Well, it looks like the riots have died down enough for us to fly out tomorrow. Today all of the partner ministries couldn't come because they were afraid that driving trucks ladened with food through the riot areas would be too risky.

However, one pastor showed up who had never received food before. On average Love a Child distributes 4000 meals each day to the kids in their schools and another 12,000 to other ministries. This pastor, called Pastor Walk by Faith, literally came on faith today in an old beat up Toyota (see pics).

When he was told he could get a month's supply he literally jumped up and down with joy for his 300 orphans. 

After lunch we ventured out toward the riot areas to deliver food to meet a dire need. A woman named Madame Paul ran an orphanage for 66 kids in a very bad area about 45 minutes away. She called with pleas for food because she had not had any food for two days for the kids. We took off with 25 boxes and the team inside the caged truck.

We arrived, unloaded the food,and stepped inside the dilapidated storefront door. Immediately the wrought iron door was closed behind us. I couldn't believe what I saw. Inside a dirty, dank, block and cement building 66 orphans were crammed, in age from a few weeks up to teens. These almond eyed children were so glad to see us, but our hearts were broken. Be sure to see the pics.

Madame Paul had such a love for orphans that she had taken them off the street to protect them. Most of the kids were malnourished. The 25 boxes of food was no doubt a life saver for several.  My heart was heavy as I stood in the midst of the most broken of humanity that were given some hope in the name of Christ.

One tiny baby looked the size of a newborn but was probably a few months old, her diminutive size due to malnutrition.

This morning we had to make some different plans because the riots had spread. So we went to the poorest school nearby, Ganthier. Over 350 kids attend here. It looks like a blown out WWII building. This school was about to be shuttered until Love a Child took it over. I continue to be amazed at how respectful these kids are.

We then drove out into the bush. When I say bush, I really mean the bush. If you've ever watched the Discovery Channel and seen pictures of the African bush, this is just like it. Miles and miles of scrubby thorn trees ... as far as you can see. I was in the back of the pickup and after riding for 30 minutes and dodging two inch thorns hanging from trees we can upon a 20x40 foot lean-to with a metal corrugated roof. 125 kids had packed into this school with six "classrooms." The blackboards were old pieces of quarter inch pressboard with ripped edges and holes (see the photo). As we drove up they were singing at the top of their voices. At every school they sing with great joy and vigor.

When they served the food, everyone waits patiently until the last child gets his or her food. Then they pray in unison and eat. It's a bit convicting to think that I get impatient when I have to wait more than two minutes in the drive-through at McDonalds.

On our drive out we saw the first UN vehicle with three blue-helmeted soldiers. Under UN mandate, the soldiers can do almost nothing to stem riots or defend the innocent. The saying around here is "send the blue hats home and give us 20 marines."

The President of Haiti gave a speech today in hopes it would quell the violence. The food prices have jumped astronomically and the people can't buy food to feed their families. The pent-up anger has spurred these riots. 

Thursday, several mission organizations planned to come out to receive Feed my Starving Children food but that has been cancelled because of safety issues for these missionaries traveling with food.

Again, we are safe, but continue to pray for a resolution to this issue.

Love a Child is seen as a haven for needy Haitians. Last night a young boy came in with his pastor and mother for help. A few years ago he had fallen out of a tree, crushed his ribcage, and snapped his leg. Sherry (she and her husband Bobbie run the ministry) met him and later described to our group that his body was in terrible shape. For some reason the little boy feared telling his mother that he had fallen and for several days kept his injuries secret. I can only imagine the incredible. Sherry is trying to get a doctor

in the states to take the case.

This morning you may have read in the Sun-Times that food riots have occurred in some parts of the country. We are perfectly safe as we're staying outside the city. But please pray for these starving people. Last year the country received over a half billion dollars from the UN but less than 15% was used to alleviate hunger.

This morning we took a 20 mile trip up a dry river bed to a school in the village of Lastik. I've posted several pictures.

