Berdy was our Haitian interpreter in Haiti. Since I got back, he has kept in touch with my team and we're friends. I was talking to Berdy on the phone the other day and he said, "I want to tell you a story." And I said, "Okay, lets hear it!"
This is what he told me in his exact words:
(inserts in parentheses mine)
"When the earthquake happen, I was trapped in my house, and when I got out I find some of my friends and family and I thought they were dead. I was scared so I pray and God help me (he got saved). (I assume this is months after the earthquake) I told my friend, "I want to intern at Mission of Hope and he said 'you cannot'." and then I tell him, "Well but I want to go there and learn how to speak English, but still he tell me 'you cannot'." You see, he doubt me and he tell me I cannot do it. But I did not listen to my friend, I went to Mission of Hope and I start to learn how to speak English and I get an education, and it was very hard but I was so grateful. Then after three months I was at the Mission of Hope, they say, "There is a team coming, they are four girls and you will be their interpreter." I was so excited because they were my first team, and they were just angels and I love them so much, they were so nice to me and so much fun. And now I cannot wait for them to come back. The end!"
And then he laughs. Which is something Haitians do a lot when they know Jesus.
"Now I want you to tell your friends my story, okay?"
I laughed and said, "Sure thing, Berdy!"
Berdy is a very happy guy, even with the hard things he has faced in his life. He's several years older than us, but he likes rap music and praise music, and he loves the ocean and Facebook and being an interpreter. He made our week fantastic and we really appreciated him. Hope you guys enjoyed his story, let me know what you think!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Intensity
Feels like the past fourteen days have been terrifying. Running from tornados, unsure about the safety of friends and family, and even yesterday wondering if we still had a house. But we got home safely with no damage to our house. I was so thankful I cried. Thank you Jesus for protecting my family and everyone we know. I know a lot of people, and I don't think this is coincidence.
The past couple weeks have been the most intense storms in history as far as thunderstorms and tornados go. Most people aren't aware that we had a couple of earthquakes too. We're seeing things we have never seen before, and its time for more people to start suitin' up and getting ready for more in the years to come. Especially Christians.
But we cannot, CANNOT forget to praise Jesus in all of this. He is our shield and protector, and as for me I will trust Him alone.
"I will praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands. You are who you are, not matter where I am. And every tear I've cried, you hold in your hands. You've never left my side. And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm."
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
From The Inside Out
This song has the most beautiful lyrics. "Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades. Never ending, you glory goes beyond all fame and the cry of my heart is to bring you praise. From the inside out, oh my soul cries out."
God is never ending, he does not change, and he hears us when we cry to him and ask him to come inside and help us work through our broken hearts. He hears us when we praise him and he loves it when we do! Do not forget to be thankful even when tragedies happen, God did not send the weather or the pain. He will be there for you in the thick of everything and love you regardless of what that may require. Do not give up.
Watch "Seventh Day Slumber - From the Inside Out" on YouTube
Monday, May 20, 2013
Tornados
Everyone please pray for everyone in Oklahoma. Some have lost homes, family members, lots have been injured, and there are more storms expected today.
When things like this happen, we always pray for the injured and lost. But shouldn't that be a constant thing we do? Why don't we pray even when there is no tragedy? There are always lost and hurt people, its just more obvious during times like this. Food for thought.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Lazy Teachers
Lately I have been hearing a lot about education and people yelling about how many kids drop out of high school every year, and this video just backs up my statement on this problem.
Just like with discissions of gun regulations, those in authority are blind to the root issue entirely. With the guns, the problem is in the people and society, not the weapon. In the light of education, the problem is the system. Ask any high school student, most of them will say school is:
*boring
*depressing
*annoying
*not interesting
And going to school makes them angry. So much that high school students even make posts on Twitter and/or Facebook like this:
"I walk into school like 'what up, wanna die'."
"Does anyone else ever get the urge to just push someone down the stairs at school?"
"Exams are just a test of my memory, not my intellegence."
I could give lots more examples, but the point is that this is obviously a very big problem with a lot of factors to weigh. I can't wrap up my full opinion in one sentence, so I will just let Jeff Bliss say it for me. Watch this video.
Note: I have been having some technical issues with my blog, so if there is no media showing, just search "Jeff Bliss" on Youtube and click on "jeff bliss, a high school student gives a lesson to his teacher at Duncanville".
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Deloze
Deloze. It means "lay it down" in Haitian Creole. It is pronounced, 'day-low-zay'.
As some of my readers know, I recently spent a week in Haiti and I just got back last Wednesday. The whole trip was amazing-the kids, the food, the music, just the people and culture in general were both shocking and fascinating. But for some reason it felt so normal to me. Minus the poverty, it seemed that the Haitians were thriving. Even the ones who were not Christian appreciated the things they had and the kids were very joyful and playful even though they probably had more life experience than any kid their age should. I thought, "Wow, this is the way we should all be living. Being thankful no matter what." I really miss them.
