You're Invited!

AWAKENHAITI Celebration & Benefit

When: Sunday, Nov. 20th, 3 - 5 p.m

Where: Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church Auditorium

1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle, PA 17015

Join the Journey - it just might change your life!

Faith Like a Child

"I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins

and become like little children, you will never get into

the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble

as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."

-Jesus

Dear God, surround me as I speak,

the bridges that I walk across are weak

Frustrations fill the void that I can't solely bear.

Dear God, don't let me fall apart

you've held me close to you

I have turned away and searched

for answers I can't understand.

They say that I can move the mountains

And send them falling to the sea
They say that I can walk on water

If I would follow and believe with Faith Like a Child

Sometimes, when I feel miles away

and my eyes can't see your face

I wonder if I've grown to lose the
recklessness I walked in light of you

They say that I can move the mountains

And send them falling to the sea
They say that I can walk on water

If I would follow and believe with Faith Like a Child

They say that love can heal the broken

They say that hope can make you see

They say that faith can find a Savior

If you would follow and believe

With Faith Like a Child

Our New "Normal"

It's very rare that you find anything with predictability or normalcy in Haiti. I learned very quickly this summer that there is no such thing as a typical day here. You don't know what traffic will be like on any given day, you never know what stores will be closed for no real reason and if the store you need is open, there's a fairly good chance their sold out of exactly what you need. It seems that there is an endless amount of variables in this place, any of which can change your plans for the day in a heartbeat. While this can all be frustrating, I'm thankful for the one [somewhat] normal day of the week that my "job" will now entail. Last weekend, soccer school began for the boys. This week, computer class officially started and will be held on Saturday afternoons after soccer practice. I've come to learn that the boys love soccer and I'm sure they will grow to love computers too, but I think I'm realizing that what they desire more than anything is for consistency from the ones who say they love them and care about them. With the unpredictability of this place, I am very grateful for God's provision over this and opening the perfect opportunity to be consistent and spend time with each of these boys on a regular basis. Below is a look at the first day of our new "normal."

It starts with soccer practice...

Wilguens tries to head one over Junior

Wilguens takes on his opponent

Lens' turn to take on his opponent...

Lens gets the best of him (pictured on ground)

and celebrates his first assist!

Junior celebrates his first goal!

A team prayer to finish practice

A few hours later, computer class is in session.

Teacher's Assistants, Lou & Louie

Computer Lab!

As Kylie and I sat waiting for church to begin on Sunday morning, we decided to get a quick game of hangman in. She ended up hanging me to death, but the word she chose was one I should have been able to guess right away because of how many times I've seen it in my own life: faithful. Although there are plenty trials and struggles while living in Haiti, God's faithfulness always prevails in the end. Here is another glimpse of His faithfulness to the call He has put on my heart...

In July, once my role for the next year with the boys' home had been finalized, I began to set goals for ways to improve the boys' lives in sustainable ways that will have a lasting impact. There were twoshort term goals that I felt very passionate about. The first one was to get the boys enrolled in the soccer school that would allow them to experience a new sense of freedom. The second goal was to set up andmaintain a computer lab for the Good Samaritan kids that would initially allow them to learn how to type and eventually allow them to learn how to build resumes, write letters, make powerpoint presentations, and even keep track of their personal finances. But this was all a pipe dream and although I was certain that God put this idea on my heart, I was unsure of the timing of it all.

Before I headed home for a short time in the beginning of August, I shared these hopes and dreams for the boys with a few people. I wasn't really asking for anything specific, just sharing my vision and praying that God would place the same passion for these kids on the hearts of others. I was hoping that by the end of my one month at home, I would have at least a couple computers to get the lab started. Then God had His plans. Before my plane even landed in the United States, we had five brand new laptops donated to Good Samaritan! This was another BIG glimpse of God's faithfulness to the mission He has given me and was affirmation that I'm living right in the center of His will.

Jeff came up with a great design for the computer lab and we spent this week building and installing it at the boys' home. This area will also double as the boys' study room during the week. Computer classes will begin this Saturday with how to not break a computer and introduction to typing. (For me, I will be learning how to say "Home Row" in Creole this week.) I'm really excited for this opportunity as it will not only serve asa way for the boys (and girls in the near future) to gain more knowledge, but also as time getting to know their interests and personalities better.

The beginning stages...

Loubenson giving Jeff a few pointers.

FINISHED!

Loubenson after breaking the news to him that he's a little too young to participate...

...but his jungle gym did get a little better!

A New Education

One of the many things I've learned since arriving in Haiti in May is that school here can be very demanding of the students who have the privilege of receiving an education. Without the luxury of textbooks in Haitian schools, the kids are expected to learn through memorization. On top of that, every few years they must pass a very challenging exam in order to continue on to the next grade. Before yesterday, the boys at Good Samaritan spent most of their time away from the books playing soccer in their small gravel yard. Outside of school, they rarely see outside the walls of their home. Yesterday, the boys got to experience a new kind of freedom and education: soccer school!

