The Map

THE MAP

Part A: Scriptures

1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Philippians 2:12-13: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work within you both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Part B: A Few Ground RulesSuggestions

While strict obedience to what I provide below is not necessary (or, even, recommend), I do recommend that you consider the following suggestions as you think of, feel, and pray through the many things that have arisen within you as a result of the 2013 trip to Haiti:

1. Take all of these things slowly; please give yourself time over the next few days, weeks, months, and (it is my hope!) years to work through these things.
2. Please know that God is a Perfect Gentleman and that He is not at all interested in destroying who you are as a person. In fact, He's so interested in you as you are right now that, even though He does wish to bring about change in your life, He will do so in what I like to call an aggressively unaggressive manner. Through the mighty working of His Spirit within you (within your desires and within your intentions), He will mold you into the person He intends for you to be without destroying who you are or overriding your will in any manner. The ability that He alone has to do these things is truly extraordinary. With this in mind, I urge you to adopt a posture of surrenderedness, and I urge you also to pursue God with all that's within you...just as He passionately pursues you.
3. Don’t make any significant life-changes (for example giving notice at work or selling your home) for at least 30 days (before 25 Feb), okay? Again, please just give yourself some time with all of these things. Relax. God's not in a hurry, so, chances are, it's probably not necessary for you to be either. :o) Caveat to this suggestion: If you're engaging in anything you know to be a significant area of flagrant sin or disobedience, go ahead and make a change today by confessing your sin to God, by confessing your sin to another person, by asking the one to whom you confessed to pray with you for your healing (see James 5:13-20), and then by beginning the process of laying that sin down and walking away from it completely and forever. Please know, though, that there are some chains of sin (addictions, destructive/abusive ways of relating, etc.) that can be extremely difficult to break. If you struggle with an addiction or an abusive pattern of relating to those around you (note that these two often go hand-in-hand), seek out the counsel of a godly person skilled in helping others to find freedom and healing from such things. If you don't think you know of someone, please contact the church as they maintain a list of godly, professional counselors that may be able to help you find what you need.

Part C: A Suggested Road Map for Responding to the Haiti 2013 Trip

Exercise One: "Telling Your Story"

To aid you in answering questions like "How was your trip?" and "What did you do?", I suggest writing out the following:

1. A one-sentence answer;
2. A two- to three-sentence answer;
3. A two-paragraph answer; and
4. A two-page answer.

By having these answers, you will, I have discovered, be able to more effectively move from one answer to a more detailed answer depending on the interest of the person asking you the above questions (or ones like it). By having such answers already written out, it will, I believe, help you to be sensitive to and to accommodate (within your own heart and mind) the varied degrees of interest/disinterest in those around you. And, through preparing such things in advance, it may also help you to adopt a posture of forgiving in advance those who will hurt you (through their interest [or lack thereof]) even before they do so. To aid me in such things, I adopted a personal slogan a few years ago, which reads "You are forgiven...even before you act."

I write all of this because I can guarantee that most of you will experience at least some degree of emotional pain from those who reject you over the next week or two. Jesus once said, "if the world hated me, it will hate you as well." He also urged His followers to rejoice in persecutions (see Matthew 5:11-12). So….with all this in mind, tell your story with great joy, and allow God to pour His love through you to everyone you encounter in the coming days, weeks, months, and years...irrespective of his or her response.

As you begin to write your story, think about what you saw.  More than likely, your eyes were opened a little bit more on the trip.  In the U.S., it's really easy to live with your eyes closed. Here are some questions, which Leah supplied us last year from a book she read, that you can ask yourself:

1. What did you see in the people?
2. Which of their needs seem most vivid to you?
3. What aspects of their lives impressed or has inspired you the most?
4. What did you see while you were in-country that was different from your expectations?
5. Is there a mental picture of Haiti that immediately comes to mind?
6. What keeps you from "seeing" properly in your world?

 "Seeing" is a discipline.  In fact, it really is the first step to making a lasting difference in our world.

Exercise Two: "Recalibrating, Part 1: Stream of Consciousness Exercise"

Allow yourself over the next few days to begin to think about the things on your mind and in your heart concerning changes you'd like to make in your life in response to the trip.

