STACEY GAGNE – Today was a very full, productive and fun day.   Our team spent the morning working (and playing) on the Joy in Hope land.  We continued to work with rebar and other steel making parts that get put together for the base poles and connectors where the concrete will be poured for putting this house together.  It’s amazing to think that all of these little metal square and triangles we are making are going to help hold this building together.

I had brought some hacky sacks along to the land hoping that some neighbors would show up and they did!  I had fun playing with the boys and showing them how to hack.  Some of the other team members got in on the action, too.

A funny (now) story from this afternoon that is a good example of the unpredicable nature of living in Haiti… one of our team members was in the shower after our time at the work site.  The rule of thumb in conserving water is to get wet, turn off the water, lather up, then rinse off.  Well, though there is plenty of water in the cisterns, it’s practically a full time job for the staff here to keep switching between the two, pumping, and keeping up with the whole process of keeping the water going.  Well one of our friends got stuck in the shower for a good 10 minutes all lathered up.  We could laugh about it tonight.  🙂

This afternoon and evening we spent time at Joy In Hopes Haitians Childrens home (aka the Mangine home).  We were able to present them with the bags and bags of formula, cloth diapers, school supplies, clothes and more that we brought.   We also spent time tie  dying t-shirts with the kids and that was a big hit.  Dinner tonight was Haitian spaghetti with picklies (a spicy sort of coleslaw).  YUM.  The spaghetti was a drier version of our spaghetti with tons of spices.  They like to eat it with mayonaise, ketchup and/or hot sauce.   Interesting .

Tonight our team packaged up all the disposable diapers that we brought that will be distributed at the tent camps.  We also spent time debriefing (which we do each night as a team).  We share our highs and lows from the days and have a devotional time.  I love to hear the different perspectives of the team members and re-live the days memories together.

Tomorrow is a full work day.  Stay tuned for more updates!

JOHN SHIRK – Calmness is a state of being free from storm or disturbance. A calm atmosphere is defined by quietness and tranquility.  Calm weather is a scene where the wind is hardly detected.

Sometimes our lives can be like the weather, in the midst of a fair weather season where our activities follow through according to plan, our vehicles are working, our job performance is productive, and our relationships are growing.

Then, comes a storm where the winds blow and test the foundation of our faith.  An unexpected disappointment, a relational conflict, water in the basement, a financial setback.  These types of things can agitate worry or fear.

The eye of a storm is a place of calmness.  And in the storms of life, that calm place is found in our relationship with God. His grace is our source of trust.  His truth is our solid foundation for troubled times.

In an atmosphere of swirling conflict and trouble, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”

Calmness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE – Today was day one of the building project on Joy in Hope’s land.  Joy in Hope has 17 acres of land on the ocean in Jacmel, Haiti.  Our team has the privilege of helping to build the first building on the land!  Today we worked with a team of 15 – 20 men from Projet Connect .  After the earthquake, Joy in Hope helped provide several families from one of the tent camps with rental homes.   As part of a work for housing project, Joy in Hope has paid for their rent for the year with the agreement that the Haitians will help with various Joy in Hope projects to be eligible for another year of paid rent.

The men had the project underway having leveled and dug out the foundation.  When we arrived we were put to work bending, cutting and tying metal and assembling posts that will serve as structure for the house.  Mike and Georgette, the Directors of Development for Joy in Hope and some hired crew leaders gave us instruction and patiently re-directed people like me who are not so used to construction work.  🙂 We had fun joking around while sweating and trying to stay hydrated!

It is really exciting to know that what we are doing is getting the ball rolling for the development of this land!  Later this week we will get the full tour of the land.  Thinking that in the future the kids will be playing here in this beautiful land on the ocean and all of the possibilities this will offer for community impact is so exciting!

Oh, and on the way home … we saw the brightest double rainbow I’ve ever seen.  I think you can only see one in the pictures… so you’ll have to take my word for it.

There are opportunities to get involved with future projects or to join with the vision.  Please visit Joy in Hope online or on Facebook and connect!

STACEY GAGNE –  We’re wrapping up our first full day here in Jacmel.   Since today was Sunday, we had a great day including church with Joy in Hope and the afternoon at Raymond Beach!

I saw some examples of how life in Haiti may not always go as planned.  Like running water in the shower.  🙂  As we got ready to go to church this morning we got a rain storm.  Since our team and all of the children from Joy in Hope would need to pile in the back of tap taps for a long wet ride to get to church we decided to move to a plan B and had house church at the Haitian Children’s Home.    It was great.  The children taught us some songs in Creole and English and Nick shared a devotional focusing on the parables of the coin, the pearl and the lost sheep and talked about the truths hidden within the parables about how much God loves us and seeks us out because we are precious to Him.  I loved hearing the children processing what they were learning about Gods’ love for us!  This is what Joy in Hope is all about.  Loving these kids.  Being family. Demonstrating how Jesus loves them to the children.

After a delicious lunch made by the staff at the Isaiah house, we headed to Raymond beach.  The weather in Haiti changes quickly and our rainy day turned gorgeous!  We piled in the tap taps … I chose to ride in the back and it was really fun (and windy).  On our way, one of the vehicles had a flat tire that was quickly changed by Nick and Hughes while the children enjoyed some sugar cane.   With the conditions of the roads around here I would guess this is not an unusual thing for them.

