Debby shares about the people of Lipa City, and a briquette press. 

Our first stop in the Philippines was to Lipa City. We partnered with Pastor Romeo and his family and were able to minister to a squatter village that is inside their community.  Matthew 22:39 commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself,” and this pastor is truly doing just that.

We worked alongside the Filipinos to build a briquette press. The briquette is made out of paper, straw, sawdust and dry grass. They are used as an alternative cooking fuel decreasing the amount of smoke buildup in the home. Many especially the children had coughs due to smoke, because most cook inside the 10x10 one room dwelling.

One afternoon the team along with members of the local church showed a demonstration of the briquette press. One of the ladies in the community stepped up to help make one of the first briquettes. When it was finished, her face lit up. For me personally that moment was so humbling that it brought tears to my eyes. These women took pride in their work. Something as simple as this can change an entire family’s way of life. Convoy of Hope is truly making a difference in this community.

Throughout this journey as an Intern for Convoy of Hope, I have learned more about my Father’s heart. His love for the poor, the fatherless, the broken, the children…everyone. And I have fallen in love, in love with my Savior all over again and in love with the hospitable Filipinos. I have met some incredible people along this journey within my team and even in everyday conversations. They have changed me more than words or pictures could ever describe.

My prayer is that I continue to view people just as my God does: treasured and beloved; and may I never forget the simplicity of making an impact on just one person’s life. 

Post blog note: We’ve been in touch with Pastor Romeo. The people of Lipa aren’t only using the briquette press to make this fuel alternative for their homes, they’re making them all day in shifts and selling them…raising funds for their homes, and to build other briquette presses for neighboring villages. It’s working exactly as we hoped, and is making a difference in the community.

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Karen shares a bit from the spring 2012 interns and the work in the Philippines: The Intern Staff was excited to return to Bataan, Philippines. We had worked there last year, at Kings Garden Children’s Home. After initiating a gardening and composting project, we anticipated great things would come from the potential we saw the Lord had given there. This year, the missionaries with whom we had worked reported that the garden had been expanded and was producing enough vegetables for the home, leaving excess to offer the staff at a reduced rate, and even more to sell at the market!   This year, we helped install an irrigation system that will use excess run-off water from the well, which was otherwise unused. We also had time to paint the playground equipment. One of the greatest times, though, was the time we spent with the precious children. We were thrilled to share morning devotions, a tie dye activity, playing sports, and other activities. I think there were a few of the kids that beat the Americans in a game of Scrabble!   The time we spent in worship, skits, and getting into the Word were powerful. There is no doubt that the Lord has His hand on the young people there and has  ordered their steps for a hopeful future!

Karen shares a bit from the spring 2012 interns and the work in the Philippines:

The Intern Staff was excited to return to Bataan, Philippines. We had worked there last year, at Kings Garden Children’s Home. After initiating a gardening and composting project, we anticipated great things would come from the potential we saw the Lord had given there. This year, the missionaries with whom we had worked reported that the garden had been expanded and was producing enough vegetables for the home, leaving excess to offer the staff at a reduced rate, and even more to sell at the market!  

This year, we helped install an irrigation system that will use excess run-off water from the well, which was otherwise unused. We also had time to paint the playground equipment. One of the greatest times, though, was the time we spent with the precious children. We were thrilled to share morning devotions, a tie dye activity, playing sports, and other activities. I think there were a few of the kids that beat the Americans in a game of Scrabble!  

The time we spent in worship, skits, and getting into the Word were powerful. There is no doubt that the Lord has His hand on the young people there and has  ordered their steps for a hopeful future!

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We met Jason a year ago…and we just saw him again. Here are some thoughts from Mary Beth as she looks back at the spring 2012 intern trip…

From When Will I Eat Again to Cars or Spiderman?

Isaiah 58 instructs us to:  
Loose the chains of injustice, Untie the cords of the yoke, Set the oppressed free, Break every yoke, Share your food with the hungry, Provide the poor wanderer with shelter, and to Clothe the naked.
                                         
It’s kind of become our theme verse around here, our heart’s cry, our mission if you will.

