Shine a light // END IT

Photo credit: Emily Spring

My heart is heavy today. February 27th is a day that the END IT movement uses as a catalyst to bring awareness to modern-day slavery. And although I too have a red “X” on my hand today to raise awareness, it can’t just stop there…

Besides that “X” allowing me to strike up conversations with those around me about slavery and our responsibility in this fight, it has reminded me of the encounters I have had with slavery even in my limited life and experiences.

I have seen it, with my own two eyes. In Haiti and in the states. I have seen those stuck in captivity, those who have lost hope. I have seen hurt and abuse. I have seen the tears and the scars. And I have barely seen anything at all.

Slavery isn’t about an issue, it’s about people with names and faces each unique. I know the problem goes much deeper than most think and has roots that tangle all through society, not just in other countries but even here in our own backyard. Slavery is a worldwide problem, which means it concerns all of us. 

So today, my heart is heavy for the 27 million still enslaved. My heart is heavy for those I’ve met who have been sold into slavery by their families. My heart is heavy for girls exploited by their own mothers. My heart is heavy for those of us who ignore them. My heart is heavy for myself in the ways I live my life in complacency and comfort.

As an infamous quotation by William Wilberforce, a most influential abolitionist, says:

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” 

And today I don’t want to look the other way. I want to look this crazy scary, overwhelming, heart-breaking thing called slavery right in the face and stand my ground. I stand for freedom. I stand for liberty. Not just for me but for all. I stand to end it. Slavery exists and I won’t stand for it. 

RELEVANT magazine had a piece about this END IT movement and fight against human-trafficking today and what it said really stuck out to me. It was about TAKING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. It says:

“We know human trafficking exists. Now it’s our turn to become the generation that acts upon that knowledge and seeks change.

Do you have an “X” on the back of your hand today? Do something about it. Together we can make a difference. Together we can end human trafficking.”

Take some time to learn more about slavery today and the ways you can get involved in this fight. Shine a light for freedom! Some of the links below are from things I’ve written in the past, some are from organizations fighting human-trafficking. Read, educate, pray, and do something. Today. Cause once you know you can’t turn back again. And together, we can make a difference.

SLAVERY IS REAL

BRING AWARENESS

EDUCATE YOURSELF & OTHERS

PRAY FOR FREEDOM

DISRUPT THE BUSINESS OF SLAVERY

BE AN ADVOCATE 

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

DO SOMETHING MORE THAN AWARENESS

So I’m asking you today if you’ll join me? If you’ll look slavery in the eyes and say you won’t back down. If you will pray down on your knees. Jesus said He was bringing freedom for the captives and I believe it. He brought freedom to those enslaved to sin and those free in Christ are free indeed. I’m praying for physical freedom for those physically enslaved today but I’m also, more importantly, praying for spiritual freedom for all.

Isaiah 61:1-3 –
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

John 8:34-36 - 
"Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

And to end this long post on an encouraging note, here’s a remake of the classic children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” by a UK rap group called LZ7.

Cause why not???

We could all use a reminder to let our light shine, not just on days like today when everyone is in the fight for freedom and light, but everyday. Cause we can all make a difference in our generation and our world. So I encourage you to go out there and shine a light, everyday.

Also you can check out LZ7 and Matt Redman’s music video raising awareness about the global sex trafficking of women with their song “Twenty Seven Million.”

Conferences – Round 2

Friday was a great day in the Lord in Haiti! We started the morning off with bacon for breakfast! (that’s how you know it’s going to be a great day!) And the bacon seemed to multiply as each person was able to have more than we originally thought! This day would continue to surprise us and crush our original expectations in so many ways.

This morning we started our second round of conferences in the Mole. This round of conferences was going to be geared more toward older teens, the age group we originally anticipated was 11-13 year olds. We had made an announcement on the radio the other day so we hoped more kids would hear about it and show up. They were a little late getting to the campus on Friday so we sent some team members into town to invite more teens.

Photo credit: Kaley Breault

While we were waiting for more teens to show up, Mikayla and Kaley went to invite the boys of the campus staff. These boys are always hanging around on campus but rarely come to team led conferences or church events. So we were surprised and excited when they came over to our conference! Since most of them were older than our original target age we decide to more clearly separate out our age groups so we wouldn’t lose the interest of anyone. The older boys sat on one side of the cafeteria making paper airplanes while the little kids sat on the other side coloring.

Photo credit: Paul Spring

Once there was a good number of kids we split up into our groups for the lesson. The older guys went to the church tent, the kids under 11 went with Paul & KJ to the children’s church building, and the older girls stayed in the cafeteria. The guys had a really great lesson and the staff kids asked a lot of deep questions. Praise God for their interest and desire to learn more!

Photo credit: Kaley Breault

Our girls group went really well too even though when we started we only had 4 girls. But as Kaley gave the lesson on God’s provision and the story of Moses, a lot more girls showed up throughout. We spent a lot of time doing the post-it note activity with these girls as more and more girls kept showing up! Then we had the girls share one thing or one time God provided for them in the past before we hung the notes up on the large white paper. After the activity we hung out and painted nails for awhile. I got a crazy watermelon colored manicure done by one of the girls, Wisla!

