Why We Moved to Haiti
Living in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a 2 and 1-year-old is not an easy task. Our days start before the sun comes up, last until well after it goes down and typically include meetings with employees, going to schools, punishing kids, praising kids, turning people who need jobs away, trying to make the cash we have here stretch, and a large variety of other things. If I am being completely honest, there are many times at the end of a hard day when we finally get Sophie and Elijah asleep and get the kids home after our nightly service together that I want to turn to Matt and say let’s book a flight, move back to America, and lead normal lives. I could get a teaching job, Matt could pastor a church, and Sophie and Elijah could do normal things like go to the park or play with friends their own age. In those moments of weakness, God always reminds me why He moved us here and the reason is a list of names and faces:
Herbison, Woodly, Yolmenda, Misthafa, Chinaider, Kin Kin, Gueline, Fransline, BiGuedy, Dinna, Kervinson, Apolon, Hiwerli, Milouse, Angena, Rose, Michelda, Tony, Woodlerx, Malayika, Gladine, Son Son, Maekin, Richadeley, Fedeline, Somara, Vageley, Heworlson, Mvinsley, Babyson, Tilene
In December of 2011 we came on a trip to Haiti that would change the entire course of our lives. We met a group of kids who were living in shacks, eating around 5 times a week, not in school, being taken advantage of, and often sick. God gave us a vision and a plan for the future of these kids and we soon realized the only way to see it come to fruition is if we moved to Haiti. We have seen God remove them from a dangerous situation into safe housing. We have seen kids who were scared to get close to anyone because of abandonment issues learn to trust and love us and their House Moms. We have watched a group of kids who all failed their first year of school excel in school in recent years. We have watched them put on weight and remain healthy. We have seen kids learn what it means to be followers of Christ and be baptized. We have seen them welcome Sophie and Elijah into their family like they are brothers and sisters. My list could go on and on. We have seen God work miracles here in Haiti.
All Things New is a small ministry with big plans but first and foremost it is about that list of kid’s names. It started with a husband and wife saying yes to God’s call for their lives and not really knowing what to do next. We have made mistakes, had victories, and learned a lot. I’m writing this to give you a small back drop to the blog series we are about to write. A couple of years ago we wrote blogs on each child and what their personalities are like. They have come so far and have changed so much we will be redoing this series and also include what they have shared with us are their dreams for their future. You have seen us posting recently asking for donations and if you ever wonder why or who the money benefits, the answer is simple:
Herbison, Woodly, Yolmenda, Misthafa, Chinaider, Kin Kin, Gueline, Fransline, BiGuedy, Dinna, Kervinson, Apolon, Hiwerli, Milouse, Angena, Rose, Michelda, Tony, Woodlerx, Malayika, Gladine, Son Son, Maekin, Richadeley, Fedeline, Somara, Vageley, Heworlson, Mvinsley, Babyson, Tilene