Life or death?

I received the greatest complement recently. "She is a born activist," my new friend said of me. I have only seen myself as a follower: a follower of Jesus Christ. Oh, not following perfectly, but with the desire of my heart to be attentive to where God is working and to join him there. He uses you and me to accomplish his goals. One of God's goals is to save the lives of precious babies to whom he gave a heart beat.

Just look at the beautiful boy in the photo. His mother knew she could not raise him. She chose adoption. She chose a couple to raise her baby. She chose Bob and Connie Jo... this is our 21 year old son Taylor. We met him at 2 hours old and Bob and I have had the privilege of raising him. 

Why do I share this with you?

40 Days for Life: a time to pray for women who are planning an abortion. Pray in public. Yes, right out in public. Right in front of women who are planning to have an abortion to end the life of a precious child, like our son Taylor. Silent prayer, on the sidewalk. Most people say, "I can pray at home." Of course you can. But, when a desperate young women is walking into an abortion clinic struggling with the decision of "should I or shouldn't I abort my baby" and she sees someone outside the abortion clinic praying for the her baby it can turn her right around and save her baby's life. 

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND WATCH THIS VIDEO (http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2335) ABOUT 40 DAYS FOR LIFE AND SEE WHAT GOD IS AT WORK DOING, THEN JOIN HIM. 

Call me and I'll go with you. 

Day 9-I am flying away from Haiti

I am flying away from Haiti looking down upon the island from a birds eye view knowing that God loves these people more than any of us do. I have fallen in love. In love with a people that are just exactly like me & you. Oh, their circumstances are different, their language, customs, color... all different. Their needs, desires, hopes, dreams... all the same. Haiti has experienced many, many challenges over the centuries. From the beginning people were brought to Haiti on slave ships, stolen from their families, mother land and way of life and were brutalized for the gain of others.  Slavery keeps people in a state of dependence, even though they work their entire life they have nothing of their own and they depend on others to give them their basic needs. Slaves develop an entitlement mentality because they are stripped of everything, including their dignity. I believe that pain still remains in Haiti. Trouble has visited Haiti over and over. In our recent history AIDS/HIV plagued Haiti. Hurricanes. Corruption and greed stripped the land and the people of their God-given riches of natural resources. Then in January 2010 a massive 7.0 earthquake shook her to the core. The poorest nation in the western hemisphere. How can you be the poorest nation in the western hemisphere already and then have your most prosperous city fall to the ground, killing thousands, causing millions to be homeless? We have a saying, “There is no where to go but up!” Not for Haiti. They went even deeper into depression, hopelessness, poverty... need. 

There is a dichotomy in the culture of Haiti that is present in all societies: those that will and those that won’t. Through all of the challenges there are people in Haiti that are thriving. There are those that aren’t. As we traveled, like tourists, past the rubble of a Catholic church that had collapsed there was a group of people that greeted us. Very poor, apparently injured in the quake. Because we had been given strict instructions to not give them money we obediently apologized and said no. When we said no, they followed us, badgered us & continued to beg. We were warned of this yet it was hard to walk away. (Silent prayer). When we got into our vehicle a man became angry with us and began to threaten to throw rocks at our windows. Oh, I see, when we might give you something your are needy but when we don’t give you something you curse us and plan to do us harm. He didn’t throw rocks. I do want to say that our interpreter’s were our voices, our body guards, our hero’s. They got out and addressed the man on our behalf. At the Catholic Church and at The Palace (their seat of government, like our White House) we took photos, we moaned with disbelief that buildings could just crumble like that, we bought souvenirs. So many of our tender hearted team felt we were exploiting the beggar’s by staring, taking photo’s and just being in that spot as looky-lou’s. I listened to their perspective and how they struggled. I asked the Lord for a perspective so I could feel what they were feeling. I did. I could relate with their feelings. I felt bad that we were coming across that way. We were staring. We were gawking. But this I know, I was not there to just observe like a tourist. I was there to serve those very people, their pain, difficulties, diseases & sorrow. And, I was there on behalf of God, the Creator, who sees them in this place and hears their cries. He knows. I asked the Lord for help in the emotion. Then a bit later I heard another perspective in my spirit. There are many, many, many Haitians that are pulling themselves up out of the rubble. There are thousands of people from around the world flocking to Haiti to help. The world has poured money into the situation. Yet there are enormous mountains yet to overcome. The thought that settled in me was that these people that had swamped us to beg and became angry at us for not giving money to them were just that, beggar’s. They were the ones that were exploiting the situation. That’s when I was able to separate the two groups: those that will and those that won’t. People of Haiti are climbing out of the place they find themselves in through no choice of their own. There are still those that never will because of their entitlement mentality, beggar’s that swarm people expecting, no demanding, handouts. You know them too because they stand on the offramp of the freeway in your city and you know those that take welfare for life with no intension of helping themselves. Those that won’t. The Haitians we met and partnered with are those that will. They have been serving Haiti for 36 years and will continue.  They have spent their lives loving, serving and sharing Christ with their countrymen. I am so proud to be able to call Haitian Christian Mission founders, Etienne and Betty Prophete, their children and staff, my new friends. I have felt their compassion for Haiti. It was passed on to me by the Holy Spirit. Now, as I fly away, I know Haiti is in Good Hands, God’s Hands. There is a lot of growth ahead and with that comes growing pains. Let me say it with God’s word:

