What does it take to leave a group of worldly doctors awe-struck?

Jimmy Dodd recently forwarded this 8-minute NPR interview which features a team US medical professionals serving in post-quake Haiti.  Like many American perceptions of the Third World, it opens with darkness.  Widespread pain and poverty threaten to overwhelm.  However, as many have experienced, words of worship bring a ray of light, and soon hope fills the void.  Reality turns on its head as those who came to give are receiving; and to their great surprise, they find themselves in the midst of undeniable beauty.  This Gift transforms them, and life itself changes. Take a few minutes to listen.  Celebrate the story that God is writing, and know that He has invited you in as well!

 CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NPR SITE: http://wlrnunderthesun.org/2010/07/after-the-quake-patients-and-healers/

It Only Takes 10

Brothers John and Bill Snyder found The Global Orphan Project by “accident” and soon after made an earthquake relief trip to Haiti. When they returned to the states, John’s shared his experience with friends.  One neighbor’s ninth grade daughter was particularly impacted.

When her history teacher challenged her class to help hurting people in Haiti, this girl recommended they partner with The GO Project to do so.  That started a discussion which resulted in the creativity, initiative, and generosity described in a letter her teacher recently wrote to Trace:

Dear Trace,

Earlier this year, my 9^th grade class studied Haiti’s tumultuous past as a French colony of slaves who overcame Napoleon’s army to gain independence. In class, we learned about the Haitian people fighting against tyranny and oppression, not only against French colonizers, but also against their own corrupt regimes. In the wake of January’s devastating earthquake, Haiti is being forced to confront catastrophic loss and its historical demons. Haiti has needed our support before and Haiti needs it still.

Since April, Students in my 9^th grade global studies class at Hunter College High School raised $2,728 to support The Global Orphan Project’s work in Haiti. Each student in the class worked to find 10 people to donate $10 each. Why just $10? Well, we wanted to show that it doesn’t take thousands of dollars to make a difference. We wanted to create a network of people who care. Through this effort and an event we hosted June 16^th, students not only raised funds, but also raised awareness about the need in Haiti and the way The Global Orphan Project functions to create positive and sustainable change.

Lindsey

History Teacher

 

Two brothers want to help, stumble across The GO Project, and tell a neighbor their story.  Their captivated daughter sits in the class of an inspiring teacher at a public high school.  A project begins to develop a network of people who care to help children who need it.  We are so grateful for you, our GO Project family!

No Chance Meetings. No wasted days.

Earlier this summer, Alan Dietrich had a medical meeting in Haiti, which we hoped would help orphaned children receive more care.  During the day, a brief comment was made about a prosthetics facility for amputees.  “That’s a great work, but not that applicable to what we’re called to do,” Alan thought.  No formal partnership was formed, and Alan was a bit perplexed. Was this how he was supposed to spend his day?

This month, Kervins, a seven-year-old boy living in southern Haiti got in a accident that claimed his right leg just above the knee.  Alan remembered the prosthetics efforts north of Port Au Prince and made the call.  For the first time in his life, Kervins got in a car and drove to the city.  Today, Kervins is halfway there. He has a now he has a state-of-the-art prosthetic and is just learning to trust it. He will be in therapy all next week learning how to walk again. He is even having some fun!

 At The Global Orphan Project we are learning that,  when we are helping children, there are no chance meetings.  There are no wasted days.  Thank you for helping Kervins and so many children like him. 

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – Jesus, John 8:32

Around the 4th of July, we tend to think about freedom, and rightly so. Our Founding Fathers understood freedom. They knew freedom costs something. They knew that freedom is not doing whatever we want, whenever we want. Rather, freedom is the ability to be who we were created to be. Lies imprison. Truth liberates. Just ask Mary Long. God took her to Haiti to release her from a self deception and to give His daughter light, life – freedom.

Pulling You In – Mary Long

Seared deep inside I carried a belief that if I had been doing the right stuff for God, there would be material blessing to give evidence in my life. My reality has been the antithesis of that whole dream. In 2009, I had gone on a missions’ trip to Guatemala. I thought, “God’s going to show me how to be grateful for being poor.” Looking back, some of my motivation was quite selfish…I’m going to see these other people and be able to pick up from them this “being poor” business.

I started a new position with The Global Orphan Project in December 2009. We have orphanages in many countries, but were more focused on Haiti since the earthquake in January. My coworkers encouraged me to go on a trip. I decided to take the plunge, but I didn’t want to sightsee; I wanted to experience life with others.

