This update is looong overdue. I’ve been back in Haiti for
nearly three weeks and have been thinking about needing to write since sitting
on a place in Texas reading an email as I prayed I wouldn’t miss my connection.
I was a
little anxious after a weather delay in Kansas City, nervous that we were just
landing in Dallas as my next flight was scheduled to board. As we taxied to our
gate I turned my phone on and received an email from one of our American staff
members here in Haiti with an update. As I read the email I could physically
feel a weight on my chest, and then I was immediately discouraged; “why am I
rushing back to this place where they don’t even welcome our help?” “Why am I
making myself anxious, leaving my family and making sacrifices to receive news
like this?” I quickly recognized my thoughts as attacks from the enemie, pushed
them out of my mind and whispered a silent prayer before responding.
The gist of
the email was that the (Haitian) director of our school, whom I’ll refer to as
MB, decided she is going to be firing some of the administration at the end of
the year, and says the white people are not welcome in “her” school. There were
some very ugly things said about us, some things specifically directed towards my
roommate Stephanie, who helps with me with our library program, and myself,
among other people Haitian and American.
The
administrator whom MB threatened to fire is one of our favorite at the school.
He realizes change needs to take place in Haiti’s education system, he’s open
to ideas and trying new things, he and his wife love the Lord, and he is not afraid
to embrace the changes MB is opposed to. We’ve told MB that we will hire him
back since Respire Haiti pays the salaries at the school and it’s ultimately
not her decision alone.
We’re
basically at a stalemate with so many things right now because we want to be
respectful, we want to be unified, and there are some things we just cannot do
without MB’s support and approval. We are continuing to pray for wisdom, a
changed heart in MB, and a solution to the problems because, ultimately, it is
the kids who are suffering.
Fast forward
to April 7. We have a little neighbor boy who we’d been wanting to get to a
cardiologist for a while and that morning our nurse received an email saying
there was a team of doctors in Haiti, about 1.5 hours from us, and they could
see Richcarde that afternoon. Kam and Meg rushed off to P-ville to make the
appointment and later let us know that it was bad. Really bad.
Richarde has
a severe case of mitral valve prolapse and would need a valve replacement
within six months… A surgery which cannot be done in Haiti. Mountains would
need to be moved.
We decided
that with his size (we thought he was 14 but found out he’s 17, and weighs
under 90 lbs), the condition of his heart and the medicines he would be taking,
it was best he stay with us. So that evening Richie Rich, as well like to call
him, came to stay with us temporarily and we started the process of applying
for a passport, which is no easy task in Haiti. Sure enough we’ve run into
complications with that, but Lord willing progress will be made this week.
As we’ve
realized just how weak Richie Rich’s heart is we’re amazed at the things he’s
been doing up to now, and that his heart has continued to function.
Well, Friday
we got the news that Richcarde has a surgery date in the Dominican Republic on
June 2nd! The speed of this coming together is a HUGE answer to
prayer, not to mention what an answer to prayer it is for the surgery to take
place in the DR rather than London or the US.
Now we just
pray everything comes together with the passport and visa so we can make the
surgery date. It will also be a long recovery in the DR, 6 months, which is
another prayer as we’ll most likely need to have someone with him at all times.
It’s a big time commitment as well as a financial commitment. Pray with us for
each detail to be worked out and provided for.
And then
there’s Kaila. She’s our student who has a severe, deteriorating, case of
scoliosis. She’s to the point where she will soon not be able to come to school
as walking and sitting are a struggle, and she can’t go far without having to
gasp for breath. While we’ve had a group of supporters in the US working on
lining up doctors, hospitals, rehab, a host family and financial supporters,
the hold-up has been on the Haiti side with passport issues, family issues,
etc. Well a couple weeks ago we finally received Kaila’s passport! Praise
Jesus!
The next step is to apply for an emergency medical visa which cannot be
done until we have a letter of acceptance from a hospital, among other things.
Now the
hold-up has been on the US side as the hospital that was lined up has now
declined our case. It’s super frustrating for us to now be ready to speedily
move forward but are instead doing seemingly nothing. All in God’s timing, because
now an opportunity at a top children’s hospital in Ohio has opened up. A decision
between OH or PA has to be made by May 7th but before then many
details still need to come together. Please pray with us that details would
work out in the city which would most benefit Kaila and her needs.
This too is
a commitment as we’ll need to have someone with her at all times during her
hospital stay, and it will be a long recovery in the states with a host family.
There are
also the more day to day situations, finding out one of our neighbor boys has
been beaten by his sister (who is his primary caregiver), which is a regular occurrence.
Children who, every time you see them, only seem to get smaller and smaller.
The
continued set backs on the medical clinic which was suppose to be finished in
October.
Wanting to
give out a cross necklace as an Easter gift but first having to explain that it
isn’t evil, it isn’t voodoo. In Haiti you won’t see a cross adorning the podiums or walls of churches because here the cross is a symbol of voodoo. The cross
has been used in voodoo for years and no one has been bold enough to stand up
and reclaim it for what it is. It sounds simple, but it is not.
Then there
are the kids who tell you you are of the devil because you are wearing
earrings, or because you have your nails painted red. All lies of voodoo which
are engrained in the culture here. Each time this statement is made we try, in
our best, broken Creole, to explain the lies. To explain truth.
In all of
these situations, and so many more, we feel the weight of the attacks of the
enemy, the weight of the curse of sin, but in these situations we know God is
faithful and we see Him working. We know God is able to change hearts, move
mountains, bring details together, close doors that don’t need to be walked
through and open those that do.
As we daily
live these situations, as we daily strive to be a light in such a dark place,
to look like Jesus to those around us, please pray with and for us. Pray for
spiritual protection from the enemy, for protection against discouragement, for
unity and community amongst our team here. Pray that MB would not see this as “her”
school, or think that we see it as “our” (the white people’s school), but as
OUR school collectively. Pray that skin color and languages would not be seen,
but our common bond in Christ, our common focus of our students.
Pray that,
above all, God’s name will be made known here, that He will be glorified, that
Respire Haiti will shine atop Bellevue mountain as a light in the darkness, and
that satan and his demons will have no place here.
Afterthought:
Please pray
for me specifically as I have to sit down and speak with MB this week, and by
myself since Megan, Rita and Stephanie are all out of country. Pray I will
speak just the right words, approach the situation in a non-threatening,
non-confrontational way, and that nothing would be misunderstood in translation
(so pray for my translator too!), pray that I will show grace and patience with
MB and that Christ’s love will be pour out of me.
