Choose FAITH over fear

Hello! from IOWA. We hope this greeting finds YOU healthy and virus-free. Just as this is an unexpected time for everyone, this is hardly how we envisioned the second half of our sabbatical time to be spent. As MH4H sent us on sabbatical January 2, 2020, we have missed being connected with you all.

While attending a church service in Tennessee the second Sunday of March, the main theme of the sermon sparked a memory of when our kids were young. We had a cassette tape that we played over and over again of a dramatization of the Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20). In the part of the story where the angel approaches the shepherds in the field, the angel called out, "Fear not." The shepherds on this audio cassette reacted, "AAAHHHH!!!" The angel encouraged the shepherds again with a bit more determination, "Fear not." Again, the shepherds responded, "AAAAHHHH!!!" The angel, NOW a bit irritated, replied, "What part of FEAR NOT are you NOT understanding?... Never mind, listen up."


So the sermon three weeks ago addressed the need to not be fearful of the current events that were upon us. That continued message was shared this week during an online service from Michigan as the pastor began by saying we must choose FAITH over fear. AND ... that we should not get TOO accustomed to 'going' to church in our pajamas!

Sprinkled quite liberally throughout scripture, these words are found...."Do not fear", "do not be afraid", "do not give way to fear", "do not be anxious", "cast all your anxiety on him", "don't be alarmed", "do not worry", "do not lose heart or be afraid", "do not be fainthearted", "do not be terrified". (Google "do not fear in the bible" and see where to find these references.)

GO to scripture, READ, FIND these words for yourself. REMIND yourself of ALL these occasions people had reason to be afraid and God gave encouragement and comfort with this assurance. We have this SAME assurance today, all day, tomorrow, all day. Do not fear.

As you see the world in crisis, it is fitting to lament over this very unprecedented time. Lament flips to HOPE because God shows up and is present with you by the power of the Holy Spirit. And oh! how important to keep HOPE during this time. Our patience will be tested. Our FAITH will be tested.

Kinda seems as though some of you may now find yourselves in a similar 'sabbatical' mode. How are you spending your time?

We have reflected, regrouped, reloaded, and now, maybe we will be challenged even more to do these things all over again!

We have been from 'sea to shining sea', seeing the sunrise over the Atlantic (above) and the sunset over the Pacific (below).

We have enjoyed a tremendous amount of the beauty of the United States of America including an up-close and personal moment with this Florida gator. After the fact, we learned if you are ever chased by an alligator, you should run in a zig-zag pattern as they can't see straight ahead. Really good to know! "Fear not!"

We arrived at our 'home away from home' in Tennessee the evening that a monster tornado demolished a chunk of the Nashville area. About an hour from where we were staying was a hard hit location.

We had the privilege of serving as part of the relief effort. We were able to assist a Nashville area restaurant by serving burritos to other relief workers and help organize and distribute piles of donations that had been given for the benefit of people who had lost everything. Fear not, God will care for you in many ways during a time of need!

A plank from a wooden dock floated to shore on East Lake Okoboji after a light windstorm. This goose had always wanted to try his skill at "stand-up paddle boarding".

And then striking a YOGA pose.

The performance came to an end. His audience all left!

After several early mornings of noticing the unusual behavior of this male cardinal, we had to again,  google, "why do cardinals repeatedly fly into a glass window?" This was the explanation...

"This is a problem that is most common in the spring as male birds are establishing and defending territories. The male sees his reflection in the window and thinks it is a rival trying to usurp his territory. He flies at the window to try and make the rival leave. Stopping this behavior can be difficult. Covering the window is one option, however, in most cases, the bird will just find a new window and start again. Another option is to put a mirror out in the yard in a place where the male should find it, and let him fight his phantom rival out there away from your window!"

So, we just make the most of his quirky ways and wake up early each morning to the sound of this cardinal fighting his phantom rival. Maybe HE should 'fear not!'

The beavers are already going stir-crazy from COVID-19 quarantine. The expression, "Busy as a beaver" is used for good reason. OH! if we could all be so industrious, especially NOW!

This is the office door of the 'Beaver Boss'.  :)

Does this have anything to do with "social distancing"?

A new career in food service could be in sight.  Well, maybe not!

Our son, Michael, with his wife, Brittany, pregnant with Liam and holding Essie in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Our granddaughter, Ivy, and our grandson, Oliver, were visiting from Spencer, Iowa. We are in our usual practice of communicating with our family the same way we would as if we were in Haiti, using Facetime, sending photos and messages. We must say that this is a uniquely, awkward time to be 'homeless'. A bit inconvenient right now to be perpetual house guests.  :(  BUT we are grateful for a beautiful place to stay during this time. Fear not! God provides!

