4 Months After the Earth Shook Haiti

4 Months After the Earth Shook Haiti.

From May 1, 2010 to May 8, 2010 I visited the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere to see what life was like 4 months after the earth shook in Haiti. It has taken me nearly 1 month to process everything that I saw, felt and thought while I was in Haiti. I expected bad but nothing could prepare me for what I experience

Crossing the Border

The magnitude of the earthquake’s effect met us at the border. We drove in from Santo Domingo. Three miles from the border there is an area called “Tierra de Nadie” translated “No Man’s Land.” Usually this stretch of land would be unpopulated and lifeless. However, since the earthquake “No Man’s Land” served as a parking lot for the all of the nations who sent humanitarian supplies. 18 wheeler after 18 wheeler with supplies from ALL OVER THE GLOBE parked bumper to bumper awaited to get into Haiti. At one point I saw a shipment from Iran and directly in front of it a shipment from Israel; interesting to see that these nations do have a similar interest. As we crossed into Haiti the frantic hustle of the country overtook me. Awaiting us was a market! Monday’s was the day that Haitians brought goods to be sold to the border. This added element to the crossing made it that more challenging because everyone wanted to show off their goods therefore crossing was slower than usual. After being “shaken down” by the self appointed border liaison we entered in through a narrow beach front which led us into the city of Fermathe.

The Baptist Haiti Mission

Fermathe is located about 15 miles north of Port Au Prince. This is where we would be for the next 3 days. The drive into Fermathe revealed the devastation that that was still evident. Every mile that we passed was filled with rubble and debris. It is estimated that it will take 40 trucks a day operating for the next 48 months to clear Port Au Prince. In Fermathe we connected with the Baptist Haiti Mission (See Link). While there we journeyed 5 miles into the mountain side terrain to a small village to construct a home. The small 20 x 10 x 12 foot house took approximately a week to build. This home would house a family five. After this we headed into Port Au Prince

Misión Rescate

I met up with my missionary friend, Omyara Alvarez from YWAM Santo Domingo in the Heart of the City. We visited a makeshift clinic that sits on the edge of Port-Au-Princes downtown police headquarters parking lot. Blue tarps and metal lounge chairs form the "emergency room" intake center. Police monitor metal fencing around the area, allowing Haitian volunteers to pull patients out the crowd of people pressing against the fence. Most patients receive basic care in the emergency room, before transferring to the operating room or deeper wound stations, set up inside the police building. Several pediatric stations treat children.

My Takeaways

While I didn’t see physical death I did witness “soul death”. Soul death is when I look into the eyes of someone and can’t see life. That is what I experienced. I looked into the eyes of many Haitians who seemed like life was sucked out of them. I can’t get the images out of my mind. Ironically, for me this absence of life, made me evaluate the life that I was living with regards to what really matters. Life is indeed short, my God help us all weigh and consider how important and fragile it is each day we live it. I am praying on taking a team in 2011 into Haiti to build more homes and visit the clinic.

If you would like more info leave me a comment with you contact info below.

For Pictures of My Trip to Haiti Click Here

The toughest day on the job --- thus far!

It has been too long since my last blog… too long!!! I have thought of many opportunities to write but frankly the energy has not been there… but then something happens in my world that makes me want to share… or better yet… NEED TO SHARE!

That something happened 2 weeks ago at 345 am when my duty cell phone rang. On the other end was our base command post, kind of like the Air Force base’s 911 system, informing me that a marine was killed in Afghanistan 3 hrs ago and that I was needed to make a death notification no later than 530 am.

I immediately got out of bed and prepared my service dress uniform. It wasn’t until I was at the base in a briefing that was explaining the details of how this young (19 yr old) marine died , did I really come to grips with what I was preparing to do. Yes I have done death notifications before, BUT this one was different. All the training that I had been through began to flood my mind; my communication with God open wider than it had been in a long time and all of the death notification scenes from the many Hollywood movies that I have seen began to popcorn in my brain.

I was anxious, very anxious and wanted to get it over with. This was not just another “notification” this was a battle field notification; in my opinion, the worse kind. It brings the war right into the living room! I was about to give the dreaded news that every person’s family who is deployed and in harms ways dreams of never hearing. I was about to be that “face” of the character sitting across from the mother, wife, father or siblings that has been in their nightmares since their loved one was been gone.

How was I going to do this? Only through God’s grace!

I prayed harder and longer that morning than I have in a long time. I sent text messages to my friends and as they replied and I read them I literally began to feel the weight of the burden that I was carrying be lifted from my shoulders.

"For My yoke is easy, and My load is light" Matthew 11:30 and Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you, Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal – carried me through that day.

Yes it was tough, I battled back tears as this marine hero’s mom clutched a childhood picture of her eldest son, and as I overheard his younger siblings sob from their upstairs sanctuary, but I knew that He was with me in a very tangible and practical way.

Indeed I felt the “effectual fervent prayer of the righteous men” James 5:16b, carry me through this day - The toughest day on the job – thus far!

Question: How has God helped you make it through a tough day?

Coincidence or God-incidence

God is truly Amazing!

