The Night Before

I hope this post finds you all loving life and engaged in adventures that make your heart race!

I just returned from the deaf community for one last meeting with the leaders to coordinate transportation and clarify all details for our travels together tomorrow. Many people once again came up with incredible embraces and obvious excitement over a chance to sign papers for a new and permanent home tomorrow.

Follow along on this blog each day this week as I will be writing progress reports at the end of each day. Many of our partners on the deaf community project are now in Haiti for the celebration tomorrow including Manu, Steven and Sandrine from International Deaf Emergency, Yollette and Evelyn from Friends of Deaf Haiti, Butch from Frazer UMC, Kurt from 410 Bridge, and many representatives from Mission of Hope Haiti. It is wonderful that so many passionate people have gathered together in support of this work – we truly see the manifestation of 1 Peter 410 (the verse that inspired the name of 410 Bridge). Which states, “Each one should user whatever gift he has received to serve others. Faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” – our first brave souls who are moving this week are excited to work hard and show all of Haiti that they are capable of doing great things. Once again, for those who are crying out for more education and chances to work extremely hard in pursuit of a sustainable life, I can’t imagine a better place to start!

As our great friends sign the papers and receive the keys to their new homes we will be there to cheer them on as they embark on a new and exciting stage of life. I am excited for several hours tomorrow spent walking through the homes with the new families, talking about the joy of the day and dreaming together about the future. There are many thoughts running through my head right now – foremost among them being a vision for future support for the community. It is always a tough balance to provide levels of support while at the same time allowing a community and leadership to truly rise to the occasion. We are always flirting with that line down here, but it is wonderful to experience so much resilience in the community. I have no doubts this community will rise to the occasion – when support is needed, of course we will continue to work alongside of everyone. I am looking forward to many more blog posts surrounding new initiatives and the trials and successes of the deaf community in Haiti.

For all of you cheering us along from around the world, thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

A prayer from my journal this morning – “Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to celebrate. In Your abundant creation, we praise you for times of festivity and joy together. We know you have meant fellowship and life together to be one of the greatest blessings of Your redemptive work. Lord, as we have an extremely busy week ahead of us and as hundreds of people relocate their lives and start fresh after the earthquake that devastated this nation 2 years ago, we ask for your pervasive and profound peace. You are the God of infinite hope and peace. As we have many tough times ahead (with many more great and festive times ahead as well) we pray for continued life wrapped within your abundant grace and peace. AMEN

grace and peace,

Kyle