Four month old granddaughter, Lila, being held by her dad, Jonathan, in Holland, Michigan. Thankful for the technology of being able to stay in touch, in the usual way.



Choose FAITH over fear. Beware, keep your eyes open and choose FAITH. This leads to peace. Don't make the angel ask you, "What part... of fear not... are you not understanding?" :)

PSALM 91 God Our Protector
1)Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,  2) can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust." 3) He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. 4) He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you. 5) You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day 6) or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight. 7) A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed. 8) You will look and see how the wicked are punished. 9) You have made the Lord your defender, the Most High your protector, 10) and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home. 11) God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go. 12) They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from hurting your feet on the stones. 13) You will trample down lions and snakes, fierce lions and poisonous snakes. 14) God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord. 15) When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. 16) I will reward them with long life; I will save them."

Ongoing Transformation..

It is always a pleasure to share some of what we see happening here in Haiti. Many Hands for Haiti is about life transformation in Christ: physically, emotionally, spiritually. And that transformation may be in an individual, family, even a community. We see God working here EVERY day in tough situations, just as he is working EVERY day in tough situations in the US and around the world. This is a story of ongoing transformation for Many Hands friends, Maintil and Edmond.

Many Hands initially met Maintil through a goat distribution where he and his family received a pregnant female goat to help their family be more self-sufficient. The discoloration of Maintil's skin, as he describes, is due to some medication he had taken years ago. This man and his family have been on our prayer list and have received various forms of help from MH along the way. Maintil and his grandson are picture here with a MH short-term mission team after bringing them a gift of food with the Love of Jesus attached.

            Maintil and his grandson during a visit from a MH short-term mission team

The family situation has been difficult but it has become even harder when a little over a year ago Maintil's daughter and her family left the Pignon area to live in another community about one hour away by motorcycle. The husband had inherited some land on which they have done their best to construct a home in the new community of Nan Rang.

This move left Maintil to look out for himself along with a teenage grandson who also stayed behind. The house where the two currently live near Pignon is offered to them by a generous man. While it is generous of the man to let Maintil and his grandson live in this house, the house really isn't fit to live in. It is not much of a house. With no way to lock the house, it does not provide security for the occupants or their belongings.

Maintil is in his late 70's, is forgetful, and is having health issues. The grandson is less than responsible about helping care for his grandpa. Maintil had found a tiny, one room house for rent a short distance from where he is currently living. This could be an improvement for security over his current residence but it still leaves him in the situation of having no one to look out for and care for him.

At a point, a supporter of MH was touched after hearing a bit of Maintil's story. IN conversation back in March 2019 this supporter indicated an interest in providing a new house for someone through MH SAFE HOMES program and mentioned Maintil. Much prayer has covered this ongoing story.

Late August 2019, MH Chaplains, Pastor Lumanes and Pastor Jean Ronel and I took Maintil to Nan Rang, the community where the daughter now lives. What a contrast... at the current residence near Pignon, Maintil has NO ONE! However, as we approached the area of Nan Rang on motorcycles, Maintil was being greeted with enthusiasm by MANY people. It felt just a bit like a scene you might imagine as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey.

We reached the daughter's house with the help of several neighbors giving us directions because Maintil, himself, had never been to visit since the daughter had moved.

We sat and talked and were encouraged to hear there were no relationship issues to prevent them from living in the same house. Because of the interest from the supporter of MH, some investigation is being done by MH Safe homes Committee, made up of three of MH Haitian Managers, to see how we could assist the family to complete the house and allow all of the family to be reunited.

Upon Maintil's arrival in Nan Rang, this young grandson ran to greet his grandpa. As it approached time to leave, this little guy thought he should go with his grandpa.

I had a follow up visit to Nan Rang with our PET mobility guys because our first visit revealed some possible PET cart recipients. As I arrived on that second visit, the first person I see... the sixteen year-old grandson! We talked. He is no living with his family in Nan Rang!! Not going to school yet, but nonetheless, WITH HIS FAMILY.

NEXT on this second visit, we set out to visit people that had shown a need for a PET cart. We had distributed one in the area over two years ago so I was interested to see that person. We found him... Edmond. He greeted us and wondered if we would ever come to visit him! He is nearly a quadriplegic...having use of ONE arm and hand.

             Edmond in February 2017 when he received his PET cart

He was not in the house where we had met him originally. BECAUSE... that house had FALLEN DOWN. He was staying in a room of a house of someone who is currently in the Dominican Republic but is returning to the house within two months which at that time Edmond needs a place to live.

Edmond is a man everyone should meet. With the TREMENDOUS challenges he faces each day, what a great attitude. Back to our first moment of greeting him that day, he gave us a bit of history and then said, "really, all I have missed is death.", "Mwen manke mouri", and said it with a smile. That is how difficult his life is. It would certainly be easier, he feels, if he would die, but that is not his wish. He has perseverance and stamina and HOPE.

