A GREAT Christmas Plan

Let it be so. (Amen!)

After the rain has fallen

Things aren't always what they seem, and things don't always go as planned. We live by and accept those truths as part of life in Haiti. God's ways are higher than our ways - to be sure - and here it seems like our ways just never get us anywhere. It's kind of nice, actually, to live in a place where we see God working almost all the time. If He wasn't - well, I'm pretty sure nothing would get done around here.

I recently drove north to visit an orphanage and make arrangements for relief supplies to be sent to some areas affected by the hurricanes and flooding. I thought I was going to deliver food, package relief supplies, and arrange for and oversee vehicle transfers. Exactly zero of those things happened. One delay led to another and another and many T.I.H. moments ensued throughout the morning. Eventually we decided it would have to happen another day.

I was all set to turn around and head home, when I overheard a conversation with the woman pictured on the left. She had been living at the orphanage ever since the flooding made her family leave their home in the city of Gonaives. She had planned on returning there to see her home and try to reunite with other family members that day. She was supposed to ride on one of the trucks that never showed up.

I had been upset about my plans falling apart before, but that seemed so petty after seeing and hearing how this woman had been suffering. She was in tears over the news that she could not get back to what was left of her home and family as she had planned. I looked at her packed bags on the ground, prayed, and called Tara to cancel our dinner plans.

I thought I knew why I was there that day, but God had other things in mind.

Madame Bernard Exantus is 68 years old, and was widowed on April 20th of this year. She is the mother of seven children and grandmother of twelve. Her family was supported by land they owned and farmed - about nine acres. Shortly after the death of her husband the government diverted an irrigation canal that served their property in order to build a road. She said the ground is now only covered in thorns.

They were having a hard year already - then the storms came. When the walls surrounding their yard caved in from the flooding they escaped by boat before having to move onto the roof. The family was separated and only Mme. Exantus and one daughter were staying at the orphanage where I met her.


Her daughter's name is Ysena Exantus and is 29 years old. She had been preparing for her wedding in December for the last six years. She told me through tears that now 'everything was lost.' I didn't press her to find out more.

I witnessed a difficult exchange before we left to drive them back to Gonaives - they were being counseled and prepared by others - others hoping to help them realize that their home and family might be totally gone.

After a long and rough and long and rough ride, we found their home still standing - a little worse for wear - but mainly intact. The water marks on the walls (the ones that were still standing) from the flooding were five feet off the ground - the ground was now a few feet higher as well from all the mud that was left behind. Garbage and even sewage seemed to be everywhere - but it was a beautiful sight when this grandmother saw her two grandsons playing in the yard as if nothing had happened. They embraced her when we got out of the truck.


Everything in the home had been completely enveloped in mud - the cleaning process had been underway for days. The house was being emptied of every item and scrubbed. I saw one door that will have to be removed and cut shorter to account for the new level of the ground where all the mud was left behind.

None of that seemed to matter one bit though as I witnessed the joy of this family being reunited. Everyone had survived, and as expected in Haiti - these amazing and resilient people were ready to pick up where they left off - praising God for their lives and health - and move on.





-Troy

Heavy and Real

Associated Press Article from 11/20.

Nou La (We're Here)

• Sorry it has been three days. Time got away from us. Things are so busy. Are you tired of staring at Pat and Randy Mortensen? Probably. ;)
• The last 30 hours have been much cooler. Noah is wearing long sleeves today. When it dips down to 83 degrees we must bundle up.
  
• Tina got here safely on Tuesday, we have been having a lot of fun together. We ran a few miles both mornings and did errands and Women's Program today. Annie and Tina are getting reacquainted.

• Today I went to the Embassy to get more pages put in my Passport. I have been in and out of Haiti 24 times in the last seven years and I did not have any pages to use to go to an important wedding in January. Note this: It takes 95 minutes to get pages put into a passport.

While I was at the Embassy Troy took our girls to go visit their birth mother. (November is Adoption Month!) They called and asked to see the girls and we were happy to set up a reunion.

Troy spent a lot of time explaining to Hope that they would probably be very happy to see her and would want to love on her and maybe hold her. She really seems to get it this time around. She has not seen them for more than a year.

