What Would (Fill-in the blank) Do?

I have to say, I'm not feeling too good about my week.

It started off with me getting ill, and missing a couple of days of work. It took me from a place of gaining confidence and momentum to a point of being weary from being up all night and not being able to rest. It took me from feeling like a routine was possible to constant interruption for just about every thought. During my "down time" I contemplated how I could do a better job running the truck. How we could be more effective and help more people... It seems after this week I have more questions than answers.

You see, when we go out into Cite Soleil and deliver water bucket by bucket, it is very difficult work. The lines start to form before we even get there. As we attempt to back up into a very narrow street, people push and shove to get into the line. I'm saddened when I see people drop their buckets at the beginning of the line in front of others who were there first. I see people come up to a person in line and stack 10-15 buckets inside their bucket so as to get "ahead" of others in the line. There doesn't seem to be any consideration for others that might have been there first... or who might have been waiting in line longer... and I become frustrated. For many, it's survival of the fittest. For others, they come to the front of the line and show me their pregnant stomach, others point to wounds or handicaps they may have while others are old and feeble and want to be let to the front of the line so they don't have to wait.

It makes me ask the question, "What Would I Do? If I lived in dire poverty everyday, what would I do? If I believed that if I went to the end of the line, there might be no water for my family when I get to the front of the line, What Would I Do? If I were pregnant, or handicapped, would I stand in line or try to move to the front? How dire do the circumstances have to be before I loose consideration for others? If I were to lose hope for a better future... What Would I Do?

So my role, takes on more importance, again. I need to decide who gets preferential treatment (if anybody) and who doesn't. Do I let a woman who's a "little" pregnant in or just the ones that are "very" pregnant? How old is old enough? Where do you draw the line? It seems like the minute you give anybody preferential treatment, everybody expects it for themselves or their family.

In addition to the chaos surrounding bucket by bucket distribution, not knowing Creole or French is a bigger draw back than I imagined. Not only is it next to impossible to communicate with the lines of people, often times it's just as difficult communicating with the workers I'm responsible for. You see, the workers working on the truck live in Cite Soleil and have family and friends there. Often times, the family and friends "expect" preferential treatment because they "know" or are "related" to the workers. This puts the workers in a very difficult spot as well.

Thursday and Friday I decided I needed to "do the right thing". To stand up for those in line. As the workers setup the hoses, I expelled people from the line that were trying to cut in. For these people, they did not like it, they yelled and argued for their position and continued to reenter their preferred position even after being told to go to the back of the line. For the people in line, they cheered... I'm not sure anyone has stuck up for them before. Each time someone "cut in", people would yell for me to kick them out but each time I turned my back, people would jump at the opportunity to "cut in" again. It became very frustrating because while I tried to "do the right thing", many continued trying to sneak in and not get caught. For me it seemed like useless work, for many it became a "game". I felt like the "soup nazi" on Seinfeld... policing everyone in line and being the "bad guy" when I kicked people out. After two days, it's become obvious that i can not keep this up...

I came to Haiti to work on this water truck with the vision of "being the hands and feet of Jesus"... to serve the many in need. So, I ask myself, What Would Jesus Do? How would he do this job? I wonder to myself, if Jesus were here with me, what would he tell me to do... I know he would say "love", it's the greatest of all of these, but how do you love in this situation? What Would You Do?

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24

Please keep Haiti, the water truck and those in need in your prayers.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.

God has a sense of humor....

Well, it's been 12 days now that I have been in Haiti. It is all going so fast. I've been able to settle into a pretty consistent routine. Getting up at 6AM every morning, grabbing some water and a piece of bread as I walk down to be picked up by the water truck. Because the truck only holds 3 people and there are 4 of us, we take turns riding on the outside of the truck through the streets of Porte-au-Prince and Cite Soleil. At first it was quite nerve wracking, trying to hold on to the mirror, making sure of my footing on the gas tank, not wanting to slip, but it's funny how now it's becoming somewhat comfortable. (I even took a short video clip to show you what it's like that I've linked below). I've been emailing with my wife and telling her how exhausted I am at the end of each day. My routine at night is pretty much the same. Get dropped off by the water truck, go to my room, change from my soaked t-shirt and shorts. Go up to the eating area with my computer. Access my emails. Eat a small dinner. Go back to my room. Download new photos to my camera onto my computer. Update the schedule and expenses for the truck. Go to bed.

