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

Life is Beautiful

Good Morning from Haiti and our last morning here.  This is my first and last post as many have already written the words in my head.  This week was nothing short of amazing. I saw Christ in each person on our team. I saw Christ in the people who protected us and helped us each and everyday. I saw Christ in the beautiful Haitian people we met each day, the babies, the children, the mothers, the fathers, the orphans and the elders.  

A song came to mind this morning "One" by Chris Sligh

........But love, we keep trying to find a way to come together lord take these fears away
 Make us one. Make us one, one,  Lord make us One

We are the face of Christ in a world of shadows, is it God's love we are fighting for or denominations ego? We gotta let go of pride and embrace the idea of difference........ 

The journey has been one of transformation for so many of us. As we re-enter our lives home we ask you Lord to guide our intentions and our hearts to continue learning to be the light ......
As we looked in the eyes of each person they each  have a story to tell. A story that is filled with living and dying, laughing and crying..... I have found so much joy and laughter here in Haiti. So much more than I ever imagined. I want to remember each part of this. The journey I have taken. The hurt, the hunger and pain I saw as well as the smiles, the joy and the love for Jesus. Remember when you look down to always look up. When I looked down and saw sadness I looked up and saw beauty in the mountains, the sky, the ocean, the people and all God created. 


LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL


Kari

Look Not to Earthly Things for Fulfillment

Eyes fixed on a prize that will but fade away in a matter of moments,

Look not to earthly things for fulfillment,

But look to the heavens for the greatest reward,

For it is in the hands and feet of Christ that our gaze may be shifted


 from an earthy promise of artificiality to that which really matters,

Take glance at that which surrounds you and witness the need for love


 and generosity among the most vulnerable of people,

Set down your possessions and free yourself of the binding act of


 selfishness,

Extend your arms outward and reach out to those who yearn for your


 heart.

May you be broken by those who you encounter,

May you be encouraged by the humbling of your heart

May you hear God's call in your life to serve his people through prayer,


 compassion, and commitment.

-Kayleen Smith