     Romans 5:3-5 (Amplified) " ... let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."

The people of Haiti have suffered much and many are embracing these difficulties with God’s grace applied to the situations. When a person does that they acquire something called perseverance... guts! Stick-to-itiveness! When you hold on to God through it all you come out with change... first, in your own character becoming Christ like and second, change in the circumstances because of your hands to the plow attitude, get ‘er done approach. When God can work that in a person/people they have a confidence, an assurance, a hope. They know that they know it will be OK because of the love of God that was poured out in their hearts through the Holy Spirit. 

I just got to be part of that process; in me and through me, it doesn’t get better than that!!

Remember: donations are still being accepted for ‘in country’ donations and the cost of the trip.

For a tax deductible donation make checks payable to:

NWAPC

c/o Connie Jo Freeman

5150 N St.

Washougal, WA 98671

"Help us"

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Acts 16:9

Help us! 

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn-conflicts on the outside, fears within. 

2 Corinthians 7:5

Conflicts on the outside, fears within!

This experience the Apostle Paul had came to mind as I was in prayer for Haiti and their desperate situation. I know the people of Haiti are begging for help and have experienced conflicts on the outside (7.1 magnitude earthquake that crumbled their world), fears within (death of precious loved ones, loss of home & possessions, cholera outbreak and more).

Bible Gateway.com comments on Paul’s circumstance. 

“The NIV's body is actually the word "flesh." "Flesh" is the physical side of things as impacted by external circumstances and inward state of mind. Had no rest is probably another way of saying that he was physically spent from worrying. Then too, he had no chance for respite (relief from labor), because when he came to Macedonia he faced opposition at every turn (v. 5). The Greek word anesis refers not so much to rest (NIV, KJV, NKJV, RSV, NRSV) as to "relief" (REB, NEB) or relaxation.”

Paul had reached a ‘low’ point yet he received encouragement: But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 2 Corinthians 7:6

Let us compare the vision of Paul to our Hatian neighbors begging, “Come help us!”

Let us be part of the solution to their ‘flesh’ or their physical side impacted by this earthquake, disease & extreme poverty.

Let us bring comfort to them by going, meeting their needs with medicine, nutrition, love, touch, friendship, support, HOPE for the downcast in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Can we solve each problem in this 9 day trip? NO. But if you or your child were the one that received treatment it would matter to the one!

Haiti was the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake. More than 220,000 people were killed. 300,000 were injured. Nearly 290,000 buildings were destroyed. More than 1.5 million people were left homeless and are still living in tents more than one year later. 

The cholera epidemic continues its outbreak: tens of thousands continue to be sick and more than 3,500 have died.

Help us help them. 

Donations are still being received for ‘in-country’ purchases and the cost of the trip to Haiti.

Tax deductible donations may be made payable to:

NWAPC

c/o Connie Jo Freeman

5150 N St.

Washougal, WA 98671

Day 4: Medical Clinic at HMC

Day 4-Medical Clinic at HMC

-A laid back morning with breakfast at 7:30am. Clinic started at 8am. I got a crash course in using the equipment for taking temperatures and blood pressure. The tools were all brought from the US so they were all automatic, THANKFULLY. A monkey could have done my job but I was privileged to get to sit with these most precious people to ask them what their needs were, document them for the medical team and then share the love of Jesus with them, lay hands on them and pray. Oh, God’s love was so apparent and the Haitians knew that He had reached down and touched them. I also spent the entire day across from Johnny, the 30 year old interpreter assigned to me. When we had a moment to visit he would tell me about his walk with Jesus, we would share God’s truths, spend time addressing misconceptions of God’s ways & we got really excited about the amazing things that are happening here in Haiti.

