Highlights
January 2008
Phil Snyder - Editor
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Expect Something GREAT
In 2008
Expect Something GREAT
In 2008
Expect Something GREAT
In 2008
Phil Snyder
The observance of New Years is one of the most anticipated celebrations in Haiti; it is huge. It is a time of “out with the old, in with the new.” School will be closed from December 23 through the first week in January. Everyone will be busy sweeping their yards and tidying up their homesteads in order to start the New Year right.
It is a time marked with optimism for a people who have little else; a gateway from yesterday toward tomorrow, where sorrows, mistakes and grudges can be left behind and cannot follow, at least not immediately. It is a time to shed baggage, almost a national day of repentance, a time to wipe the slate clean, every year, year in, year out.
Those who can afford it will put the kettle on on New Year’s Day. The soup du jour will be pumpkin, of course, a thick yellowy stew with large macaroni noodles, potatoes, onions, dense dumplings I call dough boys and those incredible Caribbean spices. The more fortunate will have some goat meat in the pot. The day itself, and several days to come, will be marked by people meandering around from house to house, sampling the soup and catching up with their friends and neighbors. Haiti is a country where community is still community and New Year’s traditions keep community thriving.
New Year’s Day is a clean break from the past, an opportunity to ‘get on with life.’ One can sense it all over Haiti this time of year, like a fresh spring rain, revitalizing the human spirit. It is one of the ‘secrets’ of Haitian life, the glue that holds the collective together, keeps propelling it forward. It is the ‘magic’ that draws once bitter enemies back together.
Tomorrow I will return to Haiti. I will be hosting a group from Michigan for a week. Perhaps I will still have time to enjoy some pumpkin soup with my friends there. I hope so. This letter should arrive in your mailbox around the middle of the month, so I’m going to take the liberty to declare the rest of January ‘National Repentance Month.’ Check your closets, do you have any baggage you don’t want to carry into tomorrow? Get rid of it today. Lay it on the One who will turn it into joy. Do it today.
Next month, February, GLOW will enter into a new decade of service. I am thrilled at the prospects we can expect in 2008. My dad used to talk about the “Christian Adventure.” He loved Haiti and pioneered this legacy we follow, the “Christian Adventure.” February 8th will mark the exact beginning of a new decade. We will be entering our 11th year as GLOW Ministries International. We will also be observing 39 years since he first opened the door, what an adventure it has been!
Let us step into this new season with fresh optimism and faith. Let us be strengthened in the joy of serving. Look for the GREAT in 2008!
SOKsabei!!!
Rudy Vedovell
Nearing the end of my flight/ journey back to Cambodia this past November, I was in conversation with a Cambodian woman from Fresno, California. She told me she was going back to her village to offer help in various ways and about her frustration with giving money to the Buddhists; “they only seem to put the money toward building and improving the temples…I want to see the money go toward the people!” I say this not to pass any judgment on Buddhism, but use it simply to springboard me into the writing of this letter.
My heart and passion is for the people— especially the children. We at GLOW are first and foremost about investing in relationships; buildings and projects secondly. In the next few lines, I look forward to sharing thoughts of some of the relationships I’ve formed over the past 7 years with some precious people...
SPLISH SPLASH
I’m often asked— and rightly so— “What is it that you do while in Cambodia?” The answer is most often simply this: I play! This last visit I had the privilege, along with my team of 5 others, of taking about 150 orphans to the water park…it was an absolute joy!!! We literally took over the place! You can imagine the flurry and frenzy of activity with 150 kids that had never been to a swimming pool, much less a water park with slides and splish splash things. While standing in the exit pool of one of the water slides I had what I would call a Holy Moment: hearing the sounds of these children laugh and play I heard the voice of my heavenly Father expressing how pleased He was with the whole scene…it was such an awesome moment! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us!” 1 John 3:1 Much like a father, I just want to love on these kids and ‘lavish’ them with good things.
REPLICATION
Another highlight of this trip was catching up with and spending time with some of my older orphan friends. With it being 7 years that I’ve been coming to Cambodia, I’ve had the opportunity to watch these kids grow and mature into more than just ‘good kids’— but also exceptional, Godly leaders…Four of these kids have gone onto university and bound together to rent a 4 story apartment in the capitol city of Phnom Penh. On top of all the demands of their studies, they have also taken in 20 orphans, ranging in age from 3- 15yrs old. They have Bible studies, prayer, and praise and worship sessions 3 nights a week as well as their own church service on Sunday (due to the cost of transportation they have decided it best to stay home for church)! This is truly a good measure of the ‘fruitfulness’ of this ministry. It was inspiring to hear their vision of doing and expanding more and more as God guides and blesses. My only disappointment here was the lack of time to spend with these kids…I’ll just have to go back.
