The last few days I’ve been going through the pictures that the medical relief team had taken while in Haiti last week. Some of the shots seem unreal or staged. My deadline for finishing this project is tomorrow….although I am nowhere near being done…. in my procrastination I thought I would share a few with you! On a side note, Haiti remained in the news longer than anticipated but have you noticed that the situation is slowly fading from the forefront?
This video was created by Matt Love
Good friend & LACC Missionary to the Dominican Republic
As life has happened this week, tremendous tragedy striking Haiti, I have concluded that; “Going Matters.” A part of my heart is in Haiti and always will be. It has been difficult these last few days to watch the news, read the stories, and be horrified by the pictures. Just today a display of pictures were put up at the church to promote disaster relief through Hope and Encouragement for Humanity and Mission of Hope. There was one picture displayed of the team that went in 2008, in it I was holding an emaciated little girl, no more than 5 years of age. As I stared at this picture, recalling the very smell of that day, I wondered about the massive crowd of children that surrounded us that day; I wondered what their day was like today, I wondered how many of them were now orphaned, hungry, thirsty, and scared! I wondered the same about the little girl that I held.
I believe that despite how dark it may seem, God loves to shine His light admits the darkness! So why have I concluded that; “Going Mattered” because when the Noah’s Ark story was told in the orphanages, the children learned of God’s faithfulness. When the food was handed to the widow, she found that God provides. When I held that little girl for those few moments, she experienced the love of Jesus. You see going mattered before the tragedy ever happened and going still will matter long after the headlines fade.
Not only does going involve geographically but also right in the places the God has placed me. Going and living the day that the Lord has given me…matters. The people who I encounter daily….matter. My neighbor, my family, my friends, my church. Going mattered and matters!
Haiti, 2008
The ground beneath my feet is the base of everything. I find shelter on it, I eat food grown in it, I use fuel found deep inside it. I build my life on it. I see my future on it. I dream from my bed, in my home, built on top of it. So what happens then when the ground beneath my feet suddenly becomes my enemy? What happens when this thing I’ve always trusted, always counted on turns against me?
I wish the ground beneath me would stop shaking. I wish I could trust the ground I’m sitting on right now. I wish I could, but I can’t, and I don’t and I am starting to wonder if I ever will again.
Never in all my life have I felt more terrified. Never have I felt so powerless and helpless. There is nothing I could do to stop the earth from shaking. Nothing. It came without notice, it lasted as long as it wanted and continues to remind us of its dangerous threat through continued tremors.
Praise the Lord we just have cracked walls and broken things. It is a miracle. The Lord, once again has protected Mission of Hope and everyone on it.
We are surrounded by death and destruction, but we were protected. We are surrounded by pain and suffering, but we were saved.
The death has affected us, we are grieving the lose of Farah; the cutest flower girl you’ve ever seen. We are grieving the lose of Gabrielle; an always smiling secretary. We are grieving along side our brother Bildad for the lose of his sister, whose body has yet to be recovered. We are grieving along side Ruben and Patris who lost the majority of their classmates when their school collapsed. We grieve along side the mothers who held their dying babies in their arms. We grieve along side the fathers who watched as their homes crumbled to pieces on top of their loved ones. We grieve along side the brothers sent out to search for their sibling’s bodies. We grieve along side those who are hurt and cannot find anyone to help them. We grieve along side those who are trapped inside a collapsed building crying out for help and finding none. We grieve along side those who abandon the remains of their loved ones because there is simply nowhere to bring the bodies.
It breaks my heart to see the Hope House kids shiver through the night, as they lay on their mattresses in the middle of the churchyard, screaming every time we feel a tremor. It is my job to protect them. It is my job to keep them safe. It is my responsibility to keep things like this from happening to them. And yet, as I write this email I am just a few feet away from the rows of children huddled together trying to keep warm.
Please pray for the people of Haiti, a people who have suffered far too much.
Rachel
This email was written last night by a Mission of Hope staff person. Please continue to pray for Mission of Hope & Convoy of Hope as they mobilize to serve the victims that have been devastated by the 7.0 earthquake.
