What are you going to do?

This is the big question everyone has been asking us since we returned to Northern Ireland in March.  We, naively thought things would be more normal by the summer and we would return to Haiti as usual in August.  The longer time went on and the longer we stayed in lockdown the more unlikely this began to look. We felt like we needed to make a decision rather that waiting around so we could sort out some practical things like where were we going to live, what were we going to drive, what about the boys school etc...

 After a lot of prayer and asking advice from others we have decided to stay in Northern Ireland for this incoming academic year before we return to Haiti in Summer 2021.  There are a few factors leading to our decision so let me just explain a few.   

One of the lessons we learnt from being evacuated is that we need to get Jacob his British citizenship (he currently only has a Canadian passport).  It was pretty stressful travelling back in March not knowing if Jacob would be allowed to travel with us because at that stage most countries were only open to their own citizens.  With all of the unrest in Haiti there is always a possibility of being evacuated so we need Jacob to have the same citizenship as the rest of his family! We are working on the forms now but they can take up to 6 months to process.  Getting a passport photo of a 2 year old is turning out to be impossible!

Jacob has also just started in speech therapy and we feel it will be important to continue with this so he can catch up developmentally before he is due to start pre school next September.

We are also in need of more support in order to return to Haiti and as you know, churches have been closed and we have been unable to go and speak anywhere.  There are some other practical things to sort out to do with our house and mortgage etc.

Therefore rather than continuing to wait until it is possible to travel we are looking at this time as an opportunity to do all of the above things.  When it is possible to travel Bill and I would both like to do separate trips to Haiti sometime over the next year to maintain our relationships and do our work in person.  The airports in Haiti are now open but the US still has it borders closed to anyone coming from the UK even if its only for transit.  Bill would have liked to go to Haiti for the beginning of the semester in September but right now it doesn't look like this is possible. 

Bill will continue on his role as registrar working remotely and alongside his assistant Rujerry who is in Haiti. He will also be teaching three courses online this upcoming semester. Schools and universities are able to open in Haiti from 10th August so Emmaus is planning to start on 31^st August. 

I will keep supporting Altidor and Echebert through video calls and also run the Bethesda facebook page and be involved in fundraising for the new clinic.

This was not an easy decision to make, being away for a year seems like a long time but like every time we leave somewhere and go somewhere else it is bittersweet.  Just knowing we have extended time with family and friends and we don't have to try and see everyone as much as we possibly can as many times as we can in our usual 6 weeks is great. 

The boys are loving spending time with their friends and family and enjoying all the things we don’t get to do like playgrounds, forests, ice cream, playing with other people toys (Joels favourite!), strawberries, raspberries, yogurts.... ok there could be a whole post on foods so I'll stop there. 

Thank you all for your support and prayers over the last few months.  It’s been a very strange, unsettling time with not knowing now what we were going to do.  But we have a plan and know what is coming next we can actually settle into life in Northern Ireland for a while. 

Next task - move house (again!)!! 

Big news from Emmaus

Dr. Guenson Charlot has been chosen as the next president of Emmaus University of Haiti! In the middle of the many great challenges Emmaus, Haiti and the world are facing, the Emmaus family has seen the Lord's unwavering faithfulness throughout the search process and through the preparation and provision of Dr. Charlot as the next leader of Emmaus.  "I am truly humbled and honored that God has chosen me to be the next President of Emmaus University to continue the work of His Kingdom in Haiti," says Charlot. "Emmaus University is one of the few establishments with a strong, unwavering commitment to see sustainable change in Haiti by equipping Christ-like redemptive leaders to serve at every level in Haitian society."  "It is a privilege for me to be part of an institution that does three critical things" Charlot continues.  "First, it enables it's servant leaders to influence the influencers of our country. It also works to correct the inaccurate view many Haitians have of Christianity being a colonial religion that is here to exploit, enslave, and destroy Afro-Haitian identity, dignity, and culture. Finally, it strengthens discipleship within the Church, which is the only way the Gospel can meaningfully influence the worldview and belief system of our people."      Chairman of the EU Board of Trustees and president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary, Dr. Brent Sleaseman, says "On behalf of the Emmaus University Board of Trustees, I am excited to welcome Dr. Guenson Charlot to the role of President. It is clear that the Holy Spirit is at work! The Board is unanimous in our support of Dr. Charlot and we are looking forward to fulfilling the mission of Emmaus as we move forward together." "Having known and ministered alongside of Dr. Charlot for more than 10 years," says former Emmaus president Dr. Matt Ayars, "I have no doubt that he is the man for this job, and precisely at this time. Guenson's anointing for leadership has been proven again and again through his capable and Spirit-filled guidance at Discipleship Church and at Emmaus over the years." "The combination of Dr. Charlot's love for the Lord, excellence in the classroom, proven organizational leadership, and informed cultural engagement will serve him, and the Emmaus family, well," Dr. Ayars continues. "God has done a tremendous work over the past decade at Emmaus, and I believe the best is yet to come!" Dr. Charlot earned his Diploma in Theology from Caribbean Wesleyan College in Jamaica, his MDiv from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Mississippi (where Dr. Ayars is now president), and his DMin in 2019 from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.   He is married to Mrs. Claudia Charlot of Jamaica, and together they planted (2012) and minister at Discipleship Evangelical Chuch in Cap-Haitien, a vibrant congregation of new and life-long believers growing in their faith. He has also taught courses such as Biblical Preaching, Theology, and New Testament Studies at Caribbean Wesleyan College (Jamaica) and at Emmaus University, is the National Coordinator for Langham Preaching in Haiti, the Haiti Field Director for International Fellowship of Bible Churches, and participated in translating and recording the Jesus Film in Haitian Creole. Emmaus University exists to equip Christ-like redemptive leaders for the transformation of Haiti, the Caribbean, and beyond. We do this through undergraduate and graduate-level training rooted in the Wesleyan-holiness tradition. EU is committed to making disciples, church planters, and transformative leaders, as well as academic rigor and a world-class education. Join us in lifting up Emmaus, and Dr. Charlot, during this time of transition! Let us carry on faithful, together. Stacey Ayars, for the Emmaus family Emmaus University of Haiti | info@emmaus.edu.ht| emmaus.edu.ht

