"Prayers going to heaven, grace falling on earth"
"Alleluia"
"Glory to God"
"My new friend"
"New life"
"I am feasting on His Word"
"New life"
These are some of the words and responses of the elders after receiving their talking Bibles.
I have had many joyful moments in Haiti, but nothing like the joy of sharing God's Word!
With this joyful experience, Susan and I have experienced many obstacles: flat tires, vehicles running out of gas, adversity within the village and illness.
After time in prayer, it was clear to both of us; why would we not expect obstacles when are delivering God's Word?
But God is greater and He is victorious.
1 John 4:4 states."But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater that the spirit who lives in the world."
I thank God for His faithfulness, His love, His Word - which is alive, active and sharper than a two edged sword.
I thank the Lord for the elderly, who are so filled with His joy and have such eager anticipation for heaven.
May God bless our elderly....
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday - Feb. 7th
Today is our actual second day doing an elder care "maintenance run" - this is a week where two of the elder support team come to check on the elderly and our Haitian workers who are the hands and feet of Christ when we are not here.
Andrenoi, our Haitian worker is amazing. His faith in Christ, his devotion to the elderly and his loyalty to us is admirable and touching. He watches over both the elderly as well as us to make sure things are running smoothly.
Yesterday and today we delivered Creole Talking Bibles to 12 elderly. I can hardly express what it is like to see an elderly gentleman who is rather stoic and reserved tear up when he hears the word of God (possibly for the first time) speak directly to him.
I wonder and ponder why I am allowed to be witness to these precious moments -- I cherish telling the elders over and over how much God loves them specifically. In a country of around 10 million people, elderly are over looked, not seen and definitely not made to feel special or unique. To reassure them and then to let them hear God's word through the Talking Bible that God actually cares and knows the number of hairs on their heads brings all of us to tears.
We may bring medicine; we may bring toiletries and food - but these are merely temporary things. When we are blessed to bring the Talking Bibles that so many of you had a part in donating - we are giving the elderly a glimpse of something eternal.
From the elderly to you -- God bless you. The elderly that are sponsored ask about you - they save your pictures of your families and ask about you. They are eager to see each of you in heaven where there are no black and white people - just brothers and sisters in Christ.
Andrenoi, our Haitian worker is amazing. His faith in Christ, his devotion to the elderly and his loyalty to us is admirable and touching. He watches over both the elderly as well as us to make sure things are running smoothly.
Yesterday and today we delivered Creole Talking Bibles to 12 elderly. I can hardly express what it is like to see an elderly gentleman who is rather stoic and reserved tear up when he hears the word of God (possibly for the first time) speak directly to him.
I wonder and ponder why I am allowed to be witness to these precious moments -- I cherish telling the elders over and over how much God loves them specifically. In a country of around 10 million people, elderly are over looked, not seen and definitely not made to feel special or unique. To reassure them and then to let them hear God's word through the Talking Bible that God actually cares and knows the number of hairs on their heads brings all of us to tears.
We may bring medicine; we may bring toiletries and food - but these are merely temporary things. When we are blessed to bring the Talking Bibles that so many of you had a part in donating - we are giving the elderly a glimpse of something eternal.
From the elderly to you -- God bless you. The elderly that are sponsored ask about you - they save your pictures of your families and ask about you. They are eager to see each of you in heaven where there are no black and white people - just brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving
Mickey cooked an American Thanksgiving Haitian style for all of us. I think the cook Fone'se was afraid to try the food!!! Everyone tried and everyone enjoyed -- the dressing and cranberries were a hit! We also found out that fried Turkey Spam is not all that bad!
Today we delivered mattresses to our Haitian workers - just another symbol of how we expect our workers to help others when they -themselves - have so little. Last August we delivered bed mattresses to every elder who did not have one. Every elder now has a mattress -- but our Haitian workers, Andrenoi and HenryClaude - did not have a mattress to sleep on. Now they do.
We ended the day at one of the metal factory areas. It is so humbling to see beautiful artwork created by hand - the hard way - they literally cut and pound by hand all the metal work. Then, they paint by hand the beautiful pieces. We purchased some pieces to bring back for a Healing Haiti elder fund raiser - we hope everyone is as much in love with them as we are...
Tomorrow is back to the states - we are pleasantly exhausted and ready to brainstorm for our next visit with the elderly in February!
Mickey cooked an American Thanksgiving Haitian style for all of us. I think the cook Fone'se was afraid to try the food!!! Everyone tried and everyone enjoyed -- the dressing and cranberries were a hit! We also found out that fried Turkey Spam is not all that bad!
