Fall To Pieces

Millions of pieces of ruble cover the streets and alleyways of Port-Au-Prince and its surrounding towns. Where will all this ruble go? Who will pick up the pieces…of broken buildings, families, organizations, communities? Someone will. But the broken pieces of our hearts…the hearts of those who wish they could do more…those pieces need to stay broken for now. When you bring love and hope to hurting people be prepared to leave a piece of your heart with them. We all fell to pieces yesterday morning as we gathered to say goodbye. I did not think it would be too difficult to leave…after all we had only been with them a few days. But when I looked in the face of Reniece and she shied away…looking back with tears in here eyes, it was all that I could handle. My heart fell to pieces. She hugged me till I jumped into the back of the truck to head to the airport. Reniece is the one who just a few weeks ago- at age 12- gave birth as a result of rape. It took most of the week for her to even sit with us…and for some reason she trusted me. I don’t know if she knew I would keep her safe, or she knew that I saw her as important despite the things that happened to her. Whatever the case, she grew comfortable enough to sit next to me- content just sharing her headphones listening to the radio. But I can not keep her safe as I sit in a McDonald's writing these words …I cant make sure something that devastating never happens again. I wish so much that I could. I will not forget Reniece, or Matthias, or Alexandra, or Sam, or Wikley, or Kenley...or all the other children at Eben-Ezer Orphanage. I will not forget them because I leave a piece of my heart behind. This is what happens- and I'm ok with that- because I believe Jesus' heart falls to pieces for them as well.

I wish that a Heart-quake would happen in all of us. A movement that shakes us to the core; makes us question our lives, our purpose and our dreams. When our hearts fall to pieces for those who are left broken in this world, we have the best chance of loving others the way Jesus does. His brokenness shows me love…my brokenness helps me understand that love…others brokenness helps me live that love. I pray your heart would fall to pieces when you see any life broken from they way God intends.

My Friend Rachel Weber's song Pieces took on some new meaning for me...I have a few of her cd's if you would like to hear it. or order one from the website http://rachelwebermusic.com


Till next time...

The Gap

Its hard not to compare poverty to worse poverty (we have all done it...even saying "what about the poor in our contry.) Handing out food and clothes in lower wacker...rough. Generations of poeple living in the garbage dump in Ecuador was shocking to experience. So was visiting the home (1 room 1 bed) of 6 orphans in Africa…the oldest (caretaker) only 17. Being here in Haiti and seeing the destruction of an earthquake on one of the most under-resourced nations in the world…tough too. Was it the worst I have ever seen…maybe. But the gap between poor and poorest is much smaller than the gap between opportunity and inaction. It would take so little to move someone from extreme poverty to what the rest of the world would consider livable and acceptable. Yet it takes so much more for those of us with resources of knowledge, experience, talent and wealth to move toward understanding, patience, compassion and generosity. Perhaps we should be less worried about the gap between poor and really poor and focus a little more on the gap between our abundance and our response. There are a million reasons not to do something…and all of them are valid I'm sure. But at some point we need to all be willing to ask ourselves, is it worth it?

Here is what is worth it...It's worth the travel, and the tiredness and the extreme heat. Its worth it when at the end of a long day a little girl sits on your lap and lays her head in your arms. Its worth it when that little girl takes your arms to embrace her even tighter…because she knows your leaving tomorrow. She knows that someone who cared enough to show up, cared enough to play, cared enough to give…is the someone she wants to hold her…even for just 20 mins. She didn’t close her eyes…she didn’t sleep…she looked up to the stars...beyond this world.

Tomorrow we will be worlds apart but that gap that is the hardest to move just got a little closer.

Building Momentum

"The eyes of the world are on Haiti. And because of that, Haiti has a tremendous opportunity."

Those are the words I shared as I started my message to the church today. And those words to not fall on idle hearts. Rather, there was a resounding amen returned to me as I continued.

The eyes of the world are on Haiti at least for now so now is the time for Haiti to show the world that there is hope. And that hope is not dependent on American money and charity (although it sure helps). Rather Haiti's hope comes from within the heart of its people. And today I have no doubt that the future of Haiti is full of hope. Our compassion and aid is not in vain. There is a movement of Christ following Haitians that believe their nation can be healed. The local church is providing resources and community amidst the devastation and heartache. No amount of money or humanitarianism can make the impact that the local church's dream of making. We can be assured that they will do all they can to rebuild their country with or without the world's support and that is why we should support them all the more. Find an organization whose mission you believe in and give generously. Discover their plans and how they work within communities…if you trust and have faith that what they are doing is good…and will make a difference give all you can. Send someone here to see it first hand…or come for yourself…all these things will continue to encourage the people and build momentum for a better tomorrow; a tomorrow that sees God kingdom at work here on earth. If your eyes are on Haiti- help them seize this opportunity.