Obedience

Four years ago today we left our home at 5.30 in the morning with Sam who was 2 and Joel, just a baby at 4 months old to move to Haiti.

The past four years have been extremely challenging, unbelievably tiring and very stretching.

I could write about some of the challenges and things that have just been really hard about living in Haiti but over the past few weeks through reading other missionary stories, through His word and in particular a podcast I've been listening to the Lord has been changing my perspective. 

I've decided to leave out the hard bits and just share with you some of my highlights from the past four years.

First is Yvelinda.  I have always wanted to work in paediatrics but with the way things have turned out I've never got the opportunity or the training I really need so I feel very out of my depth when I am treating any kids at bethesda (plug if you are a paeds PT or OT I would love you to come and visit one day and teach me, Altidor & Echebert everything you know!).  Yvelinda was one of my very first paediatric patients in January 2017 with cerebral palsy.  On her first appointment she was unable to hold her head up, she was unresponsive, her fists were clenched and her mum has been to a lot of clinics and each time was not given any appropriate treatment. I gave her mum some simple advice and told her to come back in a month.  Yvelinda has been coming ever since and its been lovely to watch her develop. 

Today she can hold her head up, sit up on her own, she uses both hands to play, she is starting to say some words and she is working on standing up.  Two of the best moments happened during two different PT teams.  In Dec 2018 she received a wheelchair and she loved it! Actually she cried when we took her out of it!  Secondly was when we put her in the standing frame for the first time.  This photo says it all.

Second is Altidor and Echebert.  When I first started working I was on my own, two days a week in a very small not really good for therapy room. In January 2018 Altidor joined me in a new purpose built therapy room.  I had met her at some other physio meetings and what stood out to me about her was her commitment.  I recommended her to Dr Rodney not knowing that he knew her family and had already thought of asking her to join the team.  She worked for months voluntarily before we were able to pay her.

Then a year later we need another PT, we advertised and interviewed and Echebert joined our team.  I couldn't ask for better people.  They are both extremely dedicated to what they do, willing to learn, going above and beyond what is required of them and our patients love them. They are both studying psychology at the weekends so they can help their patients better and learning English so they can communicate and learn from our PT teams.  In October of last year bethesda was in a very poor financial position and Dr Rodney had been explaining to our staff the situation.  After the meeting Altidor and Echebert both told me they would be willing to work without any pay until bethesda was in a better financial position.  I am so thankful to God for sending Altidor and Echebert not only to work with me but as friends.  They help me learn so much about language particularly technical medical language, culture which goes so deep and show me a different side of  the people of Haiti.

In December the PT team presented them with an ipad to help with their learning, so they can keep in contact and take photos and videos of patients who they are having difficulties with.  To say they were shocked is an understatement!