Do you remember "stream of consciousness" writing from your high school lit classes? Briefly, to engage in stream of consciousness is to sit with a pen and note pad in-hand, focus on a specific theme or idea in your mind or heart, and then write down (almost explosively) whatever comes to you about the subject.  When engaging in such an activity, it's very important to do your best (1) to not stop writing and (2) to turn off your judging and editing functions so that what's inside you can come out freely. This, of course, takes a bit of discipline, but, writing from personal experience, you will get better at it with practice. The key here is to let your mind think whatever it wants to think (and not just what you think you're supposed to think or what you think God wants you to think), and to let your heart feel and want whatever it feels and wants (and not just what you think you're supposed to feel or want). Let your hand write whatever crosses your mind and heart, and, as you're writing, don't critique, edit, or try to organize it in any fashion. This, I think (and, yes, this is just me), may be one small aspect of what Jesus meant when He said, "Don't let the left hand know what the right hand's doing." For such a thing can lead to either paralysis or vanity or both.

With all that's within me, I want to encourage you to engage in this exercise for I can almost guarantee that the experience will be exceedingly illuminating and liberating. I write of this from my own personal experience. I've engaged in this kind of thing many times in my life, and each time, I was surprised (even shocked sometimes) at what emerged. When you let come out what's genuinely living inside you it's hard to argue over its validity. And that's the point entirely:  To let out what's inside you; to let out that which you really want where developing a surrendered, missional life is concerned. That way, if you know what you want, even if what you want changes a little along the way (and it most likely will, at least to a degree or two), you'll know that you're at least heading in a direction that's congruent with who you are and with the person you wish to be someday, and I am all about life congruence.  Your destiny is written in to your onlyness.  You are the only person that possess your unique composition of skills, talents, weaknesses, experiences, passions, spiritual giftedness, sensitivities, motivations, and character traits.  When you are in touch with who you really are and that which you really want in life, you are touching God's ultimate as well as day-to-day will for you.  Do not be deceived, the full expression of who you are uniquely in Jesus is His plan for your life.

The Exercise – Part One (20 minutes)

Grab a pen, a tablet of paper, a small handful of 3x5 cards, turn off your cell phone, put on some relaxing music, and sit comfortably at a table or desk where you have room to do some free-hand writing.

Before doing any writing, allow me to urge you to say the following prayer (or something like it): Lord, I wish to live the way you desire me to. I know, Lord, that it's really You Who's the One working within me to give me the desire and ability to please You. As I begin to get in touch with what I truly want in life (basically, what You've already put inside me in terms of how I wish to live and to conduct myself), I ask, O God, that You help me to get at what I’m really feeling inside. I ask You, too, to give me a vision for what living a surrendered, missional life might look like for me. I invite You, dear God, to come and join me as I explore such things. Again, please just help me to get at what’s inside me. I give us (You and me!) this time, Lord. In the Name of Jesus I pray...amen.

For the next ten to fifteen minutes or so, write down anything and everything that comes to mind with respect to changes you'd like to make in your life as a result of the Haiti 2013 trip.

Do your best to lay aside any filters or judgments of what comes forth. In fact, welcome whatever arises with a kind of unconditional friendliness—much the way you might welcome a dear friend that you haven't seen for some time.

Read over all that you've written.

Read over it again, please.

Put everything aside for a few days or so before engaging in Part Two below. Transformation takes time, so do just that: Take your time, okay? Please consider that living a surrendered life is a lot more like running a marathon (in fact, one marathon right after another) than sprinting the 50-yard dash.

The Exercise – Part Two (60 minutes)

Read through what you wrote in Part One.

Now read through it one more time, but this time, rank each thing you wrote down in terms of its value or importance to you. As you do this, use only three rank distinctions: Somewhat Important (S), important (I), and extremely important (E).

Go through everything again, and make sure that the way you ranked things is representative of how you really feel inside. Make any changes you feel are needful.

Identify all your Es, and rewrite them again on another sheet of paper. This time, edit what you wrote, combine similar items, and expand or expound upon those that you feel need additional substance.

Put everything aside for a day or so before engaging in Part Three below.

The Exercise – Part Three (30 minutes)

Read through your rewritten Es, and identify those that you believe to be the top three in terms of their importance to you.

Using your stack of index cards, rewrite your top two or three Es as prayers to God. Let's call these your Visioning Prayer Cards.

The Practice

Over the next three months, pray through your Visioning Prayer Cards at least once a day. Praying in this way will put your desires center stage before you and God. This, my friends, is a little of what beginning with the end in mind is all about.

Exercise Three: "Seeking the Fruit of the Spirit"

Complete a study on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the love passage (1 Corinthians 13:4-8), and the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Completing a comprehensive study of the ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) is recommended as well.

Galatians 5:22, 23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Matthew 5:1-12: Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Exodus 20:1-17: And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exercise Four: "Reacquainting Yourself with Yourself"

Ask yourself (and answer) the following questions:

1. What were your dreams as a child?
2. Who were your heroes as a child?
3. What are your dreams now?
4. Who are your heroes now?

