An Ended Life/New Beginnings

“Mr. John,”  the voice on the other end of the phone call said, “K isn’t taking her medicine.” “How do you know,”I asked.  The voice on the other end said, “The other patients in the tent told us as soon as we got to the hospital to visit K.” The caller was one of the three ladies in the Heartline program that daily visits with  K in the hospital and who on Sundays goes with her church singing group to visit, pray, and sing to K and the other patients in the big open tent.  K, the sister of one of the young ladies in one of the Heartline programs, was HIV positive and  had TB as well. The hospital is a place where those with HIV and or TB go for treatment.  The tent is one of a couple of dozen on the hospital grounds, where the patients, sleep, live, socialize, and receive treatment.  They sleep on narrow cots, and are attended to by medical people clad in  blue scrubs with light blue  masks that cover their mouths and noses.

K had been there for several weeks and it seemed that she was getting stronger and better as the hospital worked on treating the TB.    A couple of weeks back, she was able to walk, and one day she even walked us around the grounds which have an uneven layer of pea stones that cover the ground on which the tents sit.  She kept a steady balance and I felt encouraged and optimistic for her recovery.  Even the Heartline ladies that daily visit with her said that her face was becoming fuller and that she was gaining some weight.

And then she seemed to lose ground, her face  got thinner as did the rest of her body.  Although I have seen this several times in my years in Haiti, I am always surprised at how thin the human body can get and still have life.

I arrived at the hospital with Josh, a short term missionary to Haiti, and I greeted K and told her that I heard that she has been not been taking her medicine and has been throwing it outside the tent.  She denied it and then from the beds of the other patients came a steady stream of  words all of which confirmed that K had in fact stopped taking her medicine.

Several days went by and K continued to deteriorate;  she could no longer walk or even sit up. And  on Sunday when visiting her after church with the group of 10 Haitian ladies that came to pray and sing, she for the first time  did not even have the strength to sing with the group.

Monday Josh and I visited her again and the three Heartline ladies were there spending time with K. She had not eaten for a couple of days and she had two IVs in her and an oxygen tube in her nose. The other patients seem to know that the end was near and they now looked on quietly and somewhat from a distance. We spent time visiting and prayed and told her that we would be back.  We left the three Heartline ladies there and I told one of the other patients, who clearly cared for K, to call Troy if something happened to K.  Troy called me at about 4:30 PM on Monday, Feb 20th and said that the patient had called him and that K had died.  I received a call several minutes later from one of the Heartline ladies who told me, through her tears, that K had died.

It had been a struggle several years long, most of which was lived in secret. But as her health deteriorated and we became aware that K was HIV positive, the support began to flow.  K did not die alone.  She was surrounded by a support group of people that showed their love by being there  under the tent visiting, praying, encouraging, bringing mangoes and food that she requested, by reading the Bible to her, and by speaking strongly when she stopped taking her medicine.

We often joked that K had enough supplies in her  corner to open up a little store.  Every time I would visit K under the tent, I would look at the supplies of various size plastic containers that held food, water, juice and at the plastic bags of clothes, and at the fan and radio that she had in her corner and I would see more than a cluttered corners of stuff, I would see love, care, compassion, and support.

We will continue to be there for  K’s mom, sister, and family or maybe really we are being there more for ourselves in some kind of way that makes sense as i write this.  We will continue to visit under the tent.  We will continue to visit those that didn’t have to receive a phone call to tell of K’s death. No, they were there, a cot or two away.  My thoughts and prayers are now with them as well.

I saw K touch the lives of the young people that came to visit and sing and pray.  I saw the tentativeness, the uncertainty, perhaps even fear in their faces the first time they entered the tent. And then over the weeks, I have seen relationships built with K and the other patients.  Phone numbers shared, lives that not for K would never have crossed in this journey.

K has not so much died as she has passed as we all will.  She has passed from here to there, and she now awaits us, in His presence.  But until that time, may we seize the day and daily marvel at the gift of life that God has given to us.

Troy and I just returned from the hospital (Tuesday at 11:30 AM) and all that K had is now gone, even the cot is gone and the space that less that a day ago was filled by K and her supplies is now empty.  But the other patients are still there  and there is a new man that we hadn’t seen before.  The patients were happy to see us.  Connections have been made, new connections, new beginnings all because of  K.

