Thursday, August 29, 2013

Envy of the Neighborhood

I love it when John shares on our blog....  check out what he has to say about Envy below:


Deep down I think we've all had that secret desire in our lives to impress those around us. We've all wanted to be the envy of the neighborhood in one aspect or another. Maybe as kids it was the best toys, 'hip'-est clothes, coolest room or having the "in-crowd" friends. That list still sounds a lot like the things we chase after to impress those around us now, as adults, except the toys are bigger, clothes are dressier, rooms have turned into houses and our friends - well we still want to be a part of the "in-crowd" no matter what circles we run in.

Since moving to Haiti, I've finally achieved the coveted status of "envy of the neighborhood" but not a whole lot has changed regarding the stuff that I have.  In fact, in many aspects I have less now than I did in the States. 

You see everybody is impressed with my vehicle but it is the same one that I drove 11 years ago. It hasn't had any upgrades or improvements but it does have a lot more dents and dings than it did when we arrived. None of that matters though, but the fact that I have a vehicle that runs, is safe and gets me wherever I need to go does.

Those here are even impressed with my clothes but there are no new additions to my wardrobe. Most days I wear gym shorts and a t-shirt but that is not what causes the envy. It is the fact that I have enough clothes to go several days without washing and without having to wear the same thing for several days at a time.  And the fact that there are no holes or mend marks in them. 

I get to live in a really nice house but it's not even mine. We have been blessed with three bedrooms in this house for our family and although I can't change the paint color, the furniture in most of the house, or the fact that the owners could have workers in the house at any given time (right now they are working on the back porch), it is more than just a house.  The roof over our heads doesn't leak when it rains, the floors aren't made of dirt and we have indoor plumbing and electricity.

I'm not sure about the "in-crowd" part.  I still struggle to understand a lot of the language so I'm not sure where I stand in the hierarchy of coolness there.

If I've "got it all" now, why do I not feel any better?  

Maybe it's because I've "achieved" all of this while those around me are suffering.  

Maybe it's because my perspective has changed more than my zip code. 

Or maybe it is because of the other things that the people around me envy about my life. 
I have power, good ol' electricity. Not an abundance, but enough. My family and I were blessed to have our home church, LifeBridge Church, purchase a solar electric system to ensure that we have power.  I do still get onto my kids for leaving the lights on but not because of a high bill. Now we have to monitor every watt of electricity because it is both precious and limited. We live our lives on batteries here and they provide exactly what we need each day but not enough to be wasted. 

The power leads to other items of envy - fans, lights, a refrigerator and ice!  We have quickly become the local cell phone charge station during the day, a meeting place at night, and 'most importantly' we have ice for those that come to our house. The local kids are usually content to get just one piece of ice in their cup, which sometimes has Kool-Aid, and that's a whole different envy.

I have water. Not an abundance but enough that I rarely run out. I have a water tank that houses water for my family so I have water for washing dishes, clothes and even myself but that is not what most people envy.  They have access to all the water they can carry out of the local river. What they really envy is that we have fresh, clean drinking water. We have to go to another town to buy it but we have it. Most here don't have that luxury.

I have food. Not fine five course dinners. Most nights it is rice, beans and occasionally a drumstick. But I have food. My family eats not just once a day but at least three times a day. The people around me don't have that luxury. Most will eat once a day and some not at all. Many have to put their kids to bed hungry with no promise of when or where the next meal is coming from. Every day there are children begging at the gate because they are hungry and we have even witnessed children digging in our garbage for anything edible or valuable. 

I have money. Not a lot, but enough to provide for my family and help some others out, as well. Helping others out is the best part of having money here. We have had the opportunity to help the sick, provide water tanks to improve daily lives, send kids to church camp, buy clothes and shoes for those who have none, and even treat kids to their first restaurant meals among many other things. Most of the time, just a few dollars here can make all the difference in someone's life but I have to be willing to sacrifice and give in order to bless and be blessed.

Being the envy of my new neighborhood has certainly changed my perspective. All of the things I used to worry about in order to impress others are now opportunities to help and bless others. 

Our vehicle has been everything from a local taxi, an ambulance, a delivery truck and a means to give a kid their first ride in a car. 

Clothes and shoes are just something else to share now. My wardrobe has gotten smaller and smaller, but it lights me up every time I see someone wearing something that I was able to share with them.

Our house is now the local gathering spot for all ages.  From charging phones to hosting meetings, sometimes it's just means being able to get something to eat and some clean water. 