Take a spiritual gift inventory. If I recall, newhope church still offers one on the newhope website. There are, though, several offered on-line that I think could be very beneficial to you. One such inventory can be found at http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/.

Exercise Five: "Recalibrating, Part 2"

Ask yourself (and answer) the following questions:

1. Where are you now?
2. Where do you want to be a month from now? And what will you do to migrate toward that place?
3. Where do you want to be in three months? And what will you do to migrate toward that place?
4. Where do you want to be in twelve months? And what will you do to migrate toward that place?

Exercise Six: "Beginning with the End in Mind"

Ask yourself (and answer) the following questions:

1. Where do you want to be in five years?
2. How do you want to feel about things in five years?

Allow the revisioning of this part to draw you like a huge magnet toward the fulfillment of what you envision.

Part D: A Few Things I'd Like to Learn from the Samurai

Provided below is something I wrote a couple of years ago…

A Few Things I’d Like to Learn from the Samurai

For most of my life, I’ve been fascinated by the warrior classes—especially, by the ancient Samurai of feudal Japan. To say they were a paradoxical people is an understatement.

The Samurai trained in the arts of life and death: they studied and practiced haiku and swordsmanship, the tea ceremony and field applications of archery, and gardening and submission grappling. They prepared for the future, but didn't wait for it to happen; they lived in and for the moment as though tomorrow didn't exist—because, to them, it didn't. They had children, and yet raised them to live as though Mom and Dad might not be around an hour hence.

Theirs was a way of life so utterly simple, and yet incomprehensibly complex. They cultivated an almost unnatural naturalness in nearly every aspect of life, and they lived by an ancient, internal code that simply reminded them...be present and devoted completely to your current experience...for there really is nothing else.

I recall a story I heard many years ago about a martial arts instructor, who posed the following question to his adult students: "If you discovered that you had only twenty-four hours left to live, what would you do with the time you had left?" The answers he received were varied, as one might expect. Some spoke of how they would spend their time with their families; others of how they would visit places they’d always wanted to see but never did; and still others of how they would devote themselves to some form of service to humanity.

After listening intently for a few minutes, the teacher spoke of his disappointment with the answers they’d all given. "No one answered with what I would consider the best answer possible," he began. "And that's this: I wouldn't live any differently than the way I'm living right here, right now."

In the United States alone, more than two million people died last year—many from things unexpected. Just like some of us will, too, someday. Perhaps, even, today or tomorrow.

I’d like to ask you the very same question the instructor I mentioned above asked his students so very long ago...

If you had only twenty-four hours left to live, and knew it, how differently would you live that last day than the way you'd lived, say, the previous 365 days?

Take some time, and really give it some thought. Perhaps, even, write your answers down, and then go and live mindful of the possibility that tomorrow may never come.

Part E: Some Final Thoughts

The purpose of the above exercise conglomerate is to provide you with a road map for responding to the Haiti trip in a way that's generative, life-affirming, and life-giving. I believe with all my heart that if you really do work at it…prayerfully…you and the kingdom of God will benefit greatly. I speak of this from my own personal experience.

Part G: One Last Thing

As I wrote above, aside from making a decision to pursue Jesus with all your heart (and to lay down your participation in grievous, know sin), don’t make any significant life-changes for at least 30 days (specifically, before 24 Feb). If, though, there are significant life-changes that you think you'd like to make, add them to your list of recalibrations, and let them marinate with all the others. :o)

Have fun with all of this (for having fun is, I believe, at least half the point of doing anything!  Even laying your life down for another.).

Also...please, please, please let me know if I can be of any help or service to any of you in any of the above (or anything else, for that matter). Again, I love you all so much that it hurts inside.

Your friend, fellow traveler, and apprentice of Jesus,

Dave, Team Father

Haiti 2013/Travel Team A

Day Six: Wednesday, 23 Jan

Day Six:  Wednesday, 23 Jan

858a...

Provided below is a continuation of the summary transcript from the meeting last night with the Bohoc Leadership Council...

Jerome asked us to share our lows and our highs from the week.

Ramsey (Biff)...

My lows...

Our time is too short.

My heart strings were tugged (and are still being tugged) by the home visits.  I want to do so much more.  It's so hard to leave and to go back to the U.S.  I get so embarrassed by the U.S.--when I think about all we have.

My highs...

The Wisdom Club.  They are a group of incredible young men and women eager to learn.  They place God first and education right behind it.

Oh...and when I come back, I'm going to join Kedum!!