Photo credit: Kaley Breault

After lunch we played with the orphans outside before our afternoon activities.

At 2 we headed over to the cafeteria to wait for girls to show up for dance camp. Landi and Marjorie, two girls from the community, were the only ones there for a while. Funny enough, these were the two girls that would show up for our various VBS days over the summer when no one else did. And some days Marjorie would be the only kid to come to our activities. So I had gotten to know them pretty well as an intern over the summer.

Today we waited for some more girls to show up as Marjorie already knew the dance from showing up to the first round of dance camp. So we talked and made up our own dances and played clapping games together while we waited. Then we started to learn the choreographed dance, with Mikayla, Kaley, and Marjorie performing it first. Landi learned the steps very quickly and soon more girls showed up and joined us. We even had some women from the discipleship group join in the dance as well (they were early for their class)!

Soon it was time for the discipleship class to start so we wrapped up dance camp. However Jody, Miss. Beth, and Momma Gigi decided to invite the kids from dance camp and sports camp to stay and watch the Freedom Drama as well. We didn’t start off the day planning to perform the drama for the ladies in this impromptu showing, but I believe it was all part of God’s plan! So there was a pretty big turnout for this mid-day matinee!

After the drama we took the kids outside to pray with them and the discipleship ladies finished their class and lesson. However, there was a really cool story from Paul and KJ about recognizing one of the ladies in the discipleship group from their March trip. Throughout the drama they noticed a woman smiling in the audience and they thought she looked familiar. She was looking at them but they couldn’t tell if they knew her. Afterwards when they talked with Momma Gigi and found out her name they realized it indeed was the same woman they encountered during hut-to-hut in March, Lacita. [You can read more of this story from Paul in this older post here!]

Basically, this is the woman who said she believed voodoo was more powerful that Jesus although her whole family was Christian. They had invited her to see us perform the Freedom Drama in the town park but she said she probably wouldn’t come. But she did come about half-way through the performance and she got to see for herself the gospel in a very real and tangible way. She saw Jesus defeat sin and death and Satan. That time after the drama Paul and KJ talked with her and she prayed to accept Christ and although they got her connected with the pastor they didn’t know what happened to her or her new faith today. But this trip they got to see her once again and they could see the joy on her face! Her life had changed because of Jesus and she was connected to great women of faith in this discipleship class. They couldn’t believe it was her, mainly because this woman now looked so happy and so different from the woman they met in March! She was even one of the ladies who joined us during dance camp! And she got to see the Freedom Drama once again and be reminded that Jesus is more powerful than anything that happens in her life.

After having a great day in ministry, being led by the Spirit and doing God’s will even though it looked very different from our original plans, we ended our afternoon by playing with the orphanage kids outside till dinner. My heart was just full of joy and life and love. It felt like home, standing in the dirt soccer field, watching the kids run around, laughing at all their antics. This beautiful scene framed by the mountains and the ocean, with palm trees swaying while the sun was setting.

Photo credit: Kaley Breault

The day ended just as greatly as it began, with multiplying pizza for dinner! It seemed like there may not be enough but voila! there was more than enough and then some! Caleb led our nightly devotion and him and Jared both played some worship songs. We sang “How He Loves” and “Lord I Need You” and I felt the Spirit stirring in my soul. I about lost it thinking about how God loves us and how we love others like He loves.

We can never love too much.

I was thinking about Landi and Marjorie and seeing them have real pure joy today and how the dance camp along with the Freedom Drama bring such light to break through the darkness here. I just love those girls and I want them to know His love too. Be praying for them and all those who saw/participated in the dance or drama today, that they would feel His love and love others the same way.

It’s crazy how the Freedom Drama energized us all so much today! We were all quite drained before but then we all had strength and energy to go play with the orphans some more afterwards! After worshiping together we just hung out in the cafeteria and listened to music and joked around and laughed till we almost cried! My heart was full, full of joy and love and it felt good to have spent the day walking in what God had planned for us.

New Year’s Eve!

So, our Wednesday in Haiti was super busy and packed full of fun as it was New Year’s Eve!!! We started the morning with a Christmas party for the orphans! The Bowling Green team had planned the party but our team helped out with all the activities and fun as well. The kids all came over and they gave a performance of their own! It was cute to see them all get up and sing some songs together before we started the party games.

Photo credit: Emily Spring

Then the other team read a story about Christmas to the kids before we played with balloons and balloon animals! Then there was a really hilarious game of musical chairs as the kids didn’t really understand it all but the mommas were really into the game! Then I was on Christmas photo duty taking pictures of the kids in front of a gingerbread house backdrop! Then the kids played a game of limbo! And then lots and lots of food! They kids got to eat so much good food made by the staff ladies and orphanage staff. Then there was a big Christmas tree pinata to break open for even more candy!

Photo credit: Emily Spring

There was so much excitement and smiles all around! After the party our teams worked to clean everything up but then it was time to eat lunch and get ready as our team was headed to Preskul in the afternoon!

