When you help the least of these…

When you help the least of these…

You may remember Davidson, the 11 year old orphan who lives with his Grandmother who is deaf.

This morning at 6 AM he rang our bell. It turns out that he was up all night in pain because of a tooth ache. One of his “baby” molars had a big cavity, and was causing a throbbing pain.

Since I had to take Carol and Ricky to school, I gave him some Tylenol and told him to meet me at noon with an adult from his neighborhood so I could take him to a dentist I know.

In the meantime, I called up a Haitian friend who is a dentist and made an appointment for Davidson.

By the time I picked up Davidson to take him to the dentist, I could tell that he had been in pain a long time. I asked him where his adult companion was, and he said no one could go with him. So I made the decision to take him myself. To make the ride shorter, I asked him to do math problems in his head. I wanted to see how well he would do since I had helped him get a scholarship to attend school. He knew how to add pretty well, and could handle money as well. But he was weak on subtraction, multiplication and division.

When we arrived at the Dentist’s office, we waited a little while so it could be “cleaned”. Apparently it hadn’t been used in some time since my Dentist friend often visits refugee camps to provide dental services.

We placed Davidson on the dental chair, and he laid still. The Dentist decided it would be best to pull the tooth, since it was a “baby” tooth. So, being the son of a dentist, I explained to Davidson that he would be getting a shot, and then would feel some pressure as the dentist removed the tooth.

This was Davidson’s first time at the dentist, and I saw a lone tear streak down his face even before the shot. He was clearly afraid. So I tried to comfort him, and soothe him. But nothing could prepare him for his first shot of Novocain, which I always said was the most painful part of getting a tooth pulled! But the little guy was very brave and did not move, but cried quietly as the shot started to numb his jaw.

It had been a long time since I had been present during a tooth extraction, and I forgot how big the chisel and forceps looked. I was afraid I might faint since I had not eaten lunch and it was really hot in the office without electricity to run fans or anything. But Davidson and I both made it through with flying colors!
The Dentist gave Davison some antibiotics and did not charge us for the extraction saying it was part of his ministry to the poor. I gave him a small amount of money anyway to encourage and thank him.

On the way home I purchased a bottle of water that was mostly ice and told Davidson to lay it gently on his cheek to ease the pain of the extraction.

As he lay on the backseat of my 4-cab pickup while I fought afternoon traffic in down-town Port-au-Prince, I couldn’t help but thank God for letting me be part of “The good works God had prepared for me to walk in” that day.

But my adventure was not over. I needed to take Davidson home and talk to his Grandmother about the medicine he needed to take. So he lead me down a big hill, up a winding, narrow passage way where water ran when it rained, then up a lot of stairs to until we arrived at his Grandmother’s house. She was so thrilled to see me, she ran down from her roof and gave me a big hug thanking me for helping her grandson. The she led me inside her one-room house and showed me where rain comes in through the cement roof. But she is one of the lucky ones – she owns the house they live in, and it did not collapse during the earthquake.

After explaining how to take the medicine and leaving some money for them to buy some pain-reliever, I prayed with Davidson and asked God to reduce the pain and help him to recover quickly.

As I walked the long path back to my car, I reflected on how much effort this 11 year old makes just to get to school every day. I was drenched with sweat just walking back to my car!

I know I can’t help every 11 year old orphan in Haiti, but God put Davidson in my path today, and I helped relieve his suffering in a small way. Thank you for your prayers and support that allow God to work through me to be your hands and feet here in Haiti, helping boys like Davidson in a direct way, but also influencing over 1,000 young soccer players through the over 80 teams we now sponsor in Christian schools around the country.

Hatian National Amputee Soccer Team visits the Citadel

Amputee Soccer Team at the Citadel

How do you get a person with one leg up the steep hill to the visit the Citadel? On horse-back of course. Unfortunately, the horse handlers beat the horses with wooden sticks (switches) and this sometimes makes the horse move forward suddenly. One of our amputee players lost his grip on the saddle, and fell off the horse, hitting his elbow on the hard cobblestone road. He was not seriously injured, but it certainly was a scare!

Once in the Citadel, the players had to climb lots of stairs and fully exerted themselves just getting around to explore this vast fortress.

Then at the end of the visit, they sang to a crowd of several hundred, with me singing bass to round out the harmony.

As the tour guide told us the story of how "King" Henri Christophe committed suicide after he became handicapped because of a stroke, I could not help but reflect on the irony of that story when looking at the Amputee soccer team. Here were poor men who, even though handicapped, were living a courageous life and fighting to survive on practically nothing. Whereas Henri Christophe had riches, fortresses, palaces and everything the world had to offer at that time, yet lost hope when he became handicapped. Why do the players of the Amputee soccer team have hope, where Christophe had none? Because most of the players on the team are Christian and are trusting Christ to meet the daily needs of them and their families.

