Home of Love, Tamil Nadu, India

On March 13, 2013 I announced that I was going to India. How is it possible that the trip has come and gone. Please join me as I tell the story of my visit to Home of Love.

Bethel Community Church is connected to Home of Love, an orphanage for girls only, through Martin Alphonse (http://www.multnomah.edu/bio/martin-alphonse/), a native of India. Dr. Alphonse is a professor of Intercultural Studies at Multnomah University, Portland and the founder of Home of Love, now in it's 20th year (established 1993) of providing a loving home and education to the poor and most under protected class of India...girls. 

There are currently 87 girls, ages 5-18, residing full time at The Home of Love (http://www.homeofloveindia.com). So aptly named Home of Love, girls, that are either orphaned or from parents who are too poor to care for them, are given a place that is safe, nurturing, loving and Christ centered. Daily the girls attend school, younger ones on site and upper grades take a bus to school. Unlike most orphanages, when the children turn legal age they are not turned out to fend for themselves, they have college to look forward to, financially provided by Home of Love. While we were there young women who were raised at Home of Love and graduated into college were there. Their love of the younger girls and gratitude for the opportunities given to them at Home Of Love is evident by their commitment to return and serve as volunteers and even as graduates from college as teachers in the school on site, Providence Residential Academy. 

The motto of Home of Love is "How do you change the culture of 1.2 Billion people? The answer is simple and yet so profound...One Girl At A Time." India is being transformed. Girls are rescued from abject poverty since their parent is not able to meet basic needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation and health care. America has been transformed too. Our team got the privilege of being God's hands and feet to these precious girls. Now we know them by name. Their beautiful black-eyes and happy giggles will forever be etched on our hearts. They are growing up as strong, confident women knowing that they are of value to God and to us. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

None of us had ever been to India before. Seeing the poverty, filth, masses of people and the lawlessness all around was shocking to our senses. I came away with a renewed understanding of God's ways, expressed in The Lord's Prayer..."Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us." 

Smack dab in the middle of all the chaos is a 9 acre plot of land, protected by a high wall, broken glass cemented onto the top, a gate and a security guard. The streets outside the fence were strewn with piles of rubble, trash of all sorts: bottles, bricks, broken cement, cans, human waste, rotting food, cows, dogs and birds feeding on the left overs. Buses filled to overcapacity, industrial trucks, thousands of motorcycles, bicycles, auto-rickshaw's everywhere, and Mercedes Benz' mixed in with people walking along side and dashing across traffic like the "running of the bulls" in Spain. Honking! Everyone honking!  Yet, in the midst of it all is a small haven. 

The gates open up and beckon us to enter. A peace not known outside the wall is immediately evident as we drive down a tiny dirt lane lined with little white bricks well placed in the land, pointing us toward a spot up ahead where a group of little girls await our arrival. There they are, the little ones we have been praying for, for months. Who is more excited, them or us? It is mutual. We unloaded one by one from our hired van and each one of us were enveloped by little arms and big smiles, some a bit shy but curious about this group of Americans that have come to spend nine days with them. Neatly dressed in their school pinafores, hair pulled back in a pony tail, clean, well fed, healthy and happy girls. Where God rules his kingdom is present. God's ways rule at Home of Love. There was peace, love, joy, security, cleanliness, order. God's kingdom in India, God's will being done by caring for the orphan. God's spirit ruling: 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

In the Hindu religion, with 83% of the population identifying itself as Hindu , what you did in a former life is either reward or punishment in this life. Little girl orphans must have been very bad. They deserve their lot in life...NOT according to the love, grace and forgiveness provided through Jesus Christ and his substitute sacrifice for us. God forgave us. His kingdom of forgiveness says these little girls need to be looked after in their distress. Forgive one another. In the cast system if you did something bad in this life you are rejected by your family and society and you become an untouchable. Untouchables sleep in the gutter and on the sidewalks. There is no forgiveness for their sin from their gods or their family. But in God's Kingdom in Heaven and here on earth there is forgiveness. Eighty-seven precious little girls, made in God's image, are living life in a place where God's Kingdom rules. A vast contrast to that outside the walls. "But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.' "" Matthew 19:14

Thank you, Lord, for your Heavenly Kingdom come to us in Jesus Christ.

The main street outside the YWCA compound.

A street scene: a woman selling window shades walking between the trucks, cars, motorcycles and our van.

See the beauty, order and peacefulness of Home of Love. An oasis in the midst of chaos.

This is 14 year old Keerteka. She danced a traditional Indian dance in full dress for us. 

Beautifully graceful. She also translated for me as I taught the littlest girls.

I left my heart in Chennai...this is 5 year old Roshini who is brand new to the Home of Love. 

She did a lot of sign language because she is from a different state with a completely different language. 

But love, hugs, giggles and singing crosses all barriers. 

She calls me Mom. 

In fact, she gave me the flower that morning upon my arrival. 

I had the privilege of teaching God's word with a translator into Tamil.

