Oh, Haiti Life

I was up extra early this morning, coffee made, wash tubs filled with water and dirty laundry, worship music playing, ready for the usual Saturday morning routine.

It's just after 6a.m. and I'm a few minutes in to washing when there is a knock at the gate.  I call out “Ki moun?” (Who is it?) “Bonhome,” comes the reply, one of our security guards.

I open the gate expecting him to hand me keys or something random, instead he says “yon madame kouche sou té a la kay mwen. Ou bezwen koupe lonbrik li.” (A lady is laying on the floor at my house. You need to cut her belly button.) He says this while making a slicing motion with his hand across his belly. What?!? Excuse me? You want me to do what?

I ask B if he’s called Megan, immediately knowing her phone is probably dead after 36 hours without power, he tells me he’s called but can’t get ahold of her.

I ask what’s wrong with her, looking for a little clarification as to why we need to “cut her belly button.”

He then tells me she has a baby, and is doing birthing motions with his hands as if we’re playing charades. I have a momentary “I have no idea how to deliver a baby” thought rush through my mind as I head toward my phone, not knowing exactly who I thought I was going to call (Everyone’s phones are either dead, or they are sleeping and would also have no clue how to deliver a baby…) I return to the gate and tell B “you need to take her to the hospital.” He again repeats, “you need to cut her belly button” and I finally understand that she’s already had the baby but the cord needs to be cut and they aren’t sure what to do or how they should do it.

A little relieved I grab my keys and head across the street to the guest house where our team is staying, because it just so happens that on this team we have a former labor and delivery nurse, as well as a student midwife and doula. I wake them up and tell them there’s a woman who has just had a baby and her cord needs to be cut. As they get dressed I start asking B questions and realize he hasn’t even been home after work to know the situation. He doesn’t know how the mom is doing, doesn’t know if the baby is a boy or girl, but does know that she had the baby around 3 or 4 in the morning. He kept telling me in his happy, distinctive Bonhome voice, “we’ll know what we need when we get there.”

I head upstairs to grab some gloves, decide to stuff some alcohol wipes in with them, and without any luck look to find something to cut with.

The four of us head back to my house where I find some scissors, and grab dental floss and a strip of cotton fabric. On to B’s house we go.

We enter to find a young lady (20) laying on the dement floor of  a dark house lit by a single kerosene lantern, back propped up against a wood and iron chair, baby laying there on the floor, in blood, between her legs…

I tell B he needs to go to Megan’s house and get her because she can translate better than I can. He stands there, I’m translating for the ladies, he keeps standing there… I  say a little pray that everything is okay and nothing goes wrong because I am not going to be able to translate anything serious or in detail like it would need to be if there were any sort of emergency.

We immediately poke at the baby. Baby cries. Relief. 

Lindsay and Ali try to get the baby up to mom’s chest but the placenta hasn’t fully delivered so the baby can’t reach. Lindsay tries to get momma to push and deliver the placenta but she can’t so they decide to go ahead and tie off (with that random piece of cotton fabric since I couldn’t find string) and cut the cord.

Lindsay then helped momma deliver the placenta.

Did I mention at this point not only are there three white women who are complete strangers, but the father, a sister, brother-in-law, three young nieces and nephews and now a neighbor lady all in this small home looking on as all of this is going on and we are trying to get baby to breastfeed.

We help mom bathe, get clean clothes on, make sure she drinks water, and get her off the floor and on to a mattress where she can rest.

Ali takes care of baby girl, who was given a name by this time, Djennica.

We left mom and baby exhausted and sleeping. 

All before 8 a.m. and then it was back to laundry. Just another day in Haiti.

I am thankful God had Lindsay and Ali on this team, I am thankful that three hours after birth mom and baby were both okay, I’m thankful mom had a successful, safe delivery with no tearing, I’m thankful God has given me the ability to remain calm instead of freak out, I’m thankful He gave me all the words I need to speak/translate, and as inconvenient as knocks at the gate can be at times I am thankful we are a gate that people know they can knock on when they need help. I am thankful God has me here to answer knocks on the gate (though at times I need to remind myself to answer those knocks with an attitude of thankfulness).



P.S. – Supporting my ministry is easy and gifts are tax deductible.  The fastest way is to make an online donation via www.WorldOutreach.org/donations and select my name from the list.  The system can process USA & International cards.  You can also set up automatic monthly gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.  Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate it for Sharon Zuercher #378.

Life in Pictures

It's time to post a blog again and I realized I haven't done a photoblog in quite some time :)

           So today I give you these photos from the past four months!

August 17-September 16 I wasin PA and MO with Caïla, a Respire Haiti student, while she recovered from spinal surgery. 

