From Kahoa to Fayeton

Kahoa Elementary children right here in Lincoln, Nebraska have been learning about Haiti all year in conjunction with raising funds to support our children ( all of OUR children ) at the Fayeton Orphanage in Gonaives, Haiti.  In most cases an earthquake in Haiti would not have affected too deeply a child in gradeschool here in the US.  However, because of their studies before the earthquake they were deeply affected and worried about the kids they had been learning so much about.  Last weekend as they finished their year they had a MAJOR garage sale which was hugely successful!  Last weekend as they were doing the sale the 250 pictures they drew and laminated were being hand delivered to each of the kids at the orphanage.  Below are a few the heart warming pictures of the Fayeton kids receiving their pictures.  They will treasure them forever as they are a few of their only belongings.  More importantly they know they have new friends from Lincoln, Nebraska USA that care about them. 

 Kahoa kids.....YOU had a very   successful year!

April 15, 2010 Lincoln, Ne

Linked-In Thru Him


Yesterday, Adrien and I went to Lincoln, Nebraska to meet with some of our die hard GO Project friends. The Lord rattled me pretty good.

Listen to this…

In 2008, I got a random call from a woman in Lincoln, Nebraska – Susan Browne. Susan heard of C3 through someone who heard from someone else, etc… The Brownes, adoptive parents, have a heart for orphans. Susan said that her family and some friends wanted to get involved in C3. After a couple of conversations, I agreed to come to Lincoln for an intro meeting with Susan and several other ladies. Fox and I drove up. I remember that we made that trip about a week after going to Gonaives, Haiti.

We met at Susan’s church, Lincoln Berean; walked into a conference room; and greeted a group of ladies. One of the women, Kristin Heaton, had a balled-up Kleenex in her hand and puffy red eyes. The whole crew had been crying before we arrived.

Mike and I got to talking; Kristin got to crying. We’d stop. Start again. More tears. (Fox has been known to make women cry, but for me, this was highly unusual.) We really couldn’t get into the meat of what we wanted to say. So we stopped the group and turned to Kristin.

“Are you okay?”

“No. My heart is broken right now and I just can’t stop crying.” Kristin explained why. She and her husband were in the 2nd year of the adoption process for a little girl, Bettania, and it was going nowhere. Even more painful in the moment, they had another young girl, Dieunette, at their home on a medical visa – they sponsored her so she could have brain surgery. All had gone well. God had knitted this little one into the Heaton family. Here’s the problem: their time had seemingly come to an end. The next week, the Heatons had to part ways with Dieunette and their hearts ached at the thought. As we started to talk of the global orphan pandemic, Kristin had specific little ones wrenching her emotions. She couldn’t see past the pain. None of us could after we heard.

We asked Kristin, “Where is this child from?” “Haiti.” “Haiti? Are you kidding?” (Kristin didn’t know of our work in Haiti.) I pressed, “Where in Haiti?” “It’s not a place most people have heard of.” “Where?” “Gonaives,” she replied.

“Gonaives? (I can’t believe this!!!) What if I told you Mike and I were just there last week?”

You could have heard a pin drop. This was one of those God-orchestrated moments where everyone knew to just chill out and soak it in. God is at work in and around us, all the time – and sometimes he shouts a real-time reminder.

Well, the Heatons courageously shepherded Dieunette to Haiti and kissed her “goodbye.”

Over time, Dieunette’s mother couldn’t care for the child. Dieunette was in danger. Upon referral to social services, Dieunette was placed in an orphanage. The Heatons, still embroiled in Adoption #1, began to fight through Adoption #2 – both long shots. The Heatons also joined with gusto what has become a growing and passionate group in Lincoln – The Nebraska Global Orphan Project – battling with us to bring more children into care.

The struggle to adopt Bettania and Dieunette raged on for 2 more years. Nothing. The girls were in an orphanage in Port au Prince, with no end to the adoption in sight.

On January 9, Kristin sent some family and friends an update that the adoptions were going nowhere. She and Scott were losing hope. Here were Kristin’s closing words: “I have to figure out how to live with all of this which I’m not doing very well with at the moment. Hope it get’s easier but I just don’t know how it can. For now I will peel myself off of the floor put one foot in front of the other and try and find joy in each day.”

On January 12, Haiti shook.

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One facet of GO Project’s relief effort in Haiti has been to deliver food, water, and supplies to other orphanages in Haiti that collapsed during the quake and had no resource pipeline. There are so, so many in this category. We’ve gotten to the ones that the Lord put in our path.