I still like cool gadgets, nice clothes and good food but the longer I am here the more they become just things. They don't have the same power over me as they did before and I am able to see all of them as opportunities. Opportunities to share, give and bless those around me. 

If I can use the things that I have to make a difference in someone's life then they have achieved their real purpose.

Monday, August 26, 2013

His... Mine... Yours...

Ahhhhh… a few quiet minutes and my computer…  It's been a couple of weeks since I’ve had time to enjoy either!  We have been 'on the go' a lot lately (which was a nice change of pace and scenery) but it’s always good to be back home.  

Even Yehn Yehn’s dog is happy we are back this week! 

    Ha!

I was looking through an old journal today and one year ago (this same week) I wrote about journeys...  I laughed as I read this...

"The journey to Ernie on Sesame Street - ha!  Big Bird looks for Ernie and finds him and sings a song (on almost every episode)...  our journey doesn't end so quickly but I'm extremely grateful that I don't have to wait til the end of our journey to see you, Lord!  You show us your presence is with us all the way!  Thank you! Continue to bless us and those around us as our journey unfolds to Haiti.  Encourage our hearts - bless John today - encourage him, our leader, I pray.  I praise you for your rich goodness and love that you freely pour out!"

It's been a while since I've seen any Sesame Street episodes but if you have small children around, chances are you're probably familiar with Big Bird's journeys to find Ernie...   J 

Whether in Haiti or in Mississippi, I can always be sure I am where I am supposed to be when I follow God's lead.  When He called us to Haiti, He promised He'd be with us every step of the way.  He has been and I believe He will continue to do what He promised.  While I may have felt a little out of the loop on occasion since we've been here, I can honestly say I have never really felt like I was where I didn't belong.  Even in this foreign land, where we look different and talk differently than those around us, I have never been more sure about being in the right place than I am here. 

No matter where I am or what may be going on around me, I have a sense of belonging because I am HIS but also because He is mine!  That is such a comfort to me.

My friend, Gretchen, gave me this bracelet last year before we left...



It's one of my favorites because of the great reminder printed on it.  
It reminds me that I'm not just another face in the crowd like I am in this picture...



...but I am His and He knows me by name.  

He formed my every feature in my mother's womb and he wrote about every day of my life in His book before my first day came to be.  

And He did the same for you.  (smile)
Yesterday, while I was in church the congregation was singing and I recognized the music so I sang along in English while those around me sang in Creole.  I quit worrying about what people would think and I closed my eyes and sang as if it were just me and God in the room.  As the song I knew faded out and a new song began that I didn't recognize I started to sing my own words...  kind of like I was praying really loud to music.  Before I knew it my eyes welled up with tears and I just kept singing, "You are mine, you are mine and I am yours" over and over again... What a great truth and what great comfort it brought me!  

I've seen more in the midst of nothing over the last 7 months than some people see in a lifetime but you know what I am grateful for today?  I am grateful that He continues to show me my worth is in Him and that regardless of what I feel based on my circumstances, I am never-- ever-- alone.  I belong!  I am His, He is mine and He chose me. 

How do I know?  He tells me in John 15:16.  He said, “…I chose you…”

No matter where you are tonight, no matter what you are going through, I hope you find the same comfort in knowing that you belong!  You were created by One who never makes a mistake and He knows you by name.  You are loved far more than you can ever imagine and you can call the God of the universe YOURS if you want to.  You don't have to use fancy words or pray a long prayer.  Psalm 145: 18 says, "The Lord is near to ALL who call on him".   

He is mine, is He yours?   

"Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  I desire you more than anything on earth.  My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." Psalm 73:23-26

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Our trip to Port-au-Prince

We made it with no problems yesterday but the inverter is still "in the shop" so we aren't leaving Port-au-Prince today.  The ride was full of curves and some spots were really rough but oh my goodness, the sights we got to see...

This was the first trip to the capital for all of our kiddos, including Cabila.  The girls slept a little bit but the boys took it all in.

We saw cactus as tall as sky-scrapers, donkeys carrying loads for their owners, cattle in the middle of the road, men thrashing wheat, rice field workers, trees that looked like they were straight out of Madagascar, and mountains that were so massive the girls called them 'cloud-reachers'.  While I wish I could've photographed it all, we do have some great mental pictures to last a lifetime.

Last week we met a guy in Cap Haitien that has done Missions in Haiti for the last 38 years and he just happens to live in PAP.  ;)  Thankfully, he gave us great info on safe areas to stay and eat (a God-thing, no doubt) so we are doing fine.

