God has a plan

God has a plan. In the wait of letting God's plan unfold, we put our best effort forth to stay in step with all that God has shown us so far.

Haiti is in a crisis. A type of crisis the country really has not experienced before. The exchange rate of US dollars to Haitian gourdes is in a tailspin. We hear of many families that are facing tremendous hardship because of the financial crisis at hand. What this has done for MH is cut our purchasing power basically in half. MH built 2 homes from the Safe Homes program in August. In September, that same amount of money to build 2 homes would now build ONE house. 

As an organization, the decision was made to let things unfold a bit more to hopefully find a more stable market. In place of building, our Safe Homes department is painting houses that have been previously built by MH. A great end product in itself!
 

The school calendar for Haiti is also unfolding with adjustments made because of the world-recognized Corona Virus which is seemingly not a problem here. MH 'School of Light' started the new school year in October with beautiful new uniforms for each of the students. Boss Kelic, below, met the deadline with the 39 uniforms he was hired to sew.

"School Registration Day" included trying on new uniforms to see if any adjustments were needed. Above, is a proud mom with her handsome preschooler.

Annually, incoming preschool families receive a gift of a pregnant female goat from MH prior to the start of the school year. With delays in the school schedule, some of the pregnant female goats have already given birth so a family could receive the adult female plus the 'kid'. These things 'unfold' with or without adjustments to the calendar!

Oh, what it takes in Haiti to be the mother of a preschooler! The goats are part of a program to help parents with the responsibility of paying school tuition. 

Choosing and meeting twenty couples from our area that will have the privilege of being united in marriage is right on schedule. Meet Erick and Louisemene, 24 and 23 years respectively. Erick came to meet Louisemene because his aunt and cousins lived in the same community as Louisemene. The couple's relationship unfolded over time, during which Erick wore out many pairs of shoes because of the long walk to get to her house. 

MH Lead Chaplain, Pastor Lumanes, sizes the couples for their wedding bands. Another beautiful couple, Makenson, a farmer aged 34, and Luitani, a small scale merchant aged 32, pictured below, will be married at MH campus on December 19. They were both raised in Christian families and both accepted Christ as their Savior early in life. They also lived in separate communities. Their relationship began as they attended the same church one day. They talked a bit after the service was over and things have been unfolding ever since. Makenson and Luitani have been waiting twelve years for this opportunity.

Part of the work of the MH Chaplains is to help put together all the documentation needed for the marriage to be officially recognized by the Haitian government. This birth certificate, issued in 1941, belongs to Ernest, and has been folded and unfolded more times than one could ever know. His beautiful bride, Debel, is just 72 years young! What a day it will be to see them in wedding attire

This is the first distribution of goats in the community of Maliarette, which is MH's second center for the First 1000 Days Program. Seated around the Maliarette gazebo are moms with the 3 year-olds of the program, excited to see the distribution unfold.  

After some paperwork is complete, moms and children are happy to take home a pregnant goat to be cared for. A goat in Haiti is better than a savings account at the bank because of the dividends that unfold.

Everything to GOD in prayer... Each day in the life of a Haitian family requires strength and often just sheer guts to make it through. More than sixty MH staff were part of a prayer walk that took place one morning on the main MH Sylvain campus as well as the Maliarette campus. Over time a prayer path has been created on campus and was a key element with it's prayer stations and quiet places to be in the presence of God. The MH staff were directed to think about the theme of "Restoration". By taking care of the vertical relationship we have with God, we can improve our horizontal relationship with our fellow man. We read together, Luke 10:27... "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."  Below are visuals at two of the prayer stations. 

MH school teachers, night security guards, agronomy helpers, chaplains, agronomist, cooks, taxi drivers, program leaders, mobility cart repairmen, depot manager, and more, focused their hearts and minds on Jesus to present requests to God and give thanks for all the blessings.

Following the prayer walk, everyone assembled together in the Equipping Center to conclude with a united prayer.

