What Would You Say?

I was busy typing on my computer and a 5 year-old little boy, 

walked over to me and picked up my i-phone and said, 

"Mwen vle ecri Jezi" (I want to write Jesus).  I opened an 

app that was a blank notepad and he began typing as fast

 as he could.  He sat next to me for about 15 minutes, 

which is a long time for this little guy.  Here's what he wrote...

Dxnxkxkxkoxoxoxxxxjxo kxlxoxopsxolsdksllxxlxoksnxmxzkkxnck

ckxkckxlzlxkxkxkxmxkxmlckxlsaMznsmdkd snxnkdjdaksxjd

kxkkssksksjjankakskwkwkwndc bxjanxn. B no xbnnxkxnx

bxbxxbzjnanxkskzkzn n n bNznnxanjssnkZxjbxb jxjizzjuszjj

dksjssidiussodjsieiissoksudidysjdjjducbishvd.

Kazakhs

'M.'xmxjnxzjzkxxxxkskqssxlxlxlslldkskslslks

mdmfmmseloieieowoqqodjfjkdcmkdlslkaqpowi

dipoadpsjfksksdmdokskndlslkfkkdlqkddjkfekkedpdofir

lfooekrkfkskefnckvfkcnfkdkdkejfdkkdkkdd

Djdjdlekjdwkldkddkkeekewkdkldfllflxkdlkcdk

E smdkxmxkfkfkfffkfdkddeddsmckkfkxkfkkkkcvmfkkk

ekiidjkjjfjfjcvokfkcfkkfkfkfkdfjdjkfvjkkfkffkdkkkoooow

Enfckkkfkffkfpfklddlfj.      

I wonder what he was writing to Jesus.  I wonder if he thanked 

Jesus for all of the ways Jesus has blessed him and provided

 for him. I wonder if he told Jesus how thankful he is that He died 

on the cross for him.  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world 

that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him 

may have eternal life".  I wonder if he asked for forgiveness 

for his sins.  

If I could write to Jesus what would I write?  What would He

 write back?  I imagine encouraging words.  I imagine Him 

telling me how much He loves me and how He is with me

 through life's joys and sorrows.  

I think about life as a journey.  Each day holds many possibilities.  

Sometimes, challenges that come my way are very difficult to

 get through, but I have a God that is with me through them.  

Sometimes, things seem impossible and that is when I need 

to trust 

God in a deep way because He is my strength.  

Philippians 4:13 says, 

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." 

 I am so thankful that I know Jesus.  

Yesterday, a teenage girl asked me 

"Ki le Jezi habité nan ke ou?" (When did Jesus start living
 in your heart?).  

I told her my story about accepting Jesus as a teenager and she

 smiled and told me Jesus lives in her heart too.  

It amazes me how so many people in Haiti have so little, 

yet their hearts are rich because they know Jesus.  

They thank God for blessing them with food, for their health

 and for their family.  They truly trust God to provide 

everything for them.  They live their life in a way that encourages

 me to live mine for the Lord.  

If you wrote a letter to Jesus, what would you say?  

What would Jesus write back?

-Kathy Aslakson, Healing Haiti Long Term Missionary

No Exit

The day began with a strange sense of being in the comfort zone. How quickly one can acclimate. As we walked across the lot of pits and gravel at the Haitian Truck stop (a bathroom, a counter and a tiny food set up) we were marveling at how our senses have changed. When we were at the water well on Tuesday we were apprehensive and reluctant to take a step forward without our leader going first. And today we are walking confident and laughing with our new Haitian friends. Feeling comfortable and competent. All the team members sprang in action the second their foot hit the ground from the top top. Laughter and love filled the air.