Third is the southwest baptist university.  Three years ago I had no idea that university even existed.  I had been communicating with one of their teachers Bev for about a year before I met her when she brought the first SBU team to Bethesda in January 2018.  After 18 months of working alone in a hot, dark room to having a team of physio's including two specialists with bags and bags of equipment in a brand new room was amazing.  Each morning they treated patients and I tried to learn as much as I could from Sarah the paediatric physio, then in the afternoons they ran education courses for 20 Haitian PTs.  I cried everyday I drove home that week, I was so overwhelmed at their commitment to what I was doing alone and it felt like they had come just for me. 

They then sent another team in December 2018 and December 2019, everytime they bring in all our equipment and supplies which we can't get in Haiti. I literally cannot put into words how helpful and encouraging these teams have been.  Their support to me, Altidor & Echebert has been wonderful not only when they are with us in Haiti but anytime we have questions we just send some photos and videos and have a team of people ready and willing to respond.  They also work alongside our staff, patients and translators.  On the teams last day one of our translators told them  that he had translated for many medical teams and had never  been treated so well and felt like this team treated him like family. That is a testimony to their humility and willingness to serve.  SBU have committed to sending PT teams at least once a year and it is them who are really training Altidor and Echebert.

Fourth is the things our boys get to experience that so many kids will never get to do.  These boys have been on so many long haul flights it's ridiculous, they have flown in a 9 seater plane, they have met people from all over the world, they get to play outside barefoot everyday, they get to swim at a Caribbean beach, they get to go on a wooden boat, they get to see and experience a different culture, they get to travel and best of all they get to see what is really important in life and what really counts and that is being obedient to God and going where he asks you to go.  There are many times when they miss their cousins or want to go back to Bangor but they know God has asked us to live in Haiti right now so that's where we are. 

I could keep going and talk about a  mobile clinic to Roque, giving Yverose a job, watching a stroke patient move her hand for the first time in years, seeing the malnourished twins now thrive and doing home visits but this post is already too long!

Despite all the challenges, which aren't really challenges compared to many other missionary experiences, our decision to be in Haiti for right now (or when we are able to return I should say!) is about being obedient to what we believe God has asked us to do. And as a result of that obedience this is just a little glimpse of what we get to be involved in and how we get to see God work first hand in our lives and in other lives and we would not change it.  Everyday in Haiti has its challenges and its a struggle but I love being part of something that is changing people's lives.

 That is a privilege. 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning, 

great is your faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3 v 22-23 

Praying

I've learnt a lot about praying this past year, sometimes circumstances put you in the position where you have no other choice but to pray and its good for your faith. Here are just a few examples of God answering prayers for me over this past 9 months.

When Haiti was going through the long period of political unrest from September to December, Bethesda never once closed.  All of our staff were going through road blocks, getting rocks and bottles thrown at them and going in public transport (which was twice the price) to get there.  If they were making that kind of effort then it was important that I, in my own car, should also make the effort to go.  On my work days I would wait for Junel (who works at Emmaus and comes from Vaudrieul where the clinic is) to see how the roads were then drive to the clinic.  Thankfully there was never any trouble on the drive from Emmaus to Bethesda.

A section of my daily drive to work or school

I always made sure I was able to leave before 3, as usually the roadblocks would be later in the day but there was no one to ask about the way home so I got in the car, prayed and drove home.  Emmaus is kind of out in the country and there is one stretch of the road where there is no one about, the road is terrible so you need to drive slow and the area has a bad reputation. So I would pray a little harder.  Everytime I drove around that stretch of road I would ask for God's protection.  Then later when the boy's school opened and many other schools were still shut,  I would be driving home alone with the boys and I would do the same thing, pray for our safety the whole way home.  And the Lord answered.  We always made it home safely.

Around mid October Bethesda had finally found a piece of property after more than 6 months of searching but there was  one  pretty big problem.  We had no money to buy it and the property cost $220,000 (US) which by the way,  is very reasonable for its location, land in Haiti is crazy expensive. We had a $50,000 loan from a donor which we were able to use as a down payment, a payment plan was agreed on with the owner and the final payment was due in May 2020.

The new property

I felt the Lord telling me to ask for the money for the property to come in by the end of the year.  I shared this with our board and our supporters and we started praying.  I am sure many people thought there was no way we would be able to raise this much money in such a short period of time. All throughout December funds came in and kept coming and by early January once everything was counted up we had the full $220K to pay off the property.  The Lord had answered our prayer.   Not only did he answer our prayer for funds but He also put together a design / construction team filled with highly skilled people.