SO this is how God works... He brought the sixteen year-old to the family he needs to be with, He reunited MH with a PET recipient in tremendous need, and He gave MH generous donors to carry out HIS plan with hopes of completing the partially constructed house for Maintil and his family as well as construct a small house for Edmond, maybe two rooms with a front porch, definitely HANDICAP accessible so he can come and go. Realistically, Edmond has the same need as Maintil. He is in need of someone to look out for and care for him. If there is a Safe Home to live in, maybe, just maybe, a family member will be there for him.

      MH Safe Committee: 
                   (L-R) Pastor Jean Ronel, Construction Coordinator Jean Rene, Pastor Lumanes

MH Safe Homes Committee will continue the investigation process and consider how to best facilitate this life transformation in Christ for these people in need.

How do you...live?

The question started out to be, "How do you make a living?" as a Many Hands for Haiti mission team was being introduced to a Haitian woman while sharing a gift of food. Exactly as it happened, a team member began to ask, "How do you... (pause)..." and the Haitian translator jumped in to finish the question by asking... "How do you LIVE?" Seated in her home with this group of visitors surrounding her, she replied without hesitation, "pa lafwa"... "by faith".

Just think about that a second. In American culture, people identify themselves often by what one does for a living, as in how you make money to support yourself and your family. A sense of security comes from a steady paycheck a savings account, several IRA's, and medical insurance. In contrast, none of those things are in the realm of 'achievement' for an overwhelming majority of families in Haiti as well as many other places around the world. It is just not there. You may be thinking, "oh those poor people living in poverty!







Turn to Matthew 5 and read verses 3-10. Start here with the first couple verses quoted from The Message translation of the bible...

3) "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."
4) "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
5) "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are, no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." (continue reading to verse 10)


Daily we find dire situations at our front door. Recently we met a family: mom, dad, and seven children, who lost their house and everything in it to a fire, No such thing as home owners insurance here. Not long after that, two brothers came to the MH gate to share their concern, Their father is blind and the family has nothing. Especially because it is rainy season, we constantly hear from people who are burdened by living in a stick and mud house with a leaky roof.

                 Blind and not able to stand

        He needs surgery but is anemic

          Nearly one year old and weighs 10 lbs 12 oz

During church this past Sunday, as it was time for prayer, the pastor beckoned the people... "close your eyes and talk to your father." As the pastor led the prayer, we prayed "for all the people who don't have the means to take care of themselves." Let's think about this again... if we go back to Matthew 5, WHO are those that are blessed? These very people whom we might feel pity for! Blessed, when you have nothing, so you FULLY rely on God in every moment.

A personal exchange of text messages between our daughter and I... I start... "I have been challenged by some tough things the past several days." (Received...two pictures of our beautiful granddaughter to "lift your spirits", along with the invitation, "is it anything you want to share about?") My response, "Thank you for asking. I think a term I have heard used...'poverty fatigue' would describe it. I have been doing my normal, caring for people with the various needs that exist, doing several special medical care things...medical help here is always challenging. Seeing malnutrition in babies, visiting people whose needs never end...legitimate needs. And most often feeling like we have to say, 'nope, got nothin', go on home now and have a nice life." Just that kind of stuff. But, there are so many rewards in the midst of the challenges, so it is just that time of weathering through. Finding peace and confidence in God's plan for it all. AND  keeping HOPE for tomorrow."

 This man, found just sitting in the hospital yard,
  is being transported in a 'Haitian gurney'

                  A family doing their best

This young woman found a 2 lb 3 oz baby in the bottom of their latrine

     This is where the baby was found...inside

         Latrine baby at about 2 weeks old

These words from 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 are what we cling to today.

12) "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13) But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."

So with all that...how does a person cope with this 'poverty fatigue'?...
Pa lafwa, By faith.

                                Teamwork

Blessed is the one who changes this roll

      Excited to have water to drink!

Staying the course

Road work being done on 84 kilometers of mountainous terrain is back in business after being stalled due to the political unrest Haiti has seen in the past weeks. The current work is being done right here in the Many Hands for Haiti area. This is the mountain passage used to get from MH campus to Pignon each day.  Go! Go! Go! Rainy season is approaching!

Spiritual care is going strong. MH recently hired two part time Chaplains who will be working under the direction of MH Chaplains Pastor Jean Ronel and Pastor Lumanes shown above. This particular morning, they are ministering to Maintil in Tinot, a neighboring community. Maintil lives with a grandson in a broken down house with very few personal possessions. (see below) Maintil desires to be baptized. Pastor Lumanes is talking with the pastor of a church in Tinot to be sure this church family is aware of Maintil's situation.

