My Sweetheart

 I'm sitting under the gazebo, taking a moment to catch my breath after being chased by several kids on their trikes as they are racing around the pool, hopefully burning off some of that energy that never seems to fade. Along comes a little boy waving and calling “Mon cheri, mon cheri!” (my sweetheart) I realized he was talking to me & began to laugh; his face broke into this huge smile “Ok, ok, babay mon cheri” and away he went on his trike. He doesn't ride his trike though, instead he stands just in front of the seat, grasps the handlebars and proceeds to waddle his way around the pool. The staff and other interns have encouraged him to pedal & shown him how, but he continues to waddle along on his trike anyways. I brought this up at our Wednesday meeting and I was told that the year before he had had a very high fever for a long time and when he’d come out of it he was a lot slower than he had been and seemed to walk around in a daze for the rest of the year. Seeing him now you would never guess, he talks all the time & is always joking around, though there are moments when you see that he is slower than the rest of his class. Shelley reminded us all to be praying for him and Thursday I got to see that prayer answered!!!

 It was recess and since they hadn't had trikes earlier in the day, if they sat very still and quiet for a certain amount of time they got to go get a trike. This took awhile; but eventually they were all on trikes and there in the middle of all the chaos was my sweetheart waddling along. I felt like I needed to push him to pedal so I walked over and began talking to him in my broken Creole. Placing his little tan work boots on the pedals requesting him to “Pedale por mwen, pedale”  (pedal for me, pedal) looking from where his feet had been placed to me and back he leaned forward and with some effort he began to pedal! “Bravo!!!” My smile felt like it reached from one ear to the other, he began to beam “Shita la” (sit there) he said pointing the little steps on the back of the trike “Non, pour mwen vou pedale”  (Not for me for you, pedal) the little steps are tiny and where the kids enjoy riding on the back I'm a little bigger and wasn't sure I could fit “Non, shita la” (No, sit there) his puppy eyes and frizzy hair that had come out of his pony tail were hard to resist “D’accord mwen shita la, but, vou pedale, d’accord” (Ok, I sit there but you pedal, ok?"  he nodded his head and we were off! 

I could hold myself on the little steps for a couple rides around the pool, but with the other kids racing around and playing tag, because it's fun to see Miss Hope freak out, and almost getting my long legs "sliced off" I tried to slip off so I could watch him pedal. But my sweetheart noticed after a couple turns of his pedals seemed a lot easier than before, I looked back seeing me standing there giggling he folded his arms and wouldn't talk or pedal unless I continued riding on the back of his trike. 

I know God answers every single prayer; yes, sometimes it's not the answer we are wanting and it's easier to complain and think He hasn't answered yet, but God always gives me one of three answers: Yes, No or It's not time yet. Here in Haiti God's hand is evident in everything from there being just enough food for all the kids, to amazing team coming and transforming the upstairs which would have taken us awhile on our own. He knows just what we need and when we are listening and searching for His will He does amazing things. 

It was such a blessing to witness this prayer answered as I'm the newbie and am learning more and more the developmental progress Marantha is making in each and every child's life that walks through the gate. They are doing such an amazing job and I feel so blessed to be a part of this and help them develop a dance program.

Curveball

The bases are loaded

You're teams down in points and you're at the bat

The crowd is still

The lights are bright

You concentrate on the pitcher 

He gives a nod to the catcher

3, 2, 1

You're ready for anything

Or so you think; until a curveball is thrown.

I'm not a baseball fanatic, I've been to a couple games, watched the world series a couple times. However it seems that God tends to send a curveball when you least expect it in life. Everything is going well when, whoops didn't see that one coming!

I'm learning that you have a couple choices in life when one is thrown your way. You can be:

Caught off guard

Not swing 

Change your mind at the last second

Swing and miss it 

Or the alternative which is to:

See it. 

Recognize it. 

Wait for it 

And swing to hit it out of the park. 

