Broken Land and Broken Hearts
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Content
Broken Land and Broken Hearts…
Help Bring Healing
Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors, If you are reading these words, you in some way, small or great, are a part of my life. You may be my most intimate friend…the one on whom I call when I can’t make sense of life. Or you may simply be a friendly wave on my walk around the block. Nevertheless, our paths are intertwined and from my vantage point, it is no mistake. Our paths, much like the ones I am about to share with you, are intimately and masterfully designed. It was part of that design that led this letter into your hands, or onto your computer screen. I pray that you will continue with what God has begun, and that you will read the rest of this letter. If you chose to do so, let me begin by saying that it is my pure joy and privilege to share with you what terrible and wonderful things God has laid on my path and planted in my heart. The previous line of this letter may have confused you or unsettled you in some way. If that’s true for you, then you’re probably in just the right place to understand what I want to share with you. Its not often you see the words “terrible” and “wonderful” describing something together. But in this case, its exactly appropriate. Because when I landed in Port Au Prince, Haiti last July (2010), its exactly how my heart felt. The “terrible” side came first. For all of the pictures I’d seen and stories I’d heard, nothing quite captured it. But standing there in the flesh, all five senses
working together in one accord, was almost too much for my heart and my mind to take. The word “redefining” came to mind, because that’s what God was doing in me. He was taking words like “poverty”, “destruction”, and “desperation”, and He was showing me that there was a different meaning altogether for these words, than the ones I had known. The worst things I had ever seen with my own eyes, now seemed quite preferable things, things I could handle, things I could stomach…but this…I wasn’t so sure of. If you know me well, you know I have always got something to say. But in this moment…there was nothing in me to give…nothing but tears.
I had truly never been as heart-broken in all my life as I was in those moments. What I didn’t know at the time was that God had already begun to rebuild the land and the people of Haiti. Even crazier than that, He was wrecking and rebuilding my heart, so that I could be part of the plan. In just a few short hours, much of that plan would begin unraveling.
As Yvan began to share his vision with us, my heart started to see and feel the “wonderful” things God had in store for the people of this region. Long before there was ever an earthquake, or a hurricane, or government corruption, God saw it…and He designed a plan to rescue His people. He planted a seed in Yvan Pierre, and now through our paths crossing, a seed was planted in our team…a seed was planted in my heart. For a moment, God had let me see a nightmare, now He was showing me the beautiful dreams He has for the people of the Bayonnaise region. And I began to dream with Him.
About 5 hours later to be exact, and with another redefined word …”road”…our bus arrived at a small village in the poorest region in Haiti, called Bayonnaise. Here, our team met our partnering mission ICDM, ran by founder and native Haitian Yvan Pierre. Twenty years ago, Yvan Pierre, who was formally educated in the United States, had a dream of returning to his homeland region to provide an education for the children of that area.
It has since been on my heart to share this vision for the people of Bayonnaise with all of you. But first I want you to imagine that you have nothing. And when I say nothing, I don’t mean, you can’t buy that cool jacket you want or you have to settle for a cheaper car, or even that the rent is late again. I mean you have NOTHING! In Bayonnaise, this is reality. There is no electricity, no phones, hardly any food, very little clothing and what water they do have, is run in from a polluted stream. As Yvan Pierre told us, “these people don’t “want” anything…but they need a great deal.” What they need is simple…the bare necessities to sustain life. They need food to eat, clean water to drink, and a school to give them an education. Very simply, these people and the 500 plus children that attend the ICDM school, are the future of Haiti, and they are dying senselessly. They are dying of starvation, malnourishment and from diseases carried by unclean water. Just weeks before we arrived, a 5 th grade girl died of Typhoid, which she caught by drinking out of the local stream.
Now imagine for a moment, what it would mean for these people to have a fraction of what I have, of what you have. It would mean that their children live, that they receive an education, that they live life knowing that God is good and that His people provide for one another, and that just maybe, years from now, they can be the beacon of hope for their friends and family that you and I have the opportunity to be right now. The saddest part about all of this is that it would be so easy to help them, and so little is being done, until now. Here is a staggering statistic. I plan to send this letter to at least 100 people. If each of those people sacrificed a couple dinners out or those new shoes they want, the people of Bayonnaise would have clean drinking water, and not 1 more child would have to die…ever again! That sounds crazy to say out loud, but its true. And in short, that’s why I am sending this letter.