However, the afternoon was a different story. The pleasure of comfort zone was shattered as we entered the gates of the Home for Sick and Dying Adults. This time when the feet hit the ground it was with a slowness that could only represent hesitation. The team lingered around the top top as if it were a safe haven to shelter us from the unknown. Our only comfort lying in the companionship of these 14 people that 5 days ago were strangers but somehow today seemed to cross over to friends. When Amy returned from Mother superior’s office we sauntered towards our destination ; women upstairs and men downstairs. The women move in a single file line to the steps and the men step into a large room with rows of beds that held a man lying on each one. Nick’s rapid creole question lead to a bunch of hands in the air as each of our teammates took a deep breath and a slight step backwards. As Jack reached for the lotion bottle many of the Haitian men began taking off their shirts. Karl paused for a moment as he considered his options. Looking around at the other two men who bagan rubbing the lotion on the men’s chests he realized there was no exit for him. He stepped forward receiving some lotion from the bottle in the palm of his hand. He took the giant leap out of his comfort zone and gave the man the lotion. Within minutes the tension of the room eased and the power of connection filled the space.

Meanwhile the women were entering the room upstairs. No creole was needed. The first team member entered the room and an elderly woman put up her arm for lotion. One by one the team members moved towards a bed and a woman. Meak voices spoke “Bonswa” as the eyes said the rest. Lotion bottles moving around the room and olive oil being massaged into the hair occurred in near silence. The only sounds were the occasional murmur from a team member or a patient to attempt greeting and the quiet hum of Junior’s guitar. Just about the time that we were settling into the akwardness of our work Brunet’s beautiful voice filled the air and the room came to life. The ladies singing joyfully with great innocence temporarily leaving behind the broken heartedness of their conditions. Even the women who were terribly sick mouthed the words. The women of the team moved from room to room connecting with the universal language of music and the universal love of touch. The image of our glory days in Heaven when people will sing praise to Our Lord painted the room as the songs were sung in Creole and English. I sat on my knees on the floor massaging a woman’s foot who was terminally ill with a throat condition, most likely cancer, I couldn’t help but imagine how Jesus must have looked cleaning the feet of the disciples. This is the example He modeled for us but so rarely do we get to live it in this raw of an experience. The defenses of the men downstairs melted away allowing them to see the scars marking the beauty of a life lived, even in it’s pain. As the team filtered out of the doors the court yard light up like the sunshine peering through the cloudy sky. The enery of making a difference obvious in each team member’s expression. Each person spoke of the transforming effect this experience has on each of them. To be part of true connection despite language barriers and cultural differences with simple human touch filled the soul of many team mates. The ride back to the guest house was complete with the comfort of gratitude and honor to be able to worship using one of God’s greatest commands “Love one another”.

Dear God –

Dear God –

I thought I knew what the definition of mercy meant in Your eyes. I have been blessed to walk with the brokenhearted for several years in a care ministry program at church. However, I was taken to a new level of understanding the action of mercy on a mission trip to Haiti. You had our team visit an elderly neighborhood in Haiti. During this visit, I met Edmond; an elderly Haitian man living in a one man tent in the hills of Titanyen. By your grace, I was given the privilege to sit with Edmond. Walking into his tent, I thought that I would be given a chance to show mercy to Edmond. I was allowed to put my arms around him, hold him, feed him, and pray with him. Then, I experienced a moment of a lifetime. Edmond put his arm on my thigh. At that moment, it was not me that provided Edmond mercy. In that moment, God, you were showing me mercy through Edmond’s touch. What’s more, Edmond, could be an angry and outraged elderly man. Yet, I witnessed a man filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Edmond is a man who is grateful for visitors, food, water, and a hug – the simple things in life.

I will be forever thankful, Lord, that you used Edmond to inspire and humble me. Thank you, Lord, that you have positioned Edmond in a place which defines mercy at its deepest core. Thank you Lord for, once again, unveiling my eyes to humanity's basic needs in order to survive which includes mercy. 

Written by Russ Scott

A blog posting from our friends at Real Hope for Haiti.

A blog posting from our friends at Real Hope for Haiti.

Pillowcase Dresses – Such a Blessing!

