphans. How this all fits together is a pretty big vision. After a few hours together of sharing, My new friend looked at me and asked if I would like to go to Haiti with him….”sure, if God will open the doors.” A pretty non committal answer. Haiti? Haiti is one of three places that I have NEVER wanted to visit. The black magic, voodoo and dark spirits which are common place in that country is simply something that I really want no part of…yet there was something deep inside of me that said I need to go. As the days past after that meeting my heart was being pulled to make this trip. I feel like it’s the next step in “connecting the dots” of where God is leading me and our family.

Our original travel dates were postponed which opened up the door for me to actually make the trip…again…”circumstances” were aligning and opening the opportunity.

Tomorrow morning at 10:10am we board the plane to start our journey to Haiti. I will be accompanying a leadership team from WinShape International as they assess projects in Haiti to determine who they will be partnering with in the future to make a difference in the lives of other people. If everything goes well I will be blogging each day while there and sharing the journey.

We appreciate your prayers…

9/11….I Remember

"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower

September 7th…

It’s been nearly 2 months since I have posted anything on this blog…(WAY TOO LONG) and not a day goes by that I don’t wish I had an extra hour or two for myself to just read and write.

Today is September 7th. It was 15 years ago that our first daughter came into the world and forever changed us. Yes, she was our first child, our first daughter. The one who we learned on….and she learned with us. Thank you Father for trusting us enough to give us Kristen…and thank you Kristen for the privilege of being your dad.

Kristen’s heart is unique and beautiful. Her tender compassion for others is leading her to a life of missions and ministry. She loves serving others…especially when the others are children. She will dance and sing with them and just connect with them at a heart level. Her eyes tell others that she cares…unless someone has hurt or wronged another, then the anger and disappointment is quite easy to read. Her heart is authentic and genuine. She doesn’t want to disappoint you, but she will not go against her principles for you either. Yes, she is a rule follower and for that I am thankful. Leadership is something that intimidates her at times, but when she steps into the role she does a great job. Kristen was my first princess daughter and as my grandmother always said…she is also the one that I have loved the longest.

Father, thank You for Kristen, for all that she is to me and to our family. I ask Your blessings on her as she continues to grow and mature. Help her to make wise choices. Give her the confidence to chase after the passions and dreams that You have planted in her heart. Help her to live her life out loud…and may her anthem be Your love. I ask you to work in the heart of the man you have prepared for her. May he always fight for her princess heart and empower her for the journey of life which You have called her to.

I trust you, I believe in you and I know you have what it takes to accomplish all that God has called you to do.

Kristen…I Love You…and Happy Birthday!