When we got to the beach we were a little worried because there had been some wind that morning and the water looked a little choppy. However, we all got loaded up on the boat and set out around the bay with really no problem! There were the occasional waves that splashed us and we all got drenched but once in Preskul we changed into our costumes for the Freedom Drama. We hung out with the people a little before started our performance.

Photo credit: Paul Spring

After the drama we talked and prayed with people and there were 2 young men there who wanted to pray to accept Christ for the first time.

Photo credit: Paul Spring

One of them said they hadn’t ever heard the name of Jesus.

Photo credit: Paul Spring

It was such a great experience and I honestly love hanging out with the people of Preskul! We had brought some jump ropes, nail polish, and dominoes to play with after the Freedom Drama and we just spent time with the people there. I loved painted one little girls’ nails and also watching the boys lose at dominoes and have to wear all those clothespins!

Photo credit: Paul Spring

Our group slowly dwindled to just a few people from the village as many of the men had to go out fishing in the afternoon so we started to pack up to head back. Plus we had to get back to get ready for the bonfire/church cookout that night!

Photo credit: Paul Spring

So we took the boat back and got ready to start setting-up for the cookout. A lot of us girls manned the food lines and helped people make their food. I was on bread duty so I cut open the homemade squares of bread to make hot-dog buns as well as passed out plates to everyone. It took a long time for everyone to get through the line. But there were sooo many people there! I was so glad to see so many people from the church and community being able to be there to celebrate and eat together. Since our team was doing our big Freedom Drama performance that night, complete with the pastor’s sons, Morgan and I hurried to go make our food before the drama started! But some boys from the community ended up roasting our hot-dogs for us. Initially I was a little skeptical when they offered to help us, like they wanted them for themselves or they wanted us to give them more food or something. But it was actually a nice gesture as the fire was hot and we didn’t have a lot of time. I’m just praying for these kids in the community, that God will chip away at their hearts and grow love and joy in them.

But just as I finished getting my hot-dog ready it was show-time! So I left my plate in the kitchen and went to get dressed and ready for the drama. I was a little nervous since it was our first big performance including all the parts with Atznel and Atzlin. As we we were getting ready the other team helped pass out cake to everyone in the audience first. Then we were on! I’m still praying for all the people that saw the Freedom Drama that night. I’m praying that they will believe the story that they saw is true, that Jesus is more powerful than the evil in their lives, that He conquered sin, Satan, and death itself. This is such a powerful representation of the true story of Christ and His victory, pray these people would know that in their hearts! After the drama we prayed with some people who wanted to be prayed over.

Photo credit: Jared Mellema

Then everyone split up for the rest of the New Year’s Eve festivities! The adults and youth went to the church for the New Year’s Eve service while the kids stayed in the cafeteria. Both lasted till midnight! So we had a lot of time to entertain all these kids from the community and the orphanage kiddos! So we had a double-feature movie night!!! They started watching “Horton Hears a Who” while Morgan and I went to make about 100 bags of popcorn to pass out during the second movie. Before we started the second movie we had some time to play games and sing songs. These activities were a little chaotic as there were just so many kids! Mikela led all the kids in Jesus aerobics and “Simon Says.” Then Pierre came and led the kids in songs with MNeNe and Eldine. He split the kids in groups and they sang rounds and tried to see who was the loudest! Then Morgan and I led a few silly songs we learned from the Meridian team in the past! Then it was time for our second film, “Kung Fu Panda!” We handed out all the popcorn then I sat with Rovenson who was starting to fall asleep! There was already a whole line of orphanage kiddos sleeping on some blankets in the back! The DVD got stuck a few times so I had to mess with it and skip some scenes but then it worked fine for the rest of the film. By the time the movie ended we were perfectly timed and ready for midnight festivities!

Photo credit: Paul Spring

Jody came and passed out glow sticks and New Year’s hats! Then it was time for the big fireworks show! We went out and sat with the kids on the sidewalk outside the cafeteria. I was holding Rovenson on my lap who was all excited, that is until the first firework went off! He completely freaked out so we went back to the very middle of the cafeteria! I went back to the side to watch some of the show, the fireworks were great!

I still can’t believe we rang in the New Year in Haiti! In a place that is superstitious about how you start your year I find it interesting that we were there. The kitchen ladies, who would be up literally all night preparing pumpkin soup for tomorrow, came out of the kitchen to watch the fireworks show! They were dancing and singing and even shouting out prayers and wishes for the New Year when each firework exploded. This moment was so sweet, my heart was so happy. This memory will stick with me forever I think. After the show we walked all the tired kids back to the orphanage to go to bed and wished everyone a “Bonne Annee” (“Happy New Year”)!

Photo credit: Paul Spring

Day of Rest

Our first full day in Haiti this last trip was Sunday, December 28th. After a late night (we arrived in the Mole at 1:00 am and I didn’t get to sleep until 3…) a lot of the team members spent the morning sleeping in and catching up on rest. For those of us up and ready we headed over to church. I actually got up around 8:30 and got ready for the service. First I went to the cafeteria and saw all the kiddos at children’s church! I was so happy to see all those familiar faces of friends and I loved hugging all the sweet kids from the orphanage. But since I was being a bit of a distraction to the Sunday school lesson, I grabbed a folding chair and headed to the big military tent AKA the church.

