Adapt

Adapt

I often ask myself, “Why can’t I live my life the way I do when I am in Haiti?” It might sound weird, but I live two completely different lives. Living in the US should be a lot easier than living in Haiti. I have pretty much everything I need on a daily basis. I can eat anytime, or take my car and drive anywhere I want. I have access to a lot of commodities that I would never have access to, if I were living in Haiti. Although I have all these privileges, I still find a lot missing.

A while ago, I was thinking about moving back to Illinois. I miss my family and friends. I am the only one living in Texas; meanwhile, the rest of my family lives in the mid-west and Haiti. My social life was not very active here at the time, so I was thinking about moving. I was in a really dark place. I felt alone; I did not have any friends. I would come from work to just sit at home. Even though I frequently go to the gym, I was still not happy. Maybe that was just my thinking, but I did not fit in well with the people I was spending time with. I always felt left out, like I did not belong there. I used to see them going to places and doing activities that I wished I was a part of. It is silly to think that, since I didn’t think I fit in with the group. So, why did it bother me so much that I was not with them? I guess I’m just like everyone; sometimes we don’t feel like we fit in, but we miss not being in the moment, or regret the fact that we did not get an invitation.

One reason I love to go to Haiti is because I feel at home. I feel important. I feel like I have something to give. Whether that “something” is love or a physical item, I enjoy that moment. There’s a sense of purpose and freedom when I am there. The funny thing is, I don’t have a car in Haiti, I don’t eat like I do here, I can’t just go anywhere I want to. In fact, I can’t even go to the gym! But all these privileges don’t matter anyway, because I realize my true value. I’ve tried so hard to fit in, but never felt like I was getting anywhere. In Haiti, I don’t have to do anything. By just stepping out of the car in the villages, my brain switches over. In my mind, there couldn’t be a bad day there. No matter what happened, from the moment I arrived until the moment I left, everything seemed perfect. I had waved the white flag and given it all to God! The problem is, why can’t I do the same when I am in the US? Is it because, in this culture we “compartmentalize” our lives: this is church, this is work, this is family, and this is relaxation. When do we realize that God has preeminence? Why is it so hard to let God be the doyen everywhere? I feel like I need to be in control. I always forget that trying to master it all keeps me from thinking clearly. I cannot, because I am overwhelmed. Our brains can’t handle it all. The bills: there are too many to pay. The people: I want to make everyone happy – that means family and friends in both countries. How can I help this person… and that person? Is there enough time to watch television, play sports, and go to the gym? There’s always what I should have done, where I should have gone, and things I regret not doing.

In the middle of all of this, right after I came back from Haiti last June, I went straight to a church camp. I almost did not go, because I was doing a lot of traveling last summer. In truthfulness, I am joyous that I went. Something happened at camp and it changed my life. One night the pastor was preaching about surrendering to God. It was like he was speaking directly to me. Everything he said that night related to me. It was at this moment that I decided to get baptized. Baptism is an entity I’ve always tried to control. I told myself, “I won’t get baptized until I feel like I am ready”. After the pastor had spoken, I realized that it was not mine to control. That was the first obstacle I had to overcome. After the camp was over, I remembered coming home like a newborn. I stopped getting despondent like I used to. The crazy thing is, I had all the reasons in the world to be worried, because I was moving to a new apartment. I don’t like moving because you have to start from scratch. You have to do a change of address, pay a deposit for water and electricity, buy a ton of new utensils and, the most annoying of all, spend from one to two hours at the DMV to change your driver’s license address. Throughout all that process, I kept on telling myself, “Let God handle this and don’t worry”. I did let Him reign, and everything turned out to be fine. I guess God is trustworthy, even in the USA. I should try that method from now on. I’ve never been so happy since I’ve let God take control. 

Another thing that happened, after I came back from camp, was that I made a lot of new friends. I came from being someone who was sitting at home, to being someone who has a community. I admire and love these guys, and I feel very comfortable around them. The most important quality in this group is the love and respect we have for each other and the community within it. We all have places we serve and participate with others. I could not ask for a better group of people to spend my time with!

It is said in Philippians 4: 6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As much as I don’t like to say it, when the problems come, we throw all these verses away. We only focus on the problems, and we forget that The Almighty has it all under control. I was worried about not having friends and not being happy where I was and, in doing so, I have let God down when I was in the States. I must continue letting God handle my struggles and stop worrying about people accepting me. He made me who I am, and put me where I am. Now I must live for Him. Since I am the same person, I can’t live in Haiti one way and another when I am here. To do that would be dishonest.

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

 Luke 12:22-26

(Kenlley Leyendeckers is a Haitian native, who was adopted by American parents at the age of thirteen. As a young boy, living in an orphanage there, he had met missionaries who inspired a growing vision within him. He knew he wanted to help bring hope to the children around him. The 2010 Earthquake precipitated his father’s going to Haiti to escort him to America. He quickly adapted to the American language and culture, graduating from high school and attending college. He is now the associate director of Mercy International.)

#Haiti #MercideDieuVillage

June Trip

This summer I got to lead my first team to Haiti. It was very special for me, since it was on my birthday. I got to spend that day in Haiti, which I have not done in seven years. I led a team of mostly teenagers from the Christian School at Castle Hills High School, and we had a great time! At first I was very nervous, because I had to meet with the parents and did not know what they expected from me. Fortunately, when I met them things went well. I was still nervous, because I had no idea how things were going to happen in Haiti – if the students would like it … and what if they didn’t eat the food there? What if they wanted to come back to the U.S after being there just a day? My head was filled with “what ifs”! I forgot that the plan of the trip was not in my power, but in that of God Himself.