We sat in the back of a pickup truck for the entire hour and a half drive. I had the luxury of sitting on a large plastic bag full of stuffed bunnies for the kids (not real bunnies, of course). It was definitely cushy for the tush, but on the way back I didn't have that luxury. All the way there and back it felt like riding over non-stop speed bumps.

When we arrived they had just finished cooking the Feed my Starving Children food for the kids. This school sits on a pie shaped precipice caused by the recent hurricane that washed out a large swath of land next to the school.

This school teaches 300 kids from first through the fifth grade.

I'm amazed at the effectiveness of the ministry of Love a Child. They are ministering to the mind through providing a good education for the kids, to the body by providing a daily nutritious meal, and to the spirit by teaching the kids about Jesus.

The kids show tremendous respect to adults. They are quiet when expected to be so, are patient when they have to wait for the only nutritious meal they get each day, and grateful for the education and food they are getting.

They love to get their picture taken. I was literally mobbed by about a dozen kids when I took their picture and then showed it to them on the camera screen. They all wear colorful uniforms and every girl sports yellow ribbons or beads in her hair. One of the boys had his language booklet in his hand and gave me short refresher course in french for a few minutes.

When we returned back to the compound we got to see the school on the grounds of Love a Child that provides education to 600 kids. They also have a tilapia fish farm.

Will check back tomorrow.

This afternoon we got a tour of the orphanage. It's like an oasis in a desert. Everything is so clean and modern for these 60 plus children and 40 staff. They have a French custom that when you greet someone, you kiss them on the cheek. I think I've already gotten about 100 kisses!

I learned at lunch that when the parents of a Haitian child dies, the next of kin takes them on, not as their child, but as a slave child called a restavek. That child is literally treated as a slave for that family. They cook, they clean, they eat only after everyone has (if there's any food left) and they aren't allowed to interact with the other kids. In one of the pictures I've posted, you'll see one slave child they brought into the orphanage the day before Christmas. This girl had never seen a toilet, a Christmas tree, held a book, or had a full plate of food. She's doing great.

Afternoon trip to local village, Latont:

I just returned from one of the most amazing scenes. Love a Child reaches into several villages in the area. One village sits on a large lake. We went to their monthly food distribution this afternoon. Each family (1000 families) gets a coupon and they meet in the school/community building/church that Love a Child built. They have a worship service led by a voodoo witch doctor, Joel, that was converted to Christ who is now the village pastor. After that each family is given one box of food and then they celebrate.

I was deeply moved seeing these people give thanks to God for his provision once a month. I was convicted at my lack of thanks for his bounty he gives me each day.

After the food was distributed and we went outside, I watched the tender process Sherry went through to prepare a five year old slave child, John Edwardo, to leave the village and go to the orphanage. The aunt washed the little boy and put on new clothes given her by Sherry. Then Joel, the village pastor, laid his hands on him as if to consecrate him as he prepared to leave. The entire village seemed to tag along as we went to the truck. Then (see the picture) John Edwardo had a sending off party at the truck.

It wasn't over, though. When we went to the village we took four of the orphans with us to help John make the transition. When we arrived back at the orphanage they showed him his room, his bed (he's probably never slept in one), how to flush a toilet, and then ushered him out to something he'd never seen before, a swing set. The boys tenderly showed him how to swing. I then saw a slight smile of joy on his face. It was like this little boy was getting a taste of heaven. Coming from poverty, pain, and hunger these other boys were showing him an abundance of joy and provision that was all his.

I wonder if heaven will be like that. Will we have someone give us a tour of all the joys heaven will offer?

After dinner each night the orphans have an hour long worship service. I stepped in and felt tears come into my eyes as I heard these children sing to the one who was now their father.

I'm signing out for the night.

We arrived safely at the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A steel drum and guitar band awaited our arrival, hoping for tips.