Some of the guys from our team – Jared, Caleb, Paul, & Troy – went to “big church” this week while the other team members helped out with the children’s church service in the cafeteria. I arrived at church early enough to hear the church announcements (which included a bunch of fun holiday activities and ministries our team would help out with later in the week!) and I sat on one of the wooden pews with Miss. Beth.

I love going to church in Haiti. Initially it is one of the most awkward and uncomfortable experiences ever. And most Americans, I think they honestly hate going to the Haitian church services. It makes them uncomfortable, it’s unfamiliar and unknown, and it’s impossible to understand all that happens. It’s 3 hours in a stuffy military tent, with mosquitoes and heat, with music that’s maybe not always polished or in tune, with people belting out songs in a foreign language and waving their arms in praise. It’s not comfortable or typical. It’s not the controlled “sit in a pew, sing some songs with words on the screen with a great band and light show, hear a powerful and polished sermon, then get up to get home before church traffic or the football game’s on TV” type of church service.

Isn’t that what “the church” has been reduced to in a lot of places in America and in a lot of American minds??

The Church is not called to be complacent or comfortable. The Church is called to be an active, dynamic body of believers filled with Christ, where streams of living water pour through them and reach out into a dark and cold world.

I love going church in America just as I love going in Haiti because when you get right down to it, you realize that this is the body of Christ, the children of God. In Haiti, once you get over the fact that there’s a language barrier and it looks completely different than a typical church service in the states, then you realize that these beautiful people are your own brothers and sisters in the faith. We are family, we are all part of God’s family through Christ. When we worship, even though in different languages with different sounds, we worship ONE God in ONE spirit with ONE heart. We are united as ONE in Christ.

Ephesians 4:1-7
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

So this Sunday I got to experience fellowship and worship with my Haitian brothers and sisters once again. Even when I can’t understand all that’s going on or what song in the hymnal we’re singing or what verses they just referenced, I love being able to soak it all in. This is a body of believers, an imperfect and broken collection of broken messy people who are trying to obey and follow Christ in their lives, in the face of hardships, trials, and tragedies. But they believe it with their whole hearts, that God is bigger and better than anything they could face in this life here on earth.

And singing and worshiping with them, their rich, melodious voices filling up the hot, stuffy tent, rising up to our Father in heaven, here I feel it too. I feel my faith as a real and tangible thing. I see all that they have sacrificed to believe in God, all that following Christ must cost them. Like so many in the world there is a steep price that comes with being a Christian. And sometimes in my comfortable, American bubble I forget that. I forget that faith isn’t cheap, it is so incredibly costly and it should cost me something as well. God is not calling me to a complacent, safe, or comfortable life. He is calling me higher and deeper. He is calling me on, calling me to take the plunge of faith, to be all in for His glory. What is He calling me to sacrifice? What am I willing to let this faith cost me? Do I think it’s worth it?

Those are questions we all must ask of ourselves and being put in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations allows me to see things from a different perspective sometimes. It allows me to think more deeply on things I may have never really examined or considered. And I love how God works in these mysterious ways.

This Sunday, after listening to the Pastor’s animated message about Moses (fitting as our teen conferences later in the week would cover the same story and how it looks at God’s provision for His people) we had the rest of the day to relax, get unpacked, and settle in for a full week of ministry! We unpacked all our large suitcases and organized all our team supplies. Then we had our team orientations with Jody before heading out into town to take a short tour and see a little more of the daily realities faced by those living in this small community. We ended our tour with a stop to the beach where some of the boys swam and played games while the rest of us sat on the beach. We watched the most beautiful sunset be painted across the sky and I was reminded that my Jesus, He goes with us there as well as here. He had been preparing our hearts for a week of ministry and although the next few days would not go like we had planned, He had something bigger in store for this week. All praise be to God for the ways He works in our lives.

Photo credit: Mikayla Minnick

6 till Haiti

Photo credit: Emily Spring

Today I wanted to pray for spiritual preparation for our team. Being packed and physically prepared is one important aspect of our trip but being spiritually prepared is of even more importance. Be praying that each member on our team takes the time this week to reflect on the reason for the season. Be praying we spend time with God this week in preparation for this trip. As well as looking at the ways God has provided for us in this past year while also looking forward to what God has in store for us in this upcoming year. We’ll be spending New Year’s in Haiti and I’m praying that we will all grab hold of the promises God has for each of us. And I pray that God will prepare us all for the spiritual darkness we will encounter on this trip and that we will be able to shine the light of Christ into the lives of those we meet in Haiti.

17 till Haiti

Photo credit: Castillo family

Yesterday I told you a little bit more about the local church we partner with through NWHCM and today I want to circle the leaders of this local body of believers. Particularly I want to pray for the current pastor and his family.

Pastor Agenor, originally from the town of Berger about 5 hours from the Mole, was asked by the mission recently to become the full time pastor at the Mole church! Also, he moved his family out to the Mole to be with him this summer! It has been a blessing getting to know them a bit, his wife and 6 boys, and seeing them become a part of the Mole mission family.