Some days we get to do just one of these things, others 3 or 4, but every once in awhile a miracle happens and we get to follow this passage to a T!  On most days we sew the seed of this passage & pray we’ll see the eternal results in heaven or maybe get to hear good news of harvest from afar later down the road. It’s very rarely that we get to SEE, with our own eyes, the fruits of our labor.  But I like to think there’s an exception to EVERY rule (and please believe I can find ‘em!) And Jason is that glorious, miraculous exception to ALL the rules.

In the Spring of 2011 our interns started their journey in the Philippines in a small seaside squatter village called Baseco.  We arrived just in time to help with the daily Convoy of Hope feeding program.  We were very excited and so were the beautiful children. When all the children were just about done eating, a small boy who looked to be maybe 3 or 4, naked with the exception of a shirt, wandered into the church.  He was all smiles, which was odd because he was skin and bones, terribly dirty, and bruised all over. The missionary’s wife scooped him up and said, “This is Jason.”  The pastor’s wife quickly fixed him a plate and he quickly ate it and all the while they told us his story. 
Jason is actually 6 years old, not 3 or 4.  A few weeks ago he was too weak to walk to the feeding program, he was found sleeping in the street next to his mother who was scavenging for food one evening after the local market had shut down.  Manna Packs (the food we use in our feeding programs) were taken to his home to feed him until eventually this lil’ guy could walk to the church where the program takes place every day.  Evidently Jason had been in absentia lately and his bruised body was likely the culprit.  Jason smiled a lot, but he didn’t speak so we couldn’t ask him.


          **While malnutrition can be the norm in areas like this one all over the world, neglect and abuse are NOT the norm.  Impoverished people love and care for their children just like you do, they just don’t have access to the resources we have, not even the basics like clean water and acceptable shelter.

The pastor’s wife connected with a local social worker and headed to Jason’s front door to account for his tiny, bruised frame. His mother cried saying she was unable to care for him and that her new husband didn’t want him and was abusing him. Following the Filipino legal & social system, papers were signed right then and there! Beth scooped him up again, took him and bathed him, and put him in the car with the team to be taken to a new children’s home that had opened up just the week before!

We drove out of the province and into the busy streets of Manila, I can’t imagine what his little mind must have been thinking, but he didn’t cry or look distressed at all. We took him to the Mall of Asia, in hindsight this may not have been our greatest idea as it’s one of the largest malls in the world, but he didn’t seem bothered.  New clothes were held up for him to choose from.  It was Cars over Spider Man from under-roos to t-shirts! We had lunch at a sushi place were the sushi comes by on a conveyor belt (this was a big day for ME, so I can’t imagine for him!) He ate a full plate of chicken strips, which in hindsight was a little much for a little boy who doesn’t get to eat everyday, which was evidenced by the puking incident that later followed, but still he never cried! By evening he was in his new home. In one afternoon his worries went from, “When will I eat again?” to “Should I pick Cars or Spiderman?” (I’d call that a good day, but it gets better!)


 One year later, a different set of Convoy of Hope interns, last full day of our trip, Beth and Steve picked us up and took us to a children’s home and out the door ran a beautiful, happy, and healthy 7 year old Jason.  He jumped into Beth’s arms and said with a smile, “I’ve missed you! I love you!” He showed us all around his home, he was so excited. He now speaks English and Tagalog fluently and will soon be adopted. 

A glimpse into his heart:

   His mom at the children’s home told us, that last week they took Jason back to his home in Baseco to try and locate his birth certificate.  Jason’s biological mom greeted him and said in her language, “You may not remember me…” Jason cut her off, and said in her language, “Of course I remember you, I pray for you everyday.”  Jason is special.  Jason is a miracle. Jason is why we do what we do. I cannot imagine what God must have in store for this little guy, but I am honored and humbled to have been a small part of His heavenly Father rescuing him and changing his life forever. A huge thank-you to missionaries Beth and Steve and Pastor Nolei and his family who are there in the trenches daily for all the Jasons still out there. And a huge thank you to all my supporters, without you we wouldn’t have been there on that day and I’m not sure where Jason would be on this day! Salaamat pos!

