Obedience Is Our Job, While the Result of that Obedience, is God's Business

For a couple of weeks now, it has been on my heart more than ever to just go and see what God can do through me in Haiti. I've been reading He Walks Among Us by Rick and Renee Stearns, and this book has encouraged me to just obey. I've had multiple dreams of me serving there and me having an immense joy doing so! My school efforts all seem to be unsuccessful and when I asked God, desperately pleading in prayer, why this was happening, I heard "Because you're still here." 

But I can't quit school now, I've come so far. Or can I? But I'm scared to drop everything and leave. People have huge expectations from me. Moving to another country? I'm not even sure where I'll go. Did I go to school for these past 11 and a half years, simply to learn discipline? Are you done teaching me discipline and now you want me to go and put it into practice? God is that You?

Rest Anna. 

How many times have you done that? Bottled up so many worries and never even bothered to realize that worrying is sin? He commands us not to worry about anything, but instead pray about everything. (Philippians 4:6-7). Whether you're in the same boat as me and are being convicted of a huge thing, or something smaller, it's all significant and through it all we need to keep in mind that it's our job to obey, not to be in charge of the results of that obedience. 

Obedience is our business, while the result of obedience is God's business. He will give us grace and understanding as we go through with what He wants. We must be open, willing vessels though. Writing helps my heart to quiet and that is what we all need sometimes. A quiet heart. 

Peace. 

Knowing that no matter what happens, there is not one thing that God will allow to happen or not to happen that won't be in His perfect plan. This may come in forms not so pleasant, but remember His promise to never Leave or Forsake you!! Rest in that and empty your mind of it's worries. 

I needed to organize my thoughts and ask for prayer here, while this time of waiting extends for me. Brother's and Sister's, please pray that I will be sensitive to the Spirit and also to the Will of God. 

My Voyage

One

More

Year

Until the doors open

More school or taken across the seas,

Of endless possibilities.

Haiti, the place where I left my heart

Do I go back now and retrieve it?

Or do I simply follow it and

Learn to swim.

“Do you not need an anchor,” They ask.

My answer,

If I don’t try to rescue the least of these

I have already let go of the lifeboat and drowned.

You look at me and wonder why I choose this,

Why not go back to school

And climb this ladder

Of social acceptance.

Because my voyage is different than yours. 

Seek your voyage and climb that ship. 

~Anna Giesbrecht

Exam Week....but rather, Examination Myself Week.

          This week is a reflection and examination week for me. Time to remember all my experiences in Haiti and then also remember what God is doing here. It's a time to be a prayer warrior for the full-time missionaries there. It's time to soak myself in gratefulness. I hope you will reflect on what God has done and is doing in your life as well. I hope you will try to find His will in it all. Keep praying :) 

           Don't forget to remember all that you have. Don't define your crummy days by it's circumstances. Maybe you tripped today and spilled coffee on youself...but you're alive, so isn't it a good day? Jesus died for you..it is OBVIOUSLY a good day!

           Hope this video reminds you of the great things you have. Most of these children don't have parents anymore, or they couldn't support them; yet they are all smiles! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9e5BI8XOHI

I'm Back!

   
 Hey there everyone! First of all, I'd like to start things off by saying that I'm sorry for not posting in such a looooooooong time! I was going through a rough spiritual battle as to whether or not I should continue blogging or not. Some things that I was seeking an answer for was; Is God really being glorified in any way through my blog? Every time I would write a post, I got really emotional and it just seemed harder and harder to accept where Christ has me now, which is not in Haiti.
     So what changed my mind was more of a miracle to me than anything really! After quite a few weeks of praying and not really getting an answer, I just accepted that maybe Christ didn't want me to serve in Haiti, let alone tell the world about it. However, this past weekend we had a church reunion with all the Lighthouse Gospel Sister Churches. There, I met an incredible God-fearing woman. (I know she will probably read this...So once again, THANK YOU!!!) I had not yet introduced myself when she said something along the lines of, "When is your next blog post coming out?" I was shocked because I didn't think anyone actually read this! Well anyway, she went on and encouraged me that maybe it wasn't my season to serve in Haiti but my blogs could be my way of ministering to Haiti. I didn't understand at first but she said that it might encourage people to pray for Haiti.

So to anyone reading right now....take a moment and pray for Haiti, for the orphans, for the missionaries and also for the lost. Pray that the Lord will provide for them. 

For today's story I thought it would be appropriate to share about the abundance of provisions we have here in Canada. I know for myself, that I've never had to go hungry or thirsty. I've never had a lack of clothing or anything. I've always been taken care of. Now take a moment and envision this: You're an average family living in Haiti. Your children go naked because you simply don't have money to buy them clothing. Those children that do have clothing, it's ripped, torn and dirty. You have to watch as your children starve. 