Either way you will reap the benefits or consequences of either action. And you don't always know what a curveball might hold. Some curveballs are lessons. God testing us in a way. Will we see that this isn't the right pitch for us and wait for the next? Or go ahead swing? Three strikes you're out in baseball, but isn't it an amazing and beautiful thing that God gives us more than three chances in this life? God's also teaching me a lot about love. But that is for a later post.

I've had a couple curveballs thrown my way. One I decided to not to reach out but let the pitcher catch and that was a mistake. God gave me another chance though and I reached for it and found a good friend here in Haiti. The third curveball I let God catch and am finding peace knowing that one of our kids is being watched over by Him, wherever she may be He's taking care of her.

Hold fast. Trust God. You never know what adventure is waiting for you after you swing or don't swing that bat.

Dust to Beautiful Things

It's been really busy here with new teams coming in and my mom leaving on Friday. I know you guys have been waiting on a post so here is a short little post. More stories to come soon annnnd pictures! 

In the past couple weeks I've taken some trips up the coast to drop off a teammate, spend a day at the beach and go to the look-out to see Haiti spread out below. This song has played in my head over and over as I've seen more and more of Haiti. There is beauty in the Haitian people, the ocean view, the mountains, the food etc. There's also pain, hurt, brokenness and dust that settles over everything. But read till the end of the song & you'll find something beautiful.

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

God Knows and Cares

Monday the Pre-school was full!

We had several new kids and were missing 8, but if everyone had come we have had over 80 kids!!! The pre-school opens at 8, parents have 30 min. to drop off their kids and than the children head to breakfast. After getting them all seated one of the teachers leads the children in a prayer while we bring out plates with Monday's breakfast; oatmeal and mangoes accompanied with a glass of milk. Usually the plates that have been laid out on the different counters are enough to feed all the children seated. But this time I was running back and forth to the kitchen making more plates for the children that were still walking in. 

After the majority of the children had finished and were being wiped up, three sisters walked through the white gate joining the front and back yards; "Bonjour!!!!!!" we had heard rumors that their family was moving away and that the girls wouldn't be able to attend school anymore. We were so excited to see them!!!!!

Racing back to the kitchen I found the large pink bowl with hardly any oatmeal left, it was to late to make more oatmeal... quickly I scooped a cup of oatmeal for the first plate, hmm still have some left, again there was enough for the second plate but what was in the bottom of the bowl I knew wouldn't equal even a quarter of a cup. Grasping a spoon I scraped the oatmeab to clean off the sides of the bowl and once again there was just enough for the third plate! Grabbing the bowl of mangoes there were three pieces left, I stopped for a moment in complete awe.

We'd made just enough food to feed the new children that had arrived and still have a little extra for the girls. We didn't know that we would have new children or that the three sister's were coming, but God did and He had provided for them perfectly. It may seem like just a little thing, no big deal, but it's the small things, the tiniest details that make something magnificent or insignificant.

Thanking God for the little things especially these beautiful little children in Haiti today

Seeing

Today is the four year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti. Have you forgotten?

I've been in Haiti for ten days; most of that was spent inside the Pre-school, working with the kids and getting to know the Tlucek's, making little errands, which has taught me a lot and been really good. But yesterday and today, God really drew me close and I saw and felt.... Haiti.

I saw the awfulness of lives taken in a horrible accident.

I saw beautiful ocean view.

I saw the corruption.

I saw beautiful smiling faces through clouds of dust.

I saw the damage & effect of the earthquake

I saw the pain that is still fresh and will always be there for people who lost loved ones

I felt the sick, twisted, darkness

I felt the pressure

I felt the need

But most of all I've seen and felt God's hand and unconditional love for this country and every single person in it.

We sang Your Love Never Fails and God of This City in church today and the truth of the words we were singing just washed over me and I don't know how to describe it except to say that it was a beautiful thing.

Our Pastor gave a wonderful sermon today titled: He is Still God and We Are Still His. He talked about our response to disasters, whether natural or personal, what our response tends to be and what it should be.