Jedlain...

Funny Ramsay!!

Leah...

Every year, I say "I'm not going to cry."  Sorry...I'm going to cry.  But my tears...are those of joy from what THIS brings.

I love Bohoc.

Everyone asks why I keep coming back.  I don't have a good answer.  I have to go back.  To come back here.  No question.  My high is to be here.

My low is, as it is every year, leaving.

I'm so happy every year to see my friends--the little ones and the big ones.

Every year, I get to learn more about you and Bohoc.  After 2-3 years, I'm getting to watch your children grow.

It's nice to see what you and your community are becoming.

People ask, "How is it?"

My answer:  "There is much work to be done."  But I'm so proud to be a small part of what you're doing here.

Every time I come back, I see more done.

Thank you for letting us be a part of it.

I'm looking forward to coming back next year.

Allison...

I'd like to echo Ramsey's lows.  Our time here is too short.  I want to stay here for a long time.

My high was when we were working together on replanting the cactus plants.  During the planting, I got in the way of someone using a pickax to remove some tree roots.  He politely asked me to move, which I did.  Afterward, he invited me to come back to where I'd been and to resume what I'd been doing.  It made me feel like part of the family.  Thank you for accepting and welcoming us every time we come here.

Steve...

My low was when we were working on the road widening project this morning.  I was trying to dig out some cactus roots with a pickax, and I broke the ax.  Fabijean immediately said, "Come with me."  I must admit that my heart began to pound a little.  Anyway, he brought me to his house and invited me in.  While we were in his house, he asked me to hold a chair while he got nails from above.  He then brought me back outside with nails, a hammer, and some crazy glue, and, together, we fixed the ax.  Once we finished, he turned to me, smiled, and offered me some advice, "Slow down while you're working." :o)  It all made me feel a little like he was my father and I was his son.  So, in a very real sense, my low became my high.

My other high was playing with the children at Kris El Espwa this afternoon and recognizing many of the kids from last January and seeing how they've gotten bigger and stronger.  And harder to pick up and hold back!

My low is always when we leave.

Know that you will remain in my heart.  I can't wait until we return next year.  Hopefully, I'll bring my Dad with me.

Kelly...

The trips aren't long enough.  I think we should stay longer.

My high was teaching at The Wisdom Club this afternoon.  I didn't think I'd do it as well as Michelle, but she made me do it.  I could teach it every day, all day, and teach them more about God.  Loved it.  I wish I weren't going home.

Joey (Wiwi)...

This is my first time in Bohoc.  I've fallen in love with it.  I love the joy and peace, how much you love the community, and how much the community loves Jesus.

I'm trying not to cry.

My highs (multiple)...

I loved the teamwork while widening the road.  I loved how everyone chipped in and worked hard.  I loved the women pounding the ground next to the replanted cactus plants and the men making music on their shovels and picks and with their voices.

When we visited The Wisdom Club yesterday, the students inspired me and taught me more than I taught them.  I really loved it.

Claudia...

This is my first time in Haiti, and this is my first mission trip...to bring the Word and love of God to the Haitian people.

I'm returning home with a Haitian heart because you taught me what the love of God is.  In your eyes and in the eyes of the children, I see Jesus.  My hope is that you see Him in our eyes.

This trip has humbled me, and taught me what true unity is...what true worship is.

I liked going to The Wisdom Club again, today.  My heart was The Wisdom Club while we were there.  We talked about the Word of God; we taught English, but the Word of God did more.

I will never forget this trip...never forget you.

I feel no lows except for not having any more time here.

Michelle...

My only low is that I wish we had more time.  I love Bohoc!!

This was my first mission trip.  I feel that I learned more about how to be a good person from your community than I ever could learn in a life-time at home...from working with the children, to teaching English at The Wisdom Club, to widening the road.

I hope, when I get back home, to teach my students about the love and compassion of this community.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for welcoming me and us into your community.  I hope it made a difference.

Dave...

I have no lows; only highs!

And Jedlain is one of them.  While he is your son, Jerome, he is my brother.  I hope you're beginning to see the resemblance.

This is my fourth trip to Bohoc.  I love this community.  I love the people; I love the land.  I feel that I am just beginning to scratch the surface of who all of you are--especially, Jedlain and you who comprise the Leadership Council.  Both as individuals and as a communion of leaders, my respect for you knows no bounds.

When I first met you two years ago, you all reminded me a lot of Nehemiah, a man sent by God to help his people rebuild Jerusalem, it's wall, and its gates.  Like Nehemiah, you are comforting your people and helping them to rebuild their lives...to build a new Bohoc.  To build a new Haiti.