Finally, MH Raised Bed Garden program is rolling again after the COVID 19 interruption. The participants, those with physical disabilities, are hard at work on MH campus to clean their garden spaces of overgrown weeds during the past time of neglect. Soil will be prepared and seeds planted, and sprouts watered. They will continue the training for successful gardening to happen eventually in their own yards 

Agronomist Claudin shares some instruction with Joslin, also a handicapped farmer. MH has offered Joslin some training and assistance with developing a vegetable garden to provide a source of income for Joslin. 

Warm, friendly greetings were exchanged to start out a difficult visit to Joslin's house. Joslin was a bit preoccupied with arranging a piece of cardboard. At first it was not clear what it's purpose would be. Joslin finally gets the cardboard torn in two and folded in just the right spot. Then... he lays both pieces side by side as you can see below. Then, as a true gentleman... Joslin motions and suggests, "Would you like to sit?" This was to be our meeting space to communicate that the assistance for his vegetable garden would not be able to continue. It had been a 'one and done' deal so now we pray for Joslin and SO MANY OTHERS who are in the wait for God's plan to unfold in their lives to see just how GOD will provide.

Our HOPE remains just as we can see this beautiful palm leaf growing and unfolding right before our eyes. God continues to amaze his followers with His goodness and the comfort He brings in times of adjustment, uncertainty, and waiting in a crisis. 

God has a plan. In the wait of letting God's plan unfold, put your best effort forth to stay in step with all that God has shown you so far.  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

Testimony of HOPE

The entire morning was an ongoing testimony of HOPE. We arrived. Our team of five representing Many Hands at a mobility cart repair event in the community of Hinche, came on two motorcycles and one MH three-wheeler which was transporting two brand new mobility carts. 

I was greeted by an old guy and a young gal, both on mobility carts, both have only one leg. They both exclaim, "I haven't seen you for a long time!" Adding in a joyful jest, "You left us behind!" (Ou te lage nou!) The young gal's name is Adeline. She is 29 years old and has three children ages 6, 4, and almost 2. She lost her leg in a motorcycle accident when she was seven years old. 

Adeline says boldly, "We never get tired of praying for you," (Nou pa janm bouke priye pou ou) "because you think about the handicapped."  I notice right away the condition of her cart, the tires are worn out as well as the rest of the cart. Adeline says without her cart she couldn't do anything. The old man chimes in with the same thing.

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

Our team gets right to work. MH driver, Yves, standing to the left of the MH three-wheeler and Pastor Jean Rubert standing to the right, both engage in conversation with mobility cart owners. The repairmen start making repairs.

The man, left, lost his leg in a construction accident. He calmly says, "Lavi se konsa a, mwen kouche avek Jezi, mwen leve avek Jezi." Life is like this, Jesus is with me when I lie down, He is with me when I get up. I can't worry about how I will eat. I know God will give me food.  HIS testimony of Hope.

We soon learn that the man seated to the right in the picture above lost everything he owned, except his one crutch and his cart, when his house burned to the ground in March of this year.  He tells how he has high blood pressure and is always so hot that he can’t wear a shirt. He shares that his wife has been sick for quite some time. All the while, telling his story, smiling and laughing, he chuckles, "God knows."  Another testimony of Hope.

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

Above is the "AAA" towing service. The cart in front is broken down. The two carts following are pushing the lead cart along. They arrive and each cart gets attention. Incredible team work and an incredible testimony of perseverance.

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

This mobility cart is a 'mobile business'. The cart owner sells cold drinks from his cart. He works hard and his cart proves it. After the attention of the repairmen, he is literally BACK IN BUSINESS!

Seated is Pastor Jean Rubert, intently listening and encouraging throughout the whole morning. Other mobility cart owners we saw included a young man who is mute. Next, a very thin old man who doesn't feel well because he has constant pain, "Mwen toujou gen doule, m' pa santi alez, men map fe efo ka menm. But I keep trying anyway," he said. 

Another cart owner whose name is Innocent Noriz shared that he had received from MH a solar powered Creole audio bible a few months ago. One day he had put it in the sun to charge. When he came back to get it, it was gone. Someone had stolen it. He wonders if there is ever a time that he could receive another one. He said it has such good words inside. It is a distraction from his misery. This audio bible is a testimony of HOPE too. 

