To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
- Mother Teresa, missionary
Don't forget that your light is only as strong as the fuel you supply it with.
Are you satisfied with the status quo?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Reflecting
After being gone for 3 weeks the adjustment to coming back home and reality has been a little difficult. As well I am trying to catch up on my sleep. How do I describe to people here what I saw, experienced, as stories of surviving the floods and hurricanes I was told by the patients. I don't know but I must try. It's hard to listen to the negative comments back about the situation here at home and I keep reminding myself, "They don't know what the situation is, so I can't hold it against them." When I was talking to someone about the fact that child slavery is a HUGE issue still in Haiti, their comment back to me was "Yeah, but Mel slavery is a problem everywhere. We have slavery here in the US. I am a slave to my mortgage company." I just stood there in disbelief. I didn't say anything cause I thought maybe he was joking. He was not.
Are you freaking kidding me? Comparing trying to buy a house to a child being sold into slavery, beaten, maybe fed once in a while. No education, no hope. In a place where kids are fed dirt cookies so that way their little tummies can know what it feels like to be full, even if its just for a little bit.
I have to seriously deal with this or else it'll keep bugging me. Grace. Pure and simple. Love. Maybe its the sleep deprivation.
I have to keep educating. I have to tell others about their brothers and sisters who are suffering. Serving and missions work is in my blood.
Are you freaking kidding me? Comparing trying to buy a house to a child being sold into slavery, beaten, maybe fed once in a while. No education, no hope. In a place where kids are fed dirt cookies so that way their little tummies can know what it feels like to be full, even if its just for a little bit.
I have to seriously deal with this or else it'll keep bugging me. Grace. Pure and simple. Love. Maybe its the sleep deprivation.
I have to keep educating. I have to tell others about their brothers and sisters who are suffering. Serving and missions work is in my blood.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Haiti
Haiti, located only ninety miles off the coast of Florida, is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Although slightly smaller than the state of Maryland, Haiti has a population of seven million. The reality of Haiti was worse, so much worse than I expected.
And, at the same time, it was also so much better than I expected. The poverty, the despair, the pain, the suffering, the need...everywhere I looked I saw someone who was in need. Real people. Real need-not just for comfort but for survivial. And at the same time, I saw people praising and worshipping God with their whole hearts. I saw people praying and reading their Bibles. I saw laughter and joy in their eyes. I saw beauty. I saw love. I saw hope.
I learned that the rich women in Haiti use formula, and the poor women use flour and water, because it looks like formula, and their babies get sick and die.
Pray for us so God can give us wisdom to know what to do on our side.theese are truly some of the most honorable and humbling people I have ever met.
People from all walks of life. People from different churches. People from different states. Very different people all united by Jesus Christ. Brought together by God to do His work. To play a part in His plan
As I was reflecting on the trip and all of these people, God revealed several things to me. First, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. Clearly, I am inadequate for the task at hand, but God is more than enough, more than capable. (2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Phillipians 4:13) And He cares-He cares deeply for all who are lost and all who suffer. (Matthew 25:40; Matthew 25:45) I have a part to play in God's adventure and I must do what I can. Jesus said if you love me, obey me.
And lastly, God brought to mind that story about 2 friends walking along the beach that was just covered in starfish. Every so often, one friend would stop to pick up a starfish and throw it back into the ocean. The other friend was incredulous and asked why are you bothering with that, there are so many, you'll never make a difference. And the friend who was throwing the starfish said simply "It makes a difference to this one" as he tossed another one back.
So during the trip, I took action. I changed one diaper at a time. I held the hand of the mother who delivered a baby who did not survive. I held one (sometimes two or three) child(ren) at a time. I gave a drink of water to the little old man who just walked 5 miles to get medical care.. I picked up one crying child at a time. I rocked one child to sleep. One at a time, one need at a time. One bit of obedience at a time. All for God's glory. Did I change the world? Probably not. But maybe, just maybe, I changed the life of a person. Maybe some day that someone will change the life of another person and therefore change the world.