The church has been revived by this man’s humble leadership and heart for God. Pastor Agenor has a quiet and gentle spirit that pours out God’s love to the least of these wherever he goes. A carpenter by trade, which is incredibly fitting for a man after Jesus’ heart, it is common to see him on campus working alongside the staff in their everyday work. Yet he always seems to find ways to share Jesus in the daily and the mundane.

I like what Jody shared on the Mole blog and I couldn’t agree more:

“Agenor is the kind of pastor that is out calling on the congregation daily. Sometimes it’s so subtle you don’t even see it unless you look closely…… You will find him ministering to Doumy while helping him change a flat tire. You will see him speaking into the orphan staff while holding one of the children. You will find him sharing about Jesus while helping the fisherman untangle his nets. You will see him at a neighbor’s house with a baby fast asleep on his lap – just so the mom can have her hands free to do some chores. You will see him in the garden with his hands full of dirt – talking about the tree of life. You will find him walking home and offering advice to some of the youth that come to our cafeteria to watch the World Cup Games.”

As a family in crucial leadership positions in the church they are prime targets for Satan’s attacks. Whatever form it may come in – temptations, persecution, illness, hardships – they have received their fair share and will likely experience even more in the years to come. And without effective, godly leadership a church body can quickly crumble. So I’m asking you to join me in circling this pastor and his family in big, bold prayers today!

Pray for the Agenor family that they will continue to stand strong in their faith no matter what trials or troubles they face. Pray that God will use their lives to speak volumes into the hearts and souls of those around them. Pray that they will continue to stand up for what is right & true & pure and that the congregation, the community, and others will stand in truth with them. Pray that they will feel the love of God in their lives, that God will surround them with a body of believers who love them and respect them and care for them. Pray that the devil will have no foothold in their lives, that they will cling to Jesus and flee from any selfishness or pride or sin that so easily corrupts and crumbles an effective ministry for God. Pray they all come to truly grasp the love and provision of God in their lives. Pray they continue to live out the gospel in their everyday lives and that Pastor Agenor’s sons will follow in his example of sharing the love and gospel of Christ no matter what work or situation they find themselves in. Pray for the Agenor boys (Atznel, Atzlin, Christopher, Gadner, Chalson, and Mahalalel) that they will grab hold of their faith for themselves as they grow older and become men of God to lead in their own families, churches, and communities one day. Pray that the humble heart of this pastor and the willingness of both him and his family to follow after God in obedience will continue to unleash the transforming power of Christ in this community and that we will see even more lives changed for God in the Mole this year.

26 // Roselandy

Take a look at our post about our sweet rose!

Photo credit: Emily Spring

Roselandy Zilenord
Birth date: 10/24/10
Key Feature: hearty laugh
Faves: balloons, painting nails,
playing ball, running, making silly faces 
# of sponsors needed: 4

Today we feature this sweet, bold girl!

Roselandy lives life big! She is bold and unafraid and she runs headstrong into life and all its adventures! She has what I like to call, a spark within. She has zeal and fire for life, love, and joy.

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

This girl has such a deep joy rooted down in her heart! She will have her characteristically huge smile on her face as she runs non-stop around campus and you can always hear her hearty laugh. Roselandy will laugh just to laugh and you may never know what she was laughing about!

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Roselandy enjoys playing with her brothers, sisters, and any friends she can make! She will run till she falls over, her energetic spirit just keeps her going! She shows love for those around her and she has an empathetic and caring heart.

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Today I want to pray for this bold joyful girl! I pray that she grows in her joy and contentment as she grows older, that she will continue to love life! I pray that God will guide her and give her opportunities to share her joy with others and that they would see the light of Christ shining through her. I pray that God will enlarge her already huge heart with love and care for those around her as she looks to their needs above her own. I pray that she would continue to refresh and encourage others by the example of her life.

Proverbs 15:30
"The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones."

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Right now, sweet Roselandy needs 4 more sponsors to be fully funded! As a sponsor you would commit to donating $30/month and would become a branch in Roselandy’s Family Tree of support, helping care for her and watching her grow up. Would you prayerfully consider joining Roselandy’s Family Tree? You can check out Roselandy’s Family Tree site here!

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Also, check out these other posts about Roselandy by clicking on the links below!

2012

2013

1 // Fedna

So we’re going to start off this month of October is for Orphans again with a post featuring the very first… Fedna!!

Photo credit: Emily Spring

Fedna Civil
Birth date: 05/08/02
One word description: Joyful
Faves: Going to church,
going on walks, sitting outside, 
playing games with her siblings
BFFs: Fabiola, Neiderson
# of sponsors needed: 3

This sweet girl was the first orphan to be brought into the family at the Mole campus orphanage. Although many in her country would look down upon those with special needs or see them as lesser, Fedna breaks down all those barriers with just a smile. It has been beautiful to see the community of Mole Saint-Nicolas begin to value and love Fedna and to be in awe of the ways her life has changed – from neglected orphan to cherished child of the King!

Psalm 68:5-6
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy  dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners  with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

Photo credit: Emily Spring

This girl really is the face of the place for the Mole orphanage!

