October 6, 2011

Haiti Bound . . . . . Again!!

Fountain City Wesleyan Church is heading back to Haiti! After having the privilege of going to Haiti, and seeing it with my own eyes, I believe that many prayers have been answered and that something amazing is going to happen! I am so grateful that this new door is opening – for the group of people we are working with in Haiti, and for each individual who is supporting the mission!

Two teams from FCWC will be going. The first will be a construction crew in November and the second is a Medical/Dental team slated to go in February. I have been asked to help lead the second team.

Haiti is in desperate need and they cannot succeed without outside help coming in. It is a fact and a very hard one to understand without eyewitness accounts. I have shared (through my blog: http://artofmind-np.blogspot.com/) some of these hardships, but there are many. Imagine living where there are no grocery stores, banks or commerce of any kind. Where corruption continues to hold the people down in ways that we cannot even fathom - where you walk for hours to get water out of the river – the same river where people bath, do laundry, and water their animals – where there are ten of thousands of orphans and where children are starving and dying every day - that is a real part of the Haiti experience. It isn’t all of it, but it is a reality nonetheless.


I am not saying the Haitians are a weak or helpless people – they are not. They are beautiful, amazing and talented. Many, love the same Lord that we do and are more on fire for Him than any people I have ever met.
















The circumstances politically and financially, make it hard for them to get materials, food, or many of the things we think are absolutely necessary for daily living (diapers, baby bottles, dried beans, meat, shoes, clothing, clean water, vehicles, gas, electricity, indoor plumbing, building materials, etc.) but, it doesn’t mean that they are weak or unintelligent. It means we get to come in and lovingly help with the practical things that can help them move their own country forward. Working under their guidance and letting them take the lead. It is such a privilege!! It is a Godly thing too.














I consider it a great privilege to go back to Haiti and am contacting you to ask for your prayers. Secondly, I would ask you to consider giving a donation to help cover the cost of the trip. I am responsible for my own financial support and each of the team members have been asked to raise $2000.

I realize that FCWC is active in missions and that there are many trips and opportunities to give. If you have already been approached and can’t give right now, please just agree to support me with your prayers.

If you decide you are able to sponsor me financially, all donations are tax deductible and checks should be made to Fountain City Wesleyan Church. You can either give a donation to Sue Firth in the church office, Steve Mathews, Barry or myself. Please write my name, Haiti/Feb. in the memo section of your check or on a piece of paper to be turned in with your donation.

In closing, I thank you for your prayers and/or financial support. Your support for this ministry and all you do in this church is greatly appreciated.

Blessings,

Nancy Pike

Proverbs 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

It's Been Awhile . . . . .

I haven't written in awhile, but Haiti has not left my mind - honestly, it would be easier if it would. I still struggle to put into words the lessons I have taken from that place, but will continue to try.
While we were there, Gene asked each one of us to volunteer to do devotions - one of us in the morning and one at night. Mine turn was to be the evening of April 4. I knew one of the girls on the FCWC team pretty well and had been getting to know the other team members from our church in bits and increments the weeks before we left. Traveling with them to Haiti and watching them after we arrived gave me time to watch them on a deeper level. I had met Pastor Randy, from the Greenville team on two brief occasions before we left, and his other three team members once, but two days with them and I felt like I had known them for a long time. Our two teams meshed really well and it was comfortable to be with them very quickly. I knew that the Lord was directing me to try to encourage each person, on both teams, individually. (In sharing this, I will be giving you a glimpse of each one on our team) One of the events earlier that day helped me do that.

After visiting two church plants (St. Charles and The River) we pulled over to look at the beach for a few minutes. (the one with the ship wreck that I mentioned on an earlier blog written on April 13) One of the striking features of this beach was the absence of sand. There was no sand all the way from the coast to the road - it was all rocks.


Beautiful, colorful and very smooth to the touch, each of these rocks were unique. Each was created to glorify the Lord. Tossed, smoothed, veined, chipped, and placed among thousands and thousands of rocks - yet each one completely unique - each a stand out.
All of us picked up at least one rock from that beach.

Here is the devotion from that night:

I asked each one of you to bring a rock of your choosing. Pass your rock around so that we can each look at it - each rock is completely unique and special. Each rock was created for God's glory. Even if no one else ever noticed it - the Lord does. You are like your rock. Unique, specially designed, one of a kind. I would like to share some things I have seen in you over the past 2 or 3 days.