After seeing these beautiful, kind, wonderful people and their precious children, I can’t help but jump at the opportunity to be part of this plan! Although you haven’t been there, and haven’t held these children in your arms the way I have, I hope that you can sense a small part of what my heart feels. Further, I hope that your heart responds the same way as mine…in action. In 1 John 3:16 it says this, “Love is an action word!” As I mentioned before, our paths have crossed for a reason, and I hope you will continue in this part of the journey with me. It is my vision, my dream, that many of you would join with me in love for the people of Bayonnaise, Haiti. Your action in whatever form, IS LOVE, and it will be felt for generations.
If you feel your heart being led to love the people of Bayonnaise, and support us in God’s mission, you can make a tax deductable donation to ICDM. Please make checks payable to ICDM and send them to: Many of us that went on this mission have continued to follow God and partner with Him in loving and providing for the people of Bayonnaise. Quest Community Church has sponsored 70 children with the ICDM school. This means that 70 children now have a free education and at least 1 meal a day for 1 year. We have also partnered in helping to fund and build a “Center for Hope”, which will serve as a school and church for the Bayonnaise region. Lastly, we continue to try and raise the $7000 dollars it will take to build a fresh water well for the ICDM mission. The truth is this, with God behind us, this money WILL be raised, and this well, WILL be built! It will be this year that we can say NO MORE CHILDREN WILL DIE OF UNCLEAN WATER IN BAYONNAISE! 925 Jouett Creek Drive, Lexington, Ky 40509 I will be returning to Haiti with a small team on February 2nd to deliver donated funds, of which over $3000 dollars has been raised in the last few weeks! We will also continue building the Center of Hope. Remember, there is no deadline for donations, as our work in Bayonnaise is ongoing. Simply give as you can, and as your heart is lead. Lastly, please pray. Pray BOLDY, pray BIG and pray BELIEVING that God CAN and he WILL!
-
Chris Kemker
Help Bring Healing
Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors, If you are reading these words, you in some way, small or great, are a part of my life. You may be my most intimate friend…the one on whom I call when I can’t make sense of life. Or you may simply be a friendly wave on my walk around the block. Nevertheless, our paths are intertwined and from my vantage point, it is no mistake. Our paths, much like the ones I am about to share with you, are intimately and masterfully designed. It was part of that design that led this letter into your hands, or onto your computer screen. I pray that you will continue with what God has begun, and that you will read the rest of this letter. If you chose to do so, let me begin by saying that it is my pure joy and privilege to share with you what terrible and wonderful things God has laid on my path and planted in my heart. The previous line of this letter may have confused you or unsettled you in some way. If that’s true for you, then you’re probably in just the right place to understand what I want to share with you. Its not often you see the words “terrible” and “wonderful” describing something together. But in this case, its exactly appropriate. Because when I landed in Port Au Prince, Haiti last July (2010), its exactly how my heart felt. The “terrible” side came first. For all of the pictures I’d seen and stories I’d heard, nothing quite captured it. But standing there in the flesh, all five senses
working together in one accord, was almost too much for my heart and my mind to take. The word “redefining” came to mind, because that’s what God was doing in me. He was taking words like “poverty”, “destruction”, and “desperation”, and He was showing me that there was a different meaning altogether for these words, than the ones I had known. The worst things I had ever seen with my own eyes, now seemed quite preferable things, things I could handle, things I could stomach…but this…I wasn’t so sure of. If you know me well, you know I have always got something to say. But in this moment…there was nothing in me to give…nothing but tears.
I had truly never been as heart-broken in all my life as I was in those moments. What I didn’t know at the time was that God had already begun to rebuild the land and the people of Haiti. Even crazier than that, He was wrecking and rebuilding my heart, so that I could be part of the plan. In just a few short hours, much of that plan would begin unraveling.