That face splitting grin of hers can literally light up a room! Her joy is contagious and when she starts to laugh, you can’t help but join in!

Besides joy, Fedna is just full of love, a kind of pure and unconditional love that only comes from God. She pours out love on her siblings at the orphanage and she loves to receive the godly love her family and friends shower over her. Fedna always has time for others and she enjoys just sitting together on the porch or going on walks around the beautiful campus.

As one of the oldest kids at the orphanage, all her younger brothers and sisters look up to and love playing with her – games like catch or tag. Recently it’s been precious to see her take little Fabiola under her wing as they laugh and play together.

Photo credit: Emily Spring

Today I want to pray circles around this precious girl and dear friend. I didn’t get to spend as much time with her this summer while I was there and I kind of wished I had. This girl has a heart of gold and I can feel Christ shining through her.

My prayer for Fedna is that she will grow in her understanding and acceptance of God’s love for her, that she would just be able to soak in His love like she soaks in the sunshine while sitting outside. My prayer is that the love and light of Christ will continue to shine through her and serve as a catalyst for change – in this community, in this country, and in this culture. That those who see her life transformation will see that it was only with God and that they will realize how much God loves all of His children, no matter what. I am amazed at how God has used her life and her example in such big ways to touch the lives of many already and I know He will continue to do so. He has even bigger plans still in store for her!

This year I want to circle this verse for Fedna:

1 John 3:1-3 
"See what kind of love the Father has 
given to us, that we should be called 
children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's 
children  now, and what we will be has not
yet appeared; but we know that when he 
appears we  shall be like him, because we 
shall see him as he is. And everyone who 
thus hopes in him purifies himself as he 
is pure."

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Okay, so here’s where we ask for some reader-participation! Besides praying circles around Fedna today, prayerfully consider joining her Family Tree! Without sponsorship and support from those like you this ministry of orphan care would be nearly impossible! There is a HUGE need for sponsors to partner with NWHCM and the Mole campus right now! Due to some changes with giving partners there are more bare branches in our kids’ Family Trees which is a perfect opportunity for you to get involved!!!

Currently, Fedna’s Family Tree has 3 open spots! Like I’ve mentioned, for just $30 a month you can support these kids and the wonderful mission that looks after them. Just thirty-bucks a month. Think how often you spend $30 a month on maybe some of the “less necessary things” – like eating out, getting new shoes, or buying all those pumpkin spice lattes like we mentioned yesterday… Just think, for about a dollar a day that money can go toward meeting these kids’ basic needs and seeing to it that every kid in the NWHCM orphanages and programs has an equal shot at a happy and healthy life. If you would like to learn more about Family Tree sponsorship and how to join as a branch on Fedna’s Family Tree check it out here!

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Also, check out past October is for Orphans posts to see how Fedna has grown over the years and the prayers God has answered…

2012 

2013 

A Heavenward Direction

For starters, yes, “heavenward” is a word (I checked) meaning “toward the sky or toward heaven.” As I’m here in the states back from Haiti, I’ve been asking God for direction and guidance in my next steps and He has been showing me that my ultimate direction is to be heavenward. So the question becomes, “How can the direction of my life be heavenward?” So I wanted to share just a few things God has been teaching me lately about this and the call He has placed on my life.

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

The other day I was writing out this verse and then it also happened to be the topic for the devotion I read out of My Utmost for His Highest that day. It really stuck with me so I started working on this blog post about it and what God was teaching me. However, when it was referenced yet again today during church by my pastor, I figured I should really get around to posting this! The passage was in Luke 10 and honestly I haven’t heard it referred too much before this.

Luke 10:20 –
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

In reading this verse and devotion I was hit by the fact that God, the Creator of the entire universe, wants to be in relationship with me. He desires that more than anything I could do. He desires to be with me and that is the ultimate cause of celebration, that I can and will spend eternity with my Savior!

Since it was so powerful for me I wanted to share the entirety of this devotion by Oswald Chambers: [emphasis added]

“Am I Convinced by Christ?

Jesus Christ says, in effect, ‘Don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me.’

The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you.

You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. 

Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it.

When once you are rightly related to God by salvation and sanctification, remember that wherever you are, you are put there by God; and by the reaction of your life on the circumstances around you, you will fulfill God’s purpose, as long as you keep in the light as God is in the light. 

The tendency today is to put the emphasis on service.

Beware of the people who make usefulness their ground of appeal.

If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure that ever lived.

The lodestar of the saint is God Himself, not estimated usefulness.

It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him.

All that Our Lord heeds in a man’s life is the relationship of worth to His Father.

Jesus is bringing many sons to glory.”

This relationship tops the authority or the service we have here on earth. Yet somehow that is a fact that is easy for me to forget! In my zeal and passion to change the world for God sometimes I can overlook the fact that change must begin with me. On my own I can’t do anything great and I definitely can’t “save the world.” But I do have the power to influence those around me and it begins with me. Jesus lives within us and changes us and He works to change the lives around us through us.

It’s a small ripple effect instead of one big splash to change the world.

And it’s all about relationship. 