Kristen - humble, honest, loving, amazing with children - eye contact & connection with each and everyone, first to do devotions

Miriam - gracious, servant heart, children drawn to her gentle touch, journaling, non discriminatory

Randy - loves the Word, thoughtful, wanted to finish the water project no matter what

Lisa - infectious laugh, tender mother stand in, honest, thank you for sharing a private pain (it opened the door for others to do so)

Jen H. - loves babies, artistic, kind, generous (on a deeper level)

Donna - open, warm, sweet spirit, thinks ahead with a great deal of care

Katelyn - journaling, reading word, thinks, kids drawn to her because of her beauty but then her patience and gentle way

Debbie - fresh perspective, honest, positive, missionary

Jen B. - thoughtful, deliberative, detail, caretaker - waking all of us, providing for every need

Karen - delightful, fun, clear, intriguing

Marvin - watches, listens, supports, makes people feel safe

Gene - easy, makes others feel comfortable, never presumptuous , loves his wife, open to each one willing to come - sees the best

Shelba - patient, supportive, sage, waited to see everyone get in and then got in the back end of the truck, loves her husband

I want to encourage you with the fact that God sees each and every good thing about you and He wants you to use it for His glory.

Rev. 2:17 & 18
He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

The Lord is going to give each believer, you, if you have made a definite choice for Christ, a white stone with your new name on it. You will be the only one with that name - special, unique and designed for Him.

(End of devotion)

So the Lord taught me a lot while I was in Haiti and some of it was about the Americans that I came with.

April 8, 2011 in Jeremie/Last Day cont.

Florkencia was scarce on the last day at the orphanage. I spent a lot of time with Patrick, who I also felt a great connection with and some with Peter as well. They are amazing young men and I am praying that they will grow up to be empowered and successful men of God in Haiti. I can honestly say I would be able to take one or both of them to live with Barry and I. (I know that is not the plan for them and will address that in another post, but I did contemplate it.) I was also reminded, when I taught in public schools, my favorite group to work with was 12 and 13 year old boys. Don’t know why, but the Lord put it in my mind when I was standing there with the two of them and it made me smile.

Patrick was showing me a cross that he had made – simple and beautiful. He tried to give it to me, but I couldn’t accept it. He had just made it and now he was trying to give it to me. The room below is where Peter sleeps and likely Patrick too. These kids do not have any material possessions and it is very difficult to accept one that they do have.

When Patrick saw that I was reluctant to take the cross, he left for a few minutes and came back with a picture of himself. The picture was taken at the VBS program that had taken place earlier that week. After some debate with him, tears flowing down my cheeks, I took the picture. (*see picture below) I gave him my “fishers of men” bracelet (will explain later) – a very sweet moment and one I will always treasure in my special Haiti memory bank.

Now, it was really getting close to time for our departure and I kept wondering where Florkencia was. I had not seen her in the last few hours and I didn’t want to leave without speaking to her. Gene and Shelba said it was time to load up and we were gathering our backpacks – while I was scanning the grounds for her. Didn’t see her. I got my backpack and started to put it in one of the trucks that would be taking us back to the compound when one of the other girls ran up to me and handed me something. She said, “Florkencia, Florkencia” – when I looked at what she handed me, more tears came. It was a picture of Florkencia in a plastic frame, her name written in her own hand on the back. She knew we were leaving and she had sent this girl to give me her picture. I asked the girl “Where is Florkencia? At first she just looked at me (I need to learn Creole) I asked her again, “Where is Florkencia?” She took me by the hand and we ran back to the courtyard to find her – she was there. I hugged Florkencia and kissed her cheeks. I thanked her for the picture and she smiled a little. Here is the picture she sent with me.

It felt like an ending to a story, a dramatic moment to make the audience cry, but it really happened that way. This quiet, sweet little girl wanted me to remember her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . trust me, I will.