Troy said they had food and beverage prepared and were all ready and excited for them to visit. The house they are living in is one that another family (who adopted one of Hope's older sisters) and our family helped them rent. It is much nicer than their previous homes. Both of our girls were born in Cite Soleil. We're so thankful they are not living there anymore.

When I asked Hope about it she said it was fun and that the only weird thing is that, "My Haitian sister has kids!!!"

Below are photos from their visit today. The first photo is Hope's first Mom and older sister. The second photo is Hope and Phoebe with their niece and nephew. Hope loved learning that she is "Auntie Hope" to a girl the same age as her.

Phoebe was Phoebe and had no idea what was going on but loved the Coke she got to drink. The last photo is Phoebe and Hope with their birth mom.

The Older, Wiser Ones

When we saw our Uncle Rick last month he informed us that he is having trouble picturing us in our new surroundings. He had come to identify us as a part of the ministry we served at for the first two and a half years of our time here. He was struggling to think of us as "World Wide Village" OR "Heartline Ministries".

I want to introduce Rick, and all of you, to the MN faces of "World Wide Village". Pat and Randy Mortensen, are our ministry partners. Pat and Randy handle all of the stateside responsibilities and lead teams to Haiti.

They have been so fun for us to work with and are like a bonus set of parents in some ways. We always have fun when we're with them. Their leadership style gives us freedom and boundaries all at once. If you choose to join our personal-support team, Pat handles our family support money. Randy networks like a whirling-dervish and leaves us with sore heads with all the people he knows.


Beth and John McHoul are our Haiti parents. Beth is my best friend here and John rallies like no one you have ever seen if you are struggling or need help. He also teases to the point of "this is not so funny anymore". But, that is okay ... we can take it and dish it back.

These two understand Haiti and the challenges for an expat living and working here. They are patient, kind, gracious, and generous people. We will likely never be able to pull off their level of goodness.

We are watching them and learning from them and enjoying working under their leadership as we work with Heartline Ministries and their various programs.

Beth and John would probably not like to be called "our bosses" - but like Randy and Pat, they kind of are.

There are lots of great things about all four of them. We have especially appreciated being accepted for who we are. We can share what we think and feel without worrying about their reactions. The funny thing is, we don't think they are all that similar in personality, backgrounds, or talents -- but they are all right where they should be, doing things that God has gifted them to do.

We're blessed to be a part of it all. We hope this helps you "place" us with both ministries.

And also here they are -- our real PARENTS; also older and wiser ... The ones who dealt with all our crap and lived to tell about it. They cover us with prayer and love us even though we up and left them with the majority of their grandkids in tow. We love and appreciate you so much Mom and Dad & Mom and Dad!
Randy & Carolyn Porter -Bob & Karen Livesay

Sifting Rice In St.Marc

Adventures in Running

I remember vividly the first time I met Beth McHoul. There were two things that shocked and amazed me. First, her dog - I had never seen a larger animal outside of a zoo in my entire life. McGuire, a 230 pound Mastiff, is not something you'll easily forget. Second, as we talked about running she announced that she runs alone almost every day ... in Port au Prince. At the time I was totally freaked out by Port au Prince and almost nervous just walking from the car to a place of business ... I was still very fearful.

Knowing I was a runner, she asked me to join her the next morning. I did not want to appear as weak/chicken as I was feeling at that moment - so I was all, "oh sure Beth - um-hummm - sounds like a great idea!"

We went to bed and because John and Beth live in a horrifically stifling hellishly hot house I was able to lay awake all night thinking about how scary it would be to run on crazy PAP roads. I imagined many scenarios of kidnapping and attack. I wondered if my kids would miss having a mother.The next morning we were up and on the road by 6:30. I kept wishing my sister (who I ran with a lot the year before we moved) was there to see it. The insanity of it was being wasted - I needed someone who I ran with regularly to SEE it. I asked Beth about all the comments and things being yelled at us. She told me she "did not hear it" - I wondered when she had suffered such substantial hearing loss.

At the end of the short run I felt like I had accomplished much more than any race or long training run ever. I left Beth's house that afternoon feeling like I had a new claim to fame. The "I run in an insane city in the western hemisphere club" or something.