Today we delivered mattresses to our Haitian workers - just another symbol of how we expect our workers to help others when they -themselves - have so little. Last August we delivered bed mattresses to every elder who did not have one. Every elder now has a mattress -- but our Haitian workers, Andrenoi and HenryClaude - did not have a mattress to sleep on. Now they do.
We ended the day at one of the metal factory areas. It is so humbling to see beautiful artwork created by hand - the hard way - they literally cut and pound by hand all the metal work. Then, they paint by hand the beautiful pieces. We purchased some pieces to bring back for a Healing Haiti elder fund raiser - we hope everyone is as much in love with them as we are...
Tomorrow is back to the states - we are pleasantly exhausted and ready to brainstorm for our next visit with the elderly in February!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, Nov. 23 - the day before Thanksgiving
We have so much to be thankful for today. God has blessed Mickey and I by allowing us to be in Haiti to do his work. Today, one of the elders who did not have Jesus in her heart asked us to pray the salvation prayer with her.
She told us that because of our love for her she sees Jesus and wants him in her life. We are only the messengers and God is truly doing amazing things in the Haitian elders lives. God is so generous because he allows us to be part of this.
This experience really showed - it's not about the "stuff" we bring and give. To cement this thought, our Haitian workers, Andrenoi and HenryClaude worked with Mickey and I to devise a plan to help our elderly that are capable of working. They will be able to borrow money to start a business so they can eventually help support themselves. We are going to be talking about this in the November news letter -so stay tuned. Currently, several of the elderly are attempting to start a business or have a business already.
We currently have two elderly that are very ill - please pray for Edmond and Izna that God will ease their suffering in this less than forgiving land and that they may lean into his love.
We also want to share a story about how Haitians have little but selflessly share with others as if it is the most natural thing to do. We ashamedly just had an "aha" moment on this trip that we should provide a lunch for our Haitian workers and driver. They often go without food for days just like our elders. We asked if either Andrenoi or HenryClaude had eaten yet this particular day (it was around 1 p.m. and we had been working since 7:30 a.m.) with much prying, they said they had not. Mickey and I insisted we buy them a lunch of rice, beans and chicken. As we sat with them and they ate their lunch, we noticed Andrenoi only eat half -he then reached out and gave an emaciated woman (a stranger) his other half of the meal since she was obviously hungry.
This experience brings me to tears and simply exemplifies why we are here in Haiti - to be God's hands and feet. When we sometimes forget and stumble, the Haitians remind us what Jesus with skin on looks like.
We have so much to be thankful for today. God has blessed Mickey and I by allowing us to be in Haiti to do his work. Today, one of the elders who did not have Jesus in her heart asked us to pray the salvation prayer with her.
She told us that because of our love for her she sees Jesus and wants him in her life. We are only the messengers and God is truly doing amazing things in the Haitian elders lives. God is so generous because he allows us to be part of this.
This experience really showed - it's not about the "stuff" we bring and give. To cement this thought, our Haitian workers, Andrenoi and HenryClaude worked with Mickey and I to devise a plan to help our elderly that are capable of working. They will be able to borrow money to start a business so they can eventually help support themselves. We are going to be talking about this in the November news letter -so stay tuned. Currently, several of the elderly are attempting to start a business or have a business already.
We currently have two elderly that are very ill - please pray for Edmond and Izna that God will ease their suffering in this less than forgiving land and that they may lean into his love.
We also want to share a story about how Haitians have little but selflessly share with others as if it is the most natural thing to do. We ashamedly just had an "aha" moment on this trip that we should provide a lunch for our Haitian workers and driver. They often go without food for days just like our elders. We asked if either Andrenoi or HenryClaude had eaten yet this particular day (it was around 1 p.m. and we had been working since 7:30 a.m.) with much prying, they said they had not. Mickey and I insisted we buy them a lunch of rice, beans and chicken. As we sat with them and they ate their lunch, we noticed Andrenoi only eat half -he then reached out and gave an emaciated woman (a stranger) his other half of the meal since she was obviously hungry.
This experience brings me to tears and simply exemplifies why we are here in Haiti - to be God's hands and feet. When we sometimes forget and stumble, the Haitians remind us what Jesus with skin on looks like.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday - Nov. 22.
Today we have internet access again and wanted to take advantage of letting you all know what we have been doing.
Monday and Tuesday we have been helping our Haitian elder care workers deliver food, medicine and blankets (made by some amazing women back in the states).
The elderly are so very appreciative. They praise God and do not glorify us - because we are only the conduits for God's goodness.