Luke 18:16b
. . . For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children

April 8, 2011 in Jeremie/Last Day at the Orphanage

Florkencia was the girl that "chose" me on day one. She was the one who didn't smile much - she was quiet and hard to read, but each day we sought each other out. I called her by name and smiled at her. I wanted her to know that I had "chosen" her too. On the last day at the orphanage, I hadn't seen her around too much, a few moments here and there. She was taking care of the 2 yr. old baby girl that had come from Port au Prince. The older girls were "assigned" one of the babies each day, so she was busy. I took a picture of her that makes me smile - it was the first real smile I had seen directed toward me - unprompted. I had gotten her to smile a little during the week, but in this one, she looks beautiful and happy. It captures her cautious way, but shows something special there.


It was a busy day - a "tying things up" kind of day and we all knew it. The kids seemed somewhat moody and unsettled, but also, incredibly loving and tender.




Then rain began to fall - swift and heavy. We all ran under the metal roof that covered the area where the kids ate and watched as the yard, where we played basketball and soccer, filled with water. Jen Hudnall took out some finger nail polish and we painted their nails for awhile - then they started to paint ours. It was very touching - Peter, one of the older boys, painted mine and it was so tenderly done, that it brought tears to my eyes. As I looked around the porch, I could see that all of the "blancs" were humbled and moved by the kids, once again, turning something that we wanted to do for them, into something they did for us.



Gene, Mark, and Marvin were finishing up water filtration systems and bunk beds and then several of us went to see the lady who had the five children (and one on the way) to say good bye.



She was so grateful for all that had been done on her behalf. It was a fitting finish to what would soon be the end of our day and our time at the orphanage.

We were all sad at the thought of leaving because the kids were sad. I took this picture of Peter - an amazing young man, and it captures how we all felt.


Haiti feels hard, it can feel hopeless, but . . . . . . it has wonderful children of God there. It has children that have been purposed by Him. We can't see how it will all work out, but God has given us something to see there - something He wanted to share, first to us and now to you. I will write more about that soon and about other things I have seen there, but I want to leave this post with a picture of a young man staying at Yvrose's - an orphan boy who's name I can't remember. I affectionately call him "photo me" because he said that all of the time. :) He constantly asked to have his photo taken. I love what I see in this picture of him (as he did to when I showed him). For me, the picture represents some of the hope of Haiti - something bright and shiny in what can appear a dark place. I also want to say that I will finish the story of Florkencia in my next post, but I am too broken up write now to do so.

April 7, 2011 in Jeremie, Haiti - The Farm, The Kids, The Music

It was a beautiful day - after breakfast and devotions, we headed out to Yvrose's farm. It was a sun-filled, vivid ride, passing a large river, bouncing along the roads and seeing small dwellings with faded paint. We drove past women carrying large baskets on their heads, children carrying water in plastic containers, people washing their clothes on the banks of a river. Everything looked lush and green except the dusty, pothole filled roads. Yvrose sang songs on the way and we looked out the window trying to remember what we were seeing. When we arrived at the farm, we saw 8 acres of beautiful property: coconut, banana, mango, bread fruit trees, sugar cane, coffee trees, and a cement pond that is used to raise tilapia. We also saw a possible future for a new orphanage to be built on that land. Perhaps one day . . .



We walked around the grounds and then Yvrose took us a short distance to see the fields where they are to grow corn. The corn is on a container, on a ship in Port au Prince - it has been there since December. One of the ongoing prayers we have had, and continue to have, is that the last signature needed to free up this container will happen. The man who doesn't want to sign is hoping to get a bribe - it is one of the hard things about Haiti - ongoing corruption, corruption that hurts its own people.
After we left the farm, we headed to the orphanage to hang out with the kids. It was a sweet day, but the kids knew we would be leaving soon - they were clinging to us and wanting to be held. We were only able to stay a couple of hours because the kids had a special program that they would be putting on for us that evening and we had to give them some time to prepare.


We went back to the compound and ate a delicious cabbage soup and headed back to Yvrose's for the closing program. When we arrived, Florkencia took me by the hand and led me to a special chair that she picked. All of the kids did that - we felt so honored to be seated by our special friends. It was getting dark outside and all of the kids lined up in rows and began to sing to us. Listen to the audio below of their singing. After they sang, and we cried, several of the older kids came out and played instruments. Yvrose had taught them how to play. It was precious.





After the program, we loaded up into our vehicles and the kids ran to the gate and cried as we pulled away. We did too.