Sherry Burnette, who along with her husband Bobbie run Love a Child ministries, met us at the airport. Check out their site at www.loveachild.com. After we checked through customs, a group of Haitians met us and in their Creole dialect (a combination of several languages, but primarily French) offered to carry our bags with something like "let me help you boss." 

They loaded five of us and our bags into two trucks with the others loaded into a pickup truck. I rode in the back of the large covered truck with steel grating that formed a cage. We were literally locked in for the 45 minute ride.

As we rode to Fond Parisian through Port-au-Prince, I had an education of a lifetime. Try to imagine a piece of corrugated tin about the size of a Toyota attached horizontally to a cinder block wall on one side and held up by scrap metal on the other. Now imagine that is the "store" where you buy food, clothing, and other essentials. Now imagine seeing scores and scores of these "stores" lined up side-by-side along with cinder block shanties that look like bombed out buildings in London after the Germans bombed it in WWII.  That's what I saw for miles and miles as we drove through the city. I even saw a "barber shop" inside a shipping container that you might see atop a train freight car.

A few words stand out to describe Haiti: barren, desolate, dusty, dirty,unfinished. The terrain reminds me of a lunar landscape with a few scrubby trees and prickly cacti dotting the landscape. A few emaciated cows nibbled scrub off the ground. The buildings (it's a stretch to call them buildings), are made of crude cinderblock. In lieu of barbed wire, shards of colored glass embed the tops of many walls. But for miles, most of the buildings lie unfinished ... four foot walls with rebar sticking out the top with no roof or doors or windows. The few with roofs still lack windows but provide "homes" for many Haitians. Occasionally I'd see a nice home behind 10 foot security walls.

Trash litters the landscape and what appears to be open sewers line the roads. Ten year old Toyotas and larger pickups with eight foot tall bed covers painted like a Ringling Brothers Circus sign comprise their public transportation. They're called "tap-taps" because when people jump on them they will "tap" when they want off.

Haiti could be called a fourth world country because it is the most poverty stricken country in the western hemisphere.

Things dramatically changed when we arrived at the Love a Child compound. As we drove onto the 100 acre property, color immediately caught my eye when I saw the beautiful crimson flowers that covered the nine foot wall that surrounds the property. Whereas I had seen only barren wasteland, now I saw green grass. Driving through the town hundreds of people seemed to just mill around, doing nothing. Now I saw several men manicuring the lawn. Green trees filled with almonds and fruit dotted the grounds.

The large yellow school was the first building. Then several nicely constructed out buildings and a church building. Then we parked in front of the beautiful orphanage that houses 66 children.

Next entry coming soon. I also hope to have some pictures posted.

Just a note, if you're following the journey to Haiti. I'm posting pictures each day on Flickr as well. 

Here's the link to see the photo journey.

We arrived at the airport and after passing through security, we entered an empty terminal. I noticed that the only two people there were an older couple draped in small red blankets. Obviously they had slept in the terminal that night. (They probably got more sleep than I did in the hotel!)

A thought popped into my mind. Were they missionaries on their way back to Haiti. The local Feed My Starving Children taffer who's leading the trip had told me that the flights from Miami to Haiti were usually quite full, mostly with missionaries on their way back.

A few minutes later I sleep walked :) into one of the restaurants to get some breakfast. I happened to stand right behind this couple as they ordered. She ordered a bagel, the least expensive item on the menu, and he ordered a croissant with ham but he specified no cheese, a 30 cent savings.

At that moment I felt a slight nudge to buy their breakfast, but didn't follow through. After I paid and as I walked out of the restaurant, I noticed them sitting in a booth. He reached for her hand and as they held hands they prayed before eating their small breakfast. I smiled. Even as I write this, tears well up in my eyes as I reflect over this tender act.

After I bought my scrambled eggs/ham/toast combo and walked back to the terminal I realized I needed a bottle of water. I turned around and as I approached the restaurant, the Spirit again nudged me to pay for their breakfast, after the fact.

