Hope in the Battle

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 2^nd! 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 7^th 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.