I want them to know that Jesus loves them. No matter what happens that is one thing that is True and cannot be changed. (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). I'm grateful to have had this opportunity. And I'm grateful that someone else obeyed and served, and shared this Good News, this Truth with me. And so now, I do my part and serve willingly, joyfully, gladly. (2 Timothy 1:8)
We certainly ARE the body of Christ, and that means being active and involved in taking care of all the parts, not just ourselves.
Please pray for Haiti. The impact from these storms is only just beginning. It is such a poverty stricken place. The storms have wiped out what little crops there were. the supply and demand for food and clean/safe drinking water causes increases in prices, shortages, and sometimes, riots and violence. There were riots and a coup in April of this year...over the increasing prices. These storms are only making bad things worse.
And I remind myself that this really isn't about me, it's God's plan and He will finish what He started.
It’s a perfect example of how it’s our hearts, and not our actions, that matter.
And, at the same time, it was also so much better than I expected. The poverty, the despair, the pain, the suffering, the need...everywhere I looked I saw someone who was in need. Real people. Real need-not just for comfort but for survivial. And at the same time, I saw people praising and worshipping God with their whole hearts. I saw people praying and reading their Bibles. I saw laughter and joy in their eyes. I saw beauty. I saw love. I saw hope.
I learned that the rich women in Haiti use formula, and the poor women use flour and water, because it looks like formula, and their babies get sick and die.
Pray for us so God can give us wisdom to know what to do on our side.theese are truly some of the most honorable and humbling people I have ever met.
People from all walks of life. People from different churches. People from different states. Very different people all united by Jesus Christ. Brought together by God to do His work. To play a part in His plan
As I was reflecting on the trip and all of these people, God revealed several things to me. First, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. Clearly, I am inadequate for the task at hand, but God is more than enough, more than capable. (2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Phillipians 4:13) And He cares-He cares deeply for all who are lost and all who suffer. (Matthew 25:40; Matthew 25:45) I have a part to play in God's adventure and I must do what I can. Jesus said if you love me, obey me.
And lastly, God brought to mind that story about 2 friends walking along the beach that was just covered in starfish. Every so often, one friend would stop to pick up a starfish and throw it back into the ocean. The other friend was incredulous and asked why are you bothering with that, there are so many, you'll never make a difference. And the friend who was throwing the starfish said simply "It makes a difference to this one" as he tossed another one back.
So during the trip, I took action. I changed one diaper at a time. I held the hand of the mother who delivered a baby who did not survive. I held one (sometimes two or three) child(ren) at a time. I gave a drink of water to the little old man who just walked 5 miles to get medical care.. I picked up one crying child at a time. I rocked one child to sleep. One at a time, one need at a time. One bit of obedience at a time. All for God's glory. Did I change the world? Probably not. But maybe, just maybe, I changed the life of a person. Maybe some day that someone will change the life of another person and therefore change the world.
I want them to know that Jesus loves them. No matter what happens that is one thing that is True and cannot be changed. (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). I'm grateful to have had this opportunity. And I'm grateful that someone else obeyed and served, and shared this Good News, this Truth with me. And so now, I do my part and serve willingly, joyfully, gladly. (2 Timothy 1:8)
We certainly ARE the body of Christ, and that means being active and involved in taking care of all the parts, not just ourselves.
Please pray for Haiti. The impact from these storms is only just beginning. It is such a poverty stricken place. The storms have wiped out what little crops there were. the supply and demand for food and clean/safe drinking water causes increases in prices, shortages, and sometimes, riots and violence. There were riots and a coup in April of this year...over the increasing prices. These storms are only making bad things worse.
And I remind myself that this really isn't about me, it's God's plan and He will finish what He started.