Before leaving I asked if it would be okay if I came back to visit them.  They all with huge smiles wanted to know if I could come every day.  I am thankful that through an ending has come a beginning.

John

Finding Esther

Face Book is a way to shamelessly promote our programs and almost daily I post pictures of adorable babies, ladies in labor and breast feeding.  Grandchildren and puppies also make appearances in all their cuteness.

Last week an unfamiliar name and a vaguely familiar face “friended” me and it took me a minute to recognize that beautiful face.   Tears flooded immediately – Esther!  My maid of honor from 37 years ago.   Esther was one of three women who mentored me as a new Christian.  She went the extra mile, no, many extra miles in forming my new found Christianity.  Esther would drive two towns away to pick me up for church and then return me home and act like she enjoyed it.  I was a young and silly teenager – it never occurred to me that this woman worked all day and was probably really tired.  She never acted like she was.

Then I landed in the hospital for six months after back surgery for scoliosis.  It was a hospital for crippled children and I attended school from my bed so visitors weren’t allowed all week.  Except for clergy and  Esther was a youth pastor.  Faithfully she visited me during the week when no one else could and she sweetly forced me to memorize scripture that I still know today.  Scripture that formed my new Christian identity.  Scripture that became my mindset.

Altar call was the norm at our church after the sermon.  I ran to the altar many, many times pouring out a confused, new believer soul.   It was a beautiful ritual, old time Pentecost and I miss it still.  The front of the church would be lined with hunched over backs, weeping in repentance or praising in thanks.  Esther would slip behind me and pray with me.   I could count on her.  She would often pray “God give me a tender heart”.  I barely knew what that meant but I prayed it too and God answered.  I have one.  I cry at the drop of a hat.  It’s embarrassing and I can’t control it – I lack many gifts, but I do have the gift of a tender heart and God gave it to me through the example of Esther.

I was telling John about reconnecting with Esther and he said “Did you tell her you are here because of her?”  Even he knew the impact Esther made on me and the Christian I have become because of her example.  I was a young sponge and drank in what Esther had to offer and it has borne fruit.  Who I am today is because of the examples I had many years ago.   Women that took time to mold me and invest in me.

Years later when our daughter Morgan was born she needed a regal middle name to go with her unisex first name.  John named Morgan and she is so like her dad.  I chose Esther for the middle.  Queen Esther after my darling friend who I hadn’t seen in years but stayed in my heart.  Queen Esther who found herself in terrible circumstances and rose to the occasion.   Who wouldn’t want their daughter named after a queen and after a beautiful, tender youth pastor who impacted the life of a lost teenager.

The famous quote from the book of Esther reads “for such a time as this”.  Esther had me in her sphere of influence for but a moment of my life at time when I was teachable, new and vulnerable.  She impacted my life when I didn’t even know what was happening.  I just followed her loving example of a Christian who gave to the youth around her and took an interest and went the second mile.

We lost touch.  Many years and complicated lives have separated us.  We’ve rejoiced at meeting again.  But Esther’s influence was here all the time helping to make the foundation of who I am as a Christian.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have mentors that mold us and shape us in ways that make us able to impact those around us later.  It was a window of time when I was clay to be molded and Esther stepped in for that moment.  Such a time as this.

Beth McHoul

The Message in a Bracelet

Sandy Doyle, an adoptive mom, came by the Women’s Center and gave us 60 beautiful glass bead bracelets that told the gospel story through the color of the beads.

The Heartline Ladies wearing their bracelets after being taught about the gospel message through the colors of the glass beads. Sandy and friends, thank you for caring enough to come and share.  To see the beautiful jewelry that the Heartline Ladies create go to Haitian Creations

 

We Don’t Just Birth Babies-We Birth Women

I write this while a casual acquaintance fights for his life in a Miami hospital.  He is a warm, big , kindhearted volunteer at Medishare that we would run into from time to time.  He was shot during a robbery last week.  He hangs by a thread, the young thieves disappearing into the crowded streets after gunning him down.  Do they know a husband, a dad, a kind man is close to death because of them?  Would that enter their thinking?  A rush of adrenaline, shots fired, a family’s  life is forever changed.