“The very reason for this demonstration of the authority that God has entrusted to us is because we belong to Him. Though we may walk in the miraculous power of God, let us never forget the very essence of why God saved us. He didn’t save us to be good workers, He saved us to be His sons and daughters.”

As I’ve been back in the states and attempting to successfully transition back to life here, I’ve been seeking God’s guidance on what He’s calling me to do here. I know that I am to push back the darkness here and that wherever I am, I must be fully present in order to do this. But as I was struggling with gaining direction in this, God seemed to drop this promise right into my lap.

No matter what I do, the biggest cause for celebration, the biggest joy will always be this – I am saved! And I am saved for eternity! And I get to spend that eternity with my God, my Creator and Savior! And what’s more is that this eternity, well it’s already begun…

God is calling me deeper into this relationship with Him each and every day.

And what’s so amazing is that as I grow my relationship with God, He will lead me each and every day to fulfill His purposes for me. He will use me and work through me and I don’t have to worry about what I have to do, because I can trust what He will do! Wherever I am God has placed me there for a reason and He can do immeasurably more than I can imagine through my life when it starts with a right relationship with Him.

This passage from Ephesians 3:20-21 is one of my favorites but I love what directly precedes these verses.

Ephesians 3:16-21 –
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

It all starts with love! That we would be “rooted and established in love” and that we could truly grasp the love Christ has for us and that we would be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Because He is able to do so much more than we could ever ask or imagine as His power is at work within us. This is God working in and through us to reach people with His love, not anything we could do or work at on our own.

That’s crazy because I can imagine some pretty crazy amazing scenarios for my life. I can see myself doing so many different crazy and wonderful and challenging and amazing things but I still don’t know exactly what direction my life will take.

I don’t know what I’ll do,

I don’t know where I’ll go,

I don’t know who I’ll meet.

But I do know this – My Jesus, He goes with me.

And more than anything, I can continue to grow in this relationship I have with Him.

And whatever He has planned for me, whatever He’ll work through me will be immeasurably better than I could ever imagine.

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

Philippians 3:7-14 –
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.“

Back Home??

Again, sorry for falling off the face of the blogging world! I have (obviously) had a hard time keeping up with my blogging or really processing everything that happened over this summer that seemed to go way too fast! Anyway, I wanted to at least post a short (well it will probably end up being long, knowing me!) update about being back but I promise I’ll post some more posts about how our summer went soon!

Photo credit: Emily Spring

So, for starters, I left Haiti. After the wedding team we had about 2 weeks left of our summer internship before we headed out of Haiti. There were ups and downs in those weeks as we continued to do more of our own ministry – like organizing the clinic, having a photo-shoot for our orphanage kids, having a fun day with our girls’ group, working with the Castillo kids on the “secret project,” having a carnival for our orphanage kids, holding a blood pressure clinic, participating in Women’s Bible Study, working on the children’s church curriculum, having a movie night with the Castillo clan and the Pastor’s kids, and painting nails or coloring with our kids from the orphanage. But there were trials in those moments, like not having time to do all we wanted, not having hands to help complete tasks, or not having people show up to our ministry activities. Also, the campus experienced some tragedy and heartbreak during our last weeks there. All and all it was a crazy last few weeks, with beautiful highs and tragic lows. And even though I was more prepared to head out than I was last year, it was still incredibly hard to say good-bye to everyone and my Haiti home.

Photo credit: Emily Spring

So, up next I’m back home in the USA. America. Wow, out of all my trips this was the hardest time I’ve had transitioning back to America. Or maybe it’s difficult because it’s actually too easy; it’s too easy to switch back to my old ways and old life. I don’t know but the air conditioned air, the bright lights, the multitudes of people living at the center of their own world, the excess of food and clothes and products to buy, all this money, well it all hit me a little harder this time. At times I was relieved to have it all back, to have these comforts and luxuries, and at times, I will admit, I even wanted to complain about what I had or didn’t have. And honestly, that’s been the hardest part. This struggle, between my heart and the world. Although each transition is characterized by this struggle and though it usually fades, this time it just seemed more acute, I felt more like a stranger trapped between worlds. I feel like Haiti has had a large chunk of my heart ever since I first went and witnessed firsthand what it was like. Although I’d heard the stories or thought I had a picture in my mind of what poverty looked like, it’s not until you’re there that you fully realize it. It’s not until you interact with the beautiful and strong and dignified people who are labelled as some of the world’s poorest. It’s not until you see the good and beautiful in their lives and their culture and their country juxtaposed against the darkness and the heartbreak in their daily strife and their fears and their poverty.

Poverty doesn’t just look like thatch huts with dirt floors that get swept away in the heavy rains.

Poverty doesn’t just look like children with red hair from malnutrition or distended bellies from worms.

Poverty doesn’t just look like parents frantic and desperate to provide for their families that they are willing to do whatever it takes, even the unspeakable.

Poverty doesn’t just look like heartbreak.

Poverty looks like one of my favorite places in the world, the little peaceful fishing village of Preskul.

Poverty looks like my little friends from town, who run to jump into my arms when I see them while walking through town.

Poverty looks like the families of girls I love so much, who have been through the unimaginable but continue to press on.

Poverty looks like home, like family, like friends.