-BTW-a weird thing happened at work (clinic) today... Bruce, Prayer Pastor at Living Hope, came to me on my break to let me know that I had served a woman with cholera. Immediately I had an opportunity to FREAK OUT. But, God has been so constantly talking to me through His word throughout this entire effort that it never crossed my mind. This morning my personal devotion was 2 Tim. 1:6,7 “I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind.” I experienced just that, a sound mind, no fear, no concern. The only thing I thought was, “I came here to serve and who else needs medical attention more that the little lady that was so sick she could barely walk.” I did speak to our nurses and they assured me there was nothing to be concerned about. The only way it can be spread is fecal-to-oral cross exposure (like if I was to get her feces on my hands and then get it in my mouth) & contaminated water. Well, I promise you I didn’t have to deal with anything of that nature!

-Foursquare Mission Press, Anaheim, CA, is a ministry that develops, prints and distributes tracts all over the world for missionary outreach. They donated 42 pounds of tracts and children’s ministry supplies to our trip. Patients to the clinic received a tract in Creole, their mother language. What a blessing: As soon as I was accepted to the team I posted to Facebook that I was coming to Haiti. Within a day of the posting I got a call from my old church friend Matthew Agosto, who is employed by Foursquare Mission Press. He told me that they had created a box immediately after the 2010 earthquake specifically for Haiti called HOPE for Haiti (that is the exact name I gave my Haiti trip) and he wanted to send me the kit. In the mail it went, from Anaheim, CA to Washougal, WA and into a suitcase bound for Haiti. I know that they will be blessed by the gift of God’s word! Thank you Foursquare Mission Press for your amazing ministry to the world. 

-Head on motorcycle accident: today 3 motorcycles collided & the men were brought here for treatment. Most amazing of all was that 3 of our team were sitting in their car waiting for someone when the accident occurred right in front of them. They were able to give immediate assistance! One had a compound break on his left leg.  It was isolated and he was transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The other man did a face plant into the gravel. If you have a weak stomach don’t look: the doctor had to stitch his upper-lip back together. All in a days work at a medical clinic.

-Tomorrow we take the mobile clinic to a village. God is touching the lives of His children! Good night.

Day 3: Worship with the Ecclesia (Church) of Haiti (2/13/2011)

Day  3-Worship with the Ecclesia (Church) of Haiti (2/13/2011)

-4am - alarm, dark, rooster crowing, air-conditioner humming. Is this a pattern developing? 4am? NO WAY, ALREADY! I peak out my eyelids and see my roomies stirring with no complains, no laying in bed in denial. Only ANTICIPATION OF WHAT GOD WILL DO! The church we visited today in Port-au-Prince (45 minute drive from the mission) starts at 6am so they can worship, have Sunday School class and be on their way home before the heat hits. OK American church. They dress to the hilt in dresses, heals, suit & tie, children in pretty little dresses and handsome vests on the boa garçon(French- for handsome boy). Today I had the privilege of joining Haitian’s before the Throne of God in worship of Jesus Christ our Lord. No, I could not understand a word they were saying accept Hallaluia and Amen. But, as I experienced in the jungle of Nicaragua, 2008, there was a connection that is not able to be explained. It is a mystery..... (That which is beyond human comprehension until explained. In this sense, mystery often conveys the idea of something awfully sublime or important; something that excites wonder.

Great is the mystery of godliness. 1 Tim.3.

Having made known to us the mystery of his will. Eph.1.

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. 1 Co.2.) 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary

-18 year old boy gored by cow horns

As we were regrouping at the mission after church and grocery shopping an emergency was announced to the medical team that a young man had been gored by horns of a cow. Come quickly. I grabbed my camera and followed the well prepared Physician Assistant, Chris and nurses, Nicky, Sue & Leanne, to the medical clinic. There was his neck, just below his chin, completely ripped open with the muscle and tissue exposed and bleeding. Nicky cleaned the wound and the doctor on staff, Dr. Patrick and Chris-our PA, stitched the wound closed. He was given a push of morphine and passed out finally. 

-Prayer assignment for the nation of Haiti has been given to the team. Years of witchcraft, voodoo, corrupt government officials, HIV & poverty has ruled this people. The distinction of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere is upon them for a reason. We have been sent here to partner with the Ecclesia (church) in intercession. The Prayer Pastor from Living Hope is here on the team and he told me from the get-go that we were called to go to the high place on the island to pray. I agreed with him that our assignment was to do exactly that. In the old days ‘high places’ is where people built alters to worship false gods. Israel, over and over again, would fall to idolatry because the people would not tear down the idols in the high places. We spent about 2 hours traveling to various housing projects Haitian Christian Mission (HCM) is developing for people that have lost their homes. We found ourselves at a very high place overlooking the southern portion of Haiti. We prayed with great expectation that God is stirring His people here in Haiti to teach God’s truth and to mentor leaders of the church to legislate with Kingdom rules. My friend Jo sent me a verse: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of deer, he enables me to go to the heights.” Habbakuk 3:19 God calls His people to the heights, to meet with Him and Him alone.