The problem is, even though the routine seems pretty straight forward, I am often so tired at when I get home, I just don't have the gusto to always complete the days work. I think I can do it all, but sometimes I just can't. And then when I fall behind, I put extra pressure on myself to "catch up" and it just makes matters worse. God knows our limits and I think he used his sense of humor to teach me mine...

After falling asleep last night, I was abruptly awakened by "that feeling", you know the one, the gurgle in your stomach, the cramping, the one that tells you "you better get to the toilet..." and quick!!!!! Well, without going into anymore detail, let's just say I spent the night dealing with what is referred down here as "Haitian Happiness". It's anything but happy. I took Imodium that my wife so graciously packed for me, hoping that I would feel better by the time the truck came but to no avail, I had to tell the driver I was "sick" and couldn't work today. God knows my limits, better than me and after not listing to them for the last few days, God used his sense of humor to set me down, give me time to rest, give me time to catch up and give me time to write this email. And so I pray "Thank you Lord, for knowing me better than I know my self, for giving me rest... that I really needed... but please if it is your will, give me only one day of this. :)"

And so here is an update.
I've captured a few short video clips and have uploaded them to YouTube so that my email files would remain as small as possible. Please click on the links below to view them.

The first one is a video I took of some children. You will see, I tried to capture my special friend, the one I spoke about earlier that had the burns on his face and hands. He has definitely take a soft spot in my heart. If you listen, you will hear the children saying "Hey you", Hey you", "Jeff", "Jeff", "Jeff", "Jeff"... it's like this at every stop. Each one just wants to be me to look at them... The last frame of the video is of my special friend and makes me sad.


The next video is a short clip of delivering water bucket by bucket. Listen to the people, it is almost deafening in real life... At some stops, the lines are orderly and at others, especially when there has been no rain, they are very chaotic... everyone knows there's not enough water for everyone, so they attempt to push and shove their way to the front.


The next video was actually shot when Alyn was here in July. It just gives you a wider angle of bucket by bucket from the top of the truck.


The last video is my first attempt to video from the outside of the truck. We have just left Cite Soleil and are headed back to the well to get more water. You can see many buildings with holes from gunshot and many that have been destroyed by fighting between the gangs and the UN. Notice the children at the end of the clip on a homemade cart carrying a 5 gallon bucket of water.


Sunday was my day off. I got up at 6:30AM and went to investigate a small orphanage that Alyn and I have found... or should I say that found us. It's kind of a long story how we met Jackson, but Alyn and I both believe it could be a "God Thing". Since finding out about each other, Jackson (the orphanage director) and I have been emailing and talking to each other for the last 4 months. He told me that a hurricane came through their small village in 2004, wiping out many of the tin roofed shacks with high winds and flash floods. Maranatha is a small, very poor village with poorly constructed concrete wall houses with tin or thatched roofs. It is located aprox 60 minutes north of Porte-au-Prince off Hwy 1.

Jackson is a follower of Christ and because of his faith, he and a friend took in 30 children who had lost their parents and siblings. In 2005, his friend became suddenly ill and died during surgery. Jackson was devastated. He did not want to go on. He did not think he could continue by himself. He wanted to quit. But as he said, "God had other plans for me". He knew he could not turn the children out because there was no one else to care for them. Jackson is only in his late 20's but has the maturity of someone much older. He believes that God's Will will provide and he steps out in faith every day to serve God and God's children.

Jackson was a school teacher in Porte-au-Prince but quit his job to take care of the children. His pastor rents him a two bedroom house he calls "Maranatha House". All 15 girls live in one bedroom, All 15 boys live in the other. Each bedroom holds 10 bunk beds which means that 5 of the children have to double up in each room. The only source of income for Maranatha House is gifts from donors.

I am attaching some photos of my visit.
All 30 children with "Jackson" in the yellow shirt to my left.

Twin Girls...

We brought down 30 pairs of "Crocs" for the children. They were very excited to get new shoes.