The hotel where we are staying is not only clean but beautiful and the staff are very nice!  Plus we actually get to brush our teeth with the water from the bathroom faucets and the rooms have A/C so we are eating that up!!!

Cabila rode in an elevator for the first time ever yesterday and he wanted to do it again & again!  It's so exciting to witness his first-time experiences... so many that we often take for granted.

John (and the boys) got to watch Monday night football last night...




we had Domino's pizza for dinner....


 ...and Kylie lost her 8th tooth!


We hope all is going well in your corner of the world!

God bless you and thanks for keeping up with news from here.


"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--" Psalm 103:2

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Last week and the week ahead...

Last week the six of us took off and stayed at one of our favorite places about an hour and a half away from home.......




I mean, come on....  who couldn't find just what the Doctor ordered in a place like this?!?




We played, we slept late, we took hot showers, we ate really well, we swam, we read books, we took photos, we had A/C at night and we...........
R-E-L-A-X-E-D!

I cannot possibly tell you how much I enjoyed our break...  I love our new life and our "jobs" here but every now and then it's just good to get away from it all!

Leonardo da Vinci said it best... "Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation.  For when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer."

...that, and you are a little better prepared to deal with "issues" after not having any for a few days...

We came home at the end of the week to some power issues and so tomorrow morning we will be leaving again.  This time it will be a "work" trip.  Since we are without power (except for the generator we've been using at night), we have no refrigerator and pb & bread is only conducive for so many meals back to back.  We will all go along for the ride to Port-au-Prince to take the inverter to a dealership that specializes in solar panel/battery systems like the one we have at the Mission House.  We sure hope it can be fixed tomorrow (the guys that John talked to seemed to think so).  

Please pray for us as we make the ~5 hour trek through the mountains and hills of Haiti.  We hope to be home on Tuesday and then maybe I can catch up on blogging and LAUNDRY!  :)

Nighty-night!

Bón nwit!

Friday, August 9, 2013

What yo name is...

"Momeeeeeee".....

"Dawn".....

"Sister".......

"Madame John".....

"Blanco"......


Like most moms, I am used to hearing my named called all day long by the adorable little people in my house but after moving to Haiti our 'family' has grown beyond the walls of the Mission House.  I don't just hear "Mamaaaaaaaa" from our own kiddos but now I hear one or all the names listed above...  all day long... all... wanting... something...

After about the 23rd time I am called each day I am tempted to answer with a disgruntled "WHAT?!?!?" instead of a "yes, sweetheart..."  :)

A couple of days ago I was busy upstairs and I got 'the call'...
"Good grief... can I not get anything done from start to finish without being called," I thought!

I had had it...  I stormed out, ready to scream and then I ran into Loude... she was calling me but not because someone downstairs needed me, not because someone was bleeding, not because kids were fighting but because she had prepared one of my new favorite things to eat...

Smack in the middle of the day, she surprised me with some Haitian soul food!  Oh MY Goodness!  Yes!


What a pleasant thing instead of something I was dreading...  I was being served, in a sense, instead of being called to serve.

This did two things for me...  it lifted me up and made me feel special but it also reminded me to keep my perspective...  it reminded me that I "am blessed when I take refuge in the Lord" and that I really can "taste and see that the Lord is good"! (Ps 34:8)  (smiles)

I'm sure wherever you are, you are also surrounded by others you are called to serve.  While you are serving today, do not miss the joy of God's presence.  "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Take a minute today and refill... spend time enjoying and experiencing God's goodness even if you don't get some actual soul food.

When someone calls your name take a deep breath, smile and look for your blessing...

"Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself."(Oswald Chambers)

Monday, August 5, 2013

Movies and Mail

When asked what 2 favorite things the kids here (including ours) love to receive (besides favorite snacks)...........

Survey says................

