Mèsi Senyè...

Mèsi Senyè...

This means, "Thank You, Lord" in Creole.  Those are the only words I can use to describe how I feel about my trip to Haiti (and they're much more beautiful in Creole than in English:)  
Here's how I saw Jesus this week:

- I saw medical professionals (an MD, a PA, a nurse, a nursing student and a pre-med student) give up a week of their lives to sit in a sweltering hot, sticky school house and see patients who could never afford to see a doctor.  They treated, sutured, prescribed, scheduled surgeries for and prayed over people who otherwise may never have gotten treatment (and a few who just wanted free vitamins:).  One of them was so compelled by it that he's taking a step of faith and going back for the month of April to continue to treat & love on the people of Haiti.  Because of them, Dr Kerry was able to show these communities that he loves them enough to open free medical clinics in their villages and in turn, he's earned the right to share why he organized that - because God first loved him, he loves them. 

- I saw a high school senior giving up her spring break to see what it would be like to serve God in another country.  Her heart is pure gold and she's so eager to use her life for kingdom work.  She loved on orphans and helped in a medical clinic.  She has spring break stories that are life-changing & I'm so proud of her.  

- I saw seven moms/grandmas leave their families for a week to go and love on someone else's kids because scripture asks us to care for the orphan.  Their love for those kids & organizational skills provided things for Kerry & Joy's family that could not have been provided without these moms.  Their hearts were transformed by rescuing a little girl from a dire situation and bringing her to the orphanage.  Their hearts were broken for a little boy with special needs who desperately needs surgery or he will die.  Their loving arms were used to cuddle kids who rarely get one on one attention and affection.  Their songs were sung to bring life to kids who were forced to grow up too quickly because they had no stable home.  Without them, our team wouldn't have been complete. 

- I saw a young married couple pour their lives into men in the fishing village and orphaned young women.  Their hearts are to get the men in the fishing program sponsored so that they can be more productive in their fishing and grow their very small businesses, feed their families and put their children in school.  They are making a difference in Haiti.

- I saw my sister-in-law jumping in wherever she could to help - painting, washing clothes, holding a baby, assembling a bed, running a pharmacy, babysitting Joy & Kerry's kids, learning a little Creole, laughing and playing with the kids in the orphanage - just allowing God to use her wherever he chose to that day.  She brought so much joy to our team and to the people there and is more inspired to go back and start Young Life in her hometown with high school students.  

- I saw my dad using his gifts as a businessman to help Dr Kerry think more strategically about all the irons he has in the fire.  He spent a week problem solving and figuring out ways he could help.  He served by encouraging Dr Kerry in the work he was doing and propelling him to be able to do more - "putting gas on the fire" as we like to say.  Not only did I see my dad using what he's best at, but I also saw him loving on orphans who've never had a dad.  

- My next blog post will say more about their ministry & their lives, but I saw Dr Kerry running more ministries than one person should ever run...  1) Abraham Association (choir), 2) Fishing Program (12 guys he's teaching to make a business out of their trade while discipling them), 3) Medical Clinics, 4) The Mission (orphanage where they house & feed 17 kids each day), 5) the potential opening of a Boys Home for the older boys, 6) running the Refugee Camp where he helps feed 65 people displaced from the earthquake and is trying to find them homes/jobs before July, 7) Outreach Church in the street on Sunday nights for people in the fishing village, 8) Hosting our team which includes coordinating housing, meals, transportation, translators, Sunday church and everything in between, 9) potentially starting a "feeding program" to get the kids in local schools fed so they can at least eat one meal per day, 10) running a sponsorship program where $150/year allows a kid to get off the street and be put in school and fed one meal per day, 11) being an incredible husband and father to his wife and 8 kids (6 of whom live in Haiti) and finally, 12) he and Joy serving as weary, yet most faithful servants of our Lord, day in and day out because they realize that loving Jesus and loving people is all that matters. What an example!

- I saw myself changed forever and I don't say that lightly.  You see, when you run mission trips for a living, you've been alot of places & seen alot of things.  But I've never, ever been captured by a place like I have been by Montrouis, Haiti (pronounced "Mowee).  I've never seen such tangible need we have the potential to meet.  I've never met missionaries like Kerry & Joy and their kids who have chosen to relinquish the American Dream and the life they had planned for themselves in order to have the life that God had planned for them.  I've never seen daily surrender modeled so faithfully. I "drank the koolaid" as they say.  I'm all in.  I'm ready to give whatever it takes to keep this ministry going and to get them the help they need.  They are running more than 8 flourishing ministries on their own and they need workers, helpers, partners.  I see God calling me into something much bigger with my dear friends in Haiti. I know God is stirring my heart to do something big and I am seeking Him with all I am to figure out how he might use me to help with ministering to the people in Montrouis, Haiti.  I would love your prayers as I seek his will.  Stay tuned...

Mèsi Senyè... for how you are changing my life. 

(This is Joy and Kerry's 9 year old - Jacy and the little girl I wish I could take home - Nakisha)