COMPASSION
It was good to get back to Wat Opot/Partners in Compassion— the AIDS family care center. I could write volumes on all the incredible changes and things going on here. Noteworthy is that the doors to the hospice have closed! It was not too many months ago that a relentless tide of death was taking an unbearable toll on this community of 100+. The grim task of helping people die has now turned into helping people live.With relief, some trepidation and lots of joy, this ‘Community of Hope’ has finally stepped out of the shadow of death (this is in large part due to the help of the ARV or Anti-retro-viral drugs). When my friend Wayne Matthysse opened the hospice nearly 8yrs ago he had not planned for a children’s center, so the youngsters had to take second place to the dying. These days, however, the children come first and I have to tell you, it is a joy to see. This place is no longer a place to die but a place to live— full of laughter and life!!
JIMFA
Do you remember my friend Phally (pronounced ‘Paulie’) from the UNACAS orphanage? The orphan who went on to seminary and then became the pastor of the 150+ church there? Well, since my last visit he has taken a call to be a church planter with a missionary outfit from Hong Kong called ‘Happy Tree.’ God has really increased this young 26 year old’s territory: in just 2 yrs he has planted 11 churches ranging from 35-85 people!! We will be looking into some ways that we can partner together. Pictured here is Phally and I with his fiancée, who he has renamed ‘Jimfa’ which stands for ‘Jesus Is My Father.’
After this last trip I’ve been encouraged and re-inspired in a number of ways to continue on in this work… I began the letter with ‘SOKsabei’ and highlighted SOK which stands for ‘Son Of the King’ …that about sums up how I feel right now; so blessed with such a rich web of relationships.
Thank you for your friendship and support!!!!
Bettie’s By-Line
This Christmas I was home in Florida alone so I asked myself "where should I go?” I always love to be with family but they are all so far away. I thought of my adopted Haitian daughter, Island. She came to us one morning many years ago thin, hungry and orphaned with no place to go. We took her in and gave her a home at the “Sonshine Inn” in Port au Prince. Our visitors loved her, she was always smiling and helping out. I called her Bon Bon which is Creole for candy. She would say, “Mommy calls me that because I am so sweet.” I made up my mind to go visit her family, they are now living in Orlando, FL. I had not seen her in two years. When I arrived she saw my car from way down the street and came running out shouting Mommy! Mommy! Her two teenage children were following behind her calling Grandmother! Grandmother! Bon Bon's husband was also in the parade. Immediately Bon Bon sat me down to a typical Haitian meal— rice, beans, fish and bananas. I was hungry. After an hour of conversation she said, “Mommy, you look tired.” It was only 7:00 pm and I had to laugh because she was right, I has not slept well for the last three days. She took me to her room, closed the door and told me not to come out until ten the next morning. What would I do all that time? I soon fell fast asleep and I slept and slept. It was just what I needed. At ten o’clock breakfast was ready. Beans rice mixed again, this time mixed with scrambled eggs. After breakfast we said our goodbyes and I went to my car loaded down with gifts. My car had been washed and polished while I slept. Truly a gift returned in such love I am packing for Haiti and the distribution of more shoes to two villages (we still need more shoes). We experience such joy when we bless these little ones, especially with their parents looking on. We are so blessed to give. You, our sponsors and donors make it possible. We give as to Jesus. Thank you for all the blessings of this great year. Come on over and we will make a special Coconut cream pie— straight from the tree.
In His Grateful Love Bettie
Not all orphans are cute little kids. This is Juni Alba, she is 26 years old and is a true orphan, both her father and mother are dead. She was blinded by a sickness when she was three years old. She is currently living in Port au Prince with her elderly grandmother, attending school in Cite Soleil. She is in the 11th grade. Life is very difficult for Junie, being blind makes it even more so. One of our directors in Haiti has been helping to support her in school but is struggling through the worsening economic situation. He (Maite Feronnel) has asked that I present her to our constituents in order to find her, and others like her, sponsors. Would you like to help sponsor Junie so she can continue to go to High School ? Please designate your gift to OIN (Orphans in Need). We’ll see that she stays in school.
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