Memories of Meme

If you knew my grandmother well (we called her Meme), then you would know that she loved ice cream.  I remember her homemade peach ice cream.  If I close my eyes and think of it, sweetness starts to tingle my tongue.  If you knew my Meme really well, then you also would know that it wasn’t just a love for ice cream but banana splits!  Those were her expertise!!  I don’t know how she did it, but she had every ingredient - at all times.  Whipped cream, maraschino cherries, hot fudge - they all had prime real-estate in her refrigerator.

My Meme would be proud.  This last tuesday we had banana splits.... IN HAITI.  It wasn’t easy gathering the necessary supplies.  I had to search multiple places and even get a bit creative with substitute toppings but I know she wouldn’t have minded.  

She never got to see my journey from Colorado to Arkansas to a little island in the Caribbean that I now call home but I know she would have loved every minute of it.  I really believe she would have even come to visit me.  She loved to travel!  I miss he deeply.  But with a plastic bowl, chopped bananas, creamy goodness, walnuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top - she was the first one I thought of.  I love you Meme and can’t wait to see you again some day!

Thankful each day....

Are we as aware in the days after Easter? I had a very unique thought go through my mind over and over this past Sunday, "Will I be as thankful tomorrow?"  Please hear me when I say that taking a day to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus is something I believe we should definitely do!!  But i was challenged in my own heart and mind if I would be as thankful and mindful in the days to come.  If I'm honest with myself, probably not.  I can quickly get carried away in the business of work and life and so quickly forget that the reason I even exist and have this hope, is because Jesus died for my sins over 2000 years ago.  Without his sacrifice and atonement for our sins, we wouldn't have the DAILY joy and promise of an eternal life with him.  I promise I won't get preachy.  Just a simple thought - Will my heart rejoice today and in the days to come as much as it did on Easter Sunday?

The Power of the Gospel

We opened the Bercy campus for the first time this year on March 7th. We had over 60 people and we were very excited to begin a great week. That Monday, the...re were some Bercy villagers who had gathered at the front gate, seeking jobs at the new campus. We asked them to send us people that were qualified for the positions we were looking for and we would interview them, explaining that the jobs we were hiring for right now needed people that loved Jesus.

Yesterday, I was helping interview translators with our Haitian director for the translators.. We do an "English-only portion" to test their ability to communicate in English. I've used the approach of having them share the Gospel with me to test their communication skills. I pretend that I am a Haitian women and I don't know Jesus. I encourage them to help me understand how to become a Christian. There was one younger man I was interviewing and he was really struggling at being able to convey the concepts of the Gospel. He said he'd been going to church for a long time but it became evident to me that he

definitely wasn't able to express the ideas of salvation. The Holy Spirit prompted my heart and I realized this man was not a Christian, which is why he couldn't explain it to me. Our interview quickly changed and I put down the interview form and began to explain the Gospel to him. We used the diagram of the cross and walked him through salvation. He prayed to receive Christ! He's not going to be a translator quite yet, but we've invited him to the weekly meetings where he will learn more about the Lord and more about his new salvation.

And together we sing...

A few mornings ago I had the opportunity to lead worship for an amazing group of women.  I led with a wonderful woman named Roselaure.  She is from the village of Source Matelas and she is a Village Champion, working with Church Advancement at Mission of Hope.  Let me tell you, this woman was born to lead worship.  She has an incredible anointing and when she sings, you know that she understands who Jesus is.  I am inspired by her love for the Lord and her continued faith in His goodness not only for her but also for her home country, Haiti. 

We decided to sing the songs mostly in English but then sing the choruses of the songs a few times in Haitian Creole.  It was absolutely beautiful.  A room full of women, singing “Holy is the Lord God Almighty…. Here I am to say that you’re my God….. You have overcome the grave, your glory fills the highest place” not only in English but in another beautiful language.  Truly a glimpse of heaven.  As every knew will bow and every tongue (language) confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

A simple step

“My prayer is that someday I can walk, just like you.”

She gently reached out and touched my leg.  Her words piercing. 

Scars.  Crutches.  Pain. 

 

As I looked back into her dark eyes, tears began to fill her gaze.  Tears filled mine as well.  I don’t know what happened or how this woman can no longer walk without the aid of crutches.  I don’t know her story.  But these simple words are one that I will never forget.  I stood in silence and looked back at her.  No words.  The only words that ran through my mind were hers.   “My prayer is that someday I can walk, just like you.”  They literally wrenched my heart.  I stood in silence a moment longer and all I could think to do was pray.  So I gently asked if I could pray with her.  Apple cheeks began to form and light shone from her eyes.  A beautiful smile spilled across her face and she nodded in agreement.  We stood together her hands in mine and we prayed.  The only thing I knew is that Jesus knew her story and He loved her more than me.  Amen was spoken and I was enwrapped in her warm embrace.  Her grip was tight and long.  She released me, kissed my cheek and slowly hobbled back inside so she could get back to work.  In a matter of minutes the moment had come and gone.  I stood by myself for a time and let the cool breeze kiss my skin.  The hot flush of my cheeks such a contrast to the refreshing wind.  I knew this memory would forever be etched in my heart, mind and soul.  I knew I would think of a simple step in a very different way.  I knew that now there would be days and times that I would look at my two perfectly normal, healthy legs and I would be more thankful and grateful than I had ever been. 

