Haiti Fundraiser Success!!!
August 31, 2009
Wow!!! What an amazing time we all had at the fundraiser dinner/silent auction gala the other night. There were about 150 people who attended. We had a very successful silent auction with many great items won. We had a wonderful dinner provided by the staff of the Crowne Plaza Asheville. We had amazing live jazz music performed by Kat Williams. And we had a moving presentation that presented both the great need in Haiti as well as the opportunity to make a difference. I am pleased to announce that this event raised over $6,000 for our ministry in Haiti. Praise God for His provision.
Maria and I would just like to say a BIG thank you to all those that attended and supported this great cause. We hope that you will continue to stay involved in our ministry to the people of Haiti. It was a pleasure getting to meet many of you. We also just want to again say a HUGE thank you to Joe and Kristi Hughes, good friends of ours, who put this whole fundraiser together through their business Events Unlimited. They did an absolutely amazing job and we are so thankful for their friendship and their giving heart.
Here are some pictures of a wonderful and successful evening. To God alone be the glory!!!
(Apparently, the word had gotten out all over Asheville)
(The silent auction was a hit as many people placed bids on some wonderful items)
(Most proud to have this beautiful gal on my arm throughout the evening)
(Truly, everybody had a great time)
(Maria with our dear friend/neighbor/landlord Miss Tootie)
(Maria with our dear friend Kristi…She and her husband put the whole fundraiser together.)
(Giving thanks to God…a most appropriate way to begin the evening)
(Sharing from the heart about our vision to minister to the orphans and the poor in Haiti.)
(Kat Williams laying down some amazing jazz)
(A kiss to end the perfect night)
Overwhelmed by His love
August 25, 2009
Last Friday I took Maria out to dinner for a much needed date night out. Even though we don’t have a lot of money since we’re getting ready for the mission field, I wanted to take her to a nice restaurant and just have a real special time with her. At first we had coupons from restaurant.com to a Jamaican restaurant that looked really nice. So, we got all dressed up for a nice special evening, but when we got to the restaurant, it was a total dive – hole in the wall type place. So, we didn’t even stop and drove right by. Maria suggested this nice restaurant that recently opened up in a nice section of town. She said she remembered hearing that the prices were reasonable…so we decided to go.
When we got there, we saw that the prices were in our range if we were to share an appetizer only and a glass of water. Haha. But, like I said, I just wanted to have a special evening with my wife and so I told her not to worry about the prices and that we should just order what we wanted. So, unlike any other time out to dinner, we actually ordered an appetizer in addition to our main course. Our conversation was wonderful as we talked about how much we are learning about the faithfulness of God…that He really loves us and knows all the details of our lives. A few minutes later, a good friend of ours that goes to our church comes over and says hello to us. She told us that she works there and asked us if we had any coupons. I said we did not, so she tells me that she has a coupon for a free appetizer and then she gave it to us! That was sooo cool. We never order an appetizer simply to try to save on cost, and this time we order one because we just didn’t want to worry over prices…and minutes later our friend comes and gives us a coupon for a free appetizer. How cool is that? But it gets even better.
After we chat with her for a few minutes here and there about Haiti and where we are in the process and such, and after we enjoyed a very good meal, and after we continue to talk about how amazing God is that He gave us that free coupon, the check arrives. I was excited to see that it wasn’t going to break our bank. Even though we both said we would order whatever we wanted, we are both just still too conscious of excessive spending (I guess being in a third world country does that to you???) so we had both ordered entrees that were probably the cheapest on the menu. So, the bill wasn’t so so bad. So, I handed the ol plastic to our server and waited for the receipt.
A minute later, one of the restaurant workers walks out to us and says, "Are you Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker?" Of course we reply yes. She then tells us her name and that she heard from our friend (the one that gave us the free appetizer coupon) what we are doing in Haiti and that she just paid for our dinner as a way of saying "Thank you" for how we are trying to care for the orphans and the poor. Isn’t that amazing!!!!!! Honestly, both Maria and I started to cry. We were just so overwhelmed by God’s love towards us. It amazed me to think that the God of this universe really knows all the details of my life and that in His infinite wisdom and love, He saw it fit to stir the heart of a person we did not know to pay for our dinner just as a way for God to say to me, Cody and Maria, I love you. Oh man…I’m still overwhelmed even as I write this. He really is so good.
Haiti pics from recent trip
August 24, 2009
I have been having trouble getting my pics uploaded to our gallery page, so for now you can view them at our Flickr page by Clicking Here. Enjoy…
Damn those crackers!!!
August 18, 2009
Sometimes in Haiti I see things that just don’t fit into my molded view of life, God, theology, or understanding. It is hard to describe the feeling of not having any answer whatsoever as to why things are the way they are. I like it much better when I feel I can explain something, and still keep my view of God and my understanding of life intact. This was not the case on my most recent trip to Haiti, and I’m sure that it won’t be my last.