How do we make a difference?  Sean Penn said it in an interview with Oprah – “it’s empowering women.”  We already know this and while he said it I sat nodding my head into the computer saying, ” yes, this is why we have a women’s program.”   Change the lives of women and you change their children.

We’ve had a lot of babies born in our program since the start of 2012.  Nurse/midwives like Melissa and Sarah, volunteer midwives, and Jen our pediatrician give their abilities and time to be the guardians of safe birth.   Why?  Why would professionals split their time and energy to spend months at a time here?  Because they know it makes a difference.  Birth can change everything.

We don’t just birth babies.  We birth women.  Women who spend over a year in our program and receive the gospel, learn how to exclusively breast feed and keep their babies close, women who learn to child space so they are not giving away babies that they can’t afford.  Women who will hopefully have a skill, make money, send their kids to school.

Our maternity program is thug prevention.  Agathe, our Haitian co-worker, teaches moms on how to raise their sons!  She teaches them how to promote respect for women, respect for others, she teaches them how to model these qualities for their children.  She does it by word and example.  Always with a baby at her breast Agathe promotes mother/baby bonding and security.

A bonded child who is well loved and knows how to give love back is less likely to shoot others.  A child who is not raised in an overcrowded house with not enough to eat is less likely to steal.  A child going to school will be doing homework rather than robbery.

That’s why we stay up for a few days at a time helping women through birth.  Birth is a tiny fraction of what our program is all about.  It’s the prenatal care, the child development classes and the teaching that make the difference.  Safe birth is only a day, albeit an important one, in that journey.

We’ve had a lot of boys this month.  Boys who have a better chance at being well bonded, secure, well fed, educated and be successful contributors to their country.  As I look at Harbor House and see successful teen moms I see that most times providing a map is all a woman needs.  She can make the journey, she will take the right routes, all she needed was a guide.

A relationship with Christ, an empowered education on life skills, a chance to make a living can result in a healthy family.  We teach women to choose men who will love and stay with their family.  They can teach their boys to be those men someday.  Save the families, save the country.

Beth McHoul

Heartline Ladies and With Their Babies Born in January 2012 at the Heartline Maternity Center

Heartline Ladies Still Praying

Heartline continues to pray on our new property, especially for the adjacent property and for the funds to build the women’s center.  Today Sewing Class B came to pray, worship and believe by faith.  They proclaimed that the land is already ours, we just need to sign the paper.  I love it that these 24 ladies came to pray in faith believing.  Tomorrow the 26 in the craft making class will come.  Please join with them in believing prayer.

They began with group prayer, worship, and the reading of God’s word

Spreading out across the land

Kneeling against the wall and praying

Kneeling and Standing against the wall

Kneeling

Please join Heartline as we gather our hearts together in believing prayer.  It’s not about the land but rather about what will happen on the land as we look to be the hands of Christ in Haiti.

Please Pray With Us

PLEASE JOIN HEARTLINE IN PRAYER as we this week Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM will be praying at the new property.  We will be praying for the funds to purchase the adjacent property, which will then give us all the property, about five acres, which is already walled in.

We as well will pray for the funds to build a new Women’s Center, as we have way outgrown our current location.  We now are squished in a 5000 square foot building and would like the new Women’s Center to be 10,000 square feet.

Currently, in the Women’s Center,  we have two sewing classes, a sewing room where purses are made, a beading class, ladies that come in shifts to make jewelry as we do not have the space for all to come at the same time, a craft making class, a literacy class, cooking class and a gift shop.

Join us as we also pray for Haiti, for Heartline and its programs, for the persecuted church and for those that don’t know our Savior.

SEWING CLASS  A  AT THE PROPERTY PRAYING.  SEWING CLASS B WILL BE PRAYING ON TUESDAY

Prayer is the sovereign remedy.

Robert Hall

If you would like more information about Heartline’s vision for the new property, please feel free to contact me at <john.mchoul@heartlineministries.org>

John

A New Born: From the Dirt Road to the Warm Hands of Heartline

Nothing is boring in Haiti, there is so much to see, so much to experience.  When you live in Haiti you go to bed really tired and when you wake up you have no idea how the day will go.  The best laid plans are foiled at any moment.