You have also reminded me of John the Baptist, a man whose overarching purpose in life was to prepare the way for Christ's coming...to lay level the paths of blessing that His Presence would one day bring.  Like him, you have prepared your people and this land for the blessings of God's Gracious Presence.

And you are now beginning to remind me of Elijah, a man who prayed for rain during one of the greatest droughts in Israel's history.  Toward the end of the drought, Elijah prayed, and he prayed, and he prayed, and then the rains came.  You have been praying, and the rains are coming.  Rain has long been one of the many symbols of the Presence of God.  The Scriptures read that even the Heavens pour like rain in the Presence of God.  That's found in the book of Psalms.

Thank you for having us.  I am so looking forward to, Lord-willing, being right back here in three months.  Until then, I will fish for people in the U.S. to come join us here in Haiti.  God bless you all!!

Jerome...

In life, there is a time to run and a time to stop; in the Bible, a time to speak and a time to sleep.  We are finished working and speaking; it is now time to go to bed and then to leave.

There will be much sadness over your having gone.  I do believe that when you return--even five years from now, you will see the community working together.  Because we have a mission.

I want to see my dream of a Trade School become a reality before I die.  For then, I will go home and, from Heaven, look down on it all as it comes together.  I think Dave will be our manager.

May God grant you a safe trip back to your church and families.

251p...

Hey, everyone...we're all back in Port au Prince, and we're staying once again at New Life Childrens' Home.  We have a little down-time before dinner, so I'm going to spend some time resting and preparing for the trip debrief, tonight, while most everyone else spends time with the beautiful children here.

God bless you all, and have a wonderful evening, and, Lord-willing, we'll see all'y'all shortly!!

Dave

A Prayer of Consecration

Holy Father...

I surrender to You...

...and in this moment, I empty myself and make myself nothing before You...

Please fill me, Oh God, with all that You have for me today, so that I might empty myself into those around me by becoming their slave...

Annointest my head with oil, that my cup might indeed runneth over...

You must increase...I must decrease...

You must increase...I must decrease...

You must increase...I must decrease...

Not my will but Thine; into Your Hands I commit my spirit...

Not my will but Thine; into Your Hands I commit my spirit...

Not my will but Thine; into Your Hands I commit my spirit...

Day Five: Tuesday, 22 Jan

Day Five:  Tuesday, 22 Jan

12:27p...

Greetings from our last full day in Bohoc!!  Just kickin' off my shoes to set a spell and write some...

Today, like every day has been great!  Breakfast began at 7a, and, most gratefully, I was able to eat every item served!!

Claudia lead us in team devotions this morning by walking us through the beatitudes.  Tomorrow when you read this, perhaps you could read through the beatitudes yourself.  One place to find them is in the first few verses of Matthew 5.  As you read them, notice the "if/then" quality of each beatific statement by Jesus, and consider focusing on just one of them to the full today.  To do this, memorize the verse, and, as you're walking throughout the day, try to repeat it to yourself whenever you remember to do so.  In addition to this, look for opportunities to affirm the presence of such an attitude whenever you encounter it in someone around you.

Oh...Gotta break for lunch.  See you in a bit...

Dave

107p...

Where were we?  Oh, yes...

At 9a, we walked to our work-site, which was in the same location as yesterday.  Until around 11a, we worked once again alongside our Haitian friends doing some more road widening.  One of the neat things about today was that the Haitians appeared to feel a little more liberated around us.  What began as a time of singing while we worked, blossomed into quite THE celebration.  I must write that the Haitian ladies--especially, the older ones (e.g., those in their 50s and 60s) can dance.  If any on the team post a video of such a thing, he or she may want to consider prefacing the video with a PG-13 identifier.  Another really cool thing we noticed is that Navoh, one of the ladies we prayed for on Sunday afternoon, was at the work site (She was also one of the ladies who were dancing together.).  For those of you who may not remember, we visited her at her home the other day.  She was the lady who'd been sick for well over a year and hadn't been able to attend church because of it.  On the site, she specifically walked up to me and thanked me (as Jedlain interpreted) for praying for her on Sunday.  When asked how she was feeling, she said (in Creole'), "I'm feeling much better...MUCH better."

Praise God!!

After leaving the work-site, we walked down the street to Madam Elmarie's house, where, in September of last year, she began what is now being called "The Older People's Group of Bohoc".  There were approximately 20 older (elderly) people at Madam Elmarie's home, and, according to Elmarie, many of them were blind or handicapped.  Elmarie started this group so that she could be a conduit of ministry to these precious people.  All of us prayed together for their healing and asked God to enable them to see far beyond what any of us can see.  We also asked God to minister His wisdom through them wherever they might be or go and to whomever they might meet.