Our group had gone out prayer walking early in the morning throughout the mountainous village of Camp Coq. As we got more into the mountainous areas, I saw even more poverty and need than I had ever seen. We encountered homes that looked as if a hard sneeze might knock them down. And some of these homes were about the size of an outdoor shed and would often have a mom and 6- 8 children living in them. Another would have a paralyzed man lying on a wooden mat on a dirt floor. And hungry bellies filled most, if not all of these homes.
It was to one of these homes that we returned in the afternoon after we had taken a collection of money to purchase food for a few of these families that were living in such poverty. Our hearts broke with the compassion of Jesus and we all just wanted to do whatever we could do to somehow make a difference…even if it would only last but for a moment. So, we purchased large bags of rice, gathered many bags of clothing, snacks, and whatever else we could give them, threw them on our shoulders, and hiked up the mountain in hopes of temporarily alleviating some suffering in just a few families among the countless others that live in such conditions every day.
We know that there is a much greater need to develop sustainable resources that will help the Haitian people help themselves, which will have more of a lasting impact on their lives. And we hope that in moving there as missionaries that we will help develop some of those resources. But a person cannot help feeling the way we did as we were walking amidst these poverty stricken mountain homes – it just breaks your heart and it makes you want to do something now…not later. Even if it is just giving away whatever one has in their possession…however meager that may be.
And so we did just that. We gave away rice and beans to several families. We gave away clothes that had been donated to us, as well as some of our very own clothes (it all belongs to the Lord). We gave away little bags of trail mix to the children we saw that looked as if they hadn’t eaten a nutritious meal in days…even weeks. We gave away oversized bathrobes because a mother can use that for a soft place for her baby to sleep. We gave away whatever we had with us…including packs of saltine crackers
It was here in giving away packs of crackers that I saw something that just caused all of my understanding of life, God, theology, and understanding to fly out the window for a moment. As one of our team members handed out a pack of crackers to a little child, another older child tried taking the pack away, and in the process, the crackers got all broken and crumbled and then the bag ripped open and all the crumbled crackers fell in the dirt. Immediately, a few of the children were on their knees picking up these tiny little crumbs as well as the dirt that was mixed in, and shoving it into their mouths simply because that might have just been the only food that they would see that day.
As I watched this, my heart sank. I wanted to cry at first, but then I felt angry. “Why does it have to be like this?” I asked God silently within my heart. I probably did not wait long enough within that safe place of asking God, and I soon was just looking at it at face value…and I hated it. “Damn those crackers”, I said within myself. Because something had to be damned. I would not damn God because I must trust in the fact that He is in control…and in my heart of hearts I know that He is Good. But something had to be damned in that moment. I would not think to damn the children or the families for not being able to care for themselves or get a job or anything like that. I would not damn the missionaries for coming to Haiti to merely show the love of Jesus by reaching out to those in need…even if what we gave was just so meager in proportion to the need. But something was just so absolutely wrong in that moment that something had to be damned. So I chose the crackers. Damn those crackers for being so brittle that they broke apart and crumbled at the slightest force of pressure. Damn those crackers for being in a bag that tore open so easily and spilled to the ground. Damn those crackers for only coming 2 to a pack when there are countless millions that are starving and dying. Damn those crackers for being salted so that they satisfy but for a moment and then leave a person with a greater thirst. Damn those crackers…
Sometimes…there are no easy answers – Cody
Imagine how Jesus felt…
August 14, 2009
In Haiti, I couldn’t help but notice that there was pain and suffering and misery everywhere I looked. Naked children roamed the streets. Beggars stretched out their hands saying “Grangou,” which means “hungry” in Creole hoping for something in return. Houses were half built and in poor conditions. The stench in some places was unbearable. The sidewalk or a tree somehow had become the local restroom. The sweet river waters were replaced with a bitter brown smelly liquid and were almost dried.
As I look back and reflect on all that I had seen during my time in Haiti and all that I have learned about the country since I came back, I can’t help but think of Jesus. He surely must have felt the same way. If my heart broke with sadness and compassion for these foreign people of a different race, a different place, and a different world than mine, how do you think Jesus felt among us?
There was misery all around Him too. Hearts were broken. Disease held some in seclusion. Hunger and misery surrounded Him. Hands extended begging for a piece of bread, a piece of healing, a piece of hope, a piece of love. Sin had caused complete destruction and the whole creation had become a stench. What He saw is not what He created. Yet, there He stood. Complete perfection and holiness, in the midst of an ocean of sorrow and pain and suffering, the Great I AM looked around and something about what He saw and experienced broke His heart. Poverty broke His heart. Unbelief broke His heart. Pride broke His heart. And eventually sin broke His heart.