As Yvan began to share his vision with us, my heart started to see and feel the “wonderful” things God had in store for the people of this region. Long before there was ever an earthquake, or a hurricane, or government corruption, God saw it…and He designed a plan to rescue His people. He planted a seed in Yvan Pierre, and now through our paths crossing, a seed was planted in our team…a seed was planted in my heart. For a moment, God had let me see a nightmare, now He was showing me the beautiful dreams He has for the people of the Bayonnaise region. And I began to dream with Him.
About 5 hours later to be exact, and with another redefined word …”road”…our bus arrived at a small village in the poorest region in Haiti, called Bayonnaise. Here, our team met our partnering mission ICDM, ran by founder and native Haitian Yvan Pierre. Twenty years ago, Yvan Pierre, who was formally educated in the United States, had a dream of returning to his homeland region to provide an education for the children of that area.
It has since been on my heart to share this vision for the people of Bayonnaise with all of you. But first I want you to imagine that you have nothing. And when I say nothing, I don’t mean, you can’t buy that cool jacket you want or you have to settle for a cheaper car, or even that the rent is late again. I mean you have NOTHING! In Bayonnaise, this is reality. There is no electricity, no phones, hardly any food, very little clothing and what water they do have, is run in from a polluted stream. As Yvan Pierre told us, “these people don’t “want” anything…but they need a great deal.” What they need is simple…the bare necessities to sustain life. They need food to eat, clean water to drink, and a school to give them an education. Very simply, these people and the 500 plus children that attend the ICDM school, are the future of Haiti, and they are dying senselessly. They are dying of starvation, malnourishment and from diseases carried by unclean water. Just weeks before we arrived, a 5 th grade girl died of Typhoid, which she caught by drinking out of the local stream.
Now imagine for a moment, what it would mean for these people to have a fraction of what I have, of what you have. It would mean that their children live, that they receive an education, that they live life knowing that God is good and that His people provide for one another, and that just maybe, years from now, they can be the beacon of hope for their friends and family that you and I have the opportunity to be right now. The saddest part about all of this is that it would be so easy to help them, and so little is being done, until now. Here is a staggering statistic. I plan to send this letter to at least 100 people. If each of those people sacrificed a couple dinners out or those new shoes they want, the people of Bayonnaise would have clean drinking water, and not 1 more child would have to die…ever again! That sounds crazy to say out loud, but its true. And in short, that’s why I am sending this letter.
After seeing these beautiful, kind, wonderful people and their precious children, I can’t help but jump at the opportunity to be part of this plan! Although you haven’t been there, and haven’t held these children in your arms the way I have, I hope that you can sense a small part of what my heart feels. Further, I hope that your heart responds the same way as mine…in action. In 1 John 3:16 it says this, “Love is an action word!” As I mentioned before, our paths have crossed for a reason, and I hope you will continue in this part of the journey with me. It is my vision, my dream, that many of you would join with me in love for the people of Bayonnaise, Haiti. Your action in whatever form, IS LOVE, and it will be felt for generations.
If you feel your heart being led to love the people of Bayonnaise, and support us in God’s mission, you can make a tax deductable donation to ICDM. Please make checks payable to ICDM and send them to: Many of us that went on this mission have continued to follow God and partner with Him in loving and providing for the people of Bayonnaise. Quest Community Church has sponsored 70 children with the ICDM school. This means that 70 children now have a free education and at least 1 meal a day for 1 year. We have also partnered in helping to fund and build a “Center for Hope”, which will serve as a school and church for the Bayonnaise region. Lastly, we continue to try and raise the $7000 dollars it will take to build a fresh water well for the ICDM mission. The truth is this, with God behind us, this money WILL be raised, and this well, WILL be built! It will be this year that we can say NO MORE CHILDREN WILL DIE OF UNCLEAN WATER IN BAYONNAISE! 925 Jouett Creek Drive, Lexington, Ky 40509 I will be returning to Haiti with a small team on February 2nd to deliver donated funds, of which over $3000 dollars has been raised in the last few weeks! We will also continue building the Center of Hope. Remember, there is no deadline for donations, as our work in Bayonnaise is ongoing. Simply give as you can, and as your heart is lead. Lastly, please pray. Pray BOLDY, pray BIG and pray BELIEVING that God CAN and he WILL!
-
Chris Kemker