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Looking back on the spring 2012 term…thoughts from Nikki:


As I made the trip with my team to the island of Mindanao, I was trying to process all that I had experienced during my first month in the Philippines. The peoples’ stories touched my heart in a way that I had never experienced before, and I was equally moved when I heard the details about what some of the residents of Cagayan de Oro had lived through just three months prior to our arrival.


Much of what our team learned about regarding the typhoon that hit on December 17, 2011, came from our driver Edward. He told us that one months worth of rain fell on parts of the city in a twenty-four hour period, causing the rivers water level to rise approximately 30 feet. Over 1500 Filipinos lost their lives and over 88,000 were left homeless. Edward and his family were among those displaced. He shared with us how he and his wife survived the flood by climbing to the top of a coconut tree where they waited nearly five hours until the water subsided.

Along with their home, Edward and his family lost every belonging they had.  People in communities all around the city fell into the same situation, so the government set up temporary housing in the form of tent cities; however without insurance or retribution for the loss of property the likelihood of those displaced to rebuild is very unlikely. The tent cities have become communities of their own, most of which have several conveniently located sari sari’s (snack shops) and even some forms for government.

Through its partners in the Philippines, Convoy of Hope has joined with churches located near the tent cities. Convoy of Hope assists pastors with the support needed to feed the physical and emotion needs of these communities through feeding programs and by building one on one relationships.

As Convoy of Hope Interns we met with pastors to see what we could do to help them help others.  One pastor requested that we help him buy a pig so that they can profit from selling the offspring.  For another pastor we put in a garden. It was overwhelming to see how a few dollars and an afternoon spent planting seeds could bring such joy and appreciation.

One afternoon our team went out to invite people to a church service we were having that night.  As my group walked around and talked with the people in the tent city, they invited us into their homes and showed us true hospitality. We sat and fellowshipped, laughed, and were entertained by the children. That evening the church was packed out for the service. We didn’t know it at the time, but after the service the Pastor told us that members from his congregation didn’t show up, but instead it was the people from the tent city that came out to worship that night. God is good!!

As I think about the severity of these peoples’ loss, I wonder if they will ever go back to life as it once was? Will they fight to regain what they lost?  Will the tent cities become their normal?  I don’t know the answers, but I do know that by the time I did spend with them I quickly learned that Filipinos are the most hospitable people I have ever met. They don’t define themselves by their possessions, but instead by the relationships they have with others. Through the relationships I personally experienced, I felt pure and genuine love poured out into my life. Their sincerity made them so very easy to love and it has inspired me to love like they love; to love like Jesus loves. 

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As we prepare for the summer in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, we wanted to share some stories from the just concluded Spring 2012 Intern Team and their work in the USA and the Philippines. Here are some thoughts from Becca, who is on our staff…

From our work in early Feb.:

The team embarked on many adventures including a trip to the great city of Indianapolis to partner with F.R.E.E. International doing the S.O.A.P. project. Did you know that the SuperBowl is credited as the second largest human trafficking event in the world? The Olympics is number one.

Wow. Let that sink in. Think of your daughters. Your young friends. Your youth group girls. What if this happens to one of them?

This team got to partner with the S.O.A.P. project, labeling bars of soap and delivering them to hotels to raise awareness of the issue and provide a hotline number. The girls would see the soap in the one area they would be alone: the bathroom. Our team was featured on this episode of Nightline labeling soap! We’re in the background mostly, but our whole team is featured. And we were also on America’s Most Wanted…as part of the solution to the problem. We learned about the supply and demand of the industry, heard speakers, watched a movie, and prayed a lot. Nothing could have been accomplished without prayer.

We learned about the Red Flags of trafficking from F.R.E.E International  and kept our eyes open wherever we went. As we delivered soap to hotels, we had a brochure of 65 missing girls from the surrounding areas and would ask the staff if they had seen any of them. If they had, we would let the correct authorities know so that they could follow up and hopefully rescue the girls. Praise God, 14 of the 65 girls were found! Not all of them were happy stories, but our efforts were fruitful.

While in Indy, we got to walk around SuperBowl village, see a Pacer’s game, and see the city, but we always had our eyes, ears, and hearts open to whoever we could help.

Note:

When we returned home from the Philippines, we learned that two girls saw the bars of soap, and called the hotline number, where they found help in the midst of their horrific situation! 

