Haiti Day 10 and departure

I was allowed to  drive. I even got out of first gear. ( It had to go in reverse at one point). It was just around the block but it was cool. I also rode a block or so on the back of Patrick's motorcycle. Keith was able to drive it from church with Patrick on back.



With one of our great cooks in he guest house.




Cindy the School PE teacher




Moe's friend at muTch with his new name tag.




Marty's new friend



The human puppet play of the banquet where the "friends" would not come.



Soccer and skateboard roller rink all together after muTch.




Chillup (Jean) with Aahmes. He has an amazing testimony and heart.



Stanley rippin'

Davidson's picture for "Grandma Fox"



Ivans is warn out at the muTch program. less than $0.50 feeds this little girl and gives her the Gospel with a hug.

 Changes!

Today we said goodbye to many friends and we prayed over many who will be in different places the next time we return. It was a tremendous reminder of the constant changes that MdL experiences. It is also an inspiring demonstration of God using the ministry to do what it is intended to do.

The most dramatic came to me with a good deal of embarrassment. I have considered Lucas and Alicia Simmons to be dear friends and co-conspiritors in ministry since we met while they were preparing for the first Camp in a Box trip. I have been blessed to somewhat regularly interact with them in their various roles ever since then. So imagine my surprise and embarrassment when I found out Sunday that I had not read their latest email about moving back to the states for an indefinite time and that they are having a baby. They are expecting to move in March. We fortunately will be able to see them as they are hoping to settle in Orange County.

Others are moving or leaving at least temporarily for advancing their training and other reasons but I am not sure that I am allowed to share these yet. The situation does not only apply to the missionaries. Markenson is finishing his Bible studies in Haiti and is scheduled to go to Africa soon in order to be further prepared to be an evangelist. The Preachers in Christ music band made up of several of the older boys that I have watched grow up and Arianna Manassero is now doing concerts and having their music played on the Haitian radio stations. And the transition program graduates are connecting with the vision of the program as they become adults.

Bill and Susette shared plans with me for several new long term team members who are scheduled to move to MdL in the next few months. The plans sound impressive.

On the other hand it is a tremendous comfort to see some of the people that are consistent. Friends that have impacted me such as Fritz, Brooke, Cindy, the cooks, T-Mama at the boys home, Ivans and many of the other staff as well as the children of course. Unfortunately for us Marval was in California the entire time that we were in Haiti.

It’s also always a treat to meet someone new such as David, Sam, and Chillip (Sp? -Aka Jean) who is taking over muTch and the interns who are usually there. It is amazing to hear their testimonies, to learn from them and to bond with them.

Of course, the constants are Bill and Sue and their children. It never fails that they impact everyone on the team and that I personally am rewarded with their fellowship.

The most dramatic, consistent and beautiful fellowship here though is the fellowship that I experience with God. He is always consistent in His availability, miracles and teaching. Yet He is also new every time in the way that He speaks to me and the ways that He changes the hearts of the team members. I often feel that I am seeing new aspects of a long term friend while I am here and I am always amazed. It creates  a tremendous sense of renewal to have my sunrise time with Him on the roof.

Thank you all for supporting the traveling team on this adventure. Thank you for being the growing, changing and consistent friends that the LORD blesses as you provide muTch.

Sunrise start with God on the roof. I am sitting next to the gravity feed water tank. It feeds from a cistern. So the military style showers are only fed with as much water that can naturally flow down through a 3/4" pipe and be warmed by the sun in the black plastic tank.



The early departure gave Darcy and Moe an opportunity to experience the rooftop Sunrise.



Romans 1:18-20


 

Haiti Day 9 Team update

MVCC Haiti Day 9 - Sunday Jan 29

 

one of Anderson's murals. This is at the school.



Sundays are usually my (Jim) favorite days in Haiti and the second Sunday of the trip is usually even better than the first. This was no exception.

We warmed up leftover pates and fried rice to go with the options of cereal and fruit for breakfast and anxiously waited to go to Port-Au-Prince Fellowship. John and I also took advantage of delivering something to Cindy Ahrentzen in order for him to see the Cascaia (sp) church and grounds. This is the park like atmosphere where the children are able to play on a lot of Sunday afternoons. The chapel is quite reverent and the cross design is nice. There were also many people there early doing Bible study on the grounds. It had a beautiful and serene retreat type feel to it.

