It’s been an exciting and busy week at Mission of Hope. I LOVED having a NC family here and talking with Shelley from the Apparent Project was so encouraging. 3 Cords has a bright future!
Talking with Shelley about 3 Cords, growth, and even possibly selling products in retail stores made me BEYOND excited. When we left the Apparent Project I felt like I was floating. I could see the potential of 3 Cords. 50 more women could be employed. Big chains like Anthropologie could sell our product. I’m a dreamer. As my head was floating higher and higher in the clouds, I was reminded that I’m just an intern and God is the one who will advance 3 Cords. If God wants 3 Cords to employ 400 amputees then it will happen. He is the one who has allowed it to prosper and He is the one who will lead as it grows. I’m so excited to be a part of the growing process. This week we have almost finished the party packets and on Friday afternoon I got to hang out with the women. I love those ladies. I wish I could spend every day with the women of 3 Cords! They are wonderful. I would miss the groups though.
One thing I have loved about the groups is that each one is SO different. They all ask different questions, have different convictions, and are from different backgrounds. Through each group the Lord teaches me. Last week I was reminded of Haiti’s, and my own desperate need for God’s word. As we walked around a small village talking and praying with people one of the ladies continually asked people if they had Bibles. A lot of them responded no. This isn’t rare in Haiti and a lot of people are illiterate so that would limit them in studying the Word, but still it stunned me. Here I sit with God’s word readily available and yet I do not study it. I can read and I have God’s living Word in my heart and mind. The Word of the Lord is truth; Haiti needs truth, just like I do.
The group that came in this past week is from Texas. I haven’t gotten to spend a lot of time with them but they were really interested in why Mission of Hope is against giving handouts. I have struggled with this some too. When you have a granola bar in your bag and someone is asking for food shouldn’t I easily hand it over? Mission of Hope believes in trying to help end the cycle of poverty through their food programs, education, etc. and does not believe that short term teams should give handouts, but rather give their donations to MOH for them to distribute to the people in a way that they see fit. Most people just kinda go along with this thought, but this team wanted to know why. I appreciate that. It made me really think through the answer and in the process I better understood the values behind Mission of Hope’s guidelines. Reading When Helping Hurts has also helped me understand this answer. I still think that you have the listen to Holy Spirit and that in some cases it is necessary to give direct handouts, but overall I believe that Mission of Hope handles donations in the exact right way. When I look at the problems of Haiti, I look through North American eyes. I have grown up in North Carolina and am used to how things are done in America. This can be a HUGE problem. Haiti is not like America, nor do they need to be. They need help, change for sure, but they don’t need to become what I’m used to. Their culture is different and so is their lifestyle. I was reading today on one of my favorite families blogs who live in Haiti and she had posted this quote:
"Often charity to help the poor attracts more people into poverty. One example I have noticed takes place when North Americans try to care for the needs of orphans in cultures different from our own. If you build really nice orphanages and provide good food and a great education, lots more children in those places become orphans. I see this happen all over. When we attempt to eradicate poverty through charity, we often attract more people into “needing” charity. It is possible to create need where it did not exist by projecting our standards, values and perception of need onto others. "
-- Steve Saint
This quote is what the Apparent Project ( http://www.apparentproject.org/ ) addresses. A lot of times Haitians want to be parents they just don’t have the means to do so. I’m learning more about empowerment and trying my best to understand the VERY complex issues that plague Haiti. I feel blessed to be at Mission of Hope.
On a funny/ interesting note at church this week there was a skit. You never know what to expect in Haiti. I had noticed that there was a large group of people dressed in uniforms but it wasn’t until the end of service that I realized they were going to do a drama. It started with a couple of men carrying out a white sheet with a “dead” person inside it. Stacy and I are looking at each other like what in the world is going on. The kids around us are freaking out. We are trying to get them to tell us what’s going on. They are all getting in trouble for standing up and trying to get a better look. It was out of control. Haitians are dramatic anyway, so you can imagine the skit. Lots of screaming and jumping around. The gist I got from the madness is that no one can heal and help but Jesus. It defiantly got everyone’s attention. I think I’ll suggest that The Summit have a skit one Sunday. Stacy has already volunteered to be the fake dead person.
This weekend I’m in Port au Prince with a group of Convoy of Hope interns. They stay at a house in PAP for the weekends and invited us to go! It has been extremely nice to have great internet and time to hang out! It’s odd because while Port au Prince is one of the most impoverished areas of Haiti it also has one of the wealthiest areas: Peationville. I’m thankful for a weekend to relax. Since I have good internet I’m going to try and post some pictures!
Love y’all!
Becca
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A really GREAT week!
It has been such a great week! James came to visit this past week and I LOVED getting to show him MOH and serve together. Saturday was sad but I’m thankful that he got to see what my day to day life is like here.