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Convoy of Hope Interns fall 2012 opportunity: USA & Thailand September 6-December 5, $4950 As Convoy of Hope Interns, we go. We go to people who are hungry or hurting, places that lack access to clean water, areas affected by disaster and communities in need of hope. Our fall 2012 interns will come together as a team for training then to launch our time on the field with an advocacy awareness opportunity with a group of children near Chicago, IL. We’ll then be a part of Convoy of Hope Outreaches in the USA’s midwest. Finally, we’ll serve the majority of the term in Thailand where we’ll help with sustainable projects & connecting to people by doing things like planting gardens, installing water filters, helping with after-school programs and more. We’ll also use our English skills to connect with youth and university students who are learning English. This helps build relationships, and is a great tool for them as it’s a key job skill in the country. Also, some from the team will serve in the neighboring country of Laos, connecting with some of this country’s wonderful people. Please email interns (at) convoyofhope.org with more questions regarding our work here. As you begin this application process, please email us at interns (at) convoyofhope.org so we can soon connect. Also, know that we have an application tutorial specific for this opportunity at: http://cohinterns.org/post/5519690534/application We’re excited about what is ahead! To begin the application process, please email us at interns(at)convoyofhope.org so we may connect with you as soon as possible. Then, please visit our processing partner site through goag.org. Finally, to help with the application process, please read our application tutorial where you’ll find detailed step-by-step instructions. Please email with any questions!  *Locations are subject to change based on various factors such as instability, strategy, etc. 

Convoy of Hope Interns fall 2012 opportunity: USA & Thailand

September 6-December 5, $4950

As Convoy of Hope Interns, we go. We go to people who are hungry or hurting, places that lack access to clean water, areas affected by disaster and communities in need of hope. Our fall 2012 interns will come together as a team for training then to launch our time on the field with an advocacy awareness opportunity with a group of children near Chicago, IL. We’ll then be a part of Convoy of Hope Outreaches in the USA’s midwest.

Finally, we’ll serve the majority of the term in Thailand where we’ll help with sustainable projects & connecting to people by doing things like planting gardens, installing water filters, helping with after-school programs and more. We’ll also use our English skills to connect with youth and university students who are learning English. This helps build relationships, and is a great tool for them as it’s a key job skill in the country.

Also, some from the team will serve in the neighboring country of Laos, connecting with some of this country’s wonderful people. Please email interns (at) convoyofhope.org with more questions regarding our work here.

As you begin this application process, please email us at interns (at) convoyofhope.org so we can soon connect. Also, know that we have an application tutorial specific for this opportunity at: http://cohinterns.org/post/5519690534/application We’re excited about what is ahead!

To begin the application process, please email us at interns(at)convoyofhope.org so we may connect with you as soon as possible. Then, please visit our processing partner site through goag.org. Finally, to help with the application process, please read our application tutorial where you’ll find detailed step-by-step instructions. Please email with any questions! 

*Locations are subject to change based on various factors such as instability, strategy, etc. 

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Our spring team has arrived! They’re currently in Indianapolis raising awareness of human trafficking with the SOAP project & f.r.e.e. international in a pre-superbowl endeavor. Later, we’ll spend more time in training, head to Baton Rouge for the Greater Things Compassion Conference, then the team heads to the Philippines for nearly 2 months. We’ll share more about Corey, Adam, Debby, Sara, Nikki, Alisha, Sara, Karen and Mary Beth on this page soon. 

Our spring team has arrived! They’re currently in Indianapolis raising awareness of human trafficking with the SOAP project & f.r.e.e. international in a pre-superbowl endeavor. Later, we’ll spend more time in training, head to Baton Rouge for the Greater Things Compassion Conference, then the team heads to the Philippines for nearly 2 months.

We’ll share more about Corey, Adam, Debby, Sara, Nikki, Alisha, Sara, Karen and Mary Beth on this page soon. 