Arts and crafts. See the reflection of her love for Jesus as she draws the cross within the heart.

Baby Tessa Connie-Sue sucking her thumb...16 weeks

Baby Tessa at 15 weeks

 

First ultrasound of Tessa Connie-Sue Freeman at 11 weeks

I'm going on a mission trip to India!

Friend,

Little girls and teen age girls in India have the same needs as every lady in the making world wide... they need to know they are loved. I plan to visit an orphanage of girls and show them just that! 

My life has been surrounded with children from Sunday School teacher, to elementary school teacher, to mother of two sons (and all of the friends that comes with that), to home school mother, to school administrator, to school bus driver, may I add grandmother-to-be and now as a missionary to the girls of India at Home of Love. Please take a moment to read my letter below. I talk about why we should go. It is understood that not all can go but some of us can go with your blessing. Learn of the wonders God is doing in an orphanage for girls, a rarity in the cast system of India. We leave in just over 3 months. With that comes fund raising, preparing a week long Vacation Bible School, shots, learning to work together as a team and lots of prayer. Thank you for partnering with me in this adventure as we have partnered together in the past. 

With love,

Connie Jo

 June 26-July 8 2013

10 missionaries from Bethel Community Church, Washougal, WA, will be embarking on the privilege of a lifetime. Traveling to Home of Love, a safe haven and home for orphaned girls in Chennai, India, we will partner with God in loving these precious little ones.  If not for Home of Love these little girls would be destitute street urchins left to spend their lives begging or prostituting themselves for survival.  VBS and a trip to the ocean are the events we have planned with them. Visit their web site to see videos of the Home of Love and the precious girls that we will be spending the week with. You will never be the same when you see and hear how God is at work in India on behalf of the marginalized poor.


People ask: Why do you want to go? You could just send the money. Think of all they could do with the money you spend getting there.

   These questions are valid. I have asked myself numerous times, “Why go?”. The Holy Spirit is faithful to answer when we ask and since I began pondering this trip to India last year I have had multiple confirmations of why we should go. I would like to share three of them.  All three messages were exactly the same.  

   The first was from a 1955 book, God’s Smuggler, the story of Brother Andrew who went behind the Iron Curtain to preach the Gospel. The Communist country of Poland had been strangled by religious persecution all the while it was teaming with Christians that needed a personal touch.  A Polish brother in Christ said to Brother Andrew, “We want to thank you for being here. Even if you had not said a word, just seeing you would have meant so much. We feel at times as if we are all alone in our struggle.” 

   A second confirmation was from another book written by David Platt called Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, written in 2010.  War torn and impoverished Sudan was all Andrew had known since he was born.  Suffering and persecution was the norm.  The Sudanese man, Andrew, asked David Platt, “Do you want to know how you can tell who a true brother is?” “How,” David asked. “A true brother comes to be with you in your time of need. David, you are a true brother. Thank you for coming to be with us.”

   The final word came from Dr. Martin Alphonse, the founder of Home of Love.  Our India team got to meet Dr. Alphonse and his wife, Padmini, in person during one of our training meetings. “Why should you travel all the way to India and spend thousands of dollars to have such a short time with these girls?” Dr. Alphonse asked us. “Why don’t you just send the money to help improve the orphanage?” There were those exact questions from before. With serious intent Dr. Alphonse told us that going in person would show these little girls their value, they would know God loves them because others came to share in their lives. 

   Ephesians 3:14-21For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• PRAY - Please reply to me if you will commit to pray for us until our return at my blog: www.fullofjoynow.blogspot.com or email: bobncj@fastmail.fm

• SHARE with others about the great need to care for the girls of Home of Love.

• GIVE to the mission fund to make this opportunity a reality. Without help we cannot go.

I value your support and prayers.   
For a tax deductible donation make your check payable to: “Bethel Community Church.”        
In the memo field write: “India/Connie Jo.”  
Mail to: 
Bethel Community Church
1438 B St., Washougal, WA 98671
For updates, to pray (you can blog your prayer to us) and send encouragement directly to the team visit my blog at
www.fullofjoynow.blogspot.com or e-mail to: bobncj@fastmail.fm

DO IT AGAIN!

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and  the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." G. K. Chesterton

At 19 years old:

God you renewed my spirit.

God you satisfied the longing and filled my hungry soul.

God you freed me from sin and guilt.

God you set the lonely in a family.

I got baptized 41 years ago on Thanksgiving evening having given my heart and soul to Christ just 3 weeks earlier. That is 14,996 sun rises and moon rises. That could be monotonous except when we see that: “God is strong enough to exult in monotony.” Do you wonder with me just how many daisies God has made since that day, never tiring of making them? 

How many church services have I sat through? How many verses of scripture have I read?  Do they grow old and monotonous? How many times have I asked you for that and didn’t see the answer? Does this walk grow old and filled again with sin?

God you renewed my spirit. Do it again.

