We went to a wedding Tuesday night. Villa was a leader in the Bible study that we started several years ago. We had the joy of mentoring him and Erline for three years. We were helping her financially; however, after the earthquake January 12 we discovered that we were her only means of support as her uncle couldn’t find work in Florida. So Judy and I decided to see her through financially to her graduation and wedding (both this month). When we told her back in January that we would completely support her for this year, she cried tears of joy.
After we suggested a budget, she followed it, showing us how she spent everything we gave her. She tithed, she saved 10 percent, she helped her family back in Haiti and helped another Haitian student here as well as finishing her university studies. As we gave to her, we rejoiced to see that she didn’t waste money and didn’t spend it all on herself.
Monday we gave her our final month’s gift as a wedding gift; Villa thanked us up-and-down and said, “Don’t worry, with the LORD’s help, we can make it now.”
And Tuesday night there were no tears. Instead God gave me an overwhelming sense of joy of a job completed, and completed well, helping to see one chapter in two young lives successfully close and a new chapter open. A sense of joy due to Erline’s perseverance, we were able to help her finish school and prepare for marriage—and helping her was the right thing to do, the right way to spend that money, the right way to invest especially as we saw that as we helped her, God used her to help others. A sense of joy knowing that even though their road will be rocky (literally, the roads around Port-au-Prince are that bad), still, God will provide for them—especially since they BOTH have jobs waiting for them in Port-au-Prince, a miracle in itself!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
We're Going Bananas!!!
Yes, you read that right! We’re going bananas! Lampeter Church of the Brethren sent three people to visit us November 5-9, arriving Friday night.
Saturday morning/afternoon we went to Jaibon, about 90 minutes west of here to measure for a playground for that orphanage. The last 3 miles of the trip was extremely rough where the road has not been resurfaced; it has a washboard effect and reminded me of the roads that we traveled on in Haiti.
I then took Pastor John to the leadership training study that I have with a Haitian church. The university students in the Bible Study Methods course participated with many good observations about Ephesians 1.3-4. John gave a few pointers as I translated for him into English from Creole.
Sunday morning we attended church at La Yaguita. We then had lunch with Pastor Ramon Jorge and his wife Alicia; he shared his heart about the children’s center that their church started. Orly is a street kid, all of 6 years old; his mom is a prostitute, and he doesn’t get cared for. He said, “I see Ramon in Orly.” Ramon shared that he remembers going to school without shoes; he tried to leave school as quickly as possible so that the other kids would not see that he was barefooted. Orly has shown up at Pastor Ramon’s both naked and hungry. Another time Ramon had to hose him down and give him new clothes since he was so filthy.
The next day, the three attended the center and did a Bible story and songs for each of the three classes, including the banana song, which became the hit and highlight of their visit. After a late lunch, we then visited several places getting info on buying materials to make the playground for Jaibon.
Pastor John then did a Bible study on forgiveness at my Monday night small group that the group translated. The group appreciated what he had to say and they spent quite a bit of time talking to each other afterwards since several people in the study speak some English.
We got up the next morning at 2:30 am to catch their plane. The van driver slept in; when I called him, I woke him up! However, he got up, dressed quickly, and arrived at the apt at 3:05!
Saturday morning/afternoon we went to Jaibon, about 90 minutes west of here to measure for a playground for that orphanage. The last 3 miles of the trip was extremely rough where the road has not been resurfaced; it has a washboard effect and reminded me of the roads that we traveled on in Haiti.
I then took Pastor John to the leadership training study that I have with a Haitian church. The university students in the Bible Study Methods course participated with many good observations about Ephesians 1.3-4. John gave a few pointers as I translated for him into English from Creole.
Sunday morning we attended church at La Yaguita. We then had lunch with Pastor Ramon Jorge and his wife Alicia; he shared his heart about the children’s center that their church started. Orly is a street kid, all of 6 years old; his mom is a prostitute, and he doesn’t get cared for. He said, “I see Ramon in Orly.” Ramon shared that he remembers going to school without shoes; he tried to leave school as quickly as possible so that the other kids would not see that he was barefooted. Orly has shown up at Pastor Ramon’s both naked and hungry. Another time Ramon had to hose him down and give him new clothes since he was so filthy.
The next day, the three attended the center and did a Bible story and songs for each of the three classes, including the banana song, which became the hit and highlight of their visit. After a late lunch, we then visited several places getting info on buying materials to make the playground for Jaibon.
Pastor John then did a Bible study on forgiveness at my Monday night small group that the group translated. The group appreciated what he had to say and they spent quite a bit of time talking to each other afterwards since several people in the study speak some English.
We got up the next morning at 2:30 am to catch their plane. The van driver slept in; when I called him, I woke him up! However, he got up, dressed quickly, and arrived at the apt at 3:05!
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