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Thoughts about family from Richard, a fall 2011 intern Family-everybody has at least one family. I’m blessed to have an amazing family, which I love very much. The people I missed the most during our time in Haiti were my family. They were so supportive of me when I decided to step out and go to Haiti for 7 weeks. I also am very blessed to have a great church family. There’s one more family that I would like to tell you about, my intern family. We started on September 8, 2011 as complete strangers, and on December 7, 2011 none of us wanted to say goodbye to one another. We had bonded in a way that is inexplicable; we spent the last 3 months living together and spent so much time together. Spending 7 weeks in a foreign country can certainly bring a group closer together; it definitely did that for us. I’m the only guy on the team, so I’ve adopted 6 sisters (2 older and 4 younger).  I’m a pretty protective older brother, it would be a good idea not to mess with my sisters. Meet our intern family; obviously this is toward the end of our time in Haiti, because we all have a pretty good tan. Not pictured are Papa Matt and Aunt Karen that were back in the States at this point. If you were to ask anybody on our team the hardest day of our time in Haiti, it would be Friday October 28, 2011. It was about half way through our trip, and there were a lot of things that had to come to the forefront. We had a bit of conflict and some of us were missing home really badly, but for me this day was a turning point, not only in my trip, but in my life. We talked a lot that day about wanting to be a family, wanting to be closer to each other. How much we wanted to be there for each other like a family. We had some conversations that were pretty tough that day, and it turns out most of us were feeling the same thing. We felt as though we were completely alone in this foreign place, which is a terrible feeling to have. Here I had thought it was just me, since I’m the only guy and I had been in a room by myself. At this point I began to realize just how much I was buying into the lie of the devil, and how much easier it was to combat it once I realized where that lie was coming from. It was so comforting to know that I wasn’t alone in the struggle, and come to find out; we are never really alone in our battles. At the Mission of Hope (where we were staying) there was a team from the Dallas, Tx area. They are a great group of guys that I had a blast playing farkle with and getting to know. The night before they were to leave I was talking to a couple of them. As had happened almost every week, they asked if I was leaving the next day, my answer was that we still had a month left. They asked a few questions about my internship and the organization I was with. I explained that I was an intern with Convoy of Hope; they asked how I got involved with them. I started by saying that I’d been living in Springfield, Missiouri. Then one of them said that Springfield was very close to his hometown, which turns out to be my hometown, Harrison, Arkansas. So I asked him what his name was and it turns out we have the same last name, as soon as he said his name, I knew who he was, my second cousin. We had grown up literally within 2 miles of one another. Our grandfathers were brothers. We had been in the same place at the same time and had no idea that the other one was there. What are the odds? If I were a betting man, I would not bet the farm on that one. We had a good talk and he prayed for me and he flew back to the States the next morning. I really didn’t think much of it for a couple of days; it just seemed that it had been so “random”. I would not realize until later, just how profound this meeting of ours was. The next Monday we were headed to do our normal routine of going to a school, only on this day there was a miscommunication and we were headed to the wrong school. We needed permission to go to this school and our point person was out of commission. We were sitting on the side of the road waiting for the go-ahead to go into this school. This gave me more time to sit and think about things. At that point I thought about how many people were back home praying for me, my family, my church, my friends, and the entire Convoy of Hope organization. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized just how many people cared about me and my team, and that I was by no means alone. Without a doubt this was a major turning point for me in my time in Haiti. It was at this point I began to ponder about how random it was that I had met my cousin in Haiti. However, the more that I thought about it, I’m convinced that in fact, there was nothing random about it. God’s fingerprints were all over the entire situation. What are the odds that the very day that our team had talked about wanting to be more of family, that I realize that a cousin of mine at the same place at the same time? I’d seen him at every meal and we’d played several farkle games together. In fact, a couple of our girls commented on how attractive he is, I guess it must run in our family! I believe it was no accident; we had been in the same place for 6 days. It’s like God was showing me that he was with me all along, that I’m never actually alone. I know it was no accident that I met family in Haiti on the same day that we had discussed becoming more like a family. In fact, not only was it not random, it was orchestrated by the Lord. I love it when circumstances work out in such a way that there is no other explanation other than God. The only response is to praise him, just to be thankful for such a clear reminder that he is always with us. This would be a theme for the rest of my trip, and I hope for the rest of my life. I’m never alone, he’s ALWAYS with me watching after me and keeping my best interest in mind.   On our plane ride to Haiti, I decided to start reading the Old Testament. I had no idea how much this decision would speak to me during my time in Haiti. In the book of Deuteronomy, over and over and over the Lord is giving Joshua assurance that he is with him. In almost every chapter there is a common theme, obey my commands, be strong and courageous, and you will defeat your enemies because I am with you. Your enemies might be stronger, more numerous, have better weapons, better cities, and be better fighters, but you will defeat them because the Lord of Hosts is among you. The book of Joshua starts with the same assurances. “5No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them” Joshua 1:5-6. This is such an amazing picture for us as well, that all we have to do is be obedient, it might be tough, but life is so much better because he is with us and he’s is on our side. I’ve been thinking a lot about family lately, and how as Christians we are the children of God. We are a part of a spiritual family, and how before we came to know Christ we were spiritual orphans. We were without a family, and because Christ died for our sins we are able to be adopted. We weren’t born into this family; a price had to be paid so that we could call God our father. So as Christians, it’s our job to act as adoption agents, we need to be pairing spiritual orphans with the Father. The price has already been paid; a great sacrifice was made to bring us all into the family. The only requirement for adoption is that the orphan has to accept the Father’s parenting. He’s such a great parent; He always looks out for them and is never far from them. He loves it when his children follow Him and trust Him with their lives completely. His heart delights in blessing and giving of Himself to His children. I have such an incredible Heavenly Father. He’s always with me no matter where I go, even on the hardest of days, it’s made easier because the Creator of the Universe cares enough to hear my problems. He wants me to know Him more intimately. He knows me better than I know myself. 

