In God's time...not our time!

A lesson learned by the building committee this week.  On Monday we had our weekly meeting concerning the different houses that are being built in Phase 4.  We have had our share of problems already with this phase but on Monday it was kinda like the straw that broke the camel's back.  One of the houses was not being built due to a miscommunication with the family who was selling land in a certain area.  One of the brothers went ahead and sold more property then he should of, not getting consent from the rest of the family.  The foreman had started digging the foundations of the house and was told to stop.  We had a meeting with the home owner that afternoon and it seemed like it would take weeks to solve this situation.  At that same meeting we found out that bags of cement had gone missing in an enclosed yard of another home thus not allowing the building crew to continue working.  The home owners had no idea how it had gone missing and were not claiming responsibility for the missing material.  This was the end of a longer list of problems that had happened with this phase so far.  Like at most meetings we lifted our concerns up to the LORD wanting answers right away so we could continue with the work that was given to us.

But this did not happen, once again it was a lesson to be learned by all of us...in MY time, not your time!! On Wednesday we had another meeting, this time the home owners of the missing cement also came.  It was during this time that the LORD answered our prayers.  We came to a compromise with the home owners.  We also heard from the home owners with the land dispute issues that the family selling the land gave them a different piece of property.  This also was an answer to pray.  We wanted things done when we wanted them done.  But God's will is the way we need to live our lives and once again each one of the building committee realized that God is in control, this is His project and we are working for Him, (Psalm 127:1). 

Chloe's new bed

Just recently we purchased a new washing machine for our house.  Chloe was right there making sure that we were opening the box the proper way.  She had big plans for this box...

"This will be a new spot where I can play with my ponies and horses."
"Mommy, maybe we can play house in here."
"Can I use this for a bed to sleep in at night time?"

Right after the washing machine was removed she had the box and got hold of it and started playing with it.  It was hard to get her to stop playing even when we told her we were going swimming.  And if you know Chloe then you know how much she likes swimming.

And so she has been sleeping in it the last two nights!





Art in Chloe's room

Chloe made these decorations for her wall herself, minus the butterflies.  They look lovely on the wall.  A really good job Chloe!

Let all that breathes praise the LORD!

Giggles, loud laughter, singing, recitation, clapping, chatting, munching, and many other sounds were heard today as I observed and also sat in my office today.  The noise was so loud at times that in some of the meetings we had upstairs we could barely hear each other talking.  Today was the first day of VBS at the church at Adoration Christian Centre. There were some older ladies that had taken the time to organize a VBS week.  They had many young people come and volunteer for the week.  At 8:45 the children started to arrive at Adoration.  By 9:30 we had over 100 children.  By snack time there were at least 150 children there.  If things progress like they did last year then by Friday we should have five times as many children there.  Last year we started with 20 and ended with 100.  Here are some pictures of today's festivities.

Getting everyone's name and age.

All the volunteers got white shirts to wear.

The leader of VBS.

Singing a song.

Singing and clapping.

There were three classes each for different age levels.  The rooms were packed full and the teachers were busy teaching songs and memory verses.

Listening to the others share their memory text.

"Read your Bible pray every day and you will grow grow grow..."

Play time...getting rid of some of that energy.

Lunch time.

The helpers handing out food.

A hair cut...Uh oh!!!!!!

While I got my haircut by Mindy, by the way this is the only the second time she has cut my hair, Chloe took some pictures.  Mindy cut it last year here in Haiti and then watched Tonja Blokker cut my hair this past May.  She tested her skills on her father and it looked ok so I decided to let her have a go.  In the end it turned out ok.  She has some minor adjustments to do but it was worth it!

The before...

The finished product...not bad eh!

Latest pictures of Joel

Visiting the houses of the new families

A couple of weekends ago Alix, Roodveens, Samuel and myself went to visit the houses of the potential new students that might be attending our school.  I was more of a chauffeur than anything.  Roodveens and Alix did the interviews and checked out the houses where the students are living. 

I have lived in Haiti for a year now and have seen a lot, but this opened my eyes yet again.  I visited some places that I had never been before; I saw some houses that I didn't know existed.  My heart was torn on these days because I had no idea there were people that lived in these conditions. 

'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.'  Matthew 5:3

During our visits to some of the houses I could not fathom how these people are happy with what they have. They were friendly and very hospitable, graciously offering me a chair to sit on.  They are content with what they have.  Yes, you could tell that they wanted more.  Yes, you could tell that if they could they would move out of the place that allowed a tonne of water in when it rained.  Yes, you could tell that they would appreciate more than one bed for their families to sleep on.  Yes, you could tell that they would like something better for their children.  But this is their reality.  I have seen a lot of things in my life, nevertheless, when I left some of the tents cities and concrete villages, where you had to go sideways through just to get to a house, I was saddened.  I'm saddened by the fact that over 80 percent of the world lives in poverty much like the living conditions of these people's houses.  Try as I may, this doesn't come close to describing what I saw and felt.

There are a lot of people in this world that make a lot of money.  When much is given then much should be given to those in need in return.  And this does happen!  Many people who have a lot also donate a lot of money to certain charities throughout the world.  I have experienced this not only here in Haiti but also back at home in Canada.  And for that I am truly thankful.    Adoration Christian Centre has a lot of supporters, a lot of people who are willing to give to this worthwhile cause. 

As many of you know, I am a huge sports fan.  I follow pretty much any sport and love to keep updated on the latest happenings.  I have been watching the money fly from one organization to the other.  I have seen athletes sign outrageous contracts and have read about athletes who will hold out because they have not been offered enough money.  To see that much money being given to one individual to play a sport for the year and then walk through a tent city and see all of those people that will never make what that one athlete make in one year really hits my heart.  This is when I am not sure if people really know what is going on in this world.  When one has been given a lot one should give lots in return.  I do not know if these athletes give money back to organizations and charities but with that much money I really do hope so.  'I pray that God would use the situation in Haiti to open eyes to His grace and mercy and that people would open their hearts in response. 

Once again we are thankful for the moneys that we receive from our supporters.  We are thankful the funds to run our school.  At this school our teachers are teaching the children about their relationship with God.  While we are teaching we are also focusing on teaching the children that there are four main relationships in our lives that need to be fixed: our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with others and our relationship with creation.  Fixing those relationships is a good way to help those in poverty.  (When Helping Hurts is a book that addresses this topic and if you have not read it then I would recommend it)  Today I addressed the new parents that would be sending their children to our school and I told them that we are working together, parents and school to help our students.  To help them receive a better education, where they can then in return give back to their own communities and help out there.  That is why I love working for Adoration Christian Centre.

'You will always have the poor among you but you will not have me.' John 12:8