We got to do a couple of really cool things this week. First, on Tuesday we went to a waterfall that was about 2 hours away. When large groups are here we rarely do anything that is too far off campus, but since we only had about 8 people last week, it was more flexible. The waterfall was AMAZING!! The power of the waterfall was astounding and it was one of those times all you could do was look up and thing “wow God you are awesome”. James and I climbed to the top and got some great pictures. I can’t properly describe the waterfall with words but it reminded me that Haiti has a lot of beauty. Even the drive up to the waterfall was beautiful. At the waterfall there were obvious signs of voodoo. At MOH we rarely see this, and it was very strange to see it at such a stunning area that was clearly made my God. Sad. On Tuesday we also got to visit one of my favorite orphanages and dance for the kids. Justin Bieber is always the music of choice. Baby, baby, baby, olllll’!
On Wednesday James and I helped at 3 Cords. We made a new hanger for the purses and fixed the sign. Brianna informed me on Friday that we get to go next week and talk to Shelley (the founder of The Apparent Project), and ask her questions. This is an answered prayer. Not only am I SOOOOO excited to meet Shelley, but I’m super pumped to get her input about 3 Cords! Please pray that this meeting will go well!
Thursday we painted. We have painted a lot this week, well this whole month really, and I think that when I get home I may be a professional. Friday was our restful beach day and we went snorkeling. Haiti has beautiful reefs! Who knew? I’m learning more about Haiti everyday and trying my best with Creole. Learning language is a challenge for me, but I do think Creole is easier than most. I have a couple tutors, my friends Victor and Clara, but it’s a slow process.
Saturday James left, but more NC people arrived! I don’t think I realized how much I miss NC until people show up from Greensboro of all places. It is just one family and there friend from church. It is so great to talk with them about Greensboro, UNC, State, anything NC really. I have friends from all over the country now, but this was the first group from NC! I’m very happy about this not only because I get a little taste of home this week, but because I want people in NC to know about Mission of Hope! It is such a great place and we need more NC people to come! This week there are around 50 people here. There is ALWAYS something to do, someone to talk to, etc.
When James came he brought me letters that all my girlfriends had written me (fyi I get made fun of for saying girlfriends here). They were beyond encouraging! God has blessed me with the best friends. Thanks girls (if you read my blog haha) I love y’all! It has been a wonderful week. Thanks for the prayers.
O' and half century Happy Birthday this week to my beautiful mother and congratulations to my amazing housemate Kelsey and her fiancé Jon on their engagement! Great week all around!
Bec
We got to do a couple of really cool things this week. First, on Tuesday we went to a waterfall that was about 2 hours away. When large groups are here we rarely do anything that is too far off campus, but since we only had about 8 people last week, it was more flexible. The waterfall was AMAZING!! The power of the waterfall was astounding and it was one of those times all you could do was look up and thing “wow God you are awesome”. James and I climbed to the top and got some great pictures. I can’t properly describe the waterfall with words but it reminded me that Haiti has a lot of beauty. Even the drive up to the waterfall was beautiful. At the waterfall there were obvious signs of voodoo. At MOH we rarely see this, and it was very strange to see it at such a stunning area that was clearly made my God. Sad. On Tuesday we also got to visit one of my favorite orphanages and dance for the kids. Justin Bieber is always the music of choice. Baby, baby, baby, olllll’!
On Wednesday James and I helped at 3 Cords. We made a new hanger for the purses and fixed the sign. Brianna informed me on Friday that we get to go next week and talk to Shelley (the founder of The Apparent Project), and ask her questions. This is an answered prayer. Not only am I SOOOOO excited to meet Shelley, but I’m super pumped to get her input about 3 Cords! Please pray that this meeting will go well!
Thursday we painted. We have painted a lot this week, well this whole month really, and I think that when I get home I may be a professional. Friday was our restful beach day and we went snorkeling. Haiti has beautiful reefs! Who knew? I’m learning more about Haiti everyday and trying my best with Creole. Learning language is a challenge for me, but I do think Creole is easier than most. I have a couple tutors, my friends Victor and Clara, but it’s a slow process.
Saturday James left, but more NC people arrived! I don’t think I realized how much I miss NC until people show up from Greensboro of all places. It is just one family and there friend from church. It is so great to talk with them about Greensboro, UNC, State, anything NC really. I have friends from all over the country now, but this was the first group from NC! I’m very happy about this not only because I get a little taste of home this week, but because I want people in NC to know about Mission of Hope! It is such a great place and we need more NC people to come! This week there are around 50 people here. There is ALWAYS something to do, someone to talk to, etc.
When James came he brought me letters that all my girlfriends had written me (fyi I get made fun of for saying girlfriends here). They were beyond encouraging! God has blessed me with the best friends. Thanks girls (if you read my blog haha) I love y’all! It has been a wonderful week. Thanks for the prayers.
O' and half century Happy Birthday this week to my beautiful mother and congratulations to my amazing housemate Kelsey and her fiancé Jon on their engagement! Great week all around!
Bec
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