Today was one of little plans gone awry for bigger things.  Friday’s are for Family Planning and Bible Study.  Never is it just planning and Bible Study.  A baby is sick, a mother needs to talk.  A teen has a problem.   Pregnancy tests bring joy and sadness.  A disappointing conversation today brought the news that one of our sewing center young ladies is pregnant for the third time.  She is young, she is alone, she gave one child for adoption already and she was just getting on her feet.  A bad choice with long reaching consequences.  Another child to raise on her own.  Thank the Lord He sees beyond our mistakes and makes a way for us.  A precious little person loved and cherished by God.

As we were finishing up our work Cherline, the maternity center housekeeper, came rushing in to tell us a baby was born in the dirt outside by the Harbor House.  Melissa, Dr. Jen and I grabbed gloves and out the gate we ran.  Sure enough there was a squatting mom, a pool of blood, a blue baby lying in the dirt with the cord hanging between mom’s legs.  The placenta had not yet been delivered.

The baby was half in the dirt and half on an old tee shirt and blanket just as dirty as the ground.  Mom was a tiny lady, clearly not sure of what had just happened.  She didn’t know she was in labor.

Melissa and I held up mom and Dr Jen held baby with the cord hanging between us we walked/ran back to the maternity center with blood dripping along behind us.  A comedy to any passersby.

In we rushed and did the things that we do for every woman and baby.  A delivered placenta, vitals taken, baby cleaned and warmed, mom fed and hydrated.  A whirlwind of activity not planned for the day.  A stranger swept off the dirt road and brought into our haven of rest.  Roseline is not in our program, she is not one of our ladies, she is an interruption, a God intended interruption that makes claim that babies shouldn’t be born in the dirt and their moms should be taken care of.

There is something about babies born in humble circumstances.  Babies that go from the warm, protected womb to the cold ground.  Babies that aren’t delivered into warm hands but onto a hard earth with dirty rags.

These babies remind us of Jesus.  They remind us that He interrupts our day with bigger plans.  He bursts onto the scene and if we respond He has something wonderful for us.

Something wonderful did happen today.  We got to minister to a young mom who needed care, a baby who needed a better welcome to life outside the womb.  We got to break the rules and take a “walk in”.   We got to act a little like Jesus today to a baby who was born like He was ~ in humble circumstances.

He’s a God of interruptions, a God who loves the poor, cares for those who have made wrong choices and wants to redeem situations.

 Thank you for your support of Heartline that allows us to be here for the ladies and babies of Haiti.

Beth McHoul

Come Let Us Worship And Bow Down

 

I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit.

John Knox

It is no small thing to stand before others and represent the eternal, infinite, almighty God.  I love this quote said by John Knox, the Scottish reformer, but I’m thinking that it could be expanded to encompass ALL that we do in representing the eternal, almighty, infinite God.

It doesn’t matter if you are a big time teacher at conferences or a Sunday School teacher to a bunch of five year olds.

It doesn’t matter if you are speaking in front of hundreds or at a home group of  half a dozen people.

It doesn’t matter if you sing before thousands or lead worship in a church of fifty.

It doesn’t matter if you are at a church in a major city or in a hut church in a remote village in a far away nation.

It doesn’t matter if you are teaching a group of young professionals or standing before a room full of elderly folks at an assisted living facility.

May we always be in awe that the almighty, infinite, eternal God would choose us to be His hands here on earth.  May we never lose the amazement and wonder that God would use us. May we never become so used to God’s love, mercy, and grace that we are not WOWED by it all.

Before we enter the pulpit, or stand before the crowds, or teach the class or lead worship, or look to God for His will for our lives, may we find wisdom in the words of David,

 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
  let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 

Psalm 95:6

John McHoul

 

 

 

Our business is to …

“Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Confusion here is fatal.” 