Meet Elirose. She is part of the development programs happening in Sylvain through MH effort.

Elirose shared a story this week of how she has seen God at work in her life through MH. She started as she shared her recent struggles and then went on to express her gratitude for the impact MH has had on her life. Elirose sited July of 2015 as a beginning.  She was attending a type of young adult event at a church in Pignon with a Pastor Mane.  Each young adult in attendance was asked to write the challenges they face on a piece of paper. On the paper Elirose had in her hand, she wrote about the challenge of providing for her young son. She went on, "The very next day, MH came to my house to tell about a program for moms with young children that they would be starting in our community."  Elirose carried on our conversation with such confidence, courage, and a tone of true gratitude.

At this time, the child she wrote about on her paper is in MH School of Light which includes our Power to the Parents initiative. She has a child in MH First Thousand Days program, and was recently counseled and married on MH Campus on December 29th, 2018 with the help of MH chaplains. She, herself, has been carrying these wood posts that are in place as the first step toward their new house on the land that she and her husband have purchased.

Now, being married, she has opportunity to serve in church. With a beautiful voice and a heart for worshiping God, Elirose was the song leader at our church two weeks ago.

MH Safe Homes ministry is as active as ever. A MH home build house was painted, an estimate for repair on the house (Left) is in the works. MH is completed a small repair on another house this past week.

God has called a family to take in and care for Bolivar, a mentally and physically challenged young man that recieved a Mobility cart through MH in February 2018. The house where he is living needs to be more handicap accessible for Bolivar to safely come and go from his new room.  MH Safe Homes coordinator Jean Rene is getting an estimate on a better path through the yard and a safety railing for the steps.

MH continues to identify potential Mobility cart recipients. This little grandma shared the story of her younger years as a hard worker. However, several years ago she was left without the use of her legs. Below, Ewand, a Mobility cart repair technician for MH, shows a demonstration video on a MH I-phone of a Mobility cart in use to see if she thinks she has the capability of powering a cart. Still with a spunky personality and a smile with a can do attitude, she will have the opportunity to try. What a joy it was to be part of this day.

Meet Jean Philipp (Pictured above) and Alex.

Jean Philipp lives in Hinche, about one hour South of MH Campus. Alex lives in Maissade, about one hour Southwest of MH campus. They are the new  Mobility Cart Community Coordinators for MH in their respective communities. They will coordinate the repair schedule for the Mobility Cart owners in these areas. With so many carts in use, Jean Philipp and Alex will be able to help MH repair technicians, Ewand and Erilner, have efficient use of their cart repair time.

Both of these young men are Mobility cart owners themselves and have a heart for serving their peers.

Speaking of STAYING THE COURSE... These two young men, on their own effort had organized a Mobility cart course race.  They had the second annual Hinche race on December 3, 2018. Maissade held their first annual race in July 2018.  We didn't even know!! Maybe next years races should add color like a color blast run.

The right leg of a Mobility cart owner was amputated in January 2019. This woman has diabetes and the open sores she battles just never heal resulting in the amputation. She battles a sore on her left foot. Yesterday she said she has peace that GOD will not allow the need for her left leg to be amputated. Staying the course.

Fre Arnold, Brother Arnold, a Christian with as deep of a foundation as you will find, is test driving a new prototype of a Mobility cart provided by MH partner Mobility Worldwide. The body of the cart is molded plastic versus wood. The organization is hoping to design a cart that stands up to the rugged life such as is found in the county of Haiti. So far, the prototype is getting good reviews.

This is Fre Arnold's "abitasyon", the place where he gardens and spends time with God.  Here MH Agronomist, Claudin, is paying a visit to see what type of gardening technics he is using. Claudin is impressed with his willing attitude, hard work, and success. Maybe Fre Arnold could be a mentor for some young people

                                                   A locally made "awozwa", watering can.

Garden land is being prepared by MH Power to the Parents Alpha gardening group. After their success last year, these ladies are ready for their second year of gardening.

Jean Ribert pictured far left is giving these four budding musicians PIANO LESSONS!  MH is providing the needed electricity AND....a peanut butter sandwich, juice, and a sucker!!

Mme Manix, Master Laundress LOVES her work!

                                           A WORKING lunch at the local restaurant.


STAY THE COURSE and CELEBRATE with MH how God provides even in times of uncertainty.  Pray for signs of SHALOM in the CHAOS.  Chaos as translated into Creole means DEZOD, "out of control"  SHALOM...a state of being where everything is as GOD intends it to be.  Bring Shalom to Chaos wherever you are today, tomorrow and into the future. We can't know what tomorrow holds. This afternoon we will be visiting a neighbor who is dying of cancer. We will sing and read scripture. Shalom.

Jesus LOVES YOU this I know!..... stay the course