God is showing me a lot, but I think the biggest thing is how constant He is and how He always will be in His love and care for us. It's a beautiful thing and though we can look at Haiti and all the brokenness and think about how hard life is here and all the needs to be met and feel overwhelmed, but if we focus on God instead, you will find: beauty, peace, love and grace in the most unexpected places.

Our response to disasters should be:

1. Hold On In Faith - dont give into fear 2 Tim 1:7 (look it up)

2. Go to God in Prayer - Phil 4:6

3. Don't Blame God - or make excuses because we don't really know Ecc 9:11

4. Respond to Crisis - we are the hands and feet and called to do what must be done James 2:17

5. Rest Assured in God - He never makes mistakes or is shaken

"We structure ourselves to be comfortable, all the time. But that's not what God is interested in. God is interested in our assurance of Him no matter what comes our way. This whole world can be shaken to bits yet God's throne is not moved and inch, not one inch" - Pastor

Birthday, Hair & Cuddles

Yesterday was my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mamacita!!! I "snuck" into the maternity center Tuesday evening to alert the staff about mom's birthday since I was pretty sure she'd kept this bit of information to herself, crazy lady. Beth (the Director of the maternity center) Shelley and I collaborated and decided to throw a birthday dinner in honor of my moms *cough 35th birthday.

Wednesday I was sitting down with one of the little girls during recess, which the big kids have while the smaller children take naps. She had found a little piece of my hair that had come out of my braid and began re-braiding it. Well than came one of the little boys; he in particular reminds me of the lyrics "Little bit of demon in those angel eyes" and he promptly began teasing the back of my head; which isn't easy if all the hair is in a braid but he was determined and in seeing two kids getting to play with my hair four others thought it was a good idea too. Years of hair pulling from babysitting and younger siblings has thickened my skull (knew it was for a reason) but I think I lost the majority of my hair when I combed it out later. Note to self: keep hair up and tight.

We played Duck, Duck, Goose and some of the kids are super fast! We play where all the kids sit in a line and when they become goose they race around the pool, great way of burning off energy that seems to only thrive as the afternoon burns on. One of the girls curled up in my lap and I began to hum a song that we sang earlier that morning, she began  humming softly with me and we rocked back and forth. I don't think she was feeling well as she'd been really slow all day and quite which yesterday was a completely different story. We sat the rocking and humming for a good 15 min as recess came to a close and the teachers began moving benches and cleaning the floor from previous snack time. As the children began sitting around the table I told her to go get her backpack, when she didn't respond I looked down and she was fast asleep, the white ribbons that matched her dress where tickling her long eyelashes and for a moment... I can't explain it. Despite the screams and squeals that surrounded us we were in our own peaceful world & everything was ok.

Moving ahead a few hours, Shelley made sweet and sour chicken with rice for moms birthday dinner with avocado and mangoes cut up for sides as well  as bread from the Heartline bakery. We had people from Heartline over as well as a team from Washington that stayed with us overnight before heading into the mountains for some ministry work. Needless to say we had a huge table set up and it was full!

Jeff, Patrick and Ben led worship and the pastor in the group gave a little devotion on Mordecai. It was really good and Esther is my favorite book in the Bible. Byron (Director) made his special mango smoothies to go along with the cake that Beth had made. Both were super delicious! After dinner most people went to bed as they have an early start to the morning but mom, the pastor, two members of the team staying with us and Katie stayed up a little later playing Phase 10, Mom and I tied for third place even though I might have skipped her a couple times. I gave mom a card that my older sister had made before we left and made sure everyone signed as well as a large serving bowl that was crafted out of mahogany here in Haiti.

I don't see my mom very much as she has things at the maternity center but I noticed when I was little and up into my teens, that God gave my mom a heart to serve women through midwifery as well as their children. Working on the days that mom does prenatal for the past couple years I'd forgotten how happy it makes her and the light that kind of glows from her when she's working. Life is not always easy and my mom and I have not always gotten along (crazy how we're the only ones right?) but I wouldn't be here without her and God is showing me some characteristics that she and I have in common and its a beautiful thing. I love you mamacita!