The fellowship, worship and sermons at PAP Fellowship are fantastic and Spirit lead. The new pastor John Meadth is a wonderful teacher and most of our old friends are there. They have now been supplemented with more missionary families and a lot of visiting teams. It is growing to the point that they are considering how to have two services. The conversations include amazing stories of how God is working everywhere in Haiti and around the world as many have been involved in other areas. The congregation is very missions driven. Between 40-50% of their budget goes to missions support. Only one of the ministries that they support is located in Haiti. So to overstate the obvious, missionaries and residents of the poorest country in the world are sending out missionaries in other countries. It is quite humbling. On the first Sunday, a friend who was visiting a member and was introduced was a part of Brother Andrews Ministry of smuggling Bibles into the Soviet bloc countries in the 80’s. This Sunday, a member was preparing to leave the ministry in Haiti to work with Samaritan’s Purse in the Congo.

I was blessed to sit with David Sanders of the Transition Program this Sunday and we had a great conversation with two other of his friends who are there long term and are working with ministries in the provinces. The friends’ ministry has a strong focus of working with visiting teams while they serve the ministries here. It was a reminder of how the trips are as much about changing the trip participants as they are about serving those we visit. David is also a quiet, humble, hard working, intelligent man who is doing a great work with the Transition Program. It was a privilege to serve with him, worship with him and to pray with him.

Sunday afternoons carry the fellowship theme forward as we go to the Manasseros’ for lunch. There may be someone there who has been in Haiti for 20 years like we met this week. I have also been there with visiting doctors, the wife of the former World Vision Director for Haiti, and other full time missionaries who have incredible life stories and perspectives. This Sunday was a slightly smaller crowd than usual and the day included impromptu Latin dancing, a cello concert by a graduate of Julliard in NYC and tremendous amounts of laughter and bonding. Sainteman’s Cuban arroz con pollo, pikliz, fried bananas (not plantains this time), potatoes and ocra (sp? -Not okra – this is a tuber), fruit and salad were amazing of course. But her hug and beautiful smile warm up the soul as much as her food. Her new assistant, Chuck Slone was also at the fryer post again.

Three of the team members were blessed to have Mr. Ivans take them on a tour of the local tent city in the afternoon and they came back with a new perspective. He also showed them the home where he is raising 9 street boys. He is the de-facto mayor of the area in addition to his work as the school principal, feeding program teacher and worship leader, Saturday night neighborhood services administrator and the go to guy for anything that needs to happen. He and Cindy A. are currently trying to rescue two young sisters who are being terribly neglected and physically abused in the tent city. Child services would have arrested their mother a long time ago in the US and the community is trying to compensate for the mother here. Just as optimism knows no borders, neither does selfishness.

 The dental team leaders were able to video the setup for the dental clinic so that other dental teams can use the facilities. It will also hopefully serve to give an example for other ministries in Haiti and third world countries. It looks very promising and Dr Slone and Chandra were great presenters.

I was blessed to spend most of the afternoon with my sponsor daughter Cherline and several of her friends. We used Skype to talk with one of her other sponsors and Facebook to send messages to a couple of other sponsors and mentoring visitors who have made a big impact on Chedline and her lives. They loved seeing the Facebook pictures, meeting their other sponsor’s wife and granddaughter, talking, laughing and hugging. I am so fortunate that the Lord allows me to have a personal relationship with her. A funny thing that happened was that she explained that she had one other sponsor who she writes but who never writes back. She was rather heartbroken over this. She told me that their names are Costella and James. I had to explain to her that these are the formal names for my mom and me. My mom uses her middle name Lou and the Kriol culture doesn’t shorten James to Jim. It was a valuable reminder of how important the ongoing contact is with the sponsors and mentors who visit. This was also brought home to me as Davidson gave me a box that he made for my aunt who sponsors him. She sent a letter, picture and cross to him and he wanted to send her back a letter, drawing and the box. He spent hours preparing it all for her.

Cindy A. was able to join us for the evening (along with David & Sam who joined us for the second time each) and it was wonderful to have our sister with us for fellowship, the cookies that she baked and her insights. We are her home team even though all of the teams that come through report how much of an impact she has on them. We love her so much and are so grateful for her fellowship, leadership, encouragement, hugs, smiles and laughter when we are here.