The house does not have an eating area for the children so they must eat on the floor of their bedroom. The rooms do not have light in the room so they eat in the complete dark. The only reason this photo is light is because of my flash. Girls room.

Each child has a backpack that doubles as a dresser for all the clothes they own in this world and for school.

Boys room... can you imagine, they all have to eat and sleep in this tiny room?

Jackson (left) and my friend Jean stand by a mattress that has been hung out to dry after one of the children wet it during the night. Jackson told me about the need for new mattresses for the children. Most of their mattresses are stained, torn and falling apart.

Alyn and I will visit Maranatha House when she comes to Haiti around Thanksgiving. We don't know what God has planned for us, or for Maranatha House, but He has put it heavy on our hearts. Please pray that God will reveal to us the role He has planned for us and pray for Jackson, that through him, God will fulfill the needs of the Children of Maranatha House. We are all so very blessed. When you see first hand children who have lost it all and one person, who is making a difference in their lives, it answers the question "What can one person do?" With God, all things are possible, even if you are just one person.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.

Update from Haiti...

Ok... so I'm feeling a little vulnerable tonight...
My wife emailed and said she was canceling her plans for this evening so that we could chat about my difficult day. Please know, that I'm OK.

I spend a lot of time in solitude at night, listening to my favorite "God Songs" and trying to focus my energies and efforts for the next day. Last night I went to bed early and listened to my favorites. One song really took on significance by the lyrics and I listened to it over and over. I think it set my whole mindset for today. The song played over and over in my head all day. The song is "The Blessing" by John Waller. Here are the lyrics...

Let it be said of us
while we walked among the living
let it be said of us
by the ones we leave behind
let it be said of us
that we lived to be a blessing for life

let it be said of us
that we gave to reach the dying
let it be said of us
by the fruit we leave behind
let it be said of us that our legacy
is blessing for life

this day
you set life, you set death right before us,
this day
every blessing and curse is a choice now
and we will
choose to be a blessing for life

let it be said of us
that our hearts belonged to Jesus
let it be said of us
that we spoke the words of life
let it be said of us
that our heritage is blessing for life

for your Kingdom
for our Children
for the sake of every nation

I realize, I am living this song, and my job just gets that much more important. We missed three bucket by bucket deliveries yesterday and when I asked Alain what we do about it, he said we just go to the next day's schedule. I wonder about the people we missed...

At one stop, I hopped off the truck to clear the way as it backed up. The roads are extremely narrow with houses one foot off the curbs. We were trying to back around a three foot garbage pile and people were just pushing and shoving to get to the back of the truck with their buckets. I am always concerned about a child falling under the truck. A little girl about three, with only a shirt on, was pushed or fell as she was trying to climb over the garbage. She landed flat on her face. Everyone just ran by as she laid there and cried. I went over and picked her up. As she spun around to hug me, she was very surprise to see me but after only a second, wrapped her arms around my neck, put her head on my shoulder and just cried. She would not let go. I sat down and hugged her and comforted her. I am surprised no one ever came for her. It made me very sad.

I think God is really opening my "feelings", and letting me feel the pain of others. It is good. I am OK. I just wish I could do more.
Please pray for the poor.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.

My Dearest Friends...

My Dearest Friends...

My wife sent this to me today. After a very difficult day, I could not stop crying...



Please watch.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.

Thank you from Haiti

I was planning on only sending out an update once a week but I just have to tell you about my day today. I had a very strong day. You must have prayed really hard for me because I felt very good all day long. This is a real contrast from last Friday and Saturday. I felt like a "2" last week and today like an "8"... Thank you for your prayers.

We delivered six loads of 3500 gallons of water. One to a hospital, St. Catherine's run by Doctors without Borders, one to another hospital and one to a Christian school. The other three loads were directly to the people in the streets of Cite Soleil. These three loads are unloaded bucket by bucket, 5 gallons at a time. The kids are so amazing, they pinch me and touch my arms and literally hang on me as I help with the water. All they want is to be noticed, a smile, a pat on the head... some sort of acknowledgment... it brings the biggest smile to their faces. I'm faced with the challenge of delivering water while at the same time trying give them all some sort of touch that they dearly desire.