A Smile is Universal

The first day of Pre-school was today! The directors are giving me some time to see how the Pre-school runs, what level the children are at & to put together a program specifically for these kids which is a huge blessing and I'm very grateful.

I'm exhausted but hope to share a little bit about today before I fall asleep.

We had around 43 children at the preschool today, which to the teachers and interns who have been at the Preschool for at least a year, felt like hardly anyone was there, but I was grateful that the number wasn't larger as 43 little voices calling to you in a different language can be a bit overwhelming. I was assigned to help outside with another American (she's been a HUGE help and I'm very grateful for her friendship.)

There are three little boys here that latched on to me right away. They are actually from Maranatha's Children Home and are such sweethearts and seem to be the most out going so far, but it is only the first day. For the kids outside activity we'd decided to do trikes around the pool, the first class chased me around the pool on their trikes trying to catch me, their laughter pealing through the yard. The second class which is made up of our smallest children we did chalk with teaching them to draw horizontal and vertical lines with their chalk, one of the little boys that was playing with chalk next to me I taught to do high five after he made a vertical or horizontal line correctly. He giggled and did a little dance after he did one, it was adorable.

I met a woman who has been in Haiti for the past three years who really encouraged me and will be sending me her Creole Survival Guide that really helped her pick up Creole. She also works with kids but in a different part of Haiti. While I can't communicate with the kids very well verbally just yet a smile, hug, kiss on the cheek and laugh speaks volumes & fills the empty space for now.

Haiti At Last

After a long day of flying and racing to make connecting flights, my mom and I arrived in Port Au Prince last night with all of our luggage! Thank you God! The director of Marantha Children's Ministries, Byron met us and we headed to the Children's home to pick up a generator before heading to the Preschool where I will be living.

Walking in to the home we were met with six eager children all calling for "Mr. Byrons" attention. A little girl in pink pajamas came walking up and hugged my legs, bending down to pick her up she buried her head in my shoulder, she was SO cute and reminded me a lot of my little shy niece Maya. I learned that her name was Rose as a little boy grabbed my hand and dragged me into the kitchen where the kids were just finishing dinner. I was greeted with "bonswa" from the little kids sitting around a wooden table. The little boy began talking to me in Creole, I didn't understand what he was saying but I figured he was asking me to come sit with him at the table, "Non messi" I replied spinning him around with the my hand that he had firmly grasped, a giggle erupted from his little mouth and it quickly became a game twirling him around and around as Rose lifted her head to watch.
   We didn't want to keep them from cleaning up and bedtime so we headed back to the truck with smiles on our faces as the kids called goodnight to us.

We arrived at the Tlucek's where pizza was on the menu but they had had a generator go out so dinner would be delayed which ended up being perfect because we had had a late lunch. While waiting on dinner a woman who mom had done prenatals on when she was at the Maternity center in April came over with her son who had been born just a couple days after mom came home. He had the biggest chocolate eyes and softest cherub cheeks. I got to play with him for awhile and he held my hands as he attempted to walk; he'd tried earlier that week but had only succeeded in cutting his chin, that didn't stop him though.

After a delicious dinner I headed to bed. I'm rooming at the moment with one of the Tlucek's daughters but tomorrow she heads back to college in the states. There are fans pointed at the beds which they explained are to keep the mosquitoes off. The mosquitoes here are little and can't compete with a fan which works rather perfectly.

The power went off around 3am this morning but thankfully this is the coolest month in Haiti and a nice cold breeze was blowing in through the window. Little mercies are a blessing. The preschool is on Christmas break till Tuesday so I have a couple days to settle in which is rather lovely.

This morning I woke up to beautiful singing; a church group somewhere in the little compound had gathered and were lifting their angelic voices to the Heavens, I swayed along with the music catching little words that I knew as I went to work re-organizing a large bookshelf I'd volunteered to clean/re-organize the night before. Everything is dusty in Haiti, whether you wiped it yesterday or a couple hours earlier.