J.I. Packer

Looking Back Moving Forward

I woke up this morning immediately remembering what day it is – January 12th – the 2nd anniversary of Haiti’s earthquake. I sip my coffee – I pause to remember in the midst of a very busy stretch of time. We have had a new life to welcome onto the planet almost every day since January began. We at the maternity center grab sleep when we can, we work long hours, and we get to stand by and watch mom’s push a new person into the world. We stand by with life saving meds and equipment. We stand by with midwife tricks of the trade. We guard that mom and baby  – with some never knowing how close they might have come to losing life. Pushing a baby out is really hard work. Probably the hardest work a woman will ever do. I am a marathon runner, I’ve had two babies, I know what pushing through means. These women do it well.

Haitians are used to hard work, they are strong people. I watched that strength up close after the earthquake. We’ve had well over 100 new babies in our program since the earthquake. Babies who weren’t here when the earth shook. Babies who enter this land of struggle post earthquake. Precious lives that remind us though Haiti lost so much, life continues, hope lives, love conquers. The earthquake brought about terrible losses.

I sit writing this blog in a house we’ve lived in for 13 years, owned by a lovely Haitian doctor who lost her life in the earthquake because she lived in her other house closer to downtown. She and her sister were lost, buried in the crushing weight of cement.

Heartline operated a field hospital for a year and I witnessed devastating loss but I also witnessed incredible strength, endurance and saw people suffer well. Every tragedy can bring the byproduct of new hope. God always gives us light in the darkness – He never abandons us. The 2010 Haiti earthquake ended many lives, destroyed buildings and the rest of the world paused for a moment and recognized that Haiti is on the map. But in the midst of that tragedy, Heartline was already in place so God was able to use us in unique ways. I am forever changed because of that. I met and worked along side people who will be lifelong Haiti partners and friends.

In the midst of rubble God gave incredible gifts. Two years later I still stand amazed. So, we remember. We deliver babies, Heartline creates jobs, women sew for success, ladies learn to read, to cook, to make jewelry, to be empowered. The gospel message goes out, mom’s learn how to parent and raise the children they bear. We celebrate every baby born safely, every mom who pushes through. One almost every day this year- God’s message to us that He brings about new life. Tragedy is not the end – hope and life push through.

Sent this morning from post earthquake dear friend and Haiti co-worker Sarah Dornbos ~

“From all that is broken, let there be beauty. From what is torn, jagged, ripped, frayed, Let there be not just mendings But meetings unimagined. May the God in whom nothing is wasted Gather up every scrap, Every shred and shard, And make of them new paths, doorways, worlds.” -Jan Richardson

Beth McHoul

Love This Song But Struggle Singing It

There are some songs that I love yet I struggle to sing them.  Probably my number one, love the song but struggle singing it, is: Lord I Give You My Heart also called This Is My Desire.

Check out the words and as you read them ask yourself if what you are reading or  singing truly reflect your desire, your heart, and all that you have within you.  I suppose we could say that we are singing it by faith, believing that our lives will line up with the lyrics.  But conditionally, it is clear, at least for me, that my life does not line up with the lyrics of this little song.  And so, I find it difficult to sing if I sing it and really pay attention to the words.

Lord I Give You My Heart

Written by  Michael W. Smith

This is my desire, to honor You
Lord with all my heart I worship You
all I have within me
I give You praise
all that I adore is in You

Chorus:

Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me

Click on the link below and listen to the song.

Lord I Give You My Heart

Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

I’m thinking that God would not have commanded us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind if it wasn’t possible.

I’m thinking that when I do not love Him so, it is because my affections are  drawn or focused elsewhere.

I’m thinking that the greatest thing that we can do for God and for man is to love God with all our heart, soul, and might.

I’m thinking that if this isn’t right then nothing else will line up correctly.

I’m thinking that being is more important than doing.

I’m thinking that  for the believer we spend so much effort struggling to give our lives to God that we find ourselves ill prepared or unequipped for spiritual warfare.

I’m thinking that I need to go and be in His presence.

John

Remedy for Discouragement

The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength. 

Warren Wiersbe

Those that help us live in Haiti: Part 2

We have lived in Haiti for 22 years.  There, in that time, have been, as in life, easy times and difficult times.  The one constant has been God’s faithfulness and the faithful support of His people that has allowed us to live in this land of unlimited impossibility. And there, of course, have been the examples of others that we can look to,  which bring encouragement and  help us to hang in there in the struggles.