The one day when coming home from working at the church, there was a little boy on the side of the dirt path without any underwear. He was only wearing an old shirt. We stopped the truck. I jumped off an give him a little pair of boxers. He was SO happy! He kept saying, "Merci, merci!", which means thank you, thank you!  The part that hurts the most about that scenario is: 

 He didn't know how to put them on.

He gave them back to me looking very bewildered, so I gladly put them on him. Some of the other people actually captured a picture of the moment. 

Notice how he is completely relying on me, he's holding my hair and everything. It felt great having the pleasure to show that little guy some love.


Since I'm really encouraging everyone to pray for  Haiti, I thought I'd share of what it looks like down there concerning the environment and society:

Please pray! There is power in prayer! I want to leave you with this verse: 

"The Lord is far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous." ~ Proverbs 15:29

Thank you all for praying, I believe there will be a good change coming to Haiti soon! :)
Goodnight and God bless!
~Anna

First Day of Work

    The first week of working was a great experience! Although the first day was the day that opened my eyes the most I think. It was Monday February the 3rd, and we were all asked the question as to what we would like to do. We could either go work at the Damahoot church or stay back and sort through clothing that we'd be bring up to a mountain village on Friday. My aunt chose to stay back that day, and besides her, I didn't know anyone so I was sort of anxious about my choice to go to the church. When we were loading up the truck, it turned out that most of the younger people had decided to go.

Here we are all getting ready to go paint the church.

    When we got to the church, there were immediately huge swarms of children ready to receive our love. Although we painted all day long, there were plenty of opportunities for us to spend time with the people of the village. There was one particular little girl that always hung around Aggie and I. Her name was Angelica.

Excuse the horrible dressing choice, we were painting :p This is the cutie pie Angelica :)

     Within a couple of hours of painting, the little children decided it would be a good idea to take my head-covering off and braid my hair. Here in Canada, it would have been known as really rude and dis-respectful to just touch someone without their permission, but in Haiti they were showing me their love that way. It took no time for the mothers to come and join the children on the floor, crouching down and playing with our hair.

Here we are enjoying two children's' company.

   Here the Mothers joined in on the fun. They told us about their children while they braided away.

   Across form the church there was a public well, the only well that I saw in Haiti. It looked to be a GFA Jesus Well, but I'm not entirely sure. What really bothered me about the well scenario was that all of the women would do the water carrying and pumping while the men sat around. Maybe they just didn't know any better, but I thought it was kind of wrong.

     While working here the first day, I looked out of the window bars and I saw a sadness about the place. I sensed spiritual distress and also poverty like we hadn't seen yet. I looked outside after lunch and saw this:

That there is Angelica and her baby brother. He is only wearing a shirt. Angelica had put on different clothing since the
morning like the rest of the Haitian children do daily if they have the clothing to spare.

    Going back to the compound the first night was wonderful because I felt so fortunate to be able to stay at the orphanage. It was such a great place to stay! The devotions every night really helped me spiritually. The first day of work was a success as well. We finished the first coat of beige paint on the inside. The women sorted through a large portion of clothing as well. Peter, Ronnie and Billy already started tearing out things in the mission home. Lloyd and Frank and Abe came along with Tina, Aggie, Helen, Sara, Maria and I to the church. The men did the electrical work. They did a great job! Lloyd and Frank found a baby tarantula and a scorpion in one of the outlets! Gross!

The boys doing their job.

                                              More working on the electrical stuff...

At the end of the day we would have a 'mango break'. The mangoes there were just SOOOO delicious! I can't really explain my love for them. Hahaha except for the hairy stuff you have to get out of your teeth afterwards...that part kind of sucked.

Yup...we all have a mango face, but hey that's alright ;)

I just want to leave all of you with a question this week. Would you be okay with living under two sticks and a sheet in 33-40 degree Celsius weather? Would you be able to thank God at the end of the day? I really wish all of you could have seen what I did. This lady would have been able to say yes to those questions.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 

Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Sunday February 2nd, 2014

        The first morning of being in Haiti, we were treated with the most gorgeous sunrise ever! The sun rises really early there and that's why getting up was no problem. I went out to the balcony to watch and do my morning devotions. It was so incredibly peaceful, despite the roosters, dogs and goats. There is just a stillness in the air that we don't have here in Canada, I miss it very much. My aunt Tina, her mom Susanna and Mrs. Harder made pancakes for breakfast that morning. 

First Sunrise. That is a Papaya tree at the Compound. 

         We then made our way to City Blue. We drove in our school bus again. This is some of us girls, while waiting for the rest of the people to be ready to go.

We were about to get our minds blown by the church service.