In the immediate aftermath of the quake, we got an email from Dan Southerland, a pastor and friend in Kansas City. CNN ran a report of a collapsed orphanage in PaP with scant and soon-to-be gone food and water for 151 children. A friend of Dan’s let him know, and Dan, in turn, let us know. Dan was able to track down contact information for the orphanage, and Moise got the address: Publin 4 (behind the local of djoumbala), Rue Lamothe, impasse Petion 2. Moise and I had phone numbers for 3 ladies at the location: Jamie, Ali, and Margarette St. Fleur. We got hold of Margarette. She confirmed the problem. She had some food, but no water. Margaret believed this was a short term problem, but needed water, especially, right away. So we delivered water and supplies to Margarette at the orphanage, and encouraged her. We left and moved on to the next location.

That was that.

Honestly, I haven’t given that place, Bresma Orphanage, another thought. Until yesterday…

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Back to yesterday in Lincoln. Like I said, we met our GO Project friends there for a meeting. But no Kristin and Scott. I asked Susan about them. Susan: “Haven’t you heard about the girls?”

Kristin and Scott are rather busy these days. The girls are home with them! Susan went on to explain God’s amazing provision. After the quake, the Heatons had no idea what happened to the girls or the orphanage they were in. They stayed glued to CNN to follow every detail of coverage, hoping to glean some information about the state of Port au Prince and all there. To their shock and amazement, they learned the fate of the girls through a CNN story of a ruined orphanage with a dwindling food and water supply and no help. While the orphanage was down, the kids were alive. Susan explained the miracles… The Heatons learned the girls survived from a CNN story. Unknown people in PaP responded with food and water. Many of the children were flown to the United States. Adoptions pending for years were completed. Bettania and Dieunette – home.

I heard this and thought, “Hey, I know this story.” “Susan, what was the name of that orphanage?” “Bresma. It’s run by a couple of young ladies named Jamie and Ali.” Yep, I know this story!

God allowed me to share with Susan and the group our little slice of this story – we had the privilege of being some of the unknown others.

God gave us another moment – another reminder.

Scott and Kristin, the Lord’s got His hand on you all. He always has. And GO Family, we’re more connected by God than we can possibly imagine.

Lord, You are trustworthy – no matter what.

Faithfully yours,
Joe
P.S.: I’d love to have a statistician run the odds on these circumstances and call it chance.

Renise Matters


Hello, GO Family. Many of you have been faithfully reading this blog since Jan. 12. You’ve become attached to these children, like Renise.

On Saturday, March 20, Renise gave birth to her little daughter, Kimberly. We’ve been mum about the events surrounding that day, and the amazing God story that continues to unfold. During a dicey time of uncertainty for us (not for God), we needed to just be quiet.

Now we’re sending a full Renise update that Trace penned. 

In the year before the earthquake, this little girl was sold into slavery by her parents; was sent back to her parents only to have her mother die in her arms; lived with her mother’s corpse; went back to her owners where she was sexually assaulted by 2 men at gunpoint; got fired from her slave work unworthy of even that; and was turned to the streets with a troubled pregnancy that would have taken her life. The earthquake freed Renise. Since January 12, she’s found a new hope in a most miraculous chain of events and the deep, daring love of others.

Guess where she’s at today? School. Her first day.

Hope. Love. Redemption. If you sometimes think these are words of mere bloated inspiration tossed about by preachers and politicians, consider Renise. The same God in her life is at work in yours. He can be trusted, even when the chips are down and we can’t understand.

April 12, 2010

Back To School

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats

Truth told, Back to School time at my house means an annual ritual carrying the same rote emotions.

Disappointment. The kids have been swimming and playing all summer. Summer time means vacation, BBQs, play time, down time, family time. Going back to school means play time’s over. Sleeping in is over. That’s a bit disappointing to my kids, and to me.

Anxiety. Next year is here. For our kids: new grade, new teacher, new unknowns – new fears. For the parents: where have the years gone?

Relief. Worn thin by the summer mayhem, we’re ready for the kiddos to get back to school: not because we’re really excited by how they’ll learn and grow, but because we feel ready for a break.

Today’s a different Back to School experience. School’s open at the Transition Village. Kids who’ve survived an earthquake but lost their parents got up this morning, got dressed, and readied for school. This is a day of excitement; of expectation; of a new normal. For many of the children, this is a first.

This is a spark.

Enjoy these pics:

Teachers Cheesing

Kids Praying (opening school prayer)

Look Out World, Here Comes Renise! (In white hat.)