Thoughts about family from Richard, a fall 2011 intern

Family-everybody has at least one family. I’m blessed to have an amazing family, which I love very much. The people I missed the most during our time in Haiti were my family. They were so supportive of me when I decided to step out and go to Haiti for 7 weeks. I also am very blessed to have a great church family.

There’s one more family that I would like to tell you about, my intern family. We started on September 8, 2011 as complete strangers, and on December 7, 2011 none of us wanted to say goodbye to one another. We had bonded in a way that is inexplicable; we spent the last 3 months living together and spent so much time together. Spending 7 weeks in a foreign country can certainly bring a group closer together; it definitely did that for us. I’m the only guy on the team, so I’ve adopted 6 sisters (2 older and 4 younger).  I’m a pretty protective older brother, it would be a good idea not to mess with my sisters. Meet our intern family; obviously this is toward the end of our time in Haiti, because we all have a pretty good tan. Not pictured are Papa Matt and Aunt Karen that were back in the States at this point.

If you were to ask anybody on our team the hardest day of our time in Haiti, it would be Friday October 28, 2011. It was about half way through our trip, and there were a lot of things that had to come to the forefront. We had a bit of conflict and some of us were missing home really badly, but for me this day was a turning point, not only in my trip, but in my life. We talked a lot that day about wanting to be a family, wanting to be closer to each other. How much we wanted to be there for each other like a family. We had some conversations that were pretty tough that day, and it turns out most of us were feeling the same thing. We felt as though we were completely alone in this foreign place, which is a terrible feeling to have. Here I had thought it was just me, since I’m the only guy and I had been in a room by myself. At this point I began to realize just how much I was buying into the lie of the devil, and how much easier it was to combat it once I realized where that lie was coming from. It was so comforting to know that I wasn’t alone in the struggle, and come to find out; we are never really alone in our battles.

At the Mission of Hope (where we were staying) there was a team from the Dallas, Tx area. They are a great group of guys that I had a blast playing farkle with and getting to know. The night before they were to leave I was talking to a couple of them. As had happened almost every week, they asked if I was leaving the next day, my answer was that we still had a month left. They asked a few questions about my internship and the organization I was with. I explained that I was an intern with Convoy of Hope; they asked how I got involved with them. I started by saying that I’d been living in Springfield, Missiouri. Then one of them said that Springfield was very close to his hometown, which turns out to be my hometown, Harrison, Arkansas. So I asked him what his name was and it turns out we have the same last name, as soon as he said his name, I knew who he was, my second cousin. We had grown up literally within 2 miles of one another. Our grandfathers were brothers. We had been in the same place at the same time and had no idea that the other one was there. What are the odds? If I were a betting man, I would not bet the farm on that one. We had a good talk and he prayed for me and he flew back to the States the next morning. I really didn’t think much of it for a couple of days; it just seemed that it had been so “random”. I would not realize until later, just how profound this meeting of ours was.