There was a graduation ceremony over at the Maternity center and I got to walk over and see where my mom is staying and join in the graduation festivities. Four women police officers came and talked to the girls about self defense, staying in school, getting successful jobs and each of them played a different instrument for us. Some of the girls performed a skit, another sang, there was a fashion show and another girl did a dance for us. It was fun to get to see her dance, it reminded me a lot Zumba :)

The other intern Alex and I got to ride with Bryon and Shelley as they dropped their daughter off at the airport, we rode in the bed of the truck to keep an eye on the luggage, it was fun bouncing around and Alex who has been to Haiti a couple times and been working at Maranatha for the past semester was able to point out some interesting things about Port Au Prince and her perspective.

Bella is the Tluceks Haitian daughter and since the moment I stepped in the door has been talking about wanting to do Ballet, so tonight I pulled her aside and taught her a small combination at the "barre" (a wooden chair) she is a very fast learner and Alex assures me the children that attend the Pre-School are too. I'm excited!!!

Tonight for worship the boys led us in singing Came to My Rescue by: Hillsong. Language barrier is my biggest frustration at the moment, I know that it is my first day & God continues to try and teach me patience. I loved singing this song tonight, all I am is His, all I want to do is to seek and glorify Him. And for Him; it's enough even though I have yet to learn the language & being a bit of a perfectionist; I feel like I'm failing but He will always answer me and walk beside me and that's enough for me :)

"Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where you are" ~ Hillsong

One Day More

The song from Les Miserable keeps playing in my head as I look to tomorrow and the days ahead. Snow is falling here and it's hard to imagine that after tomorrow I will go from snow to sun, but I'm excited to see what all God has in store for this crazy, country girl.

Here is my revised support letter to remind some and to inform others of where I'm headed and why.

Dear family and friends,

I am headed to Haiti!!! 

My support need is $700/month. Grace's Extend committee has approved my application and will be supporting me as a Grace missionary to some extent, however, due to the church's current financial situation, when this support will begin & how much it will be are yet unknown.

Young Haitian children from impoverished homes are left at home, alone, while their parents work. They do not develop the early childhood mental skills & basic motor skills that we take for granted everyday. Marantha Childrens Ministries preschool in Port Au Prince serves 73 two to five year-olds. Their goal is to share Jesus, preparing children to be successful in school & life. If a child is not encouraged to learn these basic abilities, he or she will not develop them fully. The impact of this neglect is devastating to not only an individual but an entire society. 

On January 3rd, I will be joining Marantha, which is an extraordinary organization that runs a multifaceted ministry - an orphanage, the preschool, a teenage Bible study & an English camp in the summer. Their web page, www.mcmhaiti.org states, “We desire to nurture the whole child - nutritionally, educationally, and spiritually - through Bible stories, education, positive interaction, and a vitamin/feeding program.”

The directors, Bryon and Shelley Tlucek, have asked me to start a dance program as part of the pre-school curriculum. This is a perfect fit, as I danced for 10 years at Angelfeet Dance Studio, assisting and teaching for 3years, and serving on the ministry team. Dance is very close to my heart. I’m excited to continue my dancing journey, to be able to use it in Haiti to help these children grown, and to share Christ’s love through dance.

If you would like to support me whether by a small monthly amount ($10 a month adds up) or a one time gift of any size. My first month has been generously covered but my support for the months ahead is not near my goal, but I know that God will provide.  All support is tax deductible when made thru Maranatha Children's Ministries. All donations can be made using the Paypal link on their site at: www.mcmhaiti.org/getinvolved.php - please be sure to designate it as 'Support for Intern Hope Ruebke'. Checks can be made to MCM with "Support for Intern Hope Ruebke" in the memo or on attached note (required) sent to: MCM c/o Nichols Accounting, 5680 E. Franklin, Ste110, Nampa, ID 83687. 

If you have any questions please contact me at h.e.rdancing4Him@gmail.com. 

While I hope to post a few pictures on here the majority will be on my photography page on Facebook. Please go like my page to recieve updates: https://www.facebook.com/H.e.rPhotography94 

May God bless you and put a spring in your step. 

Hope E. Ruebke