I saw another little girl, about 6 with severe burn scars all over her face and forehead. Her lips were bloated and cracked, but she had the most beautiful smile. Please pray for her, that God will heal her and remove any pain she is going through. I wonder how these children become so burned...

We ran the water truck delivering water bucket by bucket on the last load until 5:30. It was just getting dark in Cite Soleil. By the time we got all our hoses put away, it was dark. It is amazing, being in a neighborhood with over 200,000 people, with not electricity... many small fires were burning, you could smell the charcoal in the air. My eyes began to burn. As we drove off, the only real light was from our truck. The roads are only 10 feet wide and with our truck being over 8 feet wide, it is a very very difficult challenge to weave our way out of Cite Soleil. About two blocks from our last stop, the lights on our truck started to flicker, they'd go off, then come on and then go off and come on. Eventually, we lost our headlights altogether. We had to stop and spent 1/2 hour trying to figure out in the dark, what the problem was. Not having any lights, or tools, we resigned ourselves to drive out by the light from our flashers.

I do believe this was God's gift to me. He was showing me, what it is to live without any light... something these people live without every night... we are all so blessed.... I would show you some pictures of today, but Keynol took my camera home by mistake. I guess it's only fitting that in this very dark night, I have no photos.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Please pray for the people of Haiti, the hungry, the thirsty, the burn victims... these are many of the people I've met in my first few days. To me, they have a face, to me, they have a voice, please know that they are real.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.

First few days in Haiti...

Well, most of you know, maybe some of you don't. I am in Haiti until just before Christmas. I arrived on October 11th and have worked two days so far on the water truck in the slum of Cite Soleil. I have to tell you, I am old. I have never worked so hard and been so tired at the end of the day. I'm not sure if it's the heat and humidity or just that I'm old... probably both.

I feel so blessed to have this opportunity though... to serve others and to try to make a difference. At one of the stops, I met an old lady that must be in her mid 80's. I remember her hobbling up to get a bucket of water when Alyn and I were here in July. She had motioned for me to help put it on her head. As I tried, I could see there was no way she could carry it. Her mind said yes... but her body said no. This time when she came to get water I filled her bucket and motioned that I would carry it for her. She held my hand as we walked away from the truck and down a little alley. As we walked I prayed "God thank you for letting me be your hands and feet... let me care for her as you would". As we entered her one room house, I could see all she had was a bed and 3 dirty five gallon pails of water... no food, no clothes, no anything. We walked back and fourth 3 more times, each time holding hands. She was so thankful and as was I.

As I walked back from her house the last time, there was a little boy crying with two or three other children around him. He couldn't have been more than 2 or three... naked with no clothes on. I walked over to him and knelt down and put my arm around him. I talked to him (in english) and I know he had no idea what I was saying but hopefully he could hear in my voice that I cared. He stopped crying but tears still rolled down his cheeks. The other children around him must have known I was trying to comfort him and said "grangou, grangou". They were saying in creole "he's crying because he's hungry. It was then that I noticed his bloated stomach. I felt so helpless. I had no food or money with me. All I could do is give him a hug. I was very sad.

At the same stop, I met a little boy who immediately came up to touch me. All the children want to touch the "blanc" and feel my hair. It was a few minutes after that I noticed most of his fingers on both hands were gone and half of his face was scarred. He obviously had a severe burn accident when he was very young. He was just so happy. We hung out together for quite a while. He is definitely one of my favorites so far. I will try to get a picture some time.

I love the children. They are so innocent and curious about me. At each stop, I try to take time to spend with them and play with them a little. Here are a few pictures that Keynol took on Friday and Saturday. In one of the pictures, I'm trying to teach the children how to put a finger in their mouth and make a popping sound from their cheek. They try so hard but most can't do it.

I ask that you keep me in your prayers, that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus... that I can carry some of the burden that these people have to carry every day and relieve some of their load. I ask that you pray for strength for me so that I can serve the people I come in contact with. This is very physical work and very demanding because of the heat and humidity. Pray that I will adjust quickly...

Yours in Christ.
Blessings....

Jeffrey Gacek
Executive Director
www.buya.org
Connecting people who have much and need little...
to those who have little and need so much.