Week of Menus goes to Haiti Round 2: The ripple effect

All photos in this post by JB

“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
2 ‘ I will go before you
And make the crooked places[a] straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the LORD,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:1-3

When friend CY informed me that she planned to continue work in Haiti, training and paying English teachers to go to schools in the poorest of areas, I didn't really think anything of it.  She sounded as if she had a solid plan, a good idea, and I just told her that I'd pray for her.  Then she looked at me and said, "But don't you want to do something with me?"  After talking with her, we figured out that providing snacks for the students who attend the schools where her teachers were would be a good thing.  As a former high school teacher, I know how important something in the bellies of children who are studying is.  Without it, they are easily distracted, listless and not able to learn as well.  What use are all the teachers that CY is training if the kids are too hungry to focus and pay attention?  A snack seemed the natural second half to this project.

The logistics seemed unknown however.  CY herself didn't really know what was going to happen with her teachers as of yet, nor did she know how many teachers she could pay with her Arise and Shine in Haiti plan.  She didn't know which schools would want her teachers, nor did she know how many students were at each school.  There were a lot of unknowns, but with faith I asked my readers to contribute and together we gave $1600 to a mere idea of feeding some children some snacks.

It is against my nature to just simply let go and let God.  I generally try to be as prepared, planned, and well thought out as possible.  I like to think of every possible roadblock, barrier, problem that can arise and I like to be prepared for it. However, this time I could not do any of those things and I was trusting God to do what needed to be done.  Not my strength, but His.  Not my plan, but His.  Not my work, but His.  It was an amazingly refreshing feeling just to give and to see what God would do.

And as always, God never fails.  A lack of a concrete plan, no organization, no hyper-preparation meant that there was much more room for God to work.  Even before WOM's money went to Haiti, God was already there preparing the way, smoothing the path, opening gates, leveling mountains.  A thought in my head, was that in buying snacks for the students, we could also be helping a local business make money, thereby helping two groups at once.  It was a wonderful thought, possibly supporting the local economy in the process of feeding many and one that excited me.  How that would look I didn't know, but I wanted peanut butter sandwiches for the children, which meant bread and a bakery.

What is always so amazing about God is how His work always has a ripple affect.  It's not just about throwing the stone into the water, but after the stone is thrown, seeing how far the ripples go in changing the surface of the water.  At times I felt like I was simply asking my readers to throw money into this project without really knowing the full effects and extent of the ripples.  I'll use the pictures below to explain exactly how much of a ripple effect WOM had in Haiti.  Thank you so much for joining me on this journey.

WOM in Haiti: Round 2, The Ripple Effect

At the Love and Hope Mission Center, Temporary Bakery

Truly God went before WOM, because before CY arrived in Haiti, a bakery was being built at the mission center.  This was completely unknown to CY and me, and was being readied to bake bread.  (Peanut butter sandwiches for students, one step closer to reality.)

 

Included in the team who was putting together the bakery, was the man, affectionately known as "MacGyver."  He was not the baker, but he was the one who got all the donated equipment to work. 

Also by God's grace, a Korean professional baker (30 years experience) was present to help train locals the art of boulangerie. (If you can't tell, the Korean man is the one looking all serious in the yellow shirt.)  He had to make a number of crazy adjustments in terms of ingredients, skilled labor, and equipment.

This is his recipe and notes, based on the ingredients he was able to find in Haiti.

Whatever the Korean baker explained in Korean, Missionary Kim had to translate into Creole, using his limited vocabulary.

And the hands-on training begins.  (These men from Cite Soleil will soon receive wages and be gainfully employed.  Ripple effect!)

Korean Castella cake, soon to be delivered to homes and people in the garbage dump.  (Inexpertly put in the pans, but that is part of training.)

Castella cake, baked, and being packed for hand delivery.

Peanut butter sandwiches, being made on sliced bread baked at the bakery.

At Jehovah Nissi School, Cite Soleil

 CY hired a teacher for this school and therefore snacks will go to this school.

In order to access this school, students have to cross a bridge which goes over a black river of filth, waste, and trash.

Beautiful students receiving peanut butter sandwiches provided by WOM.  They are excited for this small, humble snack.

Amazement at a sandwich.  They didn't know what to do with it initially.  CY had to tell them to eat it.

Smiles of joy (the little bag is a packet of purified water, also provided by WOM.)  Full bellies - more learning!

This young student, upon receiving his sandwich, promptly placed it in to his backpack.  He could not be convinced to eat it and refused to take it out of his backpack.  Clearly he had in mind, someone else who needed the sandwich more than he.

WOM at the oprhanage

Do you remember this orphanage from the last time WOM was in Haiti?  We went here again with another food delivery.

Simple meal of rice and beans.  But hearty sustenance provided by WOM.  CY said that the kids looked well fed and healthy.

Food Delivery to the Poorest of the Poor

These are the most forgotten in Haiti.  They live inside of shacks, made out of metal siding, on top of a garbage dump.   Sandwiches are capable of starting a riot.

Trash everywhere.

Young women who have no choice but to live in these conditions.

This woman, upon receiving her castella cake, was so incredibly thankful and happy. 

WOM affected so many lives this trip.  I am overwhelmed with how much God could do with the small effort of raising some money.  I am so blessed by this work and hope that in the near future, I will again have the opportunity to ask my readers to join me in improving the lives of so many.  I look for more opportunities for others to participate in the ripple effect.  Thank you for joining me!