Enjoy the pictures!

Street kids in Haiti

When you are a missionary, you are like a Mom - you have to be able to do almost anything at any time, with little notice with practically nothing.

This trip was like that for me. I drove 8 hours up to Cap Haitian, mostly in the dark following a diesel exhaust-belching bus (Thank God for A/C!). On the way back, I did the same thing, but lead the way most of the time. I took care of first aid, food for 40 and had to go to the airport (1 & 1/2 hour round trip) four times to pick up 30 lost suitcases.

But the best part of the trip for me were the spontaneous moments when Haitians crowded around us to see what we were doing. Many times this trip I took the opportunity to share my Christian testimony and the story of how I was shot and survived. Of course it helped that I had the bullet holes in my truck seat and door to show the doubting Thomas's. Many listened with rapt attention, especially the children. On the last day in Cap Haitian I was at a park waiting for the team to show up and get on the bus.

A few street kids started to gather around me so I gave them tracts. Right away, one of the boys started to read the tract outloud - he was so happy to have something to read in Creole! He read straight through the tract without stopping with the correct pronunciation and intonation! I was amazed and asked where he had learned to read like that (80% of Haitians can't read). He told me that before his parents had died, they had send him to 5 years of school. He said his Father had died in the earthquake, and that his mother had died of cancer 3 years ago. I asked him why he didn't stay with his relatives. He said his Grandmothers were dead, and the only relative he knew about was an aunt in Ti Riviere which was over 60 miles away.

His name was Gilot and he is 11 years old. My heart was breaking. I so wanted to take him home and train his sharp mind!! The best I could do was get the name of his Aunt and give it to our contact in Ti Riviere where we have a soccer team to see if he could locate the boy's aunt.

As I kept talking a dozen more boys showed up, so I called a friend from the hospital we had visited and asked him if he knew of any place that helped street kids. He said there was a ministry that gave them a hot meal once a day right at that plaza. The boys knew of it, but said they didn't serve food on Sundays. So I gave everyone some crackers and water and kept talking to them. Out of the 15 boys or so, 3 could read!

Back in the 60's I remember an advertisement for the Äftrican-American college fund that said "A mind is a terrible thing to waste". Please pray for these bright young boys who could help their country so much if given a chance, and the right spiritual training.

University of Moncton Days 3-5,Weds, May 4, 2011 to Friday, May 6

Days 3-5,Weds, May 4, 2011 to Friday, May 6

Today is the big day of the U-13 soccer final. Before that, we have a big day planned: We will visit three sets of students at two schools. In Haiti there is such a demand for education, that the state schools (public schools) and some private schools have Morning and afternoon sessions with completely different sets of students.

So at one school we are visiting today, we are going to play with the AM section in the morning, and the PM section at 1 PM. After that is the final of the soccer tournament we have sponsored.

Yesterday I met with a reporter of one of the biggest radio stations in Cap Haitian (Radio 4VEH). He is going to advertise for the game this afternoon.

The soccer tournament final attracted the largest crowd we have had to date, outside of the Games played in 2007 in the National Stadium. We estimate there were over 1,000 people at the game. The sound system was very powerful, and as I arrived at the game late, I heard Jean Paul sharing the Gospel with the crowd. The 30-40 Evangelistic Counselors we had trained the day before were all there and they asked people to fill out response cards after the presentation. As we reviewed the cards after the game, 32 people indicated that they had trusted in Christ. In addition, many others asked if they could study the Bible with one of the three local evangelical churches represented. We gave the response cards to the representatives from the local churches to follow up with and met with them the morning after the game to give them some money to buy cell phone time so they can call and make appointments with those interested.

The Amputee soccer team also was at the final game and were introduced to the crowd, who cheered them as they shook hands with the players who were about to have a penalty-kick shoot out because the game ended in a tie: 1-1. It always breaks my heart when a young player misses a penalty shot which allows the other team to win the shoot out, but this is what happened.

After the game, we did the drawing and took advantage of the crowd that had gathered to go over the Gospel one more time.

The next day I got up early and went to help the Amputee Soccer team train the newly formed team from Cap Haitian. I then went back to the airport to get another 13 suitcases that were lost in transit (this in addition to the 16 that I had picked up the day before!).

We also sent Ronald William off to San Rafael to deliver equipment to 4 schools there that we had worked with before. It was a 2 hour trip on two motorcycles with two heavy sacks tied to the back. When he and his partner got back they were exhausted and had bloodshot eyes from all the dust.