I over the next couple of weeks  will be posting about some of those that through their lives and faithfulness have been examples to us that have helped us live and minister in Haiti.

This is the second post in this series.

I see in the life of Jairus, the synagogue official, principles that  help me push through hard times and seemingly Goliath size obstacles until I find myself at the feet of Jesus.

Perhaps before continuing on,you can pause now for several minutes and  in Mark 5:21-40 read about Jairus and the healing of his daughter0

Jairus was desperate, he was facing a parent’s worst nightmare – a gravely ill child who is dying. And he just couldn’t sit there , he had to do something.  And this is what I want to write about today.

Jesus, on the shore of a lake, was surrounded by a large crowd of people.  Word had spread, that the man who was healing the sick and  performing miracles was in town and people came to see him. And Jairus, desperate to get help for his dying daughter, came as well.  He couldn’t just stand  with the crowd, he was desperate, and so he positioned himself right in front of Jesus, where he fell on his face and at Jesus’ feet and cried out fervently,

“My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

Reading on, we see that Jesus did go with Jairus and on the road a woman that had been ill for twelve years was healed by Jesus.  While on the road, messengers came to tell Jairus that his daughter had died and Jesus didn’t have to come.  But Jesus, told Jairus not to fear and they continued on their journey and as they got near the house, they could hear the noise of people mourning the death of Jairus’ daughter.  But Jesus not deterred, tells the mourners that the girl is only sleeping and he with with her parents and Peter, James, and John enter the room where she lay and heals her.

An amazing story but it largely happen because Jairus positioned himself in front of Jesus and fervently cried out for Jesus to come and heal his daughter.  He didn’t settle for hanging back in the crowd and blending his voice with the others vying for Jesus’ attention.  He would have none of that: Up front, through the crowd, on his face, fervently crying out to Jesus.

Could Jesus have healed Jairus’ daughter from the shore of the lake?  Could he have simply told Jairus to go home for his daughter has been healed? Yes, of course; but as we so often see in scripture POSITION DETERMINES CONDITION AND CONDITION REVEALS POSITION.

Jairus positioned himself at the feet of Jesus and got Jesus’ attention and Jesus went with Jairus and his daughter’s condition went from gravely ill to wonderfully healed and Jairus’ condition went from the father of a gravely ill girl to the father of a wonderfully healed girl.

 

Blind Bartimaeus

In Mark 10 blind Bartimaeus positioned himself among the crowd on the side of the road as Jesus was going by.  He began to shout,

 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

And the crowd told him to be quiet but instead he shouted out louder.  Jesus, hearing blind Bartimaeus, called him out of the crowd and healed him.  And so Bartimaeus’ condition changed  from one who was blind but now as one who could see because he positioned himself in the crowd and wouldn’t be quiet until he got Jesus’ attention.

Other examples:

• Lame man lowered through roof: Luke 5:17-25
• Woman sick for twelve years: Mark 5: 25-34
• Women before the unjust judge: Luke 18: 1-8

Our condition changes as we position ourselves close to God.  We find that our desires change, our behavior change, our lives change as we daily position ourselves near to God.

I love that old chorus:  Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Perhaps it would be better if we spent more time working on position and let God deal with our condition.

POSITION DETERMINES CONDITION AND CONDITION REVEALS POSITION

John McHoul

 

 

 

 

 

My First Experince With Childbith by Chandler Hamilton

Guest Blog by Chandler Hamilton: Chandler  is a student at the  University of Texas in Austin where she is majoring in retail merchandising & apparel design, minoring in business.  She will graduate in May 2012.

My first experience with childbirth. Yowza.

Josh (my boyfriend/working to be fiances)  and I have been so very blessed to get to work with Heartline Ministries for one year now. Usually while in Haiti, you can find me at the sewing and beading center. However, yesterday I got the opportunity to step outside my realm and join the amazing women at the maternity center. The closest I had ever been to birth before this was seeing a pregnant belly, which to be honest had always creeped me out. Not only did pregnant bellies make me uncomfortable, but the slightest bit of blood makes me nauseous. Perfect candidate to help with a birth, eh?  Sarah Obermeyer was such a great and very patient teacher. She walked me through the whole process and taught me how to rub the mom-to-be’s back during the contractions, and that I did. When she cringed, I rubbed. The louder she got, the harder I rubbed. This was all my nervous and noob self knew how to do.