Here are some of the comments: "Prayer is like coffee" "God is like syrup" "Prayer is like a drink" "Prayer is my food and my drink" etc....
Here are some Highlights:
We visited Pierre for whom women back in the states donated material, scissors, thread etc... - He now has his own business and is a humble servant working to make an income. He was sewing when we arrived. We are now helping him think of people or organizations that could purchase his sewing for sheets, uniforms, clothes etc... We plan on bringing patterns back for him to expand his "line of clothing and merchandise".
Antoine is very appreciative of his sponsors giving money so he could go to the doctor. He is breathing much better and looks much healthier than when we were here in August. A sponsor gave money to buy him a goat so he will add that to his animal "farm" and hope to breed the goat for kids to sell and earn an income.
Angeline is a beautiful woman who we found sitting naked in her own waste when we were here in August. An amazing woman stepped up to pay two other elder sisters to visit Angeline three times a week and clean her, dress her and feed her. Angeline sparkled and beamed when we arrived. She was clean, fed and praising God!
Two elders, Maricia and Lindor, were given goats by their sponsors and they now have twins babies. Both Maricia and Lindor are better off because they can earn an income by continuing to breed the goats and eventually sell them.
The stories are positively endless but I want all the faithful sponsors to know they are making a difference. If you have not yet made a commitment to sponsor an elder and would like to - please contact me so you can see profiles of these amazing people and read a bit of their story.
stagurit@msn.com - susan tag face book - 612-308-3018.
God bless.
Today we have internet access again and wanted to take advantage of letting you all know what we have been doing.
Monday and Tuesday we have been helping our Haitian elder care workers deliver food, medicine and blankets (made by some amazing women back in the states).
The elderly are so very appreciative. They praise God and do not glorify us - because we are only the conduits for God's goodness.
Here are some of the comments: "Prayer is like coffee" "God is like syrup" "Prayer is like a drink" "Prayer is my food and my drink" etc....
Here are some Highlights:
We visited Pierre for whom women back in the states donated material, scissors, thread etc... - He now has his own business and is a humble servant working to make an income. He was sewing when we arrived. We are now helping him think of people or organizations that could purchase his sewing for sheets, uniforms, clothes etc... We plan on bringing patterns back for him to expand his "line of clothing and merchandise".
Antoine is very appreciative of his sponsors giving money so he could go to the doctor. He is breathing much better and looks much healthier than when we were here in August. A sponsor gave money to buy him a goat so he will add that to his animal "farm" and hope to breed the goat for kids to sell and earn an income.
Angeline is a beautiful woman who we found sitting naked in her own waste when we were here in August. An amazing woman stepped up to pay two other elder sisters to visit Angeline three times a week and clean her, dress her and feed her. Angeline sparkled and beamed when we arrived. She was clean, fed and praising God!
Two elders, Maricia and Lindor, were given goats by their sponsors and they now have twins babies. Both Maricia and Lindor are better off because they can earn an income by continuing to breed the goats and eventually sell them.
The stories are positively endless but I want all the faithful sponsors to know they are making a difference. If you have not yet made a commitment to sponsor an elder and would like to - please contact me so you can see profiles of these amazing people and read a bit of their story.
stagurit@msn.com - susan tag face book - 612-308-3018.
God bless.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Nov. 20 -- Today Mickey and I arrived in Haiti to do a "quarterly maintenance run" . We are packed and ready to deliver care packages to the elderly tomorrow. It's not about the "stuff" - it's about sharing God's love with these amazing people.
The Talking Bibles did not arrive in time for the trip... but in God's timing we will deliver them in February.
Tomorrow we go up to Titanyen to start our 4 day visit with the elderly. May God fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit so we can follow his direction in our work here.
The Talking Bibles did not arrive in time for the trip... but in God's timing we will deliver them in February.
Tomorrow we go up to Titanyen to start our 4 day visit with the elderly. May God fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit so we can follow his direction in our work here.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Praises and God's word being shared ....
We are overjoyed that the goal of having 30 Talking Bibles has now been achieved. We will be ordering the Bibles today and hope to deliver them over the week of Thanksgiving.
What a Thanksgiving this will be in Haiti -- every elder in the Healing Haiti program will have the word of God to provide them with hope, a purpose for their life and an eternal destiny!
A HUGE thank you to all who donated for these living words....
What a Thanksgiving this will be in Haiti -- every elder in the Healing Haiti program will have the word of God to provide them with hope, a purpose for their life and an eternal destiny!
A HUGE thank you to all who donated for these living words....
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” Matthew 25: 35-40
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