God you satisfied the longing and filled my hungry soul. Do it again.

God you freed me from sin and guilt. Do it again.

God you set the lonely in a family. Do it again.

Because I am a child of God I “abound in vitality,” and my “spirit fierce and free.”

Do it again! 

With the eternal appetite of infancy,

Connie Jo

Victoria Butchart Gardens at 21

Jumping into a cave in Cozumel at 61

Marriage: one man and one woman.... Washington State you had better voice your opinion NOW!

My friend,

The issue is on the table in the state of Washington. Our state senate has created a bill to CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE... 

1) I'm going to type just a small amount of the language of Section 2 below so you can get the idea of what is being rushed through legislature. Note that the sections being removed have a line drawn through them. Sections with new words are underlined. TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS because we are the 'grass roots' that will make the difference to the outcome. Don't assume others will fight this for you... it is WE THE PEOPLE that have to make the calls to Olympia: (360) 753-6780. Don't be afraid to make this call. The person on the other side of the phone is only taking a tally of citizens opinions. Their job is to pass your wish on to Governor Gregoire. Make the call after you read the paragraph I typed for you.

Sec 2 (1) "Marriage is a civil contract between ( (a male and a female) ) two persons who have attained the age of eighteen years, and who are otherwise capable." Sec 2 (2) "Every marriage entered into in which either ( (the husband or the wife) ) person has not attained the age of seventeen years is void.." Sec 2 (3) Where necessary to implement the rights and responsibilities of spouses under the law, gender specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law must be construed to be gender neutral and applicable to spouses of the same sex.

2) I have pasted the link to the entire bill. READ IT YOURSELF, it only takes 5 minutes, so you can see for yourself how some elected officials are attempting to pass this bill THIS session:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6239.pdf

3) Look at what our elected officials are saying about us:

---

A Small and Dwindling Minority?
By Joseph Backholm, Executive Director
Yesterday, the prime sponsor of house legislation to redefine marriage, Rep. Jamie Pedersen, shared his feelings about why he feels it is good to redefine marriage as well as his perception of those who disagree with him on this issue.
In response to a constituent email, he said the following:

Thanks for your message. I strongly disagree with you on this issue and am the House prime sponsor of the bill that will provide marriage equality for same-sex couples. I can assure you that the legislation will provide strong protection for religious liberty. No priest or clergy person will be required to solemnize any marriage, and no religious organization may be compelled to permit its facilities to be used in connection with any marriage. But civil marriage is a legal construct of the Revised Code of Washington, and it is very much up to the legislature to define who can marry. I believe that our state has a strong interest in not discriminating against -- and harming -- the families of same-sex couples based on the religious views of a small and dwindling minority. (emphasis added).
All families in Washington are hurt by our current policy of treating some families as different and inferior. All families in Washington will be strengthened by making civil marriage available to couples regardless of their sexual orientation.

As a long-time advocate for redefining marriage, his perspective on the issue is precisely what one would expect. While he has his facts wrong on the issue of religious freedom, what is most striking about his comments is his description of those who disagree as a "small and dwindling minority."
Keep in mind, all 31 states that have voted on marriage have voted to define it as a relationship between a man and woman. So, to address a movement you have never defeated as a small and dwindling minority might be a bit brash.
Still, in Washington his efforts have faced little opposition.
The march toward redefining marriage has been deliberate and open. First "sexual orientation" was put into non-discrimination laws. Then domestic partner status was given to same-sex couples, then more rights were added to domestic partnerships, and then even more until domestic partnerships and marriages were legally indistinguishable in Washington State.
All the while, there was a deafening silence from those who knew better.
While we could point fingers and attempt to assess how we got this reputation, the more important question is whether our future actions are going to reinforce this impression or change it?
If you want to change it, do not write him a nasty email. He, like you, is entitled to his opinion and the courage of his conviction. He has simply decided he is willing to dedicate himself to a cause and take some heat in doing so. Do you care as much as he does?
If you do, or you think you should, there are some simple things you can do.
This Monday, January 23rd, there are two hearings on this bill at 10 am and 1:30 pm and a rally on the capitol steps in between. Be there. We need thousands of people to attend. The sheer number of people who attended similar hearings in Rhode Island and Maryland, states equally as liberal as Washington, were given much credit for the fact that marriage was not redefined in those states.
This is a historical opportunity involving an historical issue. Five years from now, I can guarantee you won't remember what happened at work on Monday, but you will remember taking a stand with your friends, family, and fellow citizens on behalf of marriage.
So be there. We need thousands of you with signs identifying yourself as part of the "small and dwindling minority."
For directions to the capitol and information about the nine parking lots in and around the capitol, click here.
After you have made your plans to attend, call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and share your thoughts on this issue.
You can also email your legislators by clicking here.

Sincerely,

fullofjoyNOW.blogspot.com

Connie Jo

Keep pressing onward beyond your fear

Only the Father goes before you to your own frontier

You're a Pioneer

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!