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

Prayers of thanksgiving and Hope are prayed over each cart owner before they depart. As the morning went along, the individuals kind of started lining up, watching, anticipating if it would be their turn next. Pastor Jean Rubert used these words several times as we prayed, that God would, "Awoze nou avek prezans Ou." literally, Water us with your presence.

Below, the mobility cart owner in the striped polo shirt below talked and talked and talked. I think in the end his testimony of Hope encouraged Jean Rubert. Before departing, the two men exchanged phone numbers so they could continue to encourage each other.

Below...Ewand, standing, and Erilner, to the right, are the MH mobility cart repair technicians. They are assembling the two new carts that came to Hinche with us this morning. They are being given as a new replacement cart to the guy to the left here with a red cap and to Adeline. They have had their carts and have "driven them to the moon and back" and it is time to trade them in! Jean Philippe, front, is the MH Community Coordinator for the Hinche area. He is also a mobility cart owner.

The two new carts have been given. Jean Rubert and Jean Philippe gather together to pray a blessing over the two recipients. Below, Jean Rubert prays an additional prayer of healing over Adeline.

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

AND here, our team prays a blessing on Jean Philippe for the dedicated help he provides and for his ongoing testimony of Hope.

Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131:3

God's people triumph because of HIS love

37) Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!  38) So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God's love. I'm convinced that his love will triumph over death, life's troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love.  39) There is no power above us or beneath us--no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God's passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!                                                             Romans 8:37-39 The Passion Translation

Claim this verse... "Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!" 

Could you say you have felt the past months the world is 'upside down'? New troubles, surging unrest, unknown future circumstances. Not to worry! Through his love, God has made us MORE THAN conquerors. For this, God gave his son, the Anointed One! Claim the victory! 

All that we had to haul with us to Florida, to return to Haiti, in a 'mid-sized sedan' rental car... Conquered! Victory!

Can you believe....IT FIT!!

We learned some years ago from Swedish relatives who came to visit in the US, when it is time to go, when it is too hard to say "Goodbye", you just say, "See you soon!" So... for these and other family members and friends, we said, "SEE YOU SOON!"

Next....good friends and gracious hosts, we 'checked out" of the 'Peterson Inn'. Thank you for your hospitality!  Then we are OFF for the drive, our final journey of this time of Sabbatical, destination Ft. Pierce, Florida. We were grateful for yet more sights to see in this beautiful country. Last time we DROVE to Florida our now thirty six year-old daughter was TWO years old. 

As COVID 19 time marches on, we all can begin to see how and where God continues bring victory, to move to affect things for GOOD and for HIS GLORY. During the weeks when Missionary Flights International planes stayed on the ground in Ft PIerce, Florida, there was a 'seize the moment' opportunity to commission two artists to create this mural which can now be seen in the MFI Hangar. 

The mural commemorates the commitment to disaster relief which MFI made during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and a more recent commitment to disaster relief in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. It is magnificent and even more so after hearing the creative and physical details from Kevin, one of the MFI pilots. The scene depicts the vantage point the pilots have as they look out from the cockpit during flight.

With all the cargo we were bringing with us we checked in at MFI Monday afternoon before our flight on Tuesday. The plane is polished, perched, ready to go.

With an early morning take-off, we catch the sunrise. It seemed to beckon us toward the direction of Haiti... 'Come, come, the time is now!' Pilot Ray is ready to roll! Never boarded with a mask before! Always, MFI has been a tremendous blessing to us as missionaries but now more than ever because there are currently no commercial airline flights into Cap Haitien and few into Port au Prince. Today there is no safer way to fly than on this 1940's DC3 cargo plane. 

The terrain of Haiti is an extreme contrast from the plains of NW Iowa, or anywhere in the US for that matter. We went through immigration in Cap Haitien in the north (above), then a twelve minute hop to the Central Plateau (below) where it is easy to spot Mt Pignon, the landmark in this area.

A welcomed sight, the grass airstrip that is less than one mile from our final destination, the Many Hands Campus. If you could zoom in on this picture you can see the campus towards the upper right. And here we are:

 

"Byen Vini! Mr Craig ~ Se Christi.  Nan Non Tout Staff MH4H La! We Love You Guys!" 

