Written by April Perry, Chairman, Board of Director, Luke’s Mission Sunday June 18, 2010, Miami International Airport
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It was only 16 days ago that I sat with Shelia crying, in this same restaurant, nearly in the same table, at the Miami Airport as we waited in between the same flights I am waiting for today.
As I tried to pray for our food that day, I found myself so saddened that all I could do was ask the Holy Spirit to intercede to the Father on behalf of the orphans and our dear friends in Fondwa, Haiti because the words for what I wanted from Him just couldn’t come to me–I was so upset. I just asked Him to know my heart.
64 orphans and 14 nuns live in this tin shelter in Fondwa Haiti
Now that we were back on our own turf, that day a little over two weeks ago, it was harder to deal with the discrepancy between the lunch that was spread out before us and what we had just seen–64 children living in a tin shanty with mud floors laying on mattresses strewn across the ground in the torrential Haitian rainy season storms.
inside the Fondwa Orphanage
We had seen our beloved friends, Srs. Carmelle and Simone, two dedicated angels of mercy, and their 12 trainees, living on the other half of the same shelter. They had actually joked about having to hold their feet up when they were sitting down on their beds to avoid the rivers of water that made their way through the shelter. When confronted with horribleness of the situation from my perspective, they only answered, “This is the life God has given us and we will accept it.”
In the restaurant, Shelia and I just couldn’t settle ourselves about the situation. We had both seen many difficult things in Haiti over the past 10 years but this was clearly the worst situation we had seen. Both of us had spent sleepless nights in Haiti after seeing it. To say we were unnerved would have been a gross understatement.
At that table in the Miami airport, 16 days ago, we both made a commitment to do what we could to see that the situation would change and change soon. Even as we said that, we knew the extreme limitations we brought to this situation.
Luke’s Mission is a small organization. Shelia and I both have day jobs. Our work in Haiti, while near and dear to both of our hearts, is what we do in our spare time. Our projects have mostly been driven by what financial resources we had available to us from our dedicated donors and those who believe in our work. We had specifically made the decision long ago not to take on large projects like this because they were beyond our resources-both in time and money.
But this time, we found ourselves deciding to move forward with a project prior to having any idea where the funding would come from. To make it even more challenging, we needed that funding quickly because of the desperateness of the situation.
I had begun to do what we could even before I left Haiti. The night before we left Haiti, I had sent an email to our friends asking them to pray for guidance for us as we struggled with this situation. I found out later that our pastor read this email to the entire church on Sunday morning in all three services-while we were still in Haiti. Even then, an obedient servant, whom I will discuss later, had already begun to think about helping us.
Although I couldn’t imagine how it would happen, I said to Shelia that day, sitting in the Miami airport restaurant, much the same way I am sitting here now, “Wouldn’t it be a fabulous testimony to the power of God and how He works if we will only be obedient to Him, if even now He was getting things in place for us to get this project going quickly.”
Did I believe that would happen-No. I will admit my lack of faith. But at least I acknowledged it was possible-weak faith from me or not.
We had set a completely unrealistic timeframe of two weeks. The situation was critical. Children’s health was at stake here.
Who could raise $25,000 in two weeks–especially me?
I am not a salesperson. I am more likely to say something like-if you don’t want to buy this, that’s really OK and walking away instead of applying the “salesmen’s pitch”. But I could tell a story well. And I thought I can tell this story.
Two weeks–unbelievable. We usually waited at least 6 months to hear back from grants we have applied for. And we also knew everyone was tapped out from their recent donations to the earthquake relief efforts.
Even then, before we left Haiti, the Lord was working in the hearts of His servants-despite my lack of faith. When made aware of the need, several of our supporters came through in big ways. One even wrote back that they were on vacation in Europe but wanted to give. Could we wait until the end of the week to get the money?
Another wrote and told us that a large sum was on the way–he just wanted us to know we could count on it. One person even came over to our house to bring the check. One young mother wrote to us and said she couldn’t give a lot but she wanted to give and hoped that many small contributions like hers would add up. We continued to receive checks-small and large. And by the beginning of last week, we had the seed money we needed to start-every single contribution was precious to us and will be honored by the Lord.
But then we had a faithful partner tell us that they were interested in this project. Bob Herdman of Hands and Feet Project (www.handsandfeetproject.org) was a person I had sent the email to before I even left Haiti. Luke’s Mission had partnered with HAF last fall on an agricultural project. They have a couple of orphanages they run in Haiti. Thiers’s is an amazing story I hope I can tell you sometime.
They are committed to the orphan population in Haiti and are committed to Jesus too. (Bob is the founder of the contemporary Christian band-Audio Adrenaline for those of you who can relate to that.)
The Lord was already working. Bob had scheduled a trip to Haiti the week following our return. We made arrangements for him to meet Sr. Carmelle while he was in Haiti with some of his board members. Meeting Sr. Carmelle, one doesn’t come away untouched by the power of Jesus’ love to the poor and orphaned children. She is the hands of Jesus. You know it right away. Hands and Feet Project came through when we needed them. We are so grateful for their love for the Haitian orphans and their support of our work in Fondwa. They gave us a generous and substantial gift to continue to get the shelters built.
We had plans drafted, got workers in place, coordinated with community leaders and the Sisters on a location, time frame, logistics and a shelter prototype.
Fondwa Shelters Project Team, Sr. Carmelle, Eden, Emmanuel and Smith, the boss
And, now 16 days later, here I am back from a quick weekend trip to make sure we are all going in the same direction with plans to start tomorrow. 16 days later. The Lord had worked it all out in 16 days.
I am now sitting in this same restaurant in the Miami airport, crying again, but for a very different reason.
I am overwhelmed at the power of the God we serve to literally move mountains for His beloved children in Haiti. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of His children and those who are following his mandate to care for the poor, widowed and orphaned. Whether a small or large contribution, the Lord only wants us to be obedient. He will bless us way beyond what we give. I have found this over and over in our work with Haiti.
Can I testify to the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior to make a way where there seems to be now way? Yes, and not just with this situation, but over and over again in my life. This is just one time. I am a living testimony of that.
Thank you to each person who offered up prayers, sent words of encouragement and reassurance our way, and contributed financially to this project. We cannot express our gratitude on behalf of the children and nuns in Fondwa.
We have assurances from the builder in Haiti that the first shelter will be ready to move into by Friday at noon. So, on this coming Friday, 32 children will experience in a very tangible manner the faithfulness of the Lord as they move into their new home.
For me it will be the house that love built.
We still have more money we need to raise more funds for this project. If you want to be part of this exciting work of the Lord, you can mail checks to the addreess below.
Luke’s Mission 1403 Mason Road Durham, NC 27712
Not to us but to Him be all the glory
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