The next Monday we were headed to do our normal routine of going to a school, only on this day there was a miscommunication and we were headed to the wrong school. We needed permission to go to this school and our point person was out of commission. We were sitting on the side of the road waiting for the go-ahead to go into this school. This gave me more time to sit and think about things. At that point I thought about how many people were back home praying for me, my family, my church, my friends, and the entire Convoy of Hope organization. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized just how many people cared about me and my team, and that I was by no means alone. Without a doubt this was a major turning point for me in my time in Haiti. It was at this point I began to ponder about how random it was that I had met my cousin in Haiti. However, the more that I thought about it, I’m convinced that in fact, there was nothing random about it. God’s fingerprints were all over the entire situation. What are the odds that the very day that our team had talked about wanting to be more of family, that I realize that a cousin of mine at the same place at the same time? I’d seen him at every meal and we’d played several farkle games together. In fact, a couple of our girls commented on how attractive he is, I guess it must run in our family!

I believe it was no accident; we had been in the same place for 6 days. It’s like God was showing me that he was with me all along, that I’m never actually alone. I know it was no accident that I met family in Haiti on the same day that we had discussed becoming more like a family. In fact, not only was it not random, it was orchestrated by the Lord. I love it when circumstances work out in such a way that there is no other explanation other than God. The only response is to praise him, just to be thankful for such a clear reminder that he is always with us. This would be a theme for the rest of my trip, and I hope for the rest of my life. I’m never alone, he’s ALWAYS with me watching after me and keeping my best interest in mind.  

On our plane ride to Haiti, I decided to start reading the Old Testament. I had no idea how much this decision would speak to me during my time in Haiti. In the book of Deuteronomy, over and over and over the Lord is giving Joshua assurance that he is with him. In almost every chapter there is a common theme, obey my commands, be strong and courageous, and you will defeat your enemies because I am with you. Your enemies might be stronger, more numerous, have better weapons, better cities, and be better fighters, but you will defeat them because the Lord of Hosts is among you. The book of Joshua starts with the same assurances. “5No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them” Joshua 1:5-6. This is such an amazing picture for us as well, that all we have to do is be obedient, it might be tough, but life is so much better because he is with us and he’s is on our side.

I’ve been thinking a lot about family lately, and how as Christians we are the children of God. We are a part of a spiritual family, and how before we came to know Christ we were spiritual orphans. We were without a family, and because Christ died for our sins we are able to be adopted. We weren’t born into this family; a price had to be paid so that we could call God our father. So as Christians, it’s our job to act as adoption agents, we need to be pairing spiritual orphans with the Father. The price has already been paid; a great sacrifice was made to bring us all into the family. The only requirement for adoption is that the orphan has to accept the Father’s parenting. He’s such a great parent; He always looks out for them and is never far from them. He loves it when his children follow Him and trust Him with their lives completely. His heart delights in blessing and giving of Himself to His children.

I have such an incredible Heavenly Father. He’s always with me no matter where I go, even on the hardest of days, it’s made easier because the Creator of the Universe cares enough to hear my problems. He wants me to know Him more intimately. He knows me better than I know myself. 