 

 

 

STOP. DROP & ROLL!

I am always asked what a typical day looks like.  There really is no easy answer to this.  So I figured I would do my best to start sharing little glimpses into what I do.

 

Today – Stop. Drop. And Roll!

Such a simple concept but one that we in N. America take for granted.  Today at MOH we had 2 firemen come to teach fire safety to some of our staff and children at our school.  I was amazed when I sat in on the first session that so many of the Haitian men and women did not know what to do if they were to accidently catch their clothes on fire.  The answers ranged from – Find Water. to Run as fast as you can.  It was so wonderful to see them begin to understand that really, these weren’t very good ideas.  The firemen patiently explained that there may not be time to find water or that running quickly would actually fuel the fire with more fresh air, actually making things worse.  Once the Stop, Drop and Roll method was explained, there was joyous chatter amongst the group.  I asked one man if he understood.  He quickly explained that this was information he has never heard.  He said he was so thankful to learn about the proper way to handle the situation.  He also quickly explained that he was going to teach all of his family this when he went home that day.

 

So for today – I helped facilitate the logistics to bring 2 firemen to Haiti.  I am very rarely on the front lines working out in the villages but I work with an amazing team to ensure that we can bring amazing people to come and share their giftings and passions with Haiti.  It was such a great morning!

Life is a gift.

Life is a gift.

I’ve probably read this phrase, heard this phrase and even said this phrase, hundreds of times.  After September 24, 2012 – I believe that Life, truly is a gift.  I had no idea when I drove to Denver to meet with friends, that my journey back to Colorado Springs would forever change my life.

45mph.  The flow of traffic.  The sun had set and the street lights illuminated the roads.  New favorite music selected.  Notes and sounds filling the air.  Playful hum to match the music, gentle tapping on the steering wheel to match the beat.  Life was good.  Life was normal.  Life is a gift.

Glass breaking.  Cars colliding.  Smash.  Inflated airbags.  Is this really happening?  Crash. Music gone.  Gripping seatbelt.  Darkness.  Silence.  Pain. Heavy breathing.  Hot tears running down my face.  Pain.  So much pain. 

Are you ok?  Voice repeated.  Are you ok?

My eyes meet his.  Again – are you ok?

No.  My response.  No.  I’m not ok.

Sirens.  Motion.  Pain increasing.  What’s your name?  Voice repeated.  Ma’am, what’s your name?

Elizabeth.

My name is Elizabeth.

 

September 24^th,2012 will forever be imprinted in my mind.  Life is a gift.  My seatbelt saved my life.  At least that’s what they tell me.  I never imagined that I would be in an accident like this.  EMS’d from the scene.  Emergency room shuffle.  CAT scans.  Ultrasounds.  Every measure taken to be sure I was ok.  Bumps and bruises was what I walked away with.  Bumps and bruises.

Why did I survive this crash?  I’ve asked myself this question probably a hundred times a day since the crash.  The most common answers, “Because my time is not yet done on this earth.”  Or “The Lord isn’t finished with you yet.”   But what does that even mean?  This is probably what I’ve wrestled with the most.  When is “done” actually done?  And when is “finished” really finished? 

The best thing about these questions – they are not mine to answer.  The overwhelming echo of what I’ve learned from this accident is that God is in control.  Seconds would have made a huge difference in how the crash could have played out.  Seconds!  God is in control.  My seatbelt could have malfunctioned, airbags could have not deployed – God is in control. 

“It is a freeing thing to understand that you are not in control.” –the words from Matt Chandler, pastor at the Village Church in Dallas, TX.  Words that wrung in my mind and heart as I heard them only days after the crash.  The continual realization that I am not in control is not an easy one for me to grasp.  If I’m honest – more days than not, I try to be in control and I lose sight that Author of all life and creation is truly the one who is writing this story.  It is not mine to author.  But He is gracious and He is good and He is kind and I do get to play a part in His Story.  So I look at life and say, Yes.  It is a gift.  It can be taken away in a moment.  And it can be used to draw hearts closer to His.  And if nothing else that you feel or take away from my story, is your heart being drawn one step closer to His, then it was all worth it. 

Life is a gift.

 

A few pictures from the collision.