         Our group along with the American missionaries attended an AMAZING church service. I'm used to the traditional church singing of hymns and this was unlike anything I'd ever witnessed before. When we walked into the church everyone was singing and clapping hardcore. I looked over at my friend Aggie and we both had completely tear filled eyes of joy. It was just so breath taking to see these broken people worship. The thing that baffled me the most was the fact that they used every last little bit they owned to glorify God. The person that played the keyboard was very talented, yet I doubt he ever had lessons. The church services was definitely one of the best moments in Haiti.

Outside and inside the beautiful church <3

The Worship leader and a female quartet.

        During the afternoon, after lunch (Sister Phyllis prepared meatballs and rice for us!), we went to all the job sights where we would be working. First we visited the Church that Abe Harder’s group had built last time. While there, I saw a little girl, looking to be around 5 years old wearing something that was way too big for her. It looked as if she was wearing this piece of clothing just so she was wearing at least something. Here is the pretty girl:

        We then went to a different church that they were going to put a new floor into because there was nothing but the dirt in it. While there, I met a chubby little friend. She was adorable! The Pastor for that church was blind so his faithful son was helping him out. He spoke the French that I can understand, not Creole, and we talked for quite some time. His name escapes my mind, but I do know that he was a great guy who was serving the Lord diligently.    

My  beautiful friends that I long to one day see in Heaven.

       The whole group walked along the beach with some of the children. There were these two particular girls, ages 7 and 16, they both followed me the whole time. They would pick really pretty sea shells for me and stuff them in my skirt side pocket. All of a sudden the older girl turns to me and she asks, “Aimez-vous Jésus?” (Do you love Jesus?). I was SO shocked. I answered her with, “Yes I do, do you? Are you a Christian?”. She told me about how she loves Jesus and how He not only died for me and her but for the whole world. We talked for quite some time until her older brother came along. He knew English well enough to converse with me. He told me how he teaches his siblings out of the Bible and how their household is one that is following Christ. I was very touched by their stories, and their love. 

These are the two girls, I’m not sure who the fellow is though. He wanted to be in the picture too.

       Something the girls especially love down there are shades. I guess they feel really cool wearing them or something because they all wanted to try them on.

A little too big for your face don’t you think honey? :p

      That first full day of being in Haiti was incredible and I wouldn’t give anything to change how it went. I got to know more of the people in our group which I loved. I miss everyone a lot! It’s strange having a bunch of people in your life for two weeks and then all of a sudden they just disappear. I’m very thankful for that first day that I got to meet everyone at the churches and along-side the shore.

Aside from the poverty, Haiti is an amazing Country. Praise the Lord for His fine hand in creating such amazing things.

My Little Stanley Man

     "Hey Pretty Boy with your big brown eyes, someday you'll change the world with your                    smile."

     "Stanley Baby, why do you cry, Stanley Baby..."

     "Oh baby boy I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone. 
I'm gonna miss you by your hair, I'm gonna  miss you everywhere, oh baby I'll miss you when I'm gone. " ( Songs I sang to him.)

         Within the first hour of being at the orphanage I had already met a beautiful little fellow. I walked up the cement steps of the second floor, hearing a cry. There on the little carpet floor sat Stanley and a very small baby girl named Ruthie-Anne. I asked one of the older girls if I could hold Stanley. With permission granted, I held him in my arms for the first time. I took him up to my bed and started taking pictures of him, he loved the camera. He is definitely not camera shy!As I'm writing all of this, and remembering the first time I saw him, it's hard not to worry about him at the moment. However I am very comforted by Philippians 4:6-7:

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

         Mama Miss told me how Stanley man ended up at the Orphanage. In October of 2013, at City Blue; Saintard, they found him. He was incredibly malnourished. He was the size of a 9 month old child, yet he had a full mouth of teeth and that is how they knew he was older. He wouldn't respond to the human touch, he was just limp.  He has come a really far way and I praise the Lord that he was able to come into Mama Miss' care. Seeing him smile now, though he did it rarely, I never could have guessed it was the same little boy now as in October. He is now 18 months.

         That night, Februrary 1st, was the first time that I rocked him to sleep. I was alone on the balcony, with the now cooler mountain air blowing ever-so-slightly. As I stood there and looked down onto this sweet little boys face, seeing him suck on his index finger, and feeling his tiny hand touch my hip... it hit me. He will never have a Mom to call his own, and a Dad to help him grow up. He wouldn't have someone to pick him up whenever he fell, or have someone to tuck him in. As the tears were streaming down my face, I promised God that very night that I would be the one to kiss his cheek and tell him Jesus loves him every night till I left. I have never had my heart broken like I did that night on the balcony. I didn't know why God wanted me in Haiti, but I knew one, tiny purpose the first night.