Merci De dieu, Gressier

Vilaj Mèsi Dye nan Dèyè Mòn

The drive to Dèyè Mòn is about four and half to five hours, and there are some bumpy roads! My panic rose again, because I didn’t know how a group of students would handle being on the roads in Haiti for five hours. Surprisingly, they loved every second of it. They were amazed by how beautiful the country is, and the best part was seeing their reactions when they saw the blue Caribbean Sea! When we arrived in Dèyè Mòn, it was no different from the first village. We got the same welcome from the people there, if not warmer! We started the next day with Bible stories and some crafts for the children. It was a good day! The next day, the girls painted the new team house and the guys and I put some gutters up in the new houses added to the village. On our last day there, we did more crafts, told more Bible stories, and presented the skit. Everyone was very happy, especially with me, wearing a wig and lifting Baby Jesus like Simba. The children went crazy over that! We ended our last day in Dèyè Mòn with a hike, and it was far beyond our expectations! There were about 60 children from the village with us, which was overwhelming! 

Many of us try to picture how everything will happen, but that is never in our power. God continues to show us that we need to plan well, but then to simply trust in Him. It was amazing to see God works in this team and the kids. One reason the team was so good was because we were almost the same age as the children in the village. (Well, except for me, but my energy level is second to none! ) We had powerful relationships with the children, and they opened their hearts to us… and we opened ours to them. I believe it was that which caused two of them to give their lives to Christ! The two children who gave their lives were children we know very well in the village, but God had this group in mind to bring them to Him. I believe that was the main reason He put this group together.

#MercideDieuVillage #MercyInternational #VilajMèsiDyenanDèyèMòn

The Carrier

As you all know, this year’s election was one for the books. Like many, I was struggling in my decision. This was my first time voting and I was looking forward to it. After much thought, I headed to the polls during early-voting. Unfortunately, the line was long and I had to get to work, so I decided to leave. However, I kept thinking about it all day – it was the last day I could vote because I was travelling to Haiti soon.  I decided even if the line was long I still wanted to vote, so I returned later that evening. As I waited, I noticed that I was the youngest voter. A man behind me noticed too and asked, “Is this your first time voting?” I told him “yes” and he responded, “Congratulations!” After we talked a little bit, he asked me where I was born and I told him, “Haiti.” We then discussed the 2010 earthquake and how the country has suffered greatly from diseases to election chaos to natural disasters, like the recent hurricane. I mentioned that I was going to Haiti soon for 16 days and would be doing mission work there. He told me that it was a great thing to still be working in the country I was born. After the conversation, we both went on our way to vote. I was nervous about using the voting machine and all I could think about was not messing up! Turns out it was very easy – thank goodness for AC and simple voting in America, unlike Haiti!

As I walked back to my car, I noticed a truck pulling next to me. It was that same man. He rolled down his window and said to me, “I’ve been thinking about you since we talked. I will be praying for you and the people going with you.” Then he handed me $200 and said, “Take this and spend it wisely.”  I was unsure what to do or say because I had never taken money from strangers! I told him, “Thank you very much. God bless you!”

As I sat in my car with $200, I started praying, “God why are so good to me? You always surprise me and bless me when I least expect it! I will use this money for Your will because You have sent it to me to bless someone in need. I will not touch it while I am here. I am going to set it aside and wait until I get to Haiti to see what You want me to do with this money.” There are times when we pray and wonder if God will really answer. But this time, I was a 100% sure God would answer my prayer. I was confident something great was going to happen.

After arriving in Haiti, all I could think about was what was God going to do and who was going to get this money? We left Port-au-Prince and headed to the village of Dèyè Mòn, which had been devastated by Hurricane Matthew. During the 3 day medical clinic there, I kept waiting for God to show me the person. But after 3 days, I was still wasn’t sure. So, I continued to wait.

There was this one woman I kept seeing everywhere. After seeing her again and again, I thought to myself, “Maybe she’s the one?” I decided the next time I saw her I’d give her the money. On the last day we were there it was raining. I didn’t really want to go find her in the rain and in the end ignored the Holy Spirit’s nudge inside of me and thought, “Maybe tomorrow on our way out of town, I will see her.” Just at that same moment, the woman showed up on my doorstep in the rain! I froze and my heart started beating really fast. All I could think was that God was saying to me, “Do your job and deliver what I gave you to carry for Me!”

I asked her why she was at the door late at night. She explained that she was told they were going to give her money to go to the dentist for a bad tooth that had been aching for months. I asked the nurse if he had told her this, and he said no. He said they only told her that he would put her name on a list for dental work. At this moment, I knew she was the person I was carrying the money for. I invited her inside and told her the whole story and that the money was sent from God. I ended up giving her $100 because I felt that possibly the Lord had someone else in mind too. As I gave her the money, she raised her hands up and thanked God. I told her that I was happy for her and thankful I could be the carrier.

We headed back to Port-au-Prince and I still had the other $100 with me. As I was translating the next day, God once again showed me another person. She was a mother of three and had a charcoal business. However, she was no longer able to fund it because her husband had lost his job and they had used all their money to provide for their children. Once again, I told her the story and how happy I was to be the carrier of this money for her and her family. She did the same thing as the other lady – she looked up and thanked God for His gift!

God taught me so much during all of this. But most importantly, I learned that as Christians we are God’s carrier. We are the body of Christ and we carry the cross and its message. But not only that, we must always be willing to give to others what He intended for us to give to them! Whether it’s His words, love, passion, a gift – we should always be grateful that He allows us to be His carrier. Even though we are so unworthy of it all, He still lets us be a part of His grace, mercy, love… and deliveries! What a blessing. Personally I think, it is a blessing to even be allowed to say His Name! God is great, and He is powerful. He could do everything on His own, yet He chooses us. I am so happy and grateful to be His carrier.

#DeyeMon #MercyInternational