1) MOVIES

and

2) MAIL

A favorite past-time for all who frequent the Mission House is watching DVD's with popcorn and the projector BUT we've heard that the masses are tired of the 'same ole same ole' so if you would be interested in adding to the house collection here are some ideas:

 * Toy Story (I,II,III)
 *Narnia (all of them)
 *Monsters, Inc. (and University when it comes out)
 *Open Season (all of them)
 *Brave
 *Tangled
 *Princess and The Frog
 *Tinkerbell (any and all of them per the little girls)
 *Karate Kid (old new, I, II per the guys)
 *Diary of a Wimpy Kid (both or either)
 *How to Train a Dragon
 *Puss in Boots (current)
 *Shrek (the first one)
 *Oz - The Great and Powerful
 *ET
 *Beverly Hills Chihuahua
 *Alvin & the Chipmunks
 *Tarzan
 *Spy Kids (I,II,& III)
 *Gnomeo and Juliet
 *The Emporer's New Groove
 *Over the Hedge
 *Marmaduke
 *Valiant
 *The Lorax
 *Air Bud (any)
 *Cats & Dogs
 *Brother Bear (I & II)
 *The Jungle Book
 *Soul Surfer
 *Facing the Giants
 *Courageous
 *Home Alone
 *Kung Fu Panda (I & II)
 *Shark Tale
 *Home on the Range
 *The Prince of Egypt
 *Antz
 *A Bug's Life
 *Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief
 *Pirates of the Caribbean (any/all)
 *Akeelah and the Bee
 *The Cutting Edge
 *Can't Buy Me Love
 *Dunston Checks In

And who doesn't love to receive personal MAIL?!?  

If you've been here before you know how much the kids thrive on making new friendships and many will look for you year after year when the teams visit.  You may have spent 10 minutes with them or you may have spent 4 days with them but I assure you... they DO remember you and finding out that you remembered them is HUGE!
Nothing says 'you're important' like receiving a personal note (even if you can't speak or write in Creole..we would be happy to translate letters for you).  Most of the children that "camp out" around the wall while the teams are here belong to families that cannot afford to provide even the most basic of needs but a personal greeting is worth more than money can buy any day of the week so break out your pen and share some love!

If you would like to send a letter, a photograph or even a small gift to a child/teenager that you connected with or that you got a photograph with we would be happy to deliver it for you.

If you want to send something but you don't know anyone here yet, that's ok, too.  We have tons of kids that would be thrilled to hear from you and to know that they matter!  We can make a suggestion and even send you their picture if you want us to.

You can send the mail to our address:

Attn: John Chappelear
3170 Airmans Drive
#1134-LBC
Fort Pierce, FL 34946

Just make sure you include the name of the person you want it to go to and we will make sure they get it.  (If you send anything over a pound, we will have to pay extra for it so just contact us for more info on that if need be.)

We hope you have a great night... and as always, thanks for sharing this thing called life with us!!!

P.S.  You hear about us all the time but we would love to hear from you so send us some updates about what's happening in your corner of the world.  ... our email address is CirclingHaiti@gmail.com!  BÓN NWIT!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

A few of our guests...

Over the last couple of months we've had several guests!  


Unlike this guy who swooped in during a recent rain storm.......








... most of our guests have been friends!


Greg, Nancy and Philip spent a week with us in June...


...and in July, we hosted the 2nd Mission team from LifeBridge Church this year.


We had a great time reconnecting with some "old" friends and we made some new ones, too!


We hiked on Sunday...





...and the team started early Monday morning working hard.





 


During breaks, they loved on tons of kids!
 

They shared hygiene kits with boys and girls that needed them...

...and Nicole showed them how to make crosses out of palm leaves!



 Old relationships were rekindled... 







 ...and new ones were made!










The pastors met and discussed business...

...but they made time for play, too!

John and I enjoyed catching up on news from home and sharing more about what's been going on here...

 Davis wanted to take home the "best souvenir" so he visited the hospital in Limbe for x-rays and stitches...
He's such a trooper...  he still managed to play guitar at the Wednesday night revival service... stitches and all!

Care packages were made...
... and distributed throughout the community.


A big portion of the church's retaining wall was built...

...and the bakery is almost complete thanks to all the hard workers!


Everyone got to check out the market...


 ...play a little ball... 
 ...and Kale even got to ski a bit!

We are so thankful for all of you who came in person but we also want to say thank you to the team's family members who stayed behind to hold the ropes at home, to those of you who have been faithful to give financially in support of our ministry here in Haiti AND to those who continue to pray for us and the team members, too.  Because of all of you, we've been able to see tremendous change for the better these last 6 months!!!

"Don't ever let anyone convince you that you have no power.... All significant changes in the world start slowly, at a single time and place, with a single action.  One man, one woman, one child stands up and commits to creating a better world. Their courage inspires others, who began to stand up themselves.  You can be that person." ~ Jones, Haenfler, and Johnson

We are very fortunate to be in community with such persons.....  May God bless you all!

P.S.  Thank you, July team, for sharing your pictures so I could add to the ones I got for this post! :)