I’m pretty well jazzed that my kids here in KC are in school as I write, and so is Pierre, Rogelin, and the rest of the crew in Haiti. So are the kids in our homes in Uganda, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and around the world. All kids with a hope and a future.

Thanks, GO Family, for your continued commitment. Your kids in Haiti are back to school!

Faithfully yours,
Joe

April 3, 2010

New Life



Trace Thurlby, in KC


Two weeks ago today, I held Renise’s daughter twenty minutes after she was born. What a beautiful child! Like all proud families, we wanted to shout the good news from the waiting room of the Haitian Hospital. We were so grateful for the miracle of new life. However, much work was left to ensure Renise and child would receive love and care post delivery. We needed to tend to that first.


The story deserves more than a blog entry. One day soon, we will share every Divinely-designed detail. When we do, we will celebrate with you a God whose ways are higher than our ways, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and whose love is greater than our love.


Yet with Easter upon us, the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection takes me back to that day in Haiti. Renise’s baby was transverse. Renise is petite. In pre-earthquake Haiti, Renise was living on the streets in the most desperate conditions. How would she have received even basic medical care, much less a C-Section? Ironically the earthquake, which killed so many, saved Renise’s life and her child.


An Italian OB/GYN team in Haiti for disaster relief performed Renise’s surgery. They brought new life into the world at almost exactly the same time Moise’s church was holding a memorial service for the eleven people from his congregation that went to Glory in the quake. Was this mere coincidence? Or, more likely, was this another blatant attempt by God to show us that He is always working in our lives? More specifically, was this more confirmation that life and death are in God’s loving Hands? That’s the message of Easter. God had the power to lay down His life for us. He had the power to take it up again.


He has the power to renew the life of a thirteen-year-old, homeless, orphaned, raped restavik. Through her story, He has the power to pierce the hearts of people all over America and Haiti. (By the way, Renise and her beautiful child are both doing very well.)


The Global Orphan Project does none of this. God does all of it. He is the Author of New Life. He brings it to pass in His time. Because He lives, we live. Because He lives, Renise lives; her daughter lives, and the eleven people from Moise’s church who went to glory LIVE! That’s the hope of the Gospel. Jesus is Risen! Praise be to God!

April 1, 2010

A Modern-Day Schindler


Trace Thurlby, Live from KC

Meet Chuck Mack. For forty years Chuck was a Teamster Representative. He worked hard, and now it was his turn. Retirement. For many this means a big party to celebrate. A gold watch, maybe even a Rolex, or a Carribean cruise; that’s the best way to top off forty, faithful years of service, right? His friends and colleagues certainly would have thrown the bash and celbrated with him, but Chuck had another idea. Take all the money that would have been spent on parties and presents and give it to those in need. That’s right, all of it, but where and to whom?

Then January 12th happened. Chuck’s heart was heavy as he watched scenes of fallen buildings, people living on the street, no food, no water, no power. Generosity met clarity. Chuck would send his “retirement party” to those suffering in Haiti. Like a modern-day Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List), Chuck’s “gold watch” will soon be rice and beans for hungry children; his retirement party is helping build homes for kids living in rubble. It will send them to school. We’ve never met Chuck Mack in person, but if we have our way, Adrien Lewis will soon convince Chuck to come to Haiti with us. Our GO Project kids will give Chuck a five-day party he will never forget.

For today, we are more than grateful. We are truly humbled. Because of Chuck and because of you, we get to care for the King’s kids. Thank you! We love you! Press on!

March 31, 2010

Caring about Stephanie

Trace Thurlby, Live from KC

More than two and half months after the earthquake, God brought us Stephanie. Stephanie is 14. She’s a new mom, and she was in the care of UNICEF. We don’t know much more, except that she’s struggling. She’s angry, frustrated, and closed. I can only imagine what she’s thinking. How many people have betrayed this child? How does she know that she can trust the GO Project family?



While our lives are worlds apart, I see some of myself in Stephanie. At times, I hold onto hurt instead of turning to God. Justifying my frustration, I can resist the One who heals. Maybe, you’ve been there too.



I’m grateful for Moise and Gladys who are gently reaching out to Stephanie in love. Please pray for her. Pray that God will renew and restore. Pray that God will protect her from spiritual attack. A precious life, and maybe two depending on what happens to her child, hang in the balance.



We’re convinced there are more Stephanies in Haiti. Children who were “absorbed” into makeshift tent communities will continue to come out of the woodwork. Pray that God will give us the opportunity to provide safety for chaos; certainty for confusion. That’s who He is. This is what He’s called us to, and there is so much more to do. Thank you for walking this road with us. Thank you for caring about Stephanie.