Sending birthday wishes to Haiti from PA

We had lots and lots and LOTS of time together, Caïla is doing my hair :)

On our way to MO from PA where Caïla is continuing to recover until she is able to travel back to Haiti.

An amazingly beautiful "reverse" sunset, this is looking to the east

We had a fantastic student turnout for the first day of School, October 1. There are some voodoo beliefs about sending your child to school on the first day of school after a break. The chains and myths are slowly being broken.

Lunch under the shade structure, first time for meals to be served outside of the classroom.

One of our community English class students showed up at my house with a birthday present for me... a puppy dog. That was far too young to be away from it's mother.

He was really cute, and it was fun for awhile but he had to find a new home.

Two of the sweet girls from our accelerated class snuck in a "Happy Birthday" pic during student photos.

A good friend of Respire came with a belated birthday gift a few days later, just in time for me to cheer on the boys in blue during their world series run.

Always thankful when we are able to get a restful afternoon away.

Respire Haiti has partnered with an Organization called Universole, we have three girls making leather goods.  Stephanie and I work with these girls three times a week.

This is Islore assembling a sandal.

Daphna punching fish shapes, for coasters, out of leather.

More sandal making. 

Spent a fun Sunday afternoon to Port au Prince with all of our American staff. My first ever drive to Port au Prince and we survived! Music blasting, A/C not working and all :)

Family picture during our Sunday funday.

Thankful for the community I have here in Gressier.

Serving up plates of rice at our Saturday feeding program.

Building relationships while baking cookies, now you're talkin. 

A pretty typical looking afternoon at our house. We get home from school around 1:30ish and about 2/2:30 the knocks on the gate for homework help start happening. Lots of relationship building happens around this table.

Found these handsome boys outside my gate as I headed to church yesterday. Both are neighbors and Respire Haiti students. 

Some of the faces and things you'll see going on at a neighborhood party. We play, we dance, we sing, we share God's Word and then finish of with snacks and water. 

P.S. – Supporting my ministry is easy and gifts are tax deductible.  The fastest way is to make an online donation via www.WorldOutreach.org/donations and select my name from the list.  The system can process USA & International cards.  You can also set up automatic monthly gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.  Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate it for Sharon Zuercher #378.

Defeat

Today has been one of those days where you just feel defeated.

It was a wonderful first day of school, so many kids in new uniforms, new teachers, a band at the flag ceremony, so many parents there to show their support, new beginnings, new possibilities.

And then there are the kids who come, wanting to be in school… There are five young men in particular who want to be in 9^th grade and I got the terrible job of telling them we don’t have space and they can’t come. Their reply, “all the other schools have closed enrollments, they aren’t taking new students. What are we suppose to do? There’s nowhere else for us to go.”

Telling a Kindergartner “no, you are too young” is one thing, they have many years and won’t really be behind. These 9^th grade boys? If they aren’t at our school I know it’s true, no other school will take them this late. They won’t be going to school this year. If they don’t go to school this year will they even try next year now that they are yet another year behind? What will these boys end up doing if not in school?

They stood outside the school gate all morning. I wanted to cry every time I walked past. My heart weighs heavily when I think about them, knowing they so badly want to come to school, to have hope for a better future, but there is nothing I can do…

Then there is Universole, a non-profit organization that trains at-risk girls how to make leather sandals. About a month ago they arrived in Gressier with all the equipment we would need, and spent two weeks training some of our American staff and the four girls we choose, how to make sandals and a few other items.

Well today things started well, one girl was on time (yay!) and did the best job she has done yet with sewing. I was so proud of her!

And then everything started breaking… Literally. Every. Thing.

One sewing machine was already not working, something with the bobbin, the heavy-duty machine got jammed up today and when that happened the needle and bobbin got out of line. We snapped two needles and it still isn’t re-aligned…

Our “clicker”, as we call it, started leaking oil and then started distributing pressure unevenly so it wasn’t cutting through the leather properly. One side would be cut through, and stuck in the self healing mat, while the other side of the die wouldn’t have even made a mark in the leather.

Steph went to use the thread burning tool and it too was not working. 

Broken. Everything.

We finally sent the girls home because they couldn’t do anything.

Defeat. That’s what I’ve felt. Attacked. This is something good in these girls lives, it gives them hope, it opens up new opportunities and possibilities, we are having Bible studies with them and working with praise songs playing in the background. This is an environment these girls have never had before and I am convinced satan doesn’t like it, these are all attacks of the enemy. He doesn’t want anything good for these girls, he doesn’t want them to have hope when all they’ve known lately is hopelessness.

I’m trying to look at all the good and see all the positive things God is doing at school, through Universole, through Respire Haiti but today is just one of those days where defeat seems to weigh you down. (And you just have to write a blog to get it all out.)

I am so thankful we are heading up the mountain to worship tonight, it is very needed today. 