After our time with Madam Elmarie and her friends, we visited National School of Bohoc.  This is the school that Jerome Greffard, Jedlain's Dad and the vice president of the Leadership Council, dreamed of having years ago.  Jasmin D'Gebsy, who is the 6th Grade teacher, and who is also on the Bohoc Leadership Council, talked with us about the school.

The school, which is a primary school, was built in Bohoc through what I understand was a partnership with World Vision.  The well and pump were installed by Unicef.  (As a side, I love World Vision, and I've also had some really good experiences interacting with some of the folks from Unicef, primarily in Nicaragua.  My experiences with UN/Project Development and USAID ...well, not so good.)  Anyway, I'm grateful to Unicef for providing the well and for World Vision in helping to develop the school in partnership with the people of Bohoc.  For those of you reading this who've been on previous trips, this is the site of the soccer game we attended a couple of years ago.

The school, as I wrote above, is a primary school (Grades 1-6), and it holds class in the mornings and in the afternoons.  The morning classes are for those whose families can pay for school, and the afternoon classes are for those whose families cannot.  As far as numbers are concerned, "Morning School" has 201 students, with Grades 1 and 2, which are combined right now due to a teacher illness, have a combined enrollment of 46 (21 in Grade 1, and 25 in Grade 2), Grade 3 has 43 students, Grade 4 has 54 students, Grade 5 has 40 students, and Grade 6 has 18 students.  Most of the students come from Bohoc; some come from neighboring towns.  The classes being taught at National are as follows:  French, Math, Social Science (e.g., Geography, History, and Civics), Experimental/Physical Science, and Haitian Creole'.  Each subject is taught with equal importance.

The building was just completed last year, so this school year is the first year the school has been in operation.  The school has a well and pump, as I wrote above, which supplies clean water for drinking, cooking, and the washing of hands.  Soap is provided by World Vision, and food (salt, rice, beans, and oil) are provided by The World Food Program.  The school has two latrines in the back.  It has one flush-able toilet (and, most likely, a sink) inside the building, but these facilities are not currently in use because the school lacks a storage tank to supply the water from the top of the building and a pump to pump the water from the well up to the tank.  When I return to the U.S., I want to speak with newhope church and to The 410 Bridge about the possibilities of newhope paying for the pump and storage tank.

D'Gebsy estimated that between 5-10% of the children (of primary school age) in Bohoc DO NOT go to school.  As such, the numbers look a little like this...

There are approximately 10,000 people living in Bohoc.

There are approximately 2,500 children living in Bohoc who are of primary school age.

5-10% of 2,500 children equates to around 125-250 children.

Based on the above, it would appear that at least one more primary school is needed just to capture the current number of children not in school.

After leaving the school, we drove back to the guesthouse and ate lunch.  I am happy to report that, once again, I was able to eat everything that was served (It's been a great food day!).  For those of you who may not know, I (Dave) am pretty much allergic to many of the foods that comprise the typical U.S. diet (if there is such a thing).  For the last few years, my culinary exploits have been limited to what many might consider a Daniel Fast-Light, consisting of fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, nuts, seeds, green tea, honey, decalf coffee, water, wine, and (occasionally) dark chocolate.  Dairy products, meat (from all four-footed animals [i.e., beef, buffalo, pork, deer, goat, etc.]), shell fish (except for shrimp), oats, barley, and wheat (though my wheat allergy is only mild at this point) are pretty much off limits for the rest of my life.  I carry an epi-pen with me at all times, and I cannot tell you how many times Ramsay has said, "Here, Dave, eat this.  I'm just dying to stab you with your pen!"  He is kidding, of course!

At least, I think he is...

Okay...it looks like we're just about ready to head to the souvenir market in town.

Come on back now, y'hear?

Dave

548p...

Hey Everyone...

The afternoon began with attending the souvenir market in the town square.  The market can be quite a site, as it involves about 40 different women peddling their wares (jewelry, art work, clothing, book marks, writing cards, metal works, wood carvings, machetes, etc.) and all just for us.  Beforehand, we all decided to try to split up and buy things from as many different women as we could; that way, no one feels left out.

After the market, we returned to the guest house, and Michelle, Kelly, and Claudia went back to The Wisdom Club while the rest of us went over to Kris El Espwa to play with the kids one last time before departing Bohoc tomorrow morning.