This was my very first time holding Stanley.

           The next day we went to church but afterwards, My aunt and I thought it would be an amazing idea to give Ruthie and Stanley man a bath! It was SO cute. He loved holding my hand and splashing. I

 knew it was time for him to get out when he wouldn't stop sucking on the rag, haha!  Here is a picture of me giving him a bath, and his cuddly self afterwards. The photo credits go to my friends Maria Friesen and Tina Martens: 

He is very ticklish in his palms.

I love how whenever I gave him a bath he always kicked his feet up and held my face. 

I decided not to even bother putting his cloths on, he was too cozy. He dozed off soon after. 

          Within the first couple of days of being there and spending time with him, we all discovered that he was really sick. He had a cough and a high fever that he had for over 3 days already. The people that were helping with the children, Sandra and Mark,  took him to the Clinic at the compound to get him tested for Malaria. At our group Devotions that evening, we prayed for him and Ruthie (She was also sick), and then within that first week of being there, they both felt much better. They got some antibiotics that helped them get better. Praise the Lord they did! 

      

            The one night, My Aunt Tina and her Mom Susanna made noodle soup. I was informed by Mama Miss that is was Stanley's first time having it. He went all out! He had 2 full bowls of it and yeah....quite a bit of noodles on his highchair! Not only did he love Noodle Soup, he also loved Peanut butter and oatmeal. 

He knows how it's done! Ah man, he is just too precious! :')

              I was not the only one that warmed up to Stanley though. My friend Frank had some fun trying to get Stanley to like him better than he liked me, although we all know who he liked better in the end. Haha, just kidding. This is them having some fun:

Notice his little Elmo shorts...yup I chose those :p

          Ruthie and Stanley got along really well! Stanley would try to hold Ruthie on his lap all the time. While the two of them were on the high chairs, he would share his food. Ruthie would do the same. They were like best buddies. The one day while my friend Aggie and I were taking the afternoon off of painting the mission home, we took the two of them upstairs to our beds and they almost strangled each other with affection. Stanley always tried to kiss her, and then looked REALLY smug afterwards!

Hug-fest.

"You ain't going anywhere, I can walk, you can't!" lol

Gross Stanley....she's half your age. lol :P

        I was very blessed to be able to spend the first two weeks of February getting to know Stanley and caring for him. I pray everyday that he will be alright and that someone is taking care of him and the rest of the children. I know he won't have someone to kiss his cheek or hold his hand while he dozes of everyday, but I do know one thing: God let him survive that day in October for a reason. He has a wonderful plan for this little guy. It would be great if I could go back in November to help out again, but I will have to wait on the Lord and see what His plan is. If anyone has further questions about Stanley or Ruthie, feel free to comment below. 

Thank you, 

~Anna G

My little Angel sleeping peacefully. <3

Saturday February 1st, 2014

         When I stepped off of our four hour flight from New York to Haiti, I didn't know what to expect. I always imagined being dropped off in the middle of a bare, dry field with children swarming all around us. To my surprise we were greeted with something very American looking, a normal airport.There is goes to show that we can't rely on ourselves or how we feel. During the flight I kept praying that I wouldn't have an emotional meltdown as soon as I got there, I wanted to be strong and be strong for what God had in store. The relatively good airport and the Haitian music lifted my spirits! :)

       I along with the rest of our group got picked up in a school bus from the airport in Port-Au-Prince, and we were off to the Orphanage compound. We stopped at a little gas station, and immediately people came up to the windows trying to sell us stuff or ask for food.  Leaving the city, we then were exposed to the real poverty. We drove by tent cities, refugee camps and lots of malnourished people. The very hardest part for me right away was not being able to jump off the bus and give them all I had with me. About halfway to Saintard, our bus driver and wonderful translator, Phinol, showed us an open dug mountain/hill with a tiny cross at the top. He informed all of us that there they had buried more than 300 000 people that didn't survive the earthquake in 2010. I looked over at my Aunt, I could see the tears welling up. Imagine that. So many people all just placed into one big hole, half of them not even recognizable.
        On a side note, When we got to the orphanage we met Mama Miss, also known as Phyllis Newby. She is a 75 years old missionary and has started over 270 churches across Haiti. She is the most incredible person I have ever met. Spending one minute talking with her and hearing how much she lives for the Lord, gives you shivers. She is currently running the orphanage. I met a little fellow by the name of Stanley on my first day there. My next blog will be all about him. I praise the Lord that he brought us there safely.

On the way to Saintard, we passed this little boy waving and crying as the bus passed. 

This is the lovely Mama Miss and I. 

The houses there are just terrible looking. We would never be happy living in them, yet they are thankful