Please remember to pray for us as we open up a new school year. Satan is always lurking, looking for new ways to attack us, may we always be ready and stand firm in knowing the power of Jesus name. 

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. 

A Battle Rages

(1.16.14)

The battle started long before I ever knew where Haiti was or had even heard of Haiti, but last week the battle became more real, personal, and urgent for all of us.

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

 Ephesians 6:12

Last Monday we received a call saying one of our students was having an asthma attack. As Kameryn raced to gather supplies we were told the student had passed out. Concerned for her Meg, Rita, Kam (our nurse), Bernard (a translator), and pastor Benito raced up the mountain. I remained in the café praying for the situation.

Long story short(er), after Kam had checked vitals and all she could think to check she arrived at the conclusion that things were normal, there was no asthma attack but the student was still unresponsive. Kam racked her brain, asked the students sister and classmates questions, coming up with nothing. Meg explained to pastor that Kam was finding nothing.

Pastor walked over to Rose,* spoke, and she immediately jolted upright. He’d asked if there was anyone in her that didn’t belong. What followed was an intense hour of prayer and waging spiritual war as three demons were cast out of Rose.*

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13 & 14

The next day Meg, Kam, and Rita met with a student whom we’re trying to get to the States for an urgently needed surgery, along with her mother.

Everyone had been feeling a little unsettled about things and somewhere along the way it was questioned whether or not Lily* knew the Lord. So, after Mondays experience they pushed a little harder for answers. The meeting moved to pastor Benito’s house so he could pray with them, and he started asking questions. Dad, whom we’d always been told had died in the earthquake, was said to be alive and well. What?!?! Why this lie?

More questions.

Mom professes Christ, dad practices voodoo…  Yet more questions as mom dances around answering them, all the while Lily* won’t make eye contact with pastor, physically turning her body away from him.

Finally, “how does Lily* sleep at night?” After more dancing around the answer mom says Lily* does not sleep well, she is spiritually attacked every night but refuses to tell anyone what she is seeing or experiencing.

For now Lily’s trip to the States is on the back burner, so to speak, as we wage war for her soul. Healing for her body is no good if her soul is in torment. Her soul needs healing far more than her crippled body.

The first step is for Lily* to share what she’s been seeing and experiencing.

The battle is real whether or not you choose to believe it.

As for us, we’re realizing how real this is, how vulnerable our children are, that we must be proactive in waging war for our students, covering them in prayers of protection from Satan and his armies. We are being more intentional about being Jesus to our students, being intentional in our prayers, praying we are sensitive to the Spirit and that He would reveal which kids are in spiritual bondage.

We are a light on a hill, and even a small light is easily seen in the pitch dark and makes a difference, beginning to drive out the darkness.

We are in a battle. The battle rages but we don’t fear because our God is the God of angel armies and in the end the victory is His.

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10

There are so many other thoughts I have, and other places I could take this, but I leave you with the “simple” re-telling of these events and challenge you to think on them, I ask you to wage war with and for us. Ephesians 6:10-17 has become our prayer for ourselves, that we may be prepared to fight this battle, that we would not be caught off guard.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Ephesians 6:10-17

*Names changed to protect the privacy of our students

Love

It was said today that our kids can only be loved as much as they love themselves, that their success can only come from within. 
As we all processed these statements we became upset because, forget that it's completely opposite from why we're here, it's completely opposite of the gospel. 
If God were waiting to love us until we loved us ourselves enough, if God were waiting to send His Son until we'd shown ourselves worthy in and of ourselves we'd still be awaiting the first coming of Messiah. We'd be waiting for something that would never come. 
Instead, in our filth, brokenness, insecurities, faults and failures God looked at us and saw worth and value, even when we could not (cannot). He sent His Son when we were unlovable, when we didn't love ourselves. With His Spirit He breathes new life into us.
I say all of that to say I've been reminded why I'm here, my focus has been reeled in. I'm here to love there kids when no one else does, when no on else cares, when no one else believes in them.
I'm here to hug, smile at, talk with, and encourage them, to say "ou kapab?" (you can) when no one else does. Ultimately I pray they see Christ in and through me. These children are beaten, bruised and broken, treated like property rather than people, told they are nothing, unwanted, stupid, worthless and will never amount to anything.
Until these children are shown love they will never know what love is; they will never know to love and respect themselves; That they are valuable because they are children of God, created in His image. Until they are loved, encouraged, and nurtured they will never be successful. 
I'm here to love. If I do nothing else, if my list of "accomplishments" and completed tasks consists of nothing but this one thing, "love. be love," then I have done the one thing God ultimately has me here to do. May I be the love of Christ to these precious children. May you be the love of God to the precious ones He has placed around you.

The Way of Love

13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (MSG)