Beth told me to get some pepper-spray and move down to Haiti ready to meet up for training runs as often as we could. I got my pepper spray, but I lived 90 minutes away so it happened only 6 times in two+ years. Instead, I spent an inordinate amount of time on a treadmill staring at a purple wall.

Since we moved to the city in August I have forced myself to act brave like Beth - if she can ignore the surroundings, the elements, the insanity ... why can't I!?!?!? I have even forced myself to run alone. I not exactly sure why a 53 year old grandmother makes me feel protected -- but she does! The last two weeks Beth has been gone to the D.R. I have ventured out on my own and lived to tell about it. Troy took to the streets and tried to document the adventure. Whenever I drive down the roads we run on I am amazed at all the things I've never noticed ... But not noticing Troy and his camera (a fairly conspicuous person here) proves that the only way to do running in PAP is to focus in - shut out- and go. Like Beth taught me, I hear nothing, I see almost nothing and I go. *That* is the way you run through the streets of Tabarre/Port au Prince.

Next week Tuesday my former running partner (and sister) will arrive in Haiti with running gear in tow. I am anxious to share with her the ins and outs of PAP running.

To our new friends - the distance runners from Lincoln, Nebraska (Go Big Red!) ... next time you're here, please look us up!

On The Road with T&T

Gangs, Cell Phones & Dancing

A few odd parts of our celebrate the decade date last night:

• A huge (maybe 50 bikes) motorcycle gang was parked in front of the hotel. There are motorcycle gangs in Haiti!?!?!? Harleys and everything. There were motorcyclish looking guys everywhere.


• There was a "women's fair" being held in the banquet area of the hotel. It was for women to sell and display their art. There were lots of beautiful handmade items. Somewhere along the way DIGICEL became art. They had an impressive booth with the art of cellular technology available for all to buy. Digicel continues to pull off amazing marketing in a somewhat saturated market.


• After a fabulous glass of wine and a delicious dinner we went for a walk around the beautiful grounds of the hotel. We heard music so we stopped and danced in the dark on a walking path. We traded sweet words for a moment ... and then we stopped talking and realized the song we were dancing to: Little Drummer Boy - Baby Jesus, pa-romp-pa-pom-pom, I am a poor boy too, pa-romp-pa-pom-pom, I have no gift to bring, pa-romp-pa-pom-pom , romp pa pom pom romp pa pomp pommmmmmm - Slow dancing to Christmas music on a dark sidewalk in 80 degree temps in mid-November ... I think I can safely say, *that* has never happened before... But I highly recommend it. :)

In conclusion: Just your average night out. ;)

3,650 Days Ago ...

TODAY ... (11/14/1998)
... These two started something together and allowed God into it ... and once they did that, they took off on the most exciting and unpredictable ten years imaginable.

The excitement never seemed to end ... it included:
the usual purchasing of houses and cars and an occasional vacation. It meant making friends and finding a church and raising tw0 marvelous little girls named Britt and Paige and all that goes along with that ... they were truly blessed.



But then it got really exciting when in the 4th year they met this joy-filled guy-And at that same time, this gorgeous girl ...And a little later this cool guy came on the scene in the sixth year ...
and they moved to a place where they would learn about themselves, their great and powerful God, and each other ... and the blessings that would come from that move would make them shake their heads in amazement and sometimes disbelief ...
And not so long after that this little girl made her way into their hearts ...
And not so many months later this crazy surprise happened ...
...And as they entered their 11th year they wondered how in the world God did all of that?!

And they looked to Him and thanked Him for all of it. And they said, "Bring on the next ten years!"

Show Business

I've heard that it's not about what you know, but who you know.

In Haiti, it's actually more about what you can act like you know and who you know you can intimidate.

In Haiti, just because you own a house doesn't make it yours - apparently someone else can move into it and pay a judge to file papers declaring them as the owners...then you have to fight that to get your own house back. There is no official process or system within which to fight such injustices, however. It's all about who you know.

We have a friend named R. who we know from PAP Fellowship. She plays saxophone on the worship team with me and also happens to be a police officer working in the National Palace. I've always thought she was a pretty big deal, and it is pretty impressive to see her decked out in uniform and packing heat.

