Monday, January 31, 2011

One Size Fits All World

I'm off to Haiti, once again. I'm flew out of JFK airport which had a non-stop flight to Port au Prince where I stayed for about 24 hours. The elections or lack of elections have the city in a twist. It is unpredictable there right now but I am in good hands. The Hands that created the world and all that is in it. Beyond that my friends will meet me at the airport and take Juvenal. A nice neighborhood not far from where the Doc is staying. My work will begin after I arrive at the House of Hope Monday afternoon. I will have a lot to cram in in 4 days. I am bringing in a printer for the HOH. It is a big one. Only one problem; the TSA forbids carrying printer cartridges heavier than 16oz. I knew that going in but the cartridges weighed in at 24oz. So the TSA had to inspect the printer before they would permit the box to be put on the conveyor. They declared them overweight and wanted me to take them out of the box. I told them they weren't mine but that they belonged to Jesus. Once you say something like that everyone begins to stare. I begged them to let them stay in the box because it is not possible to print without them. The employees at the check-in were urging them to overlook the cartridges. But in the end I took them out carefully because you know how dangerous printer cartridges can be! I had to leave them in storage until I return- I put them in a room right next to Jason Bourne's stuff in a special room. In the end I lamented the lack of reason in the whole process. All they were was printer cartridges anyone could see that. But we live in a one size fits all world. There is a better world coming one where we won't get sand in our shoes and things will go back to the way they are supposed to be. That is Shalom, true shalom come quickly. Pray for me while I am away from those I love at home. Pray that I would represent Jesus well. Pray that I have wisdom in conversations. I'll be having many of them, important ones too. Pray for safety in and out of the country and in the air and on the roads. Pray for those who suffer in Haiti. Pray for the caregivers who work long hours in the cholera wards. Cholera is still powerful and taking lives daily. If you would like to email me at doorofhopehaiti@gmail.com I will write you back.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

January 12, 2011

Today the flag of my soul is flown at half mast. The black curtains of mourning are festooned around the windows of my heart. One year ago today near the very hour I am writing this post Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake. In a matter of seconds over 220,000 lives were lost, probably more. People from every walk of life in the course of their daily routines were tragically killed in a matter of seconds. The scope of their suffering cannot be told in pictures or in words. I’m hesitant to write much more just because of that. The media has revisited Haiti in its aftermath only to declare how much has or has not been done. Truthfully, not much has been done. Over 90% of the rubble remains as it was one year ago today. Questions remain as to where all the humanitarian aid money has gone. Finger pointing and blame assessment are still in full gear. This I know, Haiti has picked itself, dusted itself off and has kept going. Haiti will walk with a limp for years to come. Please pray today for Haiti and those who remember vividly exactly where they were at 4:53pm on year ago today. Please pray for those who lost loved ones on that day.