TODAY! What a GREAT day for Many Hands. As unimaginable as the news reports are that are telling what is going on in Haiti's capital city, life in the countryside of Haiti is unimaginable in totally different ways.
Craig was up early getting a project done before the heat of the day set in. For a moment a couple of hard working bees offered a time to reflect on the status of life. All people are hearing about Haiti is how 'untenable' things are in Port au Prince. I had to look up the definition of untenable. It is an adjective meaning 'not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.' With no political leadership and too much gang leadership there seems little hope.
However, the bees.... they have work to do and they keep doing it even among this untenable condition in the country. Now on to TODAY! As Many Hands staff member Jean Rene Deforge and I were crossing the river to visit some people in Me Bel Me (MBM), we saw another MH motorcycle with 2 MH staff from the Agronomy Department. They had already been to MH MBM campus where they are starting a garden program for the families enrolled in the First Thousand Days program.
Just a few minutes more down the road, we crossed paths with a 'parade' of women celebrating "International Women's Day" on this 'sunshine and blue sky day', complete with a small band of drums and brass instruments. We paused and then continued on down the dirt road to our first destination. We had heard there was a man that had been sick for a long time. We were going to pass by the house to offer some words of encouragement to the family.
As we arrive, coming from the yard is the cry of a woman in distress. We were invited in to learn that the wife of the man who has been sick is worried that her husband is dying. They have six young children. With no strength to fight, it appears the time is near. We sit together, we talk together, we pray together. We try to offer some comfort.
Jean Rene and I were back on the dirt road, very moved by the family in distress, we remember a song that church choirs often sing... 'O-o-oo I am not afraid to die. O-o-oo the angels are waiting for me.' Together we agreed this is such a comfort for a person close to dying. We contemplated... what about the family that is left to mourn? Such a heavy feeling.
Our next stop was the family pictured below.
The woman is enrolled in the Prenatal part of the First Thousand Days program. The house where she and her family live is in very poor condition. MH had provided a tarp a few months ago which is on the left side of the house. Today another tarp and some wire are provided to go over the roof to prevent rain from leaking into the house, preparing a better living environment for when the new baby comes. Life is HARD but the family is making it.
This is Olianise. Her front yard is beautiful with flowers, trees, and bushes. She is a recent recipient of a concrete floor that was provided by MH. In February Olianise had a miscarriage at the three month stage of her pregnancy. This was her sixth miscarriage. Our purpose for the visit was to encourage her to find the comfort of God's love in her life.
Back on the dirt road, our moto encountered a third MH moto with Micul representing MH Leadership Development, on his way to the MBM Love in Action Center to teach a class on"Lead Like Jesus" leadership curriculum.
Baby Witchelson Metelus was next. This little guy was born early February. When he was 16 days old, he still was very jaundice and dehydrated. MH assisted with some hospital care for a few days. Prayers were answered and Witchelson is comfortable at home in MBM with his loving family.
AND this little guy... newest MBM resident, less than one day old, hasn't yet been given a name! On the left is Nurse Monette who is the prenatal nurse for the program. She heard of the birth and was already there to offer some supportive care. Nurse Monette with MH moto driver Jaknel makes FOUR MH motos circulating in the MBM zone, doing the work that God has laid out for MH to do and God is providing the way to do it!
Another aspect in making TODAY a great MH day is the production capacity of the artisans that work out of MH campus with ViBella Jewelry. We are getting ready to ship some completed product back to the US.
I hope the sharing of the events of this day give a picture of a different Haiti than what was so predominantly reported in the news today.
Back to the bees... MH has work to do and we are going about that work just as diligently as the bees who have their work to do. God's blessings continue. He has given the blessing of a peace-filled, safe area, not far from the storm but far away enough to offer the chance to carry on.
Assurance of God's Protection - Psalm 91
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and defense.
You will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up. so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.
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