A render of what a new Bethesda may look like

Have you every tried travelling on a 9 hour flight, with less than 24 hours notice that you have to leave, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, with 3 small kids who normally don't stay still long enough to even sit and eat their dinner? Then connect to another flight for another couple of hours when your body clock is telling you it’s the middle of the night.  It should be awful, there should be tears and tantrums and screaming and very stressed out parents.  The 9 hour flight actually turned into on the plane for 11 hours because it sat on the runway for 2 hours before we took off.  We don't normally go through an 11 hour time period in our house without someone crying or melting down (usually its Bill!!!😃).....anyone with toddlers & young children understands how that is.  But we did, we traveled for a long time,  about 40 hours I think and not one of the boys had a single meltdown, there were a few tears and the parents were a little stressed but given the circumstances it really did all go well. I really think this is because of the prayers of God's people calming our kids for that time.

We said goodbye to Miss Pam in Paris as she got her connection to Manchester.

While living in Haiti over the past four years there are so many things which happen where I wish I could help, where I wish I could fix the situation but I can't.  All I can do is pray and its probably the best thing I can do.  I have one friend who always tells me, 'Julie I can't do anything for you to say thank you, I can't give you anything but what I can do is pray and I pray for you everyday.'  In fact even now, she is very worried about us because she hears how bad things are in Europe.  How ironic, she is sitting in her house, most days with no idea what she is going to give her 3 children to eat, never mind how they will ever afford to send them to school when it opens and she is praying for me because of our difficult situation. That is the best gift she could give me.

Before I had kids I was much better at praying, I was able to set time aside to pray with no interruptions or without falling asleep!  Now I have learnt to pray when things come to mind rather than waiting until my quiet time.  I think it was Spurgeon who said I rarely pray longer than 15 minutes but I rarely go 15 minutes without praying.  That may not be the exact quote but you get the idea.

I am so thankful for the many people praying for us especially those OMS prayer warriors who spend hours everyday praying for missionaries.  A friend recently told me of her granny who has a pile of prayer letters and prayer cards and prays through them everyday! How humbling to think of how faithful these people are.

So please keep praying for us.  We really have no idea when we will get back to Haiti, somedays I read the news and it feels like its going to be a really long time before we can but we take comfort in the fact that God knows.

It is also really hard to be here and not be able to see our family and friends.  I know everyone is struggling with that so you can identify with how we feel.  The boys are mostly doing ok, they often ask when we are going back to Haiti, or when they can go to grannys house or when they can play with their friends.

Please keep praying for Haiti too, while reported numbers of coronavirus are still low there are many other problems which have been been there for a long time but are getting worse because of the pandemic.

Pray for Emmaus, they are using whatsapp to finish the semester which isn't ideal but the only possible way right now.  Our neighbours, the Ayars, have moved to Jackson Mississippi where Matt has taken the job of president of Wesley Biblical Seminary.  Pray for Emmaus board as they search for a new president.  Pray also for the Ayars, this is a massive change after 12 years in Haiti and they also had to leave with less than 24 hours notice so had no opportunity to see anyone or say goodbye.

Pray for Bethesda, clinics all across Haiti are struggling.  People are so scared to go incase they get coronavirus but many people are suffering from all sorts of other illnesses.  Bethesda moved its staff to a 50% work schedule which was an extremely difficult decision for Dr Rodney and the board to make given the circumstances.  To pray more specifically for Bethesda, tomorrow is our monthly half day of prayer and you can join us in praying here.  You can also download the May prayer guide here.

I guess what I have been learning is already written and promised in God's word, its just a matter of having the faith to believe it.

Matthew 21 v 22 

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive , if you have faith. 

Mark 11 v 24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. 

John 15 v 16 

You did not choose me, but I choose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you. 

Ephesians 6 v 18 

praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication for all the saints 

Colossians 4 v 2 

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

What's going on in Haiti?

We have been trying to stay in touch with friends in Haiti as much as we can so we can see how things are.

As of today there have been 40 confirmed case of coronavirus and 3 deaths with the majority of these cases being in Port au Prince. I know it doesn't sound like a lot at all when we compare to how things are in other parts of the world but only 439 tests have been done out of a population of 11 million people.  It is highly likely the cases are much higher than will ever be reported.

The big concern for Haiti is that there are more than likely no hospitals prepared for this pandemic if things were to get much worse. It is estimated there are less than 50 ventilators in the whole country and some of these probably do not work.

Government advice is to stay home, wash your hands, if you need to go out stay 2m away from other people.  Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and like many of us schools, universities and churches are all closed.  Haiti's president has said these measures we will be in place until the end of June.

But, it is almost impossible to social distance, to bulk buy, to stay home when the only way you can survive is to buy the little food you need for each day, everyday.

It is impossible to wash you hands every time you touch something or someone when you don't have running water at home or maybe even can't afford to have everyone in your house to be using up the soap so quickly.