The sunset was also beautiful and a few of the team members were able to join us on the roof for the first time. It is a tougher climb than the old guesthouse roof but the views of God’s artwork are surely worth it.

To cap it off, our devotions tonight were in John 20. What better completion than to be reminded that nothing else matters if Jesus did not go to the cross, if  he did not raise from the dead, if we do not learn of it from the testimonies of the disciples, if we do not accept Him as our Lord and Savior and if we do not help others to do the same.


Most of the team at the MDL school.




Pharah




Going to church. Bill & david drove this day. Kind of boring compared o Sue




John with a couple of kids at Saturday night worship.




Cherline joining us for lunch at the Manasseros on Sunday.




Preachers for Christ leading hip hop worship on Saturday night. CD's are available at MVCC or at CHI.




Gerri with Esterline, AGAIN!






Haiti Day 8 Team Update!

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:31 TNIV

We serve an Awesome God.

Today included a lot of finishes for us but we also studied John 19 as our daily devotional and the overall reminder was that as awful as the story of Jesus death on the cross was from an earthly standpoint, it is equally glorious from a Heavenly standpoint. His discipline to stick to the plan of redemtion, paved the way for all of us to know the peace that only comes from knowing His salvation.

The other finishes included:

• The Kubicki's departing so that they could attend a major business function in New York. We were blessed to  have Marty join the team at the last minute but it came with the price that they all had to leave today. Each trip has a key team member need to drop out at the last minute and an unexpected key person be added at the last minute and this was no exception.  Marty complimented Aahmees' leadership and spiritual strength wonderfully with his willingness to  jump in with skill, wisdom and artistic abilities. It also goes without saying that Aahmees' comforting presence, Biblical acumen and counseling has been invaluable just as Mercades' 13 year old excited smile and freindship building were inspiring.  They were also able to  devote a lot of time with the Manasseros and there promises to be a lot of fruit pending from that.
• The dental clinic saw the last patient at approximately 7:00pm tonight after a whirlwind day that started quickly at 8:00am this morining.  We were reminded that he was also the first patient that Dr. Slone treated on the trip in November 2010. He is Kenny, the Manasseros' adopted Haitian, 8 year old son. His courage in facing 4 cavity fillings and his stamina to wait his turn was a great testimony to the way that the children at MdL are being raised. Other fun examples occurred when child after child who had a lot of hard work done on them last year were still willing to lay down on the Walmart folding table for what they could logically expect was an equally gruelling trip to have their teeth cleaned or cavities filled. Yet  most have done such a good job in maintaining the deep cleanings that Chandra did last year that their cleanings were minimal and their cavities were often the ones that  were noted last year that the team could not treat due to time constraints then. I (Jim) happened to be in the clinic for most of the day today and was fortunate to witness such an experience of the growing trust that the children have. One 16 year old girl had a very tough time on the last trip and was quite frightened to the point of needing someone to hold her during her treatments. She had her teeth cleaned a couple of days ago with no drama and with big smiles. She did have two fillings that needed repairs though. This was a rare occurrance by the way. So when she came in today for this and the team explained to her that she was not even going to need a shot, she bravely got on the table and went through the  process despite a couple of silent tears. Afterward, she was so releived that she was able to convince one of her friends in a similar situation that it was no big deal and that she did not need to worry. Child after child left the room beaming with bright smiles and new found faith that they could trust the dental staff in taking care of them in a way that was safe and comfortable.
• Not only children received this kind of care this year. The first two patients this morning were teachers at the  MdL school and the last two hygiene patients were a 20 year old transition student and a worker in the homes. These were four of many patients from the community who received care that was frequently very intense and virtually unavailable to  them otherwise. 
• We also experienced the end of life for a goat and a pig today. There is an old abandoned truck on the dirt road between the guest house and the school and childrens' homes. The engine has been removed and the large metal grate bumper hangs precariously secured by some wire. Today we were able to see this bumper used to hang the livestock while they were being dressed out and then watch as the 2'x3' stand was emptied of their meat. This was a picture of a Haitian butcher shop. It's not as if we stayed and specifically watched it. It's just that it is the main path from the guest house to everywhere else we go. And in the usual Haiti style, we have to make multiple trips for what ever task that we are doing.
• The team members not involved in the dental clinic were also able to experience the second Ben's worship service for the community. They were amazed and blessed to have the Preacher's for Christ lead worship in a bebop style. All of  them came back clamoring for CD's and praising the preaching of 17 year old Junior. The group has been performing local concerts and their music is being played on the Haitian radio stations. For those of you who may not know, the group is comprised of some of the older boys from the home and Ariana Manassero. They have their second CD in process and the first is a big hit. Poor Israel is a leader of  the band. He was in the dental clinic today from noon until 3:45 and had two fillings and a cleaning. Yet he was able to perform and be a part of leading worship tonight.
• Keith and Bob spent most of the day finishing the project of repairing the benches in the large trucks. They look very impressive and the two of them were covered in sawdust and dirt despite Keith's improvised saw dust diverter sleeve made from a banana tree leaf. They had a great time bonding over the construction project.
• Moe finished the week with a much anticipated trip to the prosthetic clinic that her employer supports at a hospital here. John was able to join her and Fritz who drove them. It turned out to be at the hospital that is primarly staffed by MediServe (SP?). These are professionals that come in on Saturday for a week and replace the prior week's staff from all over America. We flew in with a lot of them. The administrator who gave them the tour is arranging for Frits's 2.5 year old neice to recieve an evaluation and treatment for some trauma that appears to be from the quake.