It’s a perfect example of how it’s our hearts, and not our actions, that matter.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Arrival in Haiti
Melanie Thomas RN
Hard to believe just over a week ago, we were notified by MTI that a disaster team would be sent to Haiti, and I'm even more in awe that I would have the opportunity to return to this beautiful country once again tp serve. Our team of 6 made it up to here to Terre Blanche after a very LONG and BUMPY trek. Once again I've been blessed to be on a team with such amazing and gifted people.
We could see the damage caused by the hurricanes early in our trip.. Roads and bridges completely wiped out so we had to take lots of detours and "long way arounds". Lots of mud. All over we could see on the houses how high the water got, as they were still wet. As we got closer to Gonaives, our team got quieter...whispers of "Oh my goodness". It is even worse than we could have imagined. Houses still completely submerged under water. I could see just the roofs sticking out of the water. Every rooftop covered in furniture, clothes and belongings. We could see by the way in everything was thrown on the roof, the desperation people had to save what little they have. As we drove into Gonaives, there was mud everywhere, and I'm not talking about a little bit of mud on the road. What I'm describing is four feet of mud in around houses.. Most houses still have water coming out of the front door. Schools, buildings, hospitals, completely destroyed by the flooding.
I am reminded God has plan for each of us and a way for us to spread His love. What I saw today in the clinic as the workers showed up here at the clinic this morning with open arms, smiles and an eagerness to serve, this is what loving is all about. Most of these people have lost everything, their homes, their belongings and some family members. But yet they are here, serving. They may have lost everything, but ask any of them, and they will say "I still have hope. I have a God who loves me and will provide for me and my family. I must help my people".
How do you make sense out of a situation that, quite frankly, makes no sense. And while none of us have the "whys", we have something even greater. We have a blessed hope. We have peace that passes understanding. We have a joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is so important that we, as believers, rise to the situation and be the light to the world....the city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden.
Because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we CAN be the strength that others need to see. We can and must be Jesus to the world.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Christ Jesus, the Father of of compassion and the God of all who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those with the comfort we, ourselves, have recieved from god. 2 Corr 1:3-4
Hard to believe just over a week ago, we were notified by MTI that a disaster team would be sent to Haiti, and I'm even more in awe that I would have the opportunity to return to this beautiful country once again tp serve. Our team of 6 made it up to here to Terre Blanche after a very LONG and BUMPY trek. Once again I've been blessed to be on a team with such amazing and gifted people.
We could see the damage caused by the hurricanes early in our trip.. Roads and bridges completely wiped out so we had to take lots of detours and "long way arounds". Lots of mud. All over we could see on the houses how high the water got, as they were still wet. As we got closer to Gonaives, our team got quieter...whispers of "Oh my goodness". It is even worse than we could have imagined. Houses still completely submerged under water. I could see just the roofs sticking out of the water. Every rooftop covered in furniture, clothes and belongings. We could see by the way in everything was thrown on the roof, the desperation people had to save what little they have. As we drove into Gonaives, there was mud everywhere, and I'm not talking about a little bit of mud on the road. What I'm describing is four feet of mud in around houses.. Most houses still have water coming out of the front door. Schools, buildings, hospitals, completely destroyed by the flooding.
I am reminded God has plan for each of us and a way for us to spread His love. What I saw today in the clinic as the workers showed up here at the clinic this morning with open arms, smiles and an eagerness to serve, this is what loving is all about. Most of these people have lost everything, their homes, their belongings and some family members. But yet they are here, serving. They may have lost everything, but ask any of them, and they will say "I still have hope. I have a God who loves me and will provide for me and my family. I must help my people".
How do you make sense out of a situation that, quite frankly, makes no sense. And while none of us have the "whys", we have something even greater. We have a blessed hope. We have peace that passes understanding. We have a joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is so important that we, as believers, rise to the situation and be the light to the world....the city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden.
Because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we CAN be the strength that others need to see. We can and must be Jesus to the world.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Christ Jesus, the Father of of compassion and the God of all who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those with the comfort we, ourselves, have recieved from god. 2 Corr 1:3-4
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