In Haiti, I prayed for God to show me something specific and help me pay attention and remember every single thing. I wasn't about to let the entire week pass and not get anything out of it, especially after working as hard as I did and paying 1500 dollars to go.
All week I was looking, and even though I was seeing new things, nothing had just jumped out at me yet. Tuesday night, the last night we were there, was when I finally saw it.
It was worship night at the Mission of Hope, and all the Haitians and even Americans were singing and clapping and by the end of the night there were hundreds of them all out in the rows and in front of the stage dancing, jumping and shouting. They sang a song I hadn't heard before (sometimes you can recognize the tune of American worship songs). It was a loud song and it just kept repeating at the end, "deloze, deloze, deloze, deloze." I could hear them all yelling it. Then I saw the English translation on the screen, and my mouth dropped.
I knew right then that God wanted me to lay everything down and let them go. Let go of people I hadn't forgiven, memories I held on to, things I feel responsible for, even the things I like that I maybe like too much. These people put us Americans to shame when it comes to sincerity and faithfulness to Christ. I was glad I could help them, but they also helped me learn some really important things about life.
Laying our things down is something that's really hard for humans to do; we grip our pennies so tight that we don't see that Jesus is offering us gold. I'm still working on it, but I've been able to let go of a lot of things since Haiti. Life is so much less painful when you choose to trust and let God take care of things that aren't in your control. I'm not perfect by any stretch, but because of him I have a much better chance and so do you.
Deloze.
As some of my readers know, I recently spent a week in Haiti and I just got back last Wednesday. The whole trip was amazing-the kids, the food, the music, just the people and culture in general were both shocking and fascinating. But for some reason it felt so normal to me. Minus the poverty, it seemed that the Haitians were thriving. Even the ones who were not Christian appreciated the things they had and the kids were very joyful and playful even though they probably had more life experience than any kid their age should. I thought, "Wow, this is the way we should all be living. Being thankful no matter what." I really miss them.
In Haiti, I prayed for God to show me something specific and help me pay attention and remember every single thing. I wasn't about to let the entire week pass and not get anything out of it, especially after working as hard as I did and paying 1500 dollars to go.
All week I was looking, and even though I was seeing new things, nothing had just jumped out at me yet. Tuesday night, the last night we were there, was when I finally saw it.
It was worship night at the Mission of Hope, and all the Haitians and even Americans were singing and clapping and by the end of the night there were hundreds of them all out in the rows and in front of the stage dancing, jumping and shouting. They sang a song I hadn't heard before (sometimes you can recognize the tune of American worship songs). It was a loud song and it just kept repeating at the end, "deloze, deloze, deloze, deloze." I could hear them all yelling it. Then I saw the English translation on the screen, and my mouth dropped.
I knew right then that God wanted me to lay everything down and let them go. Let go of people I hadn't forgiven, memories I held on to, things I feel responsible for, even the things I like that I maybe like too much. These people put us Americans to shame when it comes to sincerity and faithfulness to Christ. I was glad I could help them, but they also helped me learn some really important things about life.
Laying our things down is something that's really hard for humans to do; we grip our pennies so tight that we don't see that Jesus is offering us gold. I'm still working on it, but I've been able to let go of a lot of things since Haiti. Life is so much less painful when you choose to trust and let God take care of things that aren't in your control. I'm not perfect by any stretch, but because of him I have a much better chance and so do you.
Deloze.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Two-Faced Thrift Store
Down the street from my house, there is a cute little thrift store sitting next to a barbecue joint. My family and I have passed by it so many times, but never have gone in. There are windows all around it, so you can see some of the nice outfits on the manikins and the long rows of purses, jewelry, and mens watches at the front of the store.
From the outside, it seems like a good place for people to shop. Come and get the goods!
But the other day, my mom and my sister decided to finally go into this thrift store, and were not expecting what they found.
On the door, there was a sign that read, "All large bags will be checked". The customers and even the employees all looked rough and scary. The items you couldn't see from the outside were filthy. And it was obvious that the floor hadn't been swept or mopped in months. They began to feel creeped out by the eerie feeling in there and left without buying anything.
Sometimes what you see on the outside isn't what you think it is. This thrift store, like a lot of people, was two-faced. You can only tell so much about a person by looking at them, but once you get inside you see the real deal.
What does your thrift store look like?
From the outside, it seems like a good place for people to shop. Come and get the goods!
But the other day, my mom and my sister decided to finally go into this thrift store, and were not expecting what they found.
On the door, there was a sign that read, "All large bags will be checked". The customers and even the employees all looked rough and scary. The items you couldn't see from the outside were filthy. And it was obvious that the floor hadn't been swept or mopped in months. They began to feel creeped out by the eerie feeling in there and left without buying anything.
Sometimes what you see on the outside isn't what you think it is. This thrift store, like a lot of people, was two-faced. You can only tell so much about a person by looking at them, but once you get inside you see the real deal.
What does your thrift store look like?
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