The time has come for us to leave our friends once again. As is always the case, I feel conflicted about leaving. This trip, more than any before, has bonded our friendships as lafanmi (family). We have painted the walls and windows of a church, helped 'Ma Pas' (Sydney's nickname, short for Madame Pastor) with the children's feeding program for the children at the tent city at Beaudoin, visited an orphanage, met with the church ladies, and given English tutoring to interested people in the church. (They also tried to teach us a bit of Creole...mostly we made them laugh.).  We also attended church services both on Sunday and Wednesday at the Lutheran church. Marky and Sydney Kessa are blessed in ways that cannot be numbered. With a grace that knows no bounds. With a faith that reaches out and actually winds its arms around your middle and holds you tight. They are also burdened serving a country that has so much broken you have to reorient everything you have come to know and value.

The enormous need in Haiti is hard to explain to someone that has not seen for themselves. After three trips here, as well as reading the book "When helping Hurts", I do not believe that it is the role of Americans to fix the problems here. It is up to the Haitian people.

But all is not well here.

They need a leg up. Why did we 'win' in the lottery of life, and why did they 'lose'? What makes you or I any better then any of them? Last year, we left with more questions than answers. This year we leave with a sense of alignment and purpose. We were sent to tell their story. To help spread the word: Haiti needs us. And I think, we need them too. To remind us not to take water pressure for granted, (Hey, just for instance....) or adequate pest control (ok, that WAS a stab at Pastor....). In truth - We need them to take us by the throat and force us to look poverty, hunger, and hopelessness in the eye, and join with them to do something about it.  This week I have observed that they instead choose to take us by the hand, as they are prone to do with each other, and share a little of their heart, a little of their hurt, and a little of their struggle.

 You know what I see?  From children who live in the dirt, I see people who need to know they have a friend, a hand to hold, a hand that will always be there.
They need to see that we are lafanmi in God's eyes, and together we can live and grow together in faith and love.

Visit Trinity Lutheran Church in Urbana on Facebook to learn about the opportunities to help support our family in Haiti....