That afternoon we played the first-ever Amputee soccer game in Cap Haitian to a crowd of over 400 people. I refereed the game and it was great to see them play again. The game ended 2-1, but most of the relationships that were made will never end, because most of the players are Christians!

We played in an interesting way so that everyone could participate. The amputee players played in the center of the regulation-size field, with 2 Canadian student players on each team playing only on the wings, and not able to enter the middle of the field. Those who played in the game said it was one of the best experiences of the trip for them.

We had practice with the amputee team the next day before we joined the Canadians to go to the Citadel. The Citadel is one of the “wonders of the New World”. It is a huge fortress built on the top of a mountain at the cost of the lives of 20,000 “free” Haitians, who were forced by Henri Christophe to build his palace and fortress.

It was a very emotional moment when the Haitian Amputee Soccer Team climbed up the stairs and entered this historic place. Ironically, Henri Christophe, who had everything – wealth, palaces, fortresses, and an Italian wife, committed suicide after he had a stroke and became handicapped. In comparison, the members of the Amputee soccer team are for the most part very poor and handicapped, but most are Christian and so they have hope in Christ and so courageously go on living.
Later in the afternoon, the Amputee Soccer team sang three Christian songs, including Amazing Grace, inside the Citadel where the acoustics were fantastic. We just started singing and then the whole Canadian team were attracted to the sound and so crowded around. Then the Canadian team started singing. It was a moment in time we all will never forget!

After the visit, I asked the Amputee soccer team if they still had energy enough to stop by the hospital in Milot to see if there were any patients who needed encouragement and prayer. The immediately said “This is what we came to do!” They found one lady who had just had her leg amputated due to cancer. She was discouraged because the cancer had spread to her upper leg and now she might have to have another operation to remove more of her leg. They surrounded her, hugged her, sang for her and prayed for her!

Thanks for letting me be your hands and feet in Haiti and “walk in the good works that God has prepared me to do” for His glory!

University of Moncton Team Day 2

Day 2: This morning we got up and organized all the Christian books to be distributed on this trip. In total we will distribute 3,750 copies of the “25 Bible stories booklets” and hundreds of other Christian books including 30 New testaments.
We visited the largest school yet with over 650 students. One of the guards at this school was a leg amputee, and he got very excited when I told him about the visit of the Amputee Soccer team. He is going to try and get off from work to attend the training and game.

Right now I am sitting at a school way out in the country and the students are just leaving in their blue uniforms. It is amazing that the internet is working out here!
The most exciting thing is that this morning two people trusted Christ today during one of the trainings we did at school for those who want to help us with evangelism at Wednesday’s tournament final.

In the afternoon, the Canadian women played a friendly match against a group of Haitian women, some of who had played on the National team. The Canadians scored first on a perfect shot that went over the goalie’s head and into the back of the net. Then in the second half, the Haitian women scored on a deflection, so the game ended in a tie.

The Canadian goalie said she had never seen crowds that big in her 5-year University career!

We are expecting even bigger crowds tomorrow for the U-13 boys final!

University of Moncton Team Day 1

Day 1 (May 2, 2011)

For the past 2 years, AIS Haiti has had a partnership with the “Right to Play” club of the University of Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada. This club works hard to collect soccer equipment for us. Last year they arrived with over 60 bags of equipment which greatly helped our ministry.

They also help us by doing physical education activities with the schools we work with.

This year they came with over 100 bags of equipment and they are helping us open up a new territory in the North-east department of Haiti in a town called Terrier Rouge near Ft. Liberte.

The team of 36 students from the University of Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada arrived on May 1st after much trial. Some of their flights were cancelled due to bad weather in their area, and the airline said they wouldn’t be flying out until Tuesday. Eleven members of the team that could not get out of Halifax drove 10 hours to Montreal so they could arrive on time. They did not sleep for 3 days, and when they were re-united with the team in Port-au-Prince everyone cheered!
Monday, May 2, 2011 was our first day visiting schools in Terrier Rouge, and before our first school visit, we were greeted by the mayor who gave an address in the town square complete with music, singing and dancing!

Right now I am sitting in my car at a small school outside of Terrier Rouge and the team is playing with the kids who are laughing and having a great time.

At each of the schools we visit, we are giving them a booklet called “25 stories from the Bible”. In addition we are sharing with them a simple way to present the Gospel using the 5 “Gospel colors”. Today we gave out more than 1,000 of these books. As God’s Word goes out, we are praying for a great harvest.
Please be praying for us Wednesday as that is the day of the tournament final, and we will be doing evangelism at half-time!