I pulled out $10 from my passport pouch, walked over the booth where they sat, and said, "You don't know me, but while you stood in line I felt impressed to pay for your breakfast." As I placed the ten dollar bill I said, "Consider this payment for your breakfast."

They thanked me, I walked away, and said to myself, "That just seems so right."

God used that simple encounter to remind me how important it is to obey his quiet promptings.

Back later. We are about to board.

Its 3.30 am (2.30 am Chicago time). A quick note. I shared a room in Miami with one of those on our trip. He snored so loudly that I got up, left the room, and got a room of my own. I even returned just before our wake up call to the original room and he never knew it! He asked me if he snored loudly.

I replied with, "You are the king of snorers."

I will check back later after we arrive in Haiti.

Today I leave Chicago for Miami to meet up with four others coming from Minneapolis. A total of nine of us will travel to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Monday morning and then to Fond Parisen about 25 miles east. Under the auspices of Feed My Starving Children, we will stay at serve at at organization called Love A Child that receives food from Feed My Starving Children.

Here’s how you can pray for me and the team:

Pray for safety as we travel and while we are in Haiti (we return on Friday)

Pray for health, that we don’t get sick.

Pray for many opportunities to serve in the name of Christ.

Pray for opportunities to share Christ.

Here is some information about the Feed My Starving Children organization and where I'll be going.

Feed My Starving Children:

Feed My Starving Children was founded as a Christian nonprofit in 1987 through the efforts of a Minnesota businessman who felt called by God to help feed the starving children of the world during a humanitarian visit to Honduras. He returned to the Twin Cities to develop a method of large-scale relief.

His efforts, energy and resources resulted in the development of a food mixture that would be easy and safe to transport, simple to make with only boiling water, and culturally acceptable worldwide. This basic formula of rice, high protein soy nuggets, vegetables, vitamins and flavoring is still used by FMSC today.

In addition to this formula, FMSC needed to develop a cost-effective means of producing the completed meals in quantities that would make a real difference in alleviating world hunger. Initially, FMSC tested the possibility of using packaging machines, but this solution proved to be expensive and cumbersome. In 1993, a church group stopped by the FMSC facility to see if there might be an opportunity to volunteer with FMSC. That providential meeting gave birth to FMSC’s volunteer packing approach.

To distribute the packed meals, the FMSC team began establishing partnerships with major global distribution nonprofits such as Operation Blessing, Salesian Missions and UMCOR. These partnerships allow FMSC to reach desperately needy children in remote parts of the world by leveraging the in-country expertise of these organizations. Through these vital partnerships, orphanages and facilities for handicapped children can provide hot, nutritious meals—and a ray of hope for the future.

Since its inception, FMSC’s model of culturally acceptable, nutritious food, combined with volunteer production and distribution through on-the-ground partners has grown exponentially. In 1994, 2,400 volunteers packed 400,000 meals from FMSC’s original Brooklyn Park location. In 2005, nearly 75,000 volunteers packed more than 15 million meals at sites in Brooklyn Park, Eagan, and a third mobile packing site that travels to youth conventions and churches. In March 2006, a third permanent site opened in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and in 2007, the three sites produced a total of 40 million meals with 170,000 volunteers. Feed My Starving Children recently opened a site in Aurora, IL, and hopes to produce 100 million meals per year by 2010.

Information about Hati:

Haiti is located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola next to the Dominican Republic. The country includes many smaller islands off its coast, one having dual ownership with both Haiti and the United States. The capital is Port-au-Prince. As a French speaking nation, Haiti gained its independence from France on January 1, 1804 and became the first independent black republic. The country is the third largest in the Caribbean and was once a beautiful paradise. In 1925, 60% of the land and mountain regions were covered in forest. Since then, all but 2% of the forest has been cut down and the population has largely been responsible for the country's lack of economic progress. Because of frequent hurricanes and deforestation, fertile farmland has been destroyed and desertification has taken over. About 80% of the population lives in poverty.