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| This Old House |
Recently, as we were sitting with three young gals in an
interview setting, the question came up, “Where do you live?” Next, came, “How many people live in your
house?” Simple enough question,
right? The question was presented to
them individually and each one needed a minute to think through their
household. One of the gals replied 8
people, the next decided there were 11.
It was cute how the third interviewee was visibly counting in her
head. She finally concluded 14 people
lived in her house.
Another example happened when asking a friend, “How many
people live in your house?” His reply after a pause to think, “Oh, 11 or 12.”
Doesn’t that seem hard to imagine, not knowing exactly how
many people live in your own house? To
top it off these ‘houses’ are possibly 2 small rooms, most no larger than 4
small rooms and the total space might be 400 square feet (16’x25’)
Down the road from us, one household is just a bit
different. A little girl named Guerline
and her Grandma live together, just the 2 of them. We have gotten to know them through the Many
Hands for Haiti Thrive for 5 Program which provides a daily meal, spiritual
development, immunizations and basic healthcare for enrolled kids age 0-5.
We learned from Grandma that Guerline was brought to her by the mother. The mother has not been seen since. We don’t know a birthdate for Guerline but she is probably about 2 years old. Guerline and Grandma are quite a team. They come to ‘Thrive’ together each day, they attend church together, they go to market together, they do everything together.
Typical Haitian living includes a home with a dirt floor
which creates many health hazards.
An additional benefit of being enrolled in the Thrive for 5 Program is the
potential opportunity to receive a cement floor in your house. Guerline and her
grandma were in line to receive the new floor.
However, Grandma kept insisting that a new floor wasn’t necessary but they
needed a new tin roof because their roof leaked every time the rain came. The program doesn’t offer the option since
the point of the cement floor is to provide a healthier living environment. Discussion from MH4H concluded that Guerline
and her grandma would have a cement floor AND a new roof.
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| Before |
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| Old tin roof that leaks. That is the sun shining through during the day. |
With this announcement, Grandma was overwhelmed with joy, hands raised in the air, praising God. She told us she had been praying for a new roof for over a year and a half. She said God told her to be patient. That day her prayers were answered. The new tin roof was completed in one day which kept this inseparable pair dry the next 2 nights through HARD rainy season rains.
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| The roofer uses the nearby tree to get on the roof. Some new wood was added also. |
The cement floor was a 2 day project. With all the personal belongings moved out into
the yard, it created a neighborhood gathering spot to come and watch and share
in the excitement. There was community
being built as well.
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| All the household items were moved outside for the cement floor to be poured...one 5 gallon bucket at a time. |
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| The neighbors gathered to share in the excitement of the day |
This home renovation project may not make an episode of
‘This Old House’ or an HGTV home improvement show but it was a classic scene
depicting Jesus’ love and God’s provision IN ACTION. The entire project was completed with Haitian
workers. Can you even imagine the fact
that both projects were completed with a few simple tools: a machete, a hammer,
a shovel, a couple 5 gallon buckets, and a trowel. NO ladder, no tin snip, no power tools, no
cement mixer, no electricity.
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| A few simple tools |
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| Done! But still a temporary dwelling. Jesus has prepared an eternal home. |
Guerline and her grandma will now stay dry under a new tin
roof and have a better chance at staying healthy with their new cement
floor. These improvements will help them
deal with the hard life in Haiti . But one day the roof will need to be replaced,
again. One day the cement will start to
crumble. These improvements are temporary. Through ‘Thrive for 5’ Guerline and
her Grandma are learning more about Jesus each day. They are learning that Jesus has an eternal
home prepared those who believe.
“Do not let your
hearts be troubled, you believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that
were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for
you? And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am. You know the way to the place where
I am going.” John 14:1-4
Guerline’s grandma waited and prayed for a year and a half
for a new roof. She waited on the Lord
to provide and now she is giving thanks. Waiting…that can be the hardest thing.
Jesus tells us that he has a place
prepared for us and that he is going to come back to take us to where He
is. We know the way and we have to wait.
Going on in John
14:5,6. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we
don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my
Father as well. From now on, you do know
Him and have seen Him.”
Jesus is the way! Not
a way, but THE WAY. In Haiti , there
are many who practice a religion of fear, voodoo. Practicing voodoo is not the way, Jesus is THE
WAY! There is nothing eternal about Voodoo.
Jesus is eternal.
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Love,
Craig and Christi
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| Thrive for 5 Center located on the campus of Many Hands for Haiti in Savanette, Haiti |
This past Saturday this building was used as the venue for a wedding reception. Coming up on September 9 and 10 this will be
the location of the first Many Hands for Haiti All Employee Spiritual
Conference. Guest speaker, Pastor
Walliere, from Port au Prince will be leading with messages about the
Historical perspective of Haiti ,
the power of the voodoo culture, and Freedom in Christ. We ask for your prayers for all involved so
that God will open each persons heart, mind, and soul to follow where HE leads.
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