-Dinner & worship with the family (please know that when I say team/family from here on out it includes our Haitian brothers and sisters because we do everything together. HCM is staffed by the most precious Jesus following men in their 20’s & early 30’s and they truly enjoy our company.... even the most mature of the group-me).

-Off to bed at 10pm. I stayed up late fussing with my daily post but the internet just would not work... again. So, I’m letting go of my American mentality of entitlement to access. I’ll write the update and send it when possible.

-I love documenting the events of the day. I hope you enjoy hearing. Please comment if you visit so I know you are there!

Day 2-Travel Day (2/12/2011): Sheer exhaustion, power nap & greetings from our Haitian family in Christ

-Yes, it was a VERY long night, sitting up on a hard wood bench, attempting to sleep with chattering youth all about (they were so wired with anticipation).

-4am checked in for my flight and the team went through security, no frisking again!

-5am ate breakfast... hadn’t eaten since noon the day before except for an airline bag of pretzel sticks. Very thankful for fast food stands at the airport!

-6:15am boarded a plane for Haiti. I had the privilege of sitting between 2 Haitian men. Very polite and engaging in good conversation about who I am and who they are. Loved it! Over and over again they thanked me for coming and helping their people.

-Touch down, Immigration, customs & a long, long, long walk over broken cobble stones to the most amazing school bus you ever did see! 

-Camas School District bus drivers, you ain’t seen nothing until you have been on a school bus on the main streets of Port-au-Prince! Check out the video attached. (Video won't upload from Haiti... too big of a file for too slow connection-I'll post it when I get home).

-We arrived at Haitian Christian Mission about 11am & met our hosts. These are the most friendly, warm, loving people. What I see in them is their love and passion for the plight of their people. They are spending their lives on serving their neighbors. And, it’s all free: medical clinics, schools, churches, soccer league to encourage school enrollment and good grades, and the vision continues to grow. Please take a look at their web page and see all they are doing to impact a nation for Christ: www.haitianchristianmission.com. Finally by noon we were all assigned rooms. Six ladies in my room and as one of them said, “Thank God for humor.” FOOD was next on the agenda. Being here is like being at a 5 star resort in the tropics with all of your cousins! 

-POWER NAP! Did I capitalize that? So, 4am Friday-noon Saturday: 32 hours without sleep. Dog tired. Glad the temperature didn’t rise too high today and the humidity is fine.

-A tour of the facility, greeting more new friends, dinner and a team meeting. That’s all we had left. We were scheduled to play games and we all opted for bed. “Why,” you say? Because we have to get up at 4am to be at breakfast by 5am and off by 5:30am for church! Lights out. Instant snoring! Oh, and we have an air-conditioner in our bedroom with a fan directly over my bed. Did I selfishly take that bed first before anyone else got in the room? You are darn toot’n. Hey, seniority in age comes in handy and I took advantage of the position of respect. Sure is weird being the oldest, I’ve always been the baby. Hey don’t even run with that open ended ending!

Day 1-Travel Day: Only 1 glitch

What an amazing day:
-Husband wakes me up at 4am so he can go to work
-Jo picks me up at 9:30am and takes me to airport
-Check in, check baggage, go through security & nobody frisked me!
-Flew to Houston, plane was 20 minutes late and I had to get to another terminal across the airport but God blessed with a cart ride through the corridors of the airport at high speed, people dodging & hair blowing in the wind... no I wasn't driving. I got off the cart and the plane was loading. 5 minutes later I was in my seat!
-Flew to Fort Lauderdale: I flew Continental & the team flew American. I retrieved my baggage. Oh, you see my little ducks in a row... 2-50# bags, one carry on and back pack that probably out weighs the 50# bag. I drug my little ducks in a row to a shuttle, went from terminal 1 to terminal 3 (God, thank you for shuttles) and entered American Airlines. HERE'S THE GLITCH OF THE DAY. The airport is closed. I can't get to my team because they are on the inside of security all together having a party... might I say, without me! I'm outside looking in to an empty ticketing area that re-opens at 4am. It's 10:30pm. OK, Lord, you have a problem. A 59 year old lady with no one but little ducks in a row (you know I mean baggage, maybe I should say luggage because those that know me well will agree I always carry baggage with me, which the Lord is delivering me from daily!) and NO WHERE to go until 4am. I called our team leader, Nicky, and she reported that they were staying inside security. OK then. I'm so thankful that God has made me confident and tough! I did not panic. I began to look for employees of which there were NONE! I called American Airlines (800-number) and they told me to go get a hotel. Just about that time Nicky called me back and said the inside of the airport was closing and they were getting kicked out. So, THEY CAME TO ME! We are all together now eating CARMEL CORN! Honorable mention to Jo who came to my house to teach me to make the Carmel Corn so I could have it on my trip. Love it!!!