(Welcome Mr Craig and Sister Christi. In the name of all the Many Hand staff! Nou renmen nou!) 

AND MAN! it is hot! Since we left, the apartment where we live has been tiled by some amazing Michiganders! and painted by some equally amazing Iowans! and recently cleaned by the amazingly amazing Haitian ladies, Beatris and Evenie! The task at hand....FIND the fans, pillows, etc and put things back in place. 

So we can say the apartment was clean but... our stuff... covered in dust, even INSIDE the boxes.  😲 The momentary SHOCK of this daunting job that needed to be done was calmed as we were privileged to greet those we call family and friends on this side of the ocean. Every person... EACH ONE... said specifically with enthusiasm, "I have been praying for you and your family each day. 'Bon Retou' (literally Good Return) Welcome back." Two friends in particular used the phrase, "Mwen swaf pou ou", I am thirsty for you. 

That made an impression in a land where thirst is SO extreme. We experienced a thirst the first couple of days that we had not felt the whole time of being stateside. Haiti is a land where people are focused on the necessities. The BASIC necessities. Water first, then shelter, then food, then clothing. 

What a reassurance and a comfort to be greeted in this way. The welcome also included a bowl of hand-picked mangoes, (I ate three for supper) a couple of sizable spiders, and NO rats! One of the first things to put in place, (below) a brand new DEWALT shop stool with casters we have been coveting ever since our son had purchased one for himself. 

(Notice the beautiful tile and paint! We are blessed beyond measure. We are beyond grateful)

While being focused on the necessities, there is an effort to be respectful of others during this virus. While it is not readily 'admitted' by local people that there is Corona Virus here in the central plateau, MH is encouraging the use of masks. The term here, we learned, is 'kachnen'. Which could be translated 'to hide the nose'. Part of the cargo we brought included some safety shields that were donated to MFI. Nurse Lerosane was thankful to receive one as she is seen below cleaning the entry points of Anaika's external fixater which needs attention soon in Port au Prince. 

Life continues with troubles of economic hardship, sickness and fear. If you ask a Haitian how they are doing, in general Haitians don't complain. You will hear responses such as, GREAT!, Good, Not too bad, or a shrug of the shoulders along with "Bondye konnen", which means, GOD KNOWS. 

As we talk to friends and MH staff and hear where people are with life's present and future troubles, we are assisting with the plan for the restart of school which the government says will happen August 17 which will include some 'compulsory procedures'. Because Haitians live in uncertainty on a daily basis, people are generally 'cool' about what is to come. "Bondye konnen", God knows. MH will emphasize, as people of God, we are more than conquerors, we triumph because of HIS love which he brings through his son, our Lord Jesus. 

The day following our arrival, God again gave his sign of reassurance. This time over the entrance to MH Campus. "I will never leave you!" says our Lord who loves us in and through all circumstances. A sign of triumph because of HIS love for us

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life, As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.    Joshua 1:5

"Passing Ordinary Time" by Enuma Okoro, Nigerian-American poet

This ordinary time is gifted in its quiet marked passing.

Christ slips about calling and baptizing, sending and affirming,

pouring his Spirit like water into broken cisterns,

sealing cracks and filtering our senses,

that we may savor the foolish simplicity of his grace.

As we worshiped online this past Sunday with our son Jonathan at Pillar Church in Holland, MI the following song was sung, "In Feast or Fallow" by Sandra McCracken... seems fitting to share here...

Verse  

When the fields are dry, and the winter is long

Blessed are the meek, the hungry, the poor

When my soul is downcast, and my voice has no song

For mercy, for comfort, I wait on the Lord.

Chorus 

In the harvest feast or the fallow ground

My certain hope is in Jesus found 

My lot, my cup, my portion sure 

Whatever comes, we shall endure. 

Whatever comes, we shall endure. 

Verse 

When the earth beneath me crumbles and quakes

Not a sparrow falls, nor a hair from my head

Without His hand to guide me, my shield and my strength

In joy or in sorrow, in life or in death

....and this prayer was prayed... also seems fitting to share here...

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. AMEN