God bless you all for providing muTch through the LORD who provides it all.


Ivans leading muTch worship





Prayer time at muTch





Estaline showing off her pretty smile after crying through the entire procedure. She would smile on cue to show it for two days.



 



Eating with dental tools when we forgot to bring them forks




No- we're not doing crafts. These were the muTch ID cards. The project took all week but it was a success!




Aahmees and Farah one on one time.




Susette explaining the ID card/ picture frame gift and table number process




Buds Frankie and Mercades cleaning up at muTch




Keith and Bob made new benches for the buses.




High flying acrobatics at the Ben's




Daphne napping through David's birthday party.




MARCHEROLD'S hair cut




The playground that we built on the first trip in 2007 being used.




Mr. Ivan's receiving his first fillings. Dana assisting him instead of Chandra while Moe was at the hospital tour.



Some of the ID cards for the muTch program leaders (ages 12-16 or so and all from the community)

Haiti Day 7 Team Update!

"After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with His disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.  Judas, the betrayer, knew this place because Jesus had often gone there with His disciples..." John CH 18

The Team rose to the sun shining through every window, and a breeze that was a gentle nudge to get out of bed (some faster than others). We knew today would be a busy day, but we forgot "this is Haiti..." After prayer, and a quick meeting the team was off to many tasks....Part of the team worked on finally finishing up the photo Id's of the kids for the MUTCH feeding program (never knew matching names to cute little faces would be so time consuming). The dental Team, through the strength of the Holy Spirit, had another successful day! They did 3 extractions, 40 cleanings, 20 people seen, 17 fillings, and a surgery on the older guard at the school, that saved him from future deadly infections! Divine timing! Not only did the Dental Team work vigorously in the clinic, but they also came, and served at the feeding program. This was their first time being able to be a part of the MUTCH program for the dental team, and they were a blessing to those children today! Some were serving water and food, while others were spoon feeding limp and weak children who could not feed themselves...The dental team met the hearts behind the children they had seen on the table, but now their hearts had been broken not only for their teeth, but their little lives...The Lord allowed for a special treat today for 40 boys and girls from the orphanage. Their school principal allowed 2 team members to teach them Karate in lieu of P.E for an hour today. The kids were more focused, and well behaved than any class of children we had ever seen in the States...they were full of energy and smiles as they learned every posture! The kids were released early from school today, so a few of the team members were able to spend one on one time with the some of the teenage girls from the orphanage, and the blessing flowed back and forth, but the Missionaries were the ones whose hearts were fullest! We, as a team were ministered to today by Mr. Ivens. He is the school principal who not only runs the school, but has adopted 9 kids that he cares for. These kids have such reverence for him that we all prayed that we would be able to impact the children in our lives to not fear us, but respect us this way! There was a birthday celebration tonight for one of the staff members (David)  that runs the "Transitional home". We gathered around in a circle, he was placed in the middle, and some of the kids from the orphanage affirmed him, we prayed over him, and celebrated with homemade cupcakes, and cake! After the birthday celebration we hung in the bin area with the kids, and watched them perform what looked like to us near suicide, as they skateboarded, did flips off walls, and ran around with no shoes, and socks on...without a single injury! We came back to the guest house to close or evening in John Ch 18. The Holy Spirit fell heavy on us tonight, and there are many testimonies to share when we return...We ended in prayer, song, and tears...