When I hear that word, “poverty,” I don’t envision the same images as I did before. I now know the faces and the names, they are no longer just stories. And for some reason, I feel like I’m just realizing that I can’t leave it that way. They can’t just stay stories. I can no longer walk through the grocery store and see aisle upon aisle of food and not think of my friends who don’t have enough to eat, or those who don’t have anything to eat at all. I can no longer look at my rows and rows of clothes in my closet and not think about those I know who don’t even have one complete outfit. I can no longer stand our society’s push for more and more, for more achievement and more success and more money without thinking of those who make do with so much less. And as I came back to America this time, I wasn’t just disgusted with the excess that I saw all around me, I was disgusted with what I saw in my own heart and my own life. Our struggle here, for more and more, to make it big, have the American dream, well it’s breaking us into less and less. And I see this selfishness and greed in our society, but even more so I see it in myself. And this time God called me to examine my own heart more closely and critically than I think I’ve done in the past.

God has used Haiti to ruin me for anything less than the life He’s calling me to.

It’s ruined me for living for myself.

Photo credit: Morgan Brouk

As I came back home I dealt with the struggles between those things, between living for myself and living for Christ and knowing what it is He’s calling me to grow in or to sacrifice. I know that all that I have is a gift from God and that I am where I am with what I have for a reason. But as I’m home in the States, I’ve just been trying to figure that all out, processing all that’s happened and all the Lord’s doing in me and all that He has in store for me yet. I’m waiting on the Lord in trust and hope that He’s not finished with me yet, that He loves me enough to want more for me and my life than this living for myself. And I’ve just been resting in that while I was trying to process and relax during my week at home in KC with my family.

Photo credit: Emily Spring

So, that brings us here, I’m back at my house in Des Moines getting ready for another school year. And though I don’t know what lies ahead I do know that His purpose for me and my life is much bigger than anything I could imagine. So I’m trusting Him and stepping out in faith. I know He is calling me to continue to push back the darkness wherever I am. He’s calling me to take the light to the darkness. And as scary and uncertain as that may sound, I know that He’s got my back through it all.

My Jesus, He goes with me. 

Although I have such a heart for Haiti, the country and its people, I don’t honestly know where God is calling me or what my next steps are. I’m praying and trusting but I’m unsure exactly where He’ll lead or what it will look like. So I’m just making the most of every day, of every opportunity. Wherever I am I will be there with my whole heart. Coming back after this summer I feel like God’s been asking me to make a choice, to really actually make this choice. I feel like He’s saying to me,

“You say that you’re for the orphan and the oppressed.

You say that you’re for the broken and the lost.

You say that you’re for the impoverished and the hungry.

But what does that really mean?

What does that mean to you?

Where are you willing to go?

What are you willing to let it cost you?

What are you willing to sacrifice?”

Because honestly, I’m starting to grow complacent. I go in obedience, I follow His call. And my heart breaks for the people I’ve met, it breaks for the tragedy I’ve seen. And I want to do something, I want to do more. My broken heart it leads me to love deeper, it leads me to have compassion for the lost and hurting. But I do feel like it’s reaching a critical point.

I feel like God is saying, you have to make a choice to let go of something else so you can experience even more of what I have in store for you.

I can’t continue to hold onto the world so tightly and cling to Jesus at the same time.

Am I going to live for me or for Christ?

Although I definitely made sacrifices and took big risks with my first trips to Haiti, I feel like I have grown a little complacent and maybe a little too comfortable with it all, with life in general. I’ve been there, I know the drill. I’ve seen darkness and I’ve seen heartbreak and I’ve seen tragedy. And I’m not saying that it breaks my heart any less but I am saying that after being broken so many times in the same ways, I am a little afraid to experience it all again. Each time, each trip, each experience I have to remind myself to let my walls down around my heart, I have to allow my heart to unheal a bit, to grow uncalloused, because I know that if I do, if I am vulnerable, I will experience heartbreak and tragedy. But ultimately I know God will use it all to teach and grow and mold me more and more into the image of His Son. God is asking me to step it up a bit, because the sacrifices I’ve made are no longer sacrifices now, and the things I’ve been grown in don’t need as much molding now.

Each time I go, God teaches me something new, He works something different in my heart.

Each time He takes away something I don’t need in this world and gives me something to equip me in His Spirit.

Each time He chips away more of me and makes me more like Christ.

But now, I feel that more than ever, He’s calling me to push back the darkness. He’s asking if I’ll let those walls down here, if I’ll let my heart break for the darkness here at my home in Des Moines. More than ever I feel a certain urgency and weight with this call. And though I’m honestly a little scared to see what He has in store, I know that He’s always got my heart and He will make all things beautiful. He is always with me. I’m praying that as my heart breaks He makes it more fearless, as I grow He makes me more Christ-like, and as I push back the darkness the light shines with more brilliance.

Ephesians 6:10-21
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit,with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

John 1:1-5
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Photo credit: Emily Spring

1 Thessalonians 5:5-24

“For you are all children of light, children of the day.

We are not of the night or of the darkness.

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

Be at peace among yourselves.

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

Photo credit: Beth Lockwood