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Thoughts from Fall 2011 team member, Rebekah Bell… Happily Ever After Every where you go in Haiti I guarantee you will find a child close by. If you drive down any given street, alleyway, or path in the country of Haiti you’re bound to spot a little guy or girl jumping up and down waving, running along side your vehicle or being carried on their mothers hip. The first village we visited in Haiti was set back inside the cool shades of a banana plantation among make shift huts structured with scraps of material, tin and tarps. The children in that village greeted us with excitement and enthusiasm. Hugs, greetings and smiles were passed around freely. What I also remember about this first village is the condition of these children, the ones that did have any clothes on, wore clothing drenched in filth and full of holes. They themselves whore layers of dirt and who knows what else. I’m ashamed to admit that I almost hesitated picking one baby up who was covered in a skin disease with bugs freely crawling around and in his sores. For the record I quickly got over myself just in time to love on the precious baby. That evening when we got back to the mission compound I took some time aside to process the day. The first thing that came to my mind was all the times in my childhood and on into my adult years that my parents, the loving people they are, had expressed their regrets about not being able to give my sisters and I more than they had. We never struggled in the way of losing houses, cars or our ability to eat mind you, but at the same time we never had a lot of extra according to the westernized standard of life. My dad was a truck driver and my mom stayed at home with us, we never had cable, name brand clothes or nice cars. As I reflected over these things, the reality hit me that in comparison to 99.99% of the children in Haiti, I could almost promise you that my life had been a complete fairytale. The last week we were in Haiti we visited a school in the infamous slum referred to as Cite Soliel. The city was at one time named the most dangerous neighborhood in the whole world, it is still terrorized consistently by gang control and holds its position for the largest slum on the Island. The children there were some of the most outgoing beautiful kids I met in the whole two months. One shy little girl stood out to me especially as she was wearing a bright pink princess dress. This little girl was growing up in one of the scariest environments I could ever imagine but she was indeed filling the role of a beautiful little princess. Something finally clicked in my heart that afternoon, it doesn’t matter where you grow up in this world, it doesn’t matter if you have a daddy who treats you like a princess and jewelry to match, or if you grew up in the dirtiest most dangerous slum in the world- you are royalty worthy of a fairytale. So many times throughout the trip I longed to pack up every single child and take them all home with me in attempts to give them the life they were worthy of, but God was quick to remind me that He already has a plan far beyond my imagination or capabilities to fulfill just that. Thank God our happily ever after exists outside of this broken world.

Thoughts from Fall 2011 team member, Rebekah Bell…

Happily Ever After

Every where you go in Haiti I guarantee you will find a child close by. If you drive down any given street, alleyway, or path in the country of Haiti you’re bound to spot a little guy or girl jumping up and down waving, running along side your vehicle or being carried on their mothers hip. The first village we visited in Haiti was set back inside the cool shades of a banana plantation among make shift huts structured with scraps of material, tin and tarps. The children in that village greeted us with excitement and enthusiasm. Hugs, greetings and smiles were passed around freely.

What I also remember about this first village is the condition of these children, the ones that did have any clothes on, wore clothing drenched in filth and full of holes. They themselves whore layers of dirt and who knows what else. I’m ashamed to admit that I almost hesitated picking one baby up who was covered in a skin disease with bugs freely crawling around and in his sores. For the record I quickly got over myself just in time to love on the precious baby. That evening when we got back to the mission compound I took some time aside to process the day. The first thing that came to my mind was all the times in my childhood and on into my adult years that my parents, the loving people they are, had expressed their regrets about not being able to give my sisters and I more than they had. We never struggled in the way of losing houses, cars or our ability to eat mind you, but at the same time we never had a lot of extra according to the westernized standard of life. My dad was a truck driver and my mom stayed at home with us, we never had cable, name brand clothes or nice cars. As I reflected over these things, the reality hit me that in comparison to 99.99% of the children in Haiti, I could almost promise you that my life had been a complete fairytale.

The last week we were in Haiti we visited a school in the infamous slum referred to as Cite Soliel. The city was at one time named the most dangerous neighborhood in the whole world, it is still terrorized consistently by gang control and holds its position for the largest slum on the Island. The children there were some of the most outgoing beautiful kids I met in the whole two months. One shy little girl stood out to me especially as she was wearing a bright pink princess dress. This little girl was growing up in one of the scariest environments I could ever imagine but she was indeed filling the role of a beautiful little princess. Something finally clicked in my heart that afternoon, it doesn’t matter where you grow up in this world, it doesn’t matter if you have a daddy who treats you like a princess and jewelry to match, or if you grew up in the dirtiest most dangerous slum in the world- you are royalty worthy of a fairytale. So many times throughout the trip I longed to pack up every single child and take them all home with me in attempts to give them the life they were worthy of, but God was quick to remind me that He already has a plan far beyond my imagination or capabilities to fulfill just that. Thank God our happily ever after exists outside of this broken world.

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