How's that for Day 1. All's well that ends well. Now we sit on hard benches for 4 hours and start all over again at the ticket counter... on to Haiti. The plane leaves at 6:10am. Joy comes in the morning! Continue to pray for our travel. Already a couple members of the team are sick with colds and flu like symptoms.

Carmel Corn at Ft. Lauderdale

God bless!

Packing Party

‎28-50# suitcases of medical supplies, clothing, balls, VBS supplies, formula, baby bottles and more! Look closely at the baby bottles I'm holding. We took all of the pills out of their box/bottle and put them into the baby bottles. We save space and wight to allow for more supplies. We spent 4 hours sorting, packing and weighing. There was time to gnaw on pizza too. We are getting to know each other as a team, how to work together and what our team mates need & don't want! 


The greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all.

Co-workers support HOPE for Haiti

One work week... Monday-Friday

is all the notice my co-workers at Camas School District Bus Barn had to gather supplies for the children seeking medical attention at Hatian Christian Mission.

Dear friend, Joene (Jo) Hancock, saw the list of suggested donations in my letter and rallied the bus drivers to gather them. "Let's bring the 2-50# suitcases to the Bus Barn and fill them up," Jo said, and she set the example by heading off to Dollar Tree for baby bottles and Costco for formula. By weeks end the cases were filled.

Thank you Camas School District school bus drivers! Here's what you brought:

13 pair of flip flops

1 sun visor

7 soccer balls

2 ball pumps

2 hand made crib size quilts

$30 cash which will be applied to the purchase of a sewing machine

3 infant/children's vitamins

39 baby bottles + extra nipples

14 cans of formula... look at it this way

-3696 oz. of formula

-OR - 924-4 oz. bottles full of iron fortified milk with prebiotics, protein, fat, carbs, vitamins & minerals

-OR - a fighting chance to overcome malnurishment!

-OR - HOPE...

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

Cash donations will be accepted indefinitely for 'in country' purchases such as rice/beans, fabric for school uniforms, medical supplies and applied to the expenses of the trip.

Tax deductible gifts may be made payable to:

NWAPC

c/o Connie Jo Freeman

5150 N St.

Washougal, WA 98671

HOPE for Haiti

sufferings>perseverance>character>HOPE

And, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5


Haiti 2010>2011
One year later the effects of the quake are everywhere. 10% of the population died overnight from the 7.0 earthquake. Rubble still covers much of the capital. More than 1 million people remain in tents and huts in makeshift encampments.

Now cholera, a fast spreading disease due to poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water, is taking lives. There is much suffering. Yet, to God be the glory, the people of Haiti are being touched by the love of God, given HOPE by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The body of Christ also is a part of God’s love to the suffering. People need help, they cry out and God sends us: His hands and feet. Acts 16:9, 10

February 11-19 a team from the NW is heading to Haiti and I’m part of that team. Privileged to serve with Only God International (Living Hope, Vancouver, WA) & Haitian Christian Mission (www.haitianchristianmission.org), we will divide into various teams: medical clinic, construction & children’s ministry. I will serve with the medical clinic team as an assistant. Ask my husband, this is right up my alley.

Please join us in prayer for those we touch, that they will know it was the hand of their heavenly Father. Pray for our safety and stamina: this NW lady working in the tropics with 90+ degrees and high humidity.... ugh!

Partner in supplies:
We are each carrying 2 - 50# bags full of the following supplies:
flip flops
infant vitamins
baby formula
baby bottles
new, deflated soccer balls
-call me directly to make arrangements for drop-off (714) 321-2776

Mission trip expenses: $1500
Tax deductible donations may be made, payable to:
NWAPC
c/o Connie Jo Freeman
5150 N St.
Washougal, WA 98671
bobncj@fastmail.fm

Upon my return I will be in touch via Facebook & 'full of joy NOW!' blog. No internet on the trip so it will all have to wait until our return home.