We arrived in Haiti. One boy came up to me at the airport (where many people beg for money) and said with great sincerity, “I love you. God bless you”. He was looking into my eyes with such want. I wasn’t willing to look away, but I wasn’t willing to encourage him either. I wanted him to have dignity. I shut my heart at that point and became a detached observer.

One of my roles on the trip was to take Facebook pictures. I get out the camera/phone and realize there’s a message. I’d told my family that if there was an emergency this is how they could reach me. I listen to the message. The voice I hear is that of a young girl. She’s crying and saying, “Mommy, please don’t tell daddy I called. Please call me. Please call me!” My daughter is ten and the voice sounded like her. My heart was open again; I could feel. I called home as Haitian kids at Juli’s orphanage were still singing in the background. My husband answers. They’re all fine. I never found out whose daughter left that message, but God used it to make me be present in that moment.

I’m irritated now, because that phone message made me feel, and it was so much easier to be there when I didn’t. Once the irritation waned, I began to see. My whole universe had changed. I walked into the kids’ house – a two-room cinderblock building containing triple bunkers with just enough room to walk between them. The corners are stacked with essential supplies: diapers, wipes, oil, and rice, only essentials. The ground is covered in gravel. I start to see details: an area where a fire might have been; places where leftover food brought flies: sand and rock piles for a construction project; babies laid on mattresses, and latrines, all surrounded by a 9-foot cinderblock wall. .

These Haitian children were singing, laughing, and praising God – totally unaware they were surrounded by gravel. Gravel, everywhere I looked, gravel…the tears began as a trickle. They were those silent tears that just roll down your face; the kind that no one sees unless they look closely…and they just keep flowing. I knew God was working at the core of my heart… I was weeping, because I understood my sinfulness. Too much of life had been about me, not about God. I have always had the essentials and SO much more than I ever needed. God was blessing me by letting me see in the depths of my soul just how much time I’ve wasted worrying about how I looked on the outside. Those tears just turned into a running stream and then into deep sobs. God just did something in me that I didn’t think He could do. He humbled me and made me grateful.

I have been wrecked and since returning home my whole center of gravity is off. God is having to recreate who I am. It is clear there’s no going back on this deal. God just keeps pulling you forward and pulling you in.

Speak Up for those who cannot speak for themselves…

…Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

Neva Bartelt is nine years old. She lives in Lenexa with her parents and two little brothers, Lincoln and Rowan. A year ago at The Global Orphan Project’s BIG EVENT Neva decided she wanted to help care for orphaned and abandoned children. Specifically, she wanted to build a home for them in Haiti. Many would have dismissed the desires of their young daughter, but not Neva’s parents. Others encouraged her as well—“Whatever idea you’ve got to help kids in Haiti, that’s the one God probably wants you to use! It just starts with one dollar.”

With the Bartelt family’s full support, Neva stepped out in faith. God once again moved in mighty ways through His nine-year-old daughter and her friends. A talent show with twenty acts entertained more than 100 people who enjoyed everything from extemporaneous dance to songs with pine cones to bedtime skits. Several people gave for a silent auction. Today, Neva, her brother Lincoln, and the Bartlet Crew brought in more than enough to build a home for ten children. It will be built at Moise Vaval’s church. Tomorrow, Adrien Lewis will hand carry Neva’s prayer banner to Haiti, containing words of truth, love, and peace. Friday it will hang in a home for Haitian orphans.

Isabelle Redford, Cara Morrison, Anna Lipscomb, Neva Bartelt – if you see only children, look again. These girls are daughters of the King! They have been called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. They come to the aid of the poor and needy. They win big victories in Jesus name. May we have their courage and conviction to speak up as well!

 

“Encouraging” Doesn’t Do Justice

Last year, despite a weak economy, American businesses gave more to charities than they did in 2008. That’s encouraging, but the word “encouraging” simply doesn’t do justice to what is going on at one St. Louis-based insurance company.

In 1995, John Keane founded The Keane Insurance Group to meet a variety of insurance and asset needs. They created a niche in providing medical malpractice insurance and became a national leader. Today, The Keane Group has more than 5,000 physician clients and 60 employees, including several family members. Due to the principled culture, an employee shared with us that “people really don’t ever leave their jobs.” By any secular metric, the business is a success, but John’s vision goes beyond the bottom line…far beyond.