*although you can't see the children, just listen to them sing*

April 4, 2011 Yvrose's Orphanage/Church Plants

After a wonderful breakfast of crepe-like pancakes with apples and syrup, we went to Yvrose's orphanage. Earlier that morning, we had organized several suitcases filled with school supplies, toys, protein bars and medical supplies to take (and leave) with us. We arrived at the orphanage and my dear friend Debbie and I walked over to the school to make a special delivery. The school is on Yvrose's property and consists of 3 cement- blocked and stuccoed rooms. The orphans can attend the school up until about 6th grade and then they go to another outside of the orphanage. The teacher in this photo has been teaching for 25 years. He was appreciative to get the supplies and proceeded to lock them up immediately.




The children all over Haiti dress in school uniforms and they look beautiful and bright in them. After visiting the school, we went back to play with the other kids at the orphanage. We colored a lot, drew on the cement with chalk and just hung out with them.





At some point in that day, Yvrose took the time to explain that she didn't want the children in her place to be adopted. She wanted to raise them to be successful, Christian people would stay in Haiti and help Haiti to be a better place. She is a visionary woman wanting her children to spread the gospel.

We then went out to visit two church plants. The first was called "St. Charles". It had roof problems and one of our teams had been there the previous week to help add support to it.



The second church is called "The River Church". These churches are both getting some support and are slowly improving. We prayed over them and headed out. On our way back to the compound (where we were being housed), we stopped for a few minutes at the beach, looked at a ship wreck and studied the rocks. No sand on these beaches, just rocks - rounded and smoothed by the waves. It is a beautiful and rugged coastline and many ships are lost here. It is a vivid picture of how this country feels beautiful, rugged and somewhat lost.

One bag packed

One bag packed and one to go . . . . . .

I had fun packing my first bag for Haiti - it is filled with stuff to leave there: soccer balls, balloons, crayons (lots of crayons), coloring books, baby dolls with dark skin, combs, medical supplies, individual bags of items an Eagle Scout did as a project . . . . . lots of odds and ends. But, as the trip gets closer, and we are starting to hear from our team members that are currently in Jeremie. Here are some quotes from some of their posts:

"Port-au-Prince is still devastated from the effects of the massive earthquake some 14 months ago. Our eyes saw absolute poverty like we’d never seen in our lives. Millions of people living in tents, or a couple of pieces of metal held together with some rope!" Steve Mathews

"Its way worse than what anything u can imagine here.. Were safe tho no worries!!!" Brittany Pardo

"I went back to Yvrose's orphanage again today. She showed us a lady who's husband was killed with a machete and she has 5 children, expecting her 6th and they are in a room the size of our new bathroom - only 2 beds! yes all of the children and mother sleep there. Please continue to pray for Haiti. There is so much hardship here - its very sad." Debbie Warner

" . . . my heart is breaking for the people of Haiti! Its unlike anything I ever imagined. I held a baby this morning until she fell asleep. So sweet and innocent." Lisa Kinney


So, the Lord is already working on my heart and though my first bag is full of good intentions - it is already falling quite short. Doesn't mean I can't wait to get there, just means that my eyes are a little more open.

Prelude to a Haitian Adventure

I have decided to set up a blog because I will be heading to Haiti in less than a week and am hoping to do a little journaling here.

Due to a series of odd events, these are the travel arrangements that my little team is to undergo:


1. Meet in the church parking lot at 1:30a.m. this Friday
2. Drive to Cincinnati (approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from our location)
3. Half of our team leaves on AA at 6a.m. and flies to DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) then goes from DFW to Miami
4. The other half of my team leaves at 7:30a.m. and flies directly to Miami
5. Hopefully, the team will be united in Miami and will all fly to Port-au-Prince together.
6. After arriving in Port-au-Prince, we will all be loaded onto a large, open truck (with two 50 pound bags each) and start on our journey to Jeremie. This could take anywhere from 5 to 9 hours or more. There is a possibility that we will be stopping at Les Cayes - a sort of midway point - to spend the night with a missionary family before we make it to Jeremie.

A dear friend of mine has been in Haiti for three days and has written that we will be heart broken at some of what we will see on that drive . . . . . .

She also shared that, after two days of bumping up and down the roads of Haiti, the truck finally pulled up to the orphanage in Jeremie (where we will all be working) and the children came running out, surrounded them and kissed them on the cheeks.

I am anticipating that it will all be worth it.