To me Haiti is just a small taste, a tiny speck smaller than bacteria, of what Jesus felt when He came and lived among us—poor, wretched, lost, confused, prideful, sinful, unloving, unkind people—in an unending sea of pain. In Haiti there is a proverb that the locals use that says, “Beyond mountains there are mountains”. The way they see it, there is only one problem after the other and it never ends.
Could it be that that’s how Jesus felt when He saw the state of His creation? And could it be that the love that He had for these people and the compassion He felt and the desire to break the power and bondage that kept us captive in our misery was the reason He gave up of Himself? And could it be that He is calling you and me to do the same?—Maria
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Update from Haiti Mission Trip
August 6, 2009
I just returned from a week long mission trip in Haiti and just wanted to give an update to our wonderful team. The trip was a great success in all senses of the word. We ministered to many people through VBS, revival services each night, giving food and supplies, evangelization throughout the village, praying for the sick and the lame, and simply being the hands and feet of Christ to a world in need.
Though it was extremely hot and extremely difficult at times, it was a trip that had great impact for the kingdom of God. Thank you to all who were praying for me. Praise the Lord that I did not get sick this time at all…that’s always a great praise when you’re in Haiti.
Our days were extremely busy. We were up at 5AM every day to walk throughout the village and pray for the Lord to save souls and make His glory known to the people. But don’t think of prayer walking as you normally would—a small group of people walking around an area and praying quietly. That’s what I’m used to. No, this is more like a group of about 40 of us, mostly Haitian believers, walking all throughout the village crying out to God through prayer and worship and encountering many people and sharing the gospel with them immediately (that’s just the way the Haitians do it).
Many people prayed to receive Christ during this time and then we would see many of them show up for church each night for the first time. Their names were written down so that the local pastors and leaders can follow up with them and share more through personal discipleship.
After prayer walking we would have a devotional time and then breakfast. Then we would get prepared to go to the church for either VBS, Youth, or Sunday School outreaches. There were a total of about 400 children that showed up for VBS. It was great to see these young children being fed the word of God each and every day.
The church must have been over 100 degrees inside. It was ridiculous!!! Suffering for the gospel indeed!! After this, we would have lunch and then a free time that often involved other ministry such as playing with the orphaned children or giving out clothes and food to families living in utter poverty.
Then at 3PM we would go out and do evangelism throughout different parts of the village. Because the Haitian leaders were the ones leading the evangelism, and since I cannot yet speak the language to the degree of sharing the gospel, I used this as a time to meet many people and speak to them with the little Creole that I have learned just to get to know them and start building relationships with them. I felt like the pied piper as I had a huge entourage of children following me everywhere I went. It was great to be able to love these children and share the love of Jesus with them.
After evangelism and ministry in the community, we would have dinner and then off to church each night for about 3 hours in the oven, I mean the sanctuary. Then just before ending the night, we would have a short time of prayer and worship…Wow!! These Haitians know how to pray and worship…I was worn out.
Every night, it was so hot inside the mission house (no fans) that many of us dragged our mattresses outside and slept on the porch. I prayed every night that the mosquitoes would find me distasteful and move on…it worked.
Overall, the trip was great. Many people received Christ and many people were touched by Christ through our hands and feet that ministered to their many needs.
During this trip I saw levels of poverty and suffering that I have never seen before. I saw a crippled man lying on a wooden plank in a home about the size of my bathroom, a mother and her five children living without food in a home that I wouldn’t even want my dog to stay in, swollen bellies, desperate faces. But I also saw hope through the caring hearts and hands of the body of Christ.
Smiles were brought to those desperate faces when bags of rice, beans, and clothing were placed in their hands. Downtrodden faces became joyful and filled with glimmers of hope as the people saw us reaching out to them, showing them genuine love and friendship, and encouraging them to hope in Jesus above all else.
Thank you so much to all who have been lifting us up in prayer. The trip was all that it was supposed to be. I just wish that Maria and the kids could have been there. But in due time we will all be there…without a return ticket. We are very excited about how the Lord is putting things together by leading us to both people and churches to partner together with for the ministry in Haiti.
Currently, we are at approximately 40% of our monthly budget based on the support that has actually come in and at about 55% of our budget based on those that have pledged but have not yet given. This does not include funds needed for initial moving to the field costs; therefore we still have a ways to go. But we know that the Lord is in control and is directing all of our affairs. We have been working like crazy meeting with many different people and churches in different states (we are currently in Florida). God continues to give us favor thus reminding us that He is behind this whole operation…therefore…we trust in Him.
Thanks so much to all of you who have become part of our team. We couldn’t do this without you. As scripture confirms, "we are all part of one body". Thank you for being faithful to do your part as we seek to be faithful to do ours. Together, God can do great things!!! God bless you all.—Cody.