Needless to say the damage coronavirus could do to an already very damaged Haiti doesn't bear thinking about.

Here are the measures Bethesda has put in place to protect our staff and patients and try to stop the spread of the virus.

• A hand washing station has been set up at the gate
• A triage unit has been set up at the gate
• A barrier has been put in place and the physio room will be used as a isolation room.
• Markers have been put on the ground to ensure social distancing 
• Extra chairs have been set out for social distancing 
• Staff devotions have been split into 4 groups
• Patient devotions have been split into groups
• Extra cleaning materials have been bought
• Dr Rodney is  looking for PPE for our staff
• All patients are educated on a daily basis as to how they have protect themselves

Today we are having our monthly day of prayer where we are encouraging anyone who wants to join us in praying for Haiti and for Bethesda to sign up for a 30 minute slot so we can have the whole day covered in prayer.  We still have a few slots left and if are able to commit to praying please click here and sign your name up.

You can also download our April prayer guide  which will give you some guidance on what to pray for.  

Emmaus has obviously been closed since the first two cases were announced as Haiti closed all its schools and universities. Emmaus administration has been meeting regularly to discuss how to move forward.  With most, if not all of our students having no electricity or internet at home it is impossible to use zoom for online classes.  There are just 5 weeks left of the semester and the administration would love to be able to have those completed before the new semester is supposed to start at the end of August.  Please pray for wisdom for the administration, pray for protection for our students and staff who are in Haiti.  

There are also lots or rumours going round about coronavirus, some people believe it doesn't even exist and the government has made it up to try to get money.  Other rumours include if you drink bleach water  or take choloroquine (a malaria medicine) you will be protected from the virus. 

Some in Haiti are preparing as best as they can, some are waiting and some are carrying on life as normal because they feel they have no other choice. 

Be thankful

We are getting used to be in another house ( the 5th house we have lived in the past 4 years) but not really getting used to the cold weather!  It's a hard time, not just for us, but for everyone.  Instead of complaining or losing perspective I've been trying to focus my mind on the many things I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful for being back in NI where if any of us needed medical care we would have it.
I am thankful for safe travels and for kids who travelled for 48 hours without one single meltdown.
I am thankful for a place to stay, a whole house with a garden for the boys to run about.

I am thankful for whatsapp which allowed us to stay in touch while travelling and for now which allows us to talk to our friends in Haiti and America and Canada.

I am thankful that we have done a lot of staying home over the last 18 months which means this is not a big adjustment for the boys.  Due to many periods of political instability school was cancelled and we didn’t leave the Emmaus campus for weeks at a time. So we are used to staying home and have already figured out what works (and what doesn’t) for our family.

I am thankful for the family of Christ.  We still cannot believe how many people were praying for us over this past week. How great it is to be united in Christ.  On the plane from Paris to Dublin we met an Irish guy (he was one of the 6 other people on the flight), of course he asked where we were travelling from and right away we told him we were missionaries in Haiti.  Turns out he was working in Paris but his reason for going was to be a missionary and share the gospel.  We chatted the whole way back to Dublin and it was just great to be able to talk to and share with something who has some of the same experiences as you.

I am thankful Carol was able to bring me in a new phone (my phone had broke a couple of weeks before that) just two weeks before we left Haiti.  Little did we know at that time how much we would need a good phone, with data and a good battery!  Otherwise I would not have been able to be in touch with the British embassy or stay in touch with my family the whole way home.

Don't be deceived by the sun...its freezing!

I am thankful to be able to make sandwiches with bread that I didn’t have to make myself, and buy ham and not have to ration cheese!

I am thankful for all those who left toys, clothes, colouring stuff and food for us.

I am thankful for my family who organised everything in the house for us and keep bringing us food as we are in quarantine.

I am thankful to be able to make dinner in 30 minutes and put the laundry away at the same time...who knew that was possible.

I am thankful that our boys are coping incredibly well considering we just dragged them half way across the world and can't tell them when they can see their family or friends or when we will be going back to our Haiti home.

I am thankful for running water, soap, electricity, the internet, central heating and the privilege to be able to stay home....almost all of our friends in Haiti cannot do this.

Our handwashing station at the entrance to Bethesda. 

I am thankful for Altidor and Echebert still working in the physiotherapy department and sending me photos and information I need to keep the facebook page up to date.

I am thankful for Yverose who will be checking our house a couple of times a week and feeding Bello, Bello (our cat!).

With so many unknowns about the future and no way to plan anything I am thankful that God is in control and all we need to do is trust and obey him and take it one day at a time.

Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation,

 by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 

present your requests to God. 

Phillippians 4 v 6 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Matthew 6 v 34 

Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 16-18