Thanks to God's provision and blessing over the yard sale that supported the boys' home in August, we were able to get Roodley, Jamesly, Wilguens, Junior, and Lens all enrolled in a soccer school that will practice for two hours every Friday evening and Saturday morning from now until June 2012. Over the course of this year, the boys will be able to learn the game of soccer on a real soccer field with real coaches and real equipment. One of the coolest things I've witnessed in Haiti so far was seeing these five boys run around freely and get a taste of what it's like to be a "normal" kid while playing the game they love. Unfortunately my words will not be able to serve justice to what the boys and I (as a spectator) experienced yesterday, but I hope the photos below are helpful in doing that!

Getting fitted with cleats and socks sent from the States!

Thank you, Carlisle Area YMCA!

The first day at school! Clearly this is strictly business.

Lens (age 9) was loving life despite spending more time rolling around with one shoe on than he did actually playing soccer.

Junior - Age 11

Wilguens - Age 14

Jamesly - Age 15

Roodley - Age 15

Colton and Max getting some time on the nice field!

The boys' chauffeur, Loubenson - Age 3

Week 1

It has been an exciting and busy first week back in Haiti and I'm so thankful and blessed by God's continued faithfulness to the mission He has called me to. Please take a look at some of what's been going on in the Good Samaritan ministry!

The newest additions to Good Samaritan

On Sunday, the boys' home welcomed their first set of twins, Loubens & Loubenson. (We are working on nicknames.) They're three years old and love to hang around the older boys. With the older boys being in the same age range, the addition of these two are giving the home a new dynamic. I'm really excited to see how all the boys grow this next year because of these two and the new responsibilities that come with them!

Another new addition

With the funds raised from last weekend's yard sale in Pennsylvania, we were able to purchase a refrigerator for the boys' home. The boys' caretakers have been looking forward to this day for a long time and Lens and Junior love it because their jungle gym just got a little better. Thank you to everyone back home who helped make this possible! This is just some of the fruit of your willingness to give of your time and resources for the boys.

The Good Samaritan Woodshop has begun

In August, Jeff designed a bench/desk for the school and church in Canaan. After church is over, the backrest of the bench can easily be flipped up and turned into a desk for school.

For Church:

For School:

Earlier this week, we had an organization order several of these benches for their church and school in a nearby town. We decided to take this opportunity to get a few of the older boys from Good Samaritan around carpentry, which could potentially be the beginning of a transition program for the boys. On Thursday and Friday, we picked up Roodley and Jamesly (age 15) to come help with this project. As expected, they jumped in to help wherever they could and loved having the opportunity to learn new skills.

As these pictures might suggest, God has shown me so much of His love and grace in my transition back to Haiti. As I left the boys' home last night, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and joy in knowing that I am exactly where God has called me to and His faithfulness this week and the weeks leading up to my return is a reflection of that. Please continue to pray that I will continue to follow God's direction above all else, remembering at all times that this is His ministry. Thank you for walking beside me on this journey!

A Glimpse of His Faithfulness

I was kind of disappointed when I found out I had a two hour layover in Miami on my way to Port-au-Prince, but now I'm thankful for it because it's giving me the chance to share with you how God has been working in big ways. As you may or may not know, I came back to the States for a short time to regroup before heading back to Haiti for one year. It was incredible to see God providing for the mission that He has called me to during this time. It was a great reminder that there is no reason to worry because as long as I remain faithful and obedient to where He is leading me, He will provide.

We had a yard sale for the Good Samaritan boys this past Saturday where many people sacrificed their time and resources to help carry out God's plan for the day. I wasn't feeling too good about the day, because the previous few days had been nothing but rain which caused major flooding in south-central PA. We had many people praying for this day and that God's plan would be carried out, whatever that looked like. The day was filled with nothing but sunshine and clear skies.

With no real "big ticket items" up for sale, I was hoping that we would be able to raise $1000 for the boys, but I even felt that was a long shot. Then God has His plan. There was a constant flow of traffic in front of our house all day and at the end of the day, our garage (which was packed full the day before) was nearly empty. When all was said and done, we had raised just over $2400.

I am completely blown away by God's power and faithfulness. He knew that I was only going to be in PA for a few weeks and He knew that I didn't have the time to prepare different types of fundraisers for the boys on top of raising my own support and spending time with family and friends. He knew exactly who we needed to make all this possible, and He provided those people. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this day possible, I don't want to even guess what it would have looked like without your help. I couldn't ask for a more encouraging last couple of days before moving to Haiti...GOD IS FAITHFUL!