Her family owns a home in the Artibonite valley, near the center of Haiti. Squatters have moved in and filed papers claiming ownership and have a crooked judge in the area backing them up. This has been difficult for R. to deal with on her own.

In order to fix this problem, we (friends from the Heartline family) have been trying to help her navigate (or invent) the process of restitution. I wouldn't think a police officer from the National Palace would need a lot of help solving an issue like this - but T.I.H. We usually travel as

a herd with as many as possible in order to look very intimidating and official. Haiti is all about posturing.

So far that has included a trip to the UN Headquarters, meeting with a human rights lawyer, filing papers at various government offices, meeting with another lawyer in the proper jurisdiction, visiting multiple courthouses and tribunals, meeting with the police in the city where the house is located, taking lots of pictures and video and other posturing - all leading up to the final act yesterday: the visit to the crooked judge who filed the false document.

We call it show business, and it was quite a show, I'll tell you. It included the following techniques - a motley crew standing in the doorways of the courthouse looking on disapprovingly...the taking of notes and a great deal of the shaking of heads...obvious attention paid to the names of court officials posted on the doors...throwing up of hands into the air and more shaking of the heads...a walk through the courthouse and the taking of pictures and generally looking disgusted... talking amongst ourselves and then more with the shaking of the heads. ( I specialized in the taking of the pictures and the shaking of my head.) In the end, the posturing and showbiz appeared to make a difference, resulting in a rattled judge and apparently an expectation of a reversal to the previous decisions.

I know it sounds ridiculous, and it is. This was the 'official' way to get this problem solved in this country. This was the recommended course of action by the lawyers and higher-ups involved in the case. This is why I'm amazed that any thing ever gets done in this country and why I'm not amazed at the lack of progress sometimes. The shaking of the head part comes easy for me - we do a lot of it here. TIH.

-Troy

Ice Dealer

A walk to the market

Happy Birthday Baby Sister!

Summer 1977December 1999

June 2005

These are my three favorite sister photos of all time.

Happy Birthday Tina! I love you.

Click on photos to enlarge.
*It is Troy's turn to post Haiti stories. More from here when he ponies up.

Jesus, Guevara, Marley

Noah and Hope are begging me to swim with them while the three babies nap ... this will be brief.

• Yes, we are hearing another school collapsed. Unsure of any details.
• Troy is gone to St Marc this afternoon. I am going to beg him to tell you about the purpose of the trip because it says a lot about how things work in Haiti. He is doing what I call posturing and what John M. calls "show business". Whatever you call it, the fact that it works is mostly crazy.
  
• Noah asked today "Ma, how long did it take for you and Dad to grow up?" I assured him we have a long way to go. Who knows if we ever will.
• I chuckled today when I was at the round-about and in front of me were three large tap-taps ... the bigger bus kind ... they all had a man painted on back ... the choices were: 1. Jesus 2. Che Guevara and 3.) Bob Marley --- The only thing I can figure that they have in common, besides being tap-tap art, is that they all died in their thirties. Are there other links I am missing?
  
• So, you can ride with 1. the risen Savior, 2. a dead "revolutionary" Marxist, or 3. a dead reggae artist. I would ride in the Jesus tap-tap every time ... If I had to ride in a tap-tap that is.
• I came close to having a problem on the road today. So I may end up on a tap-tap afterall. I desperately need to make time to get my Haitian drivers license. I did not drive all that much until we moved to town in August so I found ways to justify not getting one. It is always exciting when you can find a rule that is actually enforced ... even in a near-anarchy you still need that piece of plastic (and maybe a few gourdes) in order to get past the police stops.
  

I stole the quote below from another blog -- I liked it because it made me realize that my uncertainty about WHY exactly we're here doing whatever it is we're doing ... well, it is okay - and even normal. ( And not necessarily unfaithful) Not only that; it is my way of loving God - to just act in the face of my almost constant questioning and uncertainty.

"a love that requires absolute assurance in order to act is not love...when we can say we will follow God regardless of the uncertainty, then real faith is born - for love acts not whenever a certain set of criteria has been met, but rather because it is in the nature of love to act."
~Pete Rollins

Jenell said: Pete's book reassured me that doubt is part of faith, and concealment is part of revelation, and that despite all we don't see or know, we are given enough light to take the next step.