Today a little girl asked "Is where you come from as beautiful as Haiti? My prayer is that all of us would see her world through her eyes.

When it Rains

It just finished raining and there are faint voices of children singing about 100 yards from me; in the distance crickets are chirping; there is a slight chatter of talking and laughing; all is well in our little village...

But I can't imagine growing up in a place where you fight just to pick picked up and thrown in the air. Or receiving something new and immediately thinking of where to hide it. Or playing soccer on gravel…and loving it. Its hard to understand exactly what these kids deal with. Its hard to know how to react…do you hand things out knowing only the strong ones will end up with it? Do you keep playing when you know it causes jealousy? How much will a few days change lives?

If people keep coming. And Global Orphan Project keeps doing what they are doing….i think it matters. I think things will change. But if we give up. If the rest of the world says "poverty is too much…these countries are too corrupt…governments and policies continue to fail"…if that is the attitude that wins we all loose.

There are children here that not only deserve better, they have something to offer the world and make it better. There are gifted artist and athletes; compassionate teachers and coaches, future entrepreneurs and managers. We can not continue to blame the past, or shrug our shoulders to the present and not offer a better solution. Needs are great- everywhere- but our innovation combined with compassion and powered by God's Spirit… are not great than what we can do together.

Embrace the Sweat

Sweat was dripping down my face; not uncommon for me. Anytime I run around I start sweating like crazy. I had been playing soccer for a little while and its hot here so its no surprise that in soaked. Here is the surprise; I'm drenched but im sill being huged tight. They sit in my lap and press their face tight against mine. One girl walked up to me and asked me my name as she wiped my dripping face. They don’t care…relationships are far more valuable to them than worrying about how my sweat might rub off on them. Who at home would do this? No one. No one is volunteering for this kind of intimacy. Is it desperation…is it cultural? I'm not sure. But from the monument we met these children they have not stopped clinging to us. It is rare to catch a glimpse of anyone on our team without a child in their arms or a head on a shoulder. One little girl sat down on my lap today…put her arms around my neck and pulled me close…and then she grabbed my arm to put it around her even tighter. She stayed like this for almost an hour. We cant communicate though words…but its clear that words don’t matter as much to them. The need love and love is what we can give…in many ways its all we can give. The balloons will pop…the chalk will run out…the shoes will ware…but heart felt embraces full of compassion and hope, those will last even beyond this life. This is the intangible that is nearly impossible to explain…about why we are here. There is no lack of poverty in the world…and that is unacceptable. But if there is a lack of lov,e that is unbearable…may we all put an end to it.

Are You Ready?

Am I ready?...

This is the question many people have asked me today..."Are you ready?"

In terms of packing...I will be in about an hour. In terms of trusting my team...yes. In terms of working in a culture much different from my own...I think so. In terms of caring for people who have suffered a devastating loss, on top of years of ingrained poverty...no way. I am not ready for the smell of death still lingering in the air...the sad eyes of dozens of faces who have lost loved ones...the cries of desperation from children who have all but lost hope. I am not ready...and I'm ok with that...I don't want to be ready. I don't want to be all pumped up that we are coming to the rescue. In Africa, in Ecuador, in Dominican...and in America...If i learned on thing it is this. I am highly inadequate to deal with the problems of this world. And I have also learned this...My God is way bigger than all of those problems and all of my inadequacies. I have a Savior that loves greater than I ever could, has suffered more than I ever will, and understands better than I ever have. And that Savior has given his Spirit to do all these things and more. Pray for His Spirit to go ahead of us, to be with us...and to empower us to do what we can not on our own.

Better get moving

Yesterday we had a team meeting and i have concluded...I better get moving. Here is what i need to do.

-Appointment for immunizations.
-Brainstorm 20-30 games to be played inside or outside with hundreds of kids
-Let everyone know what this trip is about
-Fundraise for the team
-Collect donations
-Make sure I have everything covered for when I leave

I have this tendency to say yes to things i really want to do...before i really think them all the way through. I only have 17 days before I leave.