Tonight, the Bohoc Leadership Council will be coming back to the guesthouse to wish us a good trip back to the U.S.  In the past, this has been a very special time, and I am so looking forward to hearing their hearts yet again.

Okay...dinner is being served in just a few minutes.  CU later...

Dave

544a (Wednesday morning)...

Last night was our best night yet.  I'm writing about it this morning because we didn't finish up until after 10p, which is about an hour and a half after my bedtime.  As such I went right to right to bed afterward without passing Go and without even collecting my $200.

Anyway...as we were all sitting down for dinner, I asked Jedlain, "What do you want for Bohoc over the next two to three years?"

I want four things...

I want the people of Bohoc to know God.  So much hinges on this.  When the people really know God, everything done will be done to His glory and will bear much fruit.

I want to see the trade school come to pass, so that people can get jobs in the community.

I want an industry for the transformation of food.  During harvest season, a lot of our produce (oranges, avocados, mangoes) goes to waste because we have no way to preserve and store it.  We end up feeding a lot of it to our pigs while many in our community go hungry.  If we could transform our food (through refrigeration, packaging, canning, and bottling), not only could we sell our products in our community but we could sell them in other communities as well.

I want greater wisdom for me personally.  I want it also for the Leadership Council and for the pastors and teachers in our community.

After dinner, we moved into the guesthouse to have our evening debrief.  Michelle lead us in reflecting upon the day by encouraging us to fill our minds with ways to serve others.  We were all challenged to think of ways to be a blessing to those around us when we return home.  For me, I want to be a better listener.  I do my best, but I know I can improve in this arena.  Having been in Haiti for a week, I've had to listen very closely to my Haitian friends as they've tried to speak with me in Haitian Creole' and in English.  They, too, have had to do the same with me.  Despite the difficulties we've had understanding each other, the really cool thing about all of this is that whenever one of us spoke, the other had to block everything else out and focus very intently on listening to the words being spoken.  This is how I wish to be with everyone in my life.  No more do I want to think about what I'm going to say while another is speaking.  I just want to listen so that I might truly hear what others are saying to me.  Another aspect of listening well is repeating back what the other has said.  I cannot tell you how often, while speaking with Jedlain, I stopped and repeated back what I heard only to ask him afterward, "Am I getting it?  Is that what you wanted to say?"  These are all good things for me to practice during the remainder of my time here in Haiti.  Actually, I'm going to do more than that.  I'm going to practice such things for the rest of my life.

Toward the end of our debrief time, Jedlain motioned to me from down the hall that he wanted all of us back out in the gazebo where we've been sharing all our meals, devotions, and debriefs as a team.  Waiting in the gazebo, and dressed to the hilt, was Kedum, a 35+ member choir from Maranatha Church right here in town.  Fabijean, who's the leader of the choir, said that they've been singing together for just over 32 years.  Fabijean is such a warm, gentle soul.  In fact, thinking of him now brings a bit of a tear to my eye.  I remember Fabijean from previous trips, but I've always had a hard time remembering his name.  On this trip, I decided to start calling him (in my mind only!) Fabricsoft to help me remember his name.  And Fabricsoft is what he is, for his very presence and humility brings such a soft tenderness to the moment.  I am drawn to people like him as a moth is to the flame.

Kedum was fabulous!!  What a blessing they were to all of us.  We had so much fun as we listened and clapped along to their singing.  They even sang two songs in English and one in an African dialect.  Fabijean said (essentially), "We like to do this because we do not know yet what language will be spoken in Heaven, and we just want to have all our bases covered." :o)

After the concert, the team got to serve soft drinks to all the members of the choir as well as to the members of the Leadership Council who were present for the concert.

After the choir left, we circled-up and had a really nice time with the Bohoc Leadership Council (BLC).  What a special time this was for everyone, and what an honor it was just to be with these great men and women of God.  Provided below is a summary transcript of the evening...

Participants:

Jedlain Greffard, The 410 Bridge (410)

Jerome Greffard, BLC

Edmund Jasmin (Tompy's brother and our driver), BLC

Jasmin D'Gepsy, BLC

Madam Emma, BLC

Madam Sufras Filli, BLC

Madam Jacques Maomi

Steve, Team Haiti 2013/Travel Team A

Allison, Team

Dave, Team

Kelly, Team

Leah, Team

Ramsay, Team

Joey, Team

Michelle, Team

Claudia, Team

Note:  Seven council members were not present for this meeting.

Summary Transcript:

Jerome...

I keep loving you.

It's kind of sad, because tomorrow night you won't be here.

In heaven, though, none of us will be absent.