Port-au- Prince, Haiti - 2006
I am broken for the people of Haiti. The pain and devastation that these people face on a daily basis is unimaginable. Every time I have visited this island a greater perspective is gained on the blessed life that I live. The images from the last 24 hours have again brought perspective.
MISSION OF HOPE: Earthquake News Update
Haiti was hit on Tuesday by a massive earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, causing the collapse of buildings, including a hospital, and causing widespread panic. Fortunately, most of the Mission of Hope staff and families have been spared major calamity, though our buildings and other facilities have yet to be surveyed for damage.
Most of all, we covet your prayers as we deal with the aftermath of the earthquake. As always, if you wish to give to help defray expenses, please visit our Online Giving page to do so.
Original
Basically the original is a silhouette of a man walking down a darkened street (alone), hands behind his back, and a window is in the background. The architecture of the window makes a cross. My point being made that God is in the midst of the ordinary and we are never alone…..BRILLIANT right?!?! Well so I thought! Part of my plan was to make the cross a little more defined then just the straight lines of what made up the window. In doing so I brought down the left side with a little too much grunge, hence making it look as though the man is hanging himself….so was the conclusion of the audience.
Mistake
Oooops…is really all I can say…and thank goodness for the “clone stamp” in Photoshop! For me to put in a “Hahahaha” one might think I am a little morbid. But let’s just be honest it’s pretty funny! The final version is below, edited to not look like the guy is hanging himself …which only made it up on the screen for half of the first service, all the second service, and Saturday night people…well I am sorry.
Final Version
Creating artwork….well I am flawed and make mistakes. What one person misses another might see…and in the grand scheme of it all…the big picture, it probably doesn’t matter! Christ was still proclaimed this weekend, despite the artwork. “And at the end of the day, our art is simply a donkey.. just like the one that carried Jesus.. just a donkey, who’s purpose was to carry the Savior.. The same goes for all our creative expression; our music; our photography; our design; our talents and gifts etc. Whatever it is, our challenge above all else is to make sure it carries HIM. That it serves to carry the life giving message of Christ. We get that right, and it’ll do the job.” -Joel Houston
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5
Things that I have learned in 2009 and continue to grow in…
- It is good to be near to God.
- Choose not to know all the details but trust Jesus.
- He is my enduring hope!
- Laughing is important.
- He is all I need.
- He can do all things, no plan of His can be thwarted.
- When I exaggerated what is wrong, I ignore what is right.
- Don’t give up my dreams.
- I love running.
- God has all things in control.
- He is extending the Church to care for hurting people.
- Live with hope focused on eternity.
- Desire the approval of God.
- Every gift I have is from Him.
- Again, vitamins help.
- Defend the weak and fatherless.
- Rescue the poor and needy.
- Life is short, I only get one chance at it.
- I can do all things through Him, I ran a half marathon!
- Being a leader is hard and a huge responsiblity.
- Healthy leaders say no.
- I am betrothed to God.
- If grace is an ocean…I am sinking.
- Leading a mission team is hard work but at the same time rewarding.
- The greatest miracle is a changed life.
- He never forsakes.
- I really love sunshine.
- He turns darkness to light.
- I am nothing apart from Christ.
- Life is risky…no matter what!
- Just because somethings are unseen doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
- All things lead to His purpose when it is all about Him.
- Live called, make a difference.
- He always responds.
- Walking with Jesus isn’t about my success but His glory!
- God is more concerned about my character than my comfort.
- It’s about God’s Kingdom.
- Success is filtered through obedience.
- God does everything in His time.
- Ask, be healed!
- Don’t complicate things…follow God.
- Find strength in Him.
- His power is vast.
- That He would break my heart for what breaks His.
- Believing in His faithfulness despite the circumstance.
- Serving is a heart matter.
- I am blessed because my car ran another year!
- He has already set things into motion, I get to be apart.
- I love my family more.
- Just because I am a Christ follower doesn’t negate me from “Gethsemane” moments.”
- Compassion is beyond emotion and feeling, it compels me to cross the street.
- There is always more.
- I shouldn’t ever settle for less than God’s best!
- The small things matter.
- Everyone I encounter is God ordained.
- Everything I need, He has!
- His plan stands firm through all generations!