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that this God who created the universe, planets, solar systems, stars, sun and moon is the same God that intricately created the smallest insect. It’s easy to forget that He cares about every weighing thought and burden we have. I admit that I don’t take it “All” to him at times because I believe that he may be “too busy” to tend the certain needs I may have… it’s really my Pride that gets in my way…

Last week God reminded me that he Providentially Places me in the right place at the right time. Last Friday I was on my way home from the base, talking to my wife on the phone when I looked to my left and realized I was passing her job at the Base Club. We have the convenience of working on the same base. So I frequently stop by just to say hello and to visit with her coworkers and boss, who have a very demanding job, and as a Chaplain I am constantly concerned about their Self-Care. My wife was out of town on a conference that week so I didn’t stop by at all. All of a sudden I get this pressing in on my spirit that I need to stop by and check on them. So I do… The set up began…

I walked into an Officer’s Lounge of the Club and it is filled with Pilots; highly unusual…

I walked into a “quasi memorial celebration” for a fellow pilot who was killed in his plane earlier that week.

These are my pilots, my ministry responsibility, I am their Chaplain… Needless to say I spent the next 2 hours there providing ministry to these men who really don’t show any emotions.

We talked, hugged, laughed, some cried, others prayed…

All in all I was the one who left there encouraged; I needed to connect and God placed me at the right place at the right time and used that situation to share with others, who may not have a “public faith” position, that HE cares about them…

Q: Has God ever placed you in a place or position where you know in your inner that he providentially placed you there?

And the Oscar goes to…

Last night the Oscars aired. I couldn’t watch it because I was traveling. But of course with Twitter, FaceBook and Airport Cable I was able to read the tickers and keep up with the winners. The one part I love about the Oscars is the acceptance speeches, some are good while others… well are not. I just watched some of the better ones and got to thinking… if I received an award for a life achievement who would I thank? Of course God, my mother, my wife, my family and my close friends --- but the more I began to think the more names and faces flushing my memory. So I made a list and began calling these people who I have not spoken to in years and thanked them for the role God had them play in my life.

So if you received a life achievement award who would you call and thank?

“Betting on God in Sin City” Mar 8, 2010

As I pen this, my second blog entry, I sit in a hotel room in “Sin City”. Yes, Las Vegas, the city where you can “do anything that you want and no one has to know." Where the night life is fast and the lights are bright. To be honest; I was a bit naïve concerning the things that I have seen while just walking in public or the conversations that I have overheard.

At the airport in Phoenix, I caught wind of a man talking about his gambling experience. He described how he was headed to a “VIP - Invite only” Poker Tournament. If he did well this tournament would get him a seat in the World Series Poker Tournament. He shared about his last time in Vegas. How he was doing well at his last tournament and then he got one “bad hand” after another which eventually led to him not making it to the next round. He then made this statement, “Poker is all about the hand that you are dealt and knowing what to do with it.” The same could be said for life. We all know that there are valley experiences in life, aka bad hands. Knowing how to play those hands can determine how well we finish.

One individual in the Bible who was dealt a bad hand was Joseph.

Joseph’s childhood was far from ideal. His mother died while he was young. He was despised by his brothers because he was his father’s favorite. His brother threw him in a pit, betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He was double-crossed in Potipher’s house and accused of sexual assault despite honoring Potipher and being a man of integrity. He was then falsely imprisoned and then forsaken by those he helped. If anyone had a reason to be bitter, resentful and angry it was Joseph. Instead what do we find? When the time came for his brothers to come bow before him begging for mercy Joseph says; "Do not be afraid, for I am in God's place? "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them Genesis 50:19-21.

Through the midst of difficult times and many bad hands, Joseph entrusted himself to God. I wonder how we would play our hands if we just entrust ourselves to God and bet on him.

How does your faith in God affect how you see your life when circumstances are not ideal?

To Serve or Not to Serve?

Oswald Chambers, My Upmost for his Highest (http://www.myutmostforhishighest.org/); has been very instrumental in my Christian journey especially in my formative Christian years. Honestly, as a young Christian, much of what he wrote went way over my head. I remember reading the quote below and thinking what is he talking about.

“If you are devoted to the cause of humanity you will soon be exhausted, and have your heart broken by ingratitude, but if the main spring of your service is love for Jesus, you can serve men although they treat you as a doormat, never look for justice in this world but never cease to give it.”

Despite being “new to the game”, as we use to say back in the day on the streets of New York City; the game in this context being public ministry and serving, I see how being devoted to man rather than Jesus in serving man can leave one exhausted, even bitter and resentful. I have met my share of Pastors and Church Leaders who just don’t seem to “enjoy” people anymore for the most part because people have let them down and have been ungracious.

I too have felt the tension of continuing to serve man with a heart that displays a genuine attitude despite feeling unappreciated, unwanted and inadequate.

It is not on my own strength that I can lean or trust but on Jesus my Rock must I put all my weight on… I must serve because He served mankind until His death... Easier Said then Done!!

How do YOU stay faithful to serving when those you serve hurt you or let you down?

Chap Brito