When Kedam began to sing, I felt sad.  Sad because I was thinking of my wife who passed away three years ago.  I have sadness every day.  I know, though, that God will heal me.

We want to thank The 410 Bridge for coming to our community.

Each time we invite a team to come be with us, they become family.

Every team loves Bohoc.  They...you have a place to come back to.  A place where you can live here.

We have such a beautiful community.

We have many things to do here.

Come, join us together so that we can improve our life here.

We have much to do.

As our friends, your presence here is very important to us.  Our work together pleased me.

We are all happy.

When will you come back so that you can see the fruit of your work?  Hopefully, soon!  If, though, you are unable to come back, you'll see pictures of what you did.  Of who you were to us.  What a wonderful day that will be.

Thank you for working alongside us.

I met many people in the community this week who asked about you.

The community and the BLC hope that each of you will come back with 10 more people each!!

We love the way you work!

Today, I saw a cloud of birds flying overhead, and they were singing.  The birds were happy to see you.  The universe itself was happy.

Talk about Bohoc in the U.S.  Let them know that the people in Bohoc are not asking for their money.

We're just looking forward to improving our lives.  To creating jobs.  So that our children will not feel the need to go to Port au Prince to go to school and then try to find work.

We haven't been able to do it yet.  But we're willing, and we're happy because we know that God will provide.  And it's why we've invited you to come and be a part of this blessing.

Please come back.  Feel invited.

The Leadership Council loves you.

Tell your pastor that if your church sends thousands of $ it won't be nearly enough, but that each person who comes here is worth more to us than $1M.  Each of you do different things to improve our community.

We are very excited to have Dave here.  God wants to use Dave in our community.  We want Dave to be a part of the 410 staff.

God will bless you, Dave.

We love all of you because you love Bohoc.  It is a huge thing to love the nations.

Keep praying for me, for the BLC, for my family, and for my son Jedlain.  Pray for him to keep loving the Lord.

I love you all, and I love all the kids in our community.  Pray that each of us will have the same love for the community.

May God bless you.  May He bless you spiritually, economically, and socially.  May He also bless your families.

We wish you safe travels.  God loves you, and we will keep taking care of you.

I hope to hear from Dave that those who don't have kids now will have them soon.  God is so powerful; He can do it.

On behalf of me and the BLC, THANK YOU.

D'Gepsy...

I greet you in the Name of Jesus.

My name is D'Gepsy, and I am the secretary of the BLC.

On behalf of the community and the BLC, we thank you for coming.

It's kind of sad right now, because we know you are leaving us.

We would love for you to spend more time with us.  Unfortunately, though, it is time for you to leave.  At the same time tomorrow night, you will be in Port au Prince.

Thank you to 410, and thank you especially to the pastor of your church.

For those who left husbands or wives or kids, please thank them all and greet them on our behalf.

When you come back, please bring your husband or your wife so that they can see our beautiful community.

As a teacher, my "high" this week was your visit yesterday to the school where I teach.  Your team was the first to visit our school.  What a joy that was for us.

Dave is now going back to the States to catch people and bring them back to Bohoc.  Dave is no longer an American; he is one of us.  Dave...the same God Who was with you here will be with you there.  God will continue to bless you.  He will bless your life, your church, your job.

(To the team) Please talk about the Bohoc community so that more people will come and experience us and Kedum.

May God bless you all.  Have a safe trip!

Edmund...

I greet you again!

I have no words...because I have been with you all week!

As I spent time with you, I could see that you were enjoying your time here and that you love us very much.

May the Lord bless you with great success.

Madam Jacques...

Thank you for your presence in our community.  Your presence was really necessary.

You weren't discouraged, and you did everything God sent you to do.

While you worked, you played with my kids at Kris El Espwa--even though they are a little weird!

I saw Steve wearing many of them, today, on his shoulders.  It wasn't easy, but he did it.  It was a good example from God of how He keeps all of us in His Hands.  To protect us, and to bring us success.

I am asking for prayer for the kids so that when they grow older the Lord will lead them.

In the name of Kris El Espwa (Christ the King), thank you for being with us.

We were happy for your presence.

Don't be discouraged.

Come back.

Pray for the BLC.  We have a lot of work to do.

Pray for Jedlain...that he is never discouraged and that he will do all that he needs to do.

God bless you all.

We believe you will have a safe trip home.

I'm going to pause writing now, because I need to go pack.  I'll provide a transcript of the team's words back to the BLC sometime this afternoon or evening once we're back in Port au Prince.

Until then...God's peace,

Dave

Never offer a hollow greeting of peace, never turn away from someone who needs your love, always speak the truth from your heart.--St. Benedict