The beach was beautiful… the view, spectacular blue water.   At the same time there were also piles of trash everywhere … and livestock.    This was definitely something to get used to.    There were also the vendors who were determined  to sell us their various souvenirs, art and food.   We had a blast playing in the ocean with the kids, making sand creations, flying kites and just hanging out.

I’m thankful for a true day of rest and fun before we head into our work week.  The building project work bright and early!

STACEY GAGNE –  We’re here!  The OBX Haiti team is settling in at our home for the week at The Isaiah House here in Jacmel.   Our team of 8 from the Outer Banks, Raleigh, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania made all of our connections and came together with about 1000 lbs of luggage.    Our team ranges from one who has never been out of the country to several well seasoned travelers.    Over the last several months we have connected through Facebook and it was really exciting to meet each other face to face and begin our journey.  I plan to introduce you to some of the team during some of my call in reports.  Members of our team will also be sharing their thoughts at OBX Haiti.

Today we flew into Port au Prince and made the (about) 3 1/2 hour journey along the coast and over the mountains to Jacmel.   We loaded all of our luggage into the back of the Joy in Hope Truck/Tap Tap and were on our way.  We passed by some of the tent cities in Port au Prince, many roadside markets, and then drove an incredibly windy road through the mountains.  Our driver honked his horn continuously to let drivers around the upcoming curves know we were coming through (or to push our way through traffic).

We’re excited to get started on our project this week, but first tomorrow we will go to church and then spend some time at the beach with the  Joy in Hope family.  The rest of the week we’ll be working on building a home on their land (the foundation has already been laid for us), spending time with the kids, sorting through and distributing the supplies we’ve pulled together and learning more about the people here in Jacmel.

Here are some pictures that I took along the way (many out the window of a moving van).

STACEY GAGNE –

It is a very exciting time right now.  I’m currently packing my office for our move to Junction Road while also packing the items that I need for Haiti.    As I’ve been sitting here loading files into file boxes I was thinking about the trip and what I’m most looking forward to.

On the practical side, I have to admit I’m really looking forward to that moment when we get our luggage loaded onto the truck!   I’ll also be glad when I pack my luggage into the car on Friday knowing that I have fit everything I could think of into my carry on.  Woo hoo.  Sweet relief!

The thing I’m most looking forward to, though, is those moments of just being there, in the moment, loving people!   When I  traveled to Ethiopia with Compassion last year, I quickly found that the things I will bring and the “help” that I can give are certainly important … but the time spent playing with the children and hearing their stories and telling mine … making live, human connections … these are what I took away from the experience.   These are the moments I’ll be sharing  with you back here at home.  It’s my desire to connect you with the organization:  Joy in Hope, while also showing how JOY and HOPE through JESUS are being displayed in another part of the world.   What an opportunity!

Stacey Gagne

Packing, Preparing and Full of Anticipation

JOHN SHIRK – To be conscientious is to be careful to do what is right and avoid what is wrong.  Our conscience is that inner sense of right and wrong.  When our trust is in Jesus, our conscience is made tender to the ways of God.  Our palms might get sweaty when we are in the midst of doing something that we know is wrong.

According to the Bible, our conscience can be weak, where we have stricter standards than other believers on disputable matters. Yet, if we participate, our conscience can be defiled because according to Romans 14, “everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Our conscience can also be seared, where we have become numb to sinful practices.  A person in this situation might have crossed the line so many times, they are no longer troubled by their disobedience.

The Apostle Paul often spoke of a clear conscience. He lived with a clear conscience because he developed his convictions from the Word of God, and then aimed his life in that direction.  He said in Acts 24:16, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”

Conscientiousness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To be willing to do something is to cheerfully consent or be ready.  In our relationship with God, willingness gladly gives God permission to do with our lives whatever He chooses for us in His timing.

Here are three excellent examples of willingness from the Bible.

Isaiah said to the LORD, “Here am I, send me.”

In Second Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul commended the church for their generosity not only to give, but also for their desire to do so.

And the Israelites expressed willingness to respond to Joshua’s leadership following Moses’ death.  They said in Joshua 1:16, “Whatever you have commanded us, we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go.”

Some time ago, Kelly Willard recorded a song called “Willing Heart”, which offered this insight on how to develop a willingness to follow God’s plan for our lives.  “If you don’t have a willing heart, ask Him to give you one. If you can’t make a start, trust in His power.”  Without trust, it is difficult to have a willingness to follow a leader.  Jesus has proven His faithful love and power for us at the cross and empty grave.

Willingness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To exercise discretion means to show discernment or good judgment.

Wisdom is a much-needed treasure for discretion to take place in our moral choices.

Proverbs 2:9 describes the process and the great value of discretion.

“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

God’s Word is our source of wisdom, helping us to learn the ways of God, and teaching us to reject what is evil.

Discretion is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To be consecrated is to be set apart for a special service. In the Bible, this usually means being set apart for God.

Consecration often has to do with purity and holiness.  Leviticus 20, verse 7 says, “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.  Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”

In our pure devotion to Christ, God sets us apart for special purposes to serve Christ.  He provides us with spiritual gifts that are useful for building the faith of the church and planting seeds of faith in the lives of unbelievers.  This was the experience of the Apostle Paul, who described himself in Romans 1:1 as a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.

Consecration is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com