"Pilate said, "So you are a King?" Jesus responded. "You say I am a King. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the Truth. All who love the truth recognise that what I say is true". What is truth? Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them "He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. "Would you like me to release the "King of the Jews". But they shouted back."No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!"(Barabbas was a revolutionary...)

Praise the Lord! What the World thought would bring political salvation had nothing to do with politics, but the Spiritual Salvation to All who believe!

Our prayers were for Haiti, and all of you tonight..
God Bless you!
Your Brothers & Sisters In Christ!
Haiti Team -AKA-Aahmes Kubicki

Haiti Day 6 Team Update

"After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father the hour has come. Glorify your Son so He can give Glory back to you" John Ch 17 vs 1

The Team was blessed to wake up to oatmeal this morning, and the Haitians know how to make even something as simple as oatmeal taste out of this world!

After morning time with the Lord, the team was off serving Him in different directions.. There is a saying here in Haiti, that any plan we make is subject to "this is Haiti". The Spiirit led some team members  to see the places the team from the 2010 earthquake had been when it hit... there is still some rubble on the ground around the corner from the girls home, two years later. however, there has been a great deal of repair work done, and compared to our last trip here 14 months ago, the streets are buzzing with activity again.
Other team members were serving today by making benches for the truck they pick up missionaries in that come to Haiti to serve, and there was prayer over every bench made..The Spirit sent others to serve at the girls home where they were able to visit, laugh, and play with the girls. From there they went to the staff home to organise, put away clothes, shoes, and needs that will help keep the boys and girls provided for. Some of the Team had the privilege of meeting Brian Perry and Daniel from "Children of the Nations". These were the people that put together the "Meal Marathon" Food Packaging Event several months ago. That food will soon be reaching the needy here, and it was encouraging to know that hungry mouths will be fed.
 The dental team did 14 regular cleanings, 2 deep cleanings, 13 fillings, 3 extractions, 1 pulpotmy, and one open and med! Because the dental team has been obedient to come back to the children from the orphanage there is a bond, trust, and they are able to get the kids in and out much quicker than last year. "Praise the Lord!". There are many daily needs here as there are back home, simple but equally important task like folding, and putting away laundry, as the team did today. Haiti moves at it's own pace, and so do their computers :) So finally 3 days later... the 150 name tags for the kids from the MUTCH program are almost ready for the tagging for tomorrow's feeding program "Thank You Jezi!" While the Lord was accomplishing much  today, He even made time for some fellowship, which lead to a "Revelation" for a missionary who had a childhood fear that was finally brought to her recollection of where the fear came from...Our 2 missionaries that are teachers went into town today, and picked up supplies, they bought surprise treats for the team, and on there way back were blessed with a conversation with a young Haitian girl who works to save her money to buy kids who go without treats! Can these children get any more precious, Lord, really? The Lord's desire to see His church at MVCC look like heaven is happening across the waters..Today team members gave the boys here in Haiti a book with personnel notes from our MVCC kids of blessings to each individual boy at the orphanage, and the boys were glued to the book, and had huge smiles! It was a blessing to see these precious Haitian boys be blessed by their American young sisters, and brothers In Christ! Our days are full here, and the stories to the Glory of God are endless...
After a full day we came back to the guest house and had a Haitian meal, and sang Happy Birthday to our young missionary Mercadez  who turned 13 in Haiti today!
We were blessed by one of the staff members tonight who led us in worship, and the Spirit took up residence in this house tonight! We worshiped, and read CH17 of John aloud, shared how it ministered to each of us, and the highlights of our day...We ended the night with the Spirit of Joy! Praising the Name of Jesus because in John CH 17 vs 20 "I am praying NOT ONLY for these disciples but also for ALL who will EVER BELIEVE in me throughout their message" The Joy in knowing that Jesus Christ prays for each of us individually brought this team to it's knees... and our prayer is that each of you will be blessed to know the same!

A lesson we learned tonight from a beautiful Haitian child of God... she said " I don't like old people! and the team member asked, "why?", and she replied "because they have to work so hard, and it hurts my heart..."

Prayers & Love from above!
Your Brothers & Sisters In Christ!
Haiti Team - AKA Aahmes Kubicki