Shayla Rowe and Bridgett Chaclan with the Sunnybrook Community Church Team, express the way God has called their team to be servants in Haiti.
For us, Haiti is a place that, until now, has only been experienced through the internet and text books. A place where poverty isn’t an outcome of a few bad choices in life but the only life they’ve known. Having and keeping a job is not a matter of choice to the Haitian people. 90% are unemployed because there are no jobs and those who are privileged enough to find a job make an average of $5 a day. Try making that work with a family of 5+.
Let’s pray and God can choose His blessing for us Jezi se lavi (Jesus is life) and Psalm 27 freshly painted on this house today
We are a group of nine from Sunnybrook Community Church in Sioux City, IA. Our ages range from 27-73 and our jobs also vary from nurses, school teachers, to retirees. Though we differ in so many ways, there is one thing that connects us all; Jesus.
Praying for God’s blessings to be known to this family
He has created in us servant hearts, which is exactly why we are all here. It didn’t take long for us to dig in and get our hands dirty (I would say about thirty minutes actually.) We began our journey by piling 10 people in the little 5 passenger truck to buy 40 (55lbs) bags of rice, 8 (50lbs) bags of pinto beans, 960 chicken flavored bouillon cubes, 120 packages of spaghetti noodles and 40 one-gallon jugs of vegetable cooking oil.
A house that does not provide much protection for the family who lives here Beautiful
To mention a few other projects that have been keeping us busy: cutting 1”X12” wood pieces, painting & varnishing chairs for a pre-school, serving 57 families with nourishing lunch through Many Hand’s Thrive Program, packing and delivering 22 packs of food supplies, picking congo beans, helping with pre-school and shopping for weekly supplies at the market.
Bridgett and Irana working with congo beans Buying a few packages of cookies from a small roadside stand Already a familiar position in the back of our Haitian Tap Tap
Though the long term goal is to transform the future of Haiti’s people through agronomy training, education, medical assistance, safe homes and leadership; some people need immediate assistance in order to get to tomorrow. We agree that in the three days we’ve been here food distribution has been the most rewarding. During each delivery we not only brought food supplies but we also spent time with each family. Getting to know them through their story, hearing their needs and praying for them.
Liz loving on the babiesOne delivery was roughly four miles away, but due to road conditions it took 45 minutes to arrive. Upon arrival, down a long dusty walk way we were warmly greeted with hugs. A middle aged women and her elderly mother explained there was eleven people living in what looked like 6×12 foot, sticks and mud, dirt floor home. The elderly woman was so unbelievably thankful for what God had already provided for her but asked if we could pray, God willing, to be blessed with a home suitable for eleven.
Family of 11 in a very small houseAnother woman, when asked what special request she had for prayer said, “Let’s pray and God can choose how he will bless us.” That is confidence in God’s provision. Some follow up visits will be made for more in depth evangelizing with 2 specific families. One woman, when asked if she goes to church, said she goes each day but she is not converted, (meaning she is catholic.) She was open to hearing more about Jesus Christ. Another family that will be visited again by Many Hands Chaplain, Lumanes, is the family of a witch doctor that said the witch doctor would like to quit his voodoo practice but doesn’t have any other way to make money to provide for his family. We encouraged the family that as Christians we believe that they can trust in God to provide for all of their needs. We pray for God’s love to rule over the deception of voodoo.
Ephesians 5:8-16 is exactly the scripture we stand on tonight…
“You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Wake up from your sleep,Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!”
The Dr Seuss truffela tree in full bloom early morning on the mountain We even get to celebrate Shayla’s birthday with a beautifully decorated cake made by our wonderful cooks The team is ready for some cake