We are always so humbled and thankful when we see how God is using people all over the globe to show His love to the Haitians here in Cazale.  Real Hope for Haiti has been blessed by receiving so many gifts and donations over the years from selfless, generous givers.  Each one is special and we’d love to blog about them all, but that’s just not possible.  Sometimes, however, a special story behind a donation makes us pause and savor God’s graciousness, and we absolutely must share it with you. 

This is one of those stories.

We got the message recently that a mission team from Healing Haiti had brought in some suitcases filled with donations for RHFH.  Healing Haiti teams have often brought in donations, carrying them in their luggage.  Receiving donations and supplies is logistically very difficult and costly here in Haiti, so it is always a cause for celebration when incoming travelers are willing to sacrifice space in their luggage (not to mention the hassle of handling extra suitcases in the airports) to bring needed items into the country for us.  Once the team arrives in Haiti, all we have to do is drop by and pick up the suitcases from them. 

The Healing Haiti suitcases didn’t just have pillowcase dresses inside, but baby formula and medication as well!  Wow!

This particular team was from St. Michael’s Church in Bloomington.  Prior to their trip, team member Margie Schroeder was aware of a big project that a young lady by the name of Caroline was undertaking:  making a huge number of pillowcase dresses for children who need them.  As God so often does, He brought several people together to accomplish this project, a project that would result in little girls at RHFH being clothed in adorable pillowcase dresses.    

Caroline, from Eden Prairie, MN, is a 17 year old high school senior known for having a heart for the Lord and for serving others.  She is a Girl Scout in Troop 10279.  

 ”I actually learned how to make the dresses about 4 years ago from my great aunt. My great aunt taught my mom and I how to make them just as a fun activity, but this past year I thought that making the dresses would be a great idea for my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. This is the highest award of achievement in girl scouting and it involves about 80 hours of service.”  Caroline sent out flyers to ask for donations of pillowcases to make the dresses out of.  She held a workshop one day in August at Prairie Lutheran Church, where several people gathered to join in the effort to make the dresses.  She had recruited many neighbors and friends to assist in ironing and putting Bible verses on each dress and praying over each child to whom the dresses would clothe.

According to Caroline’s mother, Gail, “This project will continue as over 20 women from our church want to make dresses every August to send to Haiti!”  This is very good news since our girls love the dresses, as do the staff.  They are cool and comfortable, hold up well through handwashings, and make it easy to continue caring for the child while wearing the dress, even if the child has an IV or bandages.  Several individuals and groups of supporters have made pillowcase dresses for the girls here at RHFH over the past couple of years.  Every time we receive a new batch, it’s always fun to see the cute patterns and personal touches the crafter has made.  We just love pillowcase dresses!   

Thank you so much to all those who were a part of making these sweet dresses and getting them to us here at RHFH.  Thanks to everyone who has given of their time and resources to help further this ministry in each and every way God has equipped you.  All for the glory of the Lord!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”     Romans 8:28

Dad, are you going to go fix things down there?

Rick Jones

My son David asked me before I went to Haiti last week, "Dad, are you going to go fix things down there?". I told him that I was going to go help, but could not fix it. While I experienced a great deal and "helped" where I was able, God decided it was time to fix me. My eyes have been opened to the grand treasures we have that we take for granted and the extreme needs of others that are so very real.

Matthew 25

Letter to the little girl in the purple dress with downs syndrome

Dear sweetie...thank you for blessing me today. As I started to play my guitar and sing you pressed in so close it was at first hard to play. Your face was inches from my hands and the strings as you peered deep into the sound hole in the guitar. Were you trying to figure out were the sound was coming from? You stood there for over an hour as we sang. I will never forget the moment you pressed in close enough to kiss the guitar strings as I strummed and then looked up at me and smiled. You melted my heart and healed a part that was broken. You were a gift to me from heaven and I will never forget you, the angel in the little purple dress.... Love and kisses back to you.

Michael