After the earthquake, John heard about The Global Orphan Project and flew to KC to “kick the tires.” Since then, John has been to Haiti twice with GO. He’s taken three of his eight kids down to serve with him, and they’ve committed to sponsor a village in Arachie, and they are just getting started. The Keane Group formed their own non-profit 501c3, called The Haiti Orphan Project. One of their Professional Liability Consultants, Les Prouty, now serves as the Executive Director of The Haiti Orphan Project and is inviting clients, employees, and friends of The Keane Group into the adventure of caring for orphaned and abandoned children.

Encouraging? We think it’s downright inspiring!

House of Hope Goes to Haiti

The House of Hope, a residential facility for troubled girls in Kansas City, helps heal the hearts of teens in need. But recently, the House of Hope girls turned the tables by helping heal the hearts of GO Project children at the Orphan Transition Village in Haiti. Watch their story covered by Fox News here…

 

As it should be

Six weeks ago, I was visiting with my friend, Pastor Joseph Kesnel.  Joseph is Haitian.  He grew up poor in a large family raised by a single mom.  As a young man, he found a way to America and became a successful real estate developer/manager, first in NY, then Florida.  Ten years or so ago, he felt a call to go back and help his people in Haiti, especially orphaned and abandoned children.  He left “the good life” and dove back into his homeland.  I met Joseph for the first time after the earthquake.  As we’ve worked to help rebuild, Joseph has been a friend and partner to The Global Orphan Project, and especially to the orphan.

This last meeting, Joseph and I stood on the second story of a building on Joseph’s property just east of Port Au Prince.  The building used to be the school where hundreds of children were educated and fed each day, but the earthquake changed that.  Many classrooms are leveled.  School now meets under tarps strung together in the courtyard.  Looking at that tarp facility, I asked Joseph the obvious, “What do you need?”

 “Plates and bowls to feed the kids,” Joseph replied.

 “How many?”

 “300, 400, 500,” Joseph answered “whatever you can send.”

 That began a string of phone calls to leaders in generous churches like Colonial Pres and Olathe Bible Church, who contacted people in quality companies like Berry Plastics, Aerotek, Applebee’s, and others.  This Thursday, a GO Project team headed to Haiti will hand deliver 300 plastic plates and bowls.  They will be in Joseph Kesnel’s hands by Sunday, for use at school on Monday.

 What was given did not go into some black hole.  It’s won’t get stuck in a warehouse somewhere.  It will be placed in the hands of children who need it, just as intended; just as it should be.  On behalf of the children, thank you for giving!  

All God’s People

Doug Freeman, Live from Haiti

The heavens declare the glory of God and boy did we see it last night as an amazing storm moved in. Movie night was cancelled, we moved the bead ceremony downstairs and still got wet.

Stories of God’s faithfulness and provision abound. He is using attorneys and computer programmers to love without ceasing. He is using a mother-to-be to connect in an amazing way to the mommas and minister to Renise. He is using three college kids to show us older folks how to set aside our fears and dive in unconditionally. Finally, He is using our shortcomings to do His will and for His glory.

We have a full day today of visiting other orphanages and trying to connect with a medical missions organization.

And finally do you remember the meal packets many prepared after the earthquake? Well I am happy to report they are being put to good use.

Love to all.

Firestarters

Trace Thurlby, KC

Have you ever wondered why some churches impact the world when others don’t?  What gives a church energy, purpose, and vision?  At GO, we believe it’s simple: the presence of God Himself.  Yet, the reality is that God most often chooses to work through people. 

Inside effective churches, one will find “firestarters.”  Firestarters don’t just serve.  They encourage others to serve as well.  Their passion is infectious.  Certainly Pastors can be firestarters, but any Pastor worth his salt will tell you they can’t do it by themselves.  They need lay people to step up in leadership, step out in faith, and become a tool for transformation.

Pastor Jim West at Colonial serves with several firestarters like Kevin Tews, Chuck Wolfe, Doug Freeman, and many more.  Doug is leading a Global Orphan Project team in Haiti this weekend.  It’s no surprise that Colonial is impacting the world for Jesus, in Malawi, Guatemala, Haiti, and right here in KC.  I know.  It was Doug who first invited me to Haiti in 2006.

I had no interest.  I had two small kids, no language or medical skills, and had never even considered going on any missions trip, much less to Haiti.  If I had known Doug better, I would have said, “no” straight away.  Instead, not wanting to snuff out a new friendship, I told Doug, “I’d pray about it.” 

God used that small window of obedience to change my life.  I’m grateful.  Grateful for firestarters, like Doug Freeman; grateful for the team He is leading this weekend.  Grateful for everyone Jesus is calling to care for His kids.  Grateful for you.

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