The beautiful new mom’s name is Lovely. She is adorable, so sweet, and smiled through about 20 of the 24 hours she was in labor. Amazed doesn’t come close to describing how I feel about Beth McHoul, Sarah Obermeyer, Jen Halverson, and Sarah Dornbos, the women God chose to bring the little beautiful boy into the world. I have a newfound respect for midwives, doctors, and delivering mamas. Lovely was in labor for about 24 hours people. 24 hours of something painfully trying to push its way out of you. OUCH. The immense amount of strength and courage she and the midwives had throughout the whole process just blows me away. God put enough strength in that tiny room to take on a full army.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about and struggling with seeing unequal treatment of people. Seeing people being disrespected and mistreated based on their race, social status, education, appearance, and so on breaks my heart. It especially breaks my heart seeing it here in Haiti. The beautiful thing I learned about childbirth last night is how universal it is.  When you’re having a baby, it doesn’t matter what color you are, how educated you are, how much money you have, it HURTS. No matter who you are, you have to completely rely on God to find the massive amount of inner strength to push through and bring your baby into the world. The love I saw from that mom by her ability to fight through the pain, her own discomfort, and do what was needed for her baby amazed me. So much love.

Last night Sarah O. was telling me about the stark contrast you find in childbirth between agonizing pain and complete joy, all in one instant. I have never seen this more true. Lovely screamed, cried, and pushed, she was in so much pain for sooo many hours, and in one instant that baby was welcomed into the world and she immediately starting praising God. She literally threw her arms in the air and just kept saying “Mesi Jezi! Mesi Senior! Mesi Jezi! Mesi Senior!” This is so true in life I think. God takes us through highs and lows, hand in hand. One would not be as bitter or sweet without the other, but He is with us the entire time. But He is ACTUALLY with us the entire time. Something I appreciate about Haiti so much is how real it makes the gospel. The gospel is always real, but unfortunately in the States it is much harder for me to remember and truly believe how real it is. I am beyond blessed to get to be here and be reminded of how alive and real God is.

Chandler

Chandler with Lovely

Lovely with some of the Heartline Team: Chandler, Sarah O, Sarah D, and Dr. Jen

Those that help us live in Haiti: Part 1

We have lived in Haiti for 22 years.  There, in that time, have been, as in life, easy times and difficult times.  The one constant has been God’s faithfulness and the faithful support of His people that has allowed us to live in this land of unlimited impossibility. And there, of course, have been the examples of others that we can look to and which bring encouragement and  help us to hang in there in the struggles.

I over the next couple of weeks  will be posting about some of those that through their lives and faithfulness have been examples to us that have helped us live and minister in Haiti.

Let’s begin with the Old Testament Judge, Gideon the son of Josiah.  You can read about him in Judges chapters 6-8.

God used him to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites.  He confronted his own weakness and doubts and saw his own plan for victory succumb to God’s plan. As so often, man’s plan put a lot of trust in man and man’s resources.  God’s plan does just the opposite.

So Gideon recruited 22,000 men to fight against the 120.000 Midianites  But God liked His odds better and had Gideon reduce his army down to 300 men.  He said He did it because He didn’t want Israel to think that it was their power and military strength that defeated the Midianites.

God’s plan worked and Gideon and the 300 slew 120,000 Midianites but the job wasn’t yet finished and here in where I find HUGE encouragement and the oomph  to continue on even when weary or discouraged.

There were two Kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, who decided not to hang around as Gideon’s 300 defeated their 120,000 so they fled as fast as they could to get away from Gideon and his army and although Gideon and his army were weary from the battle, the task was unfinished and we read in Judges 8:4

Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing.

Gideon caught up with these two Kings and they came to the same end as their 120,000 soldiers.

I can’t tell you how many times over the past 22 years that I have come back to these three words: WEARY YET PURSUING and have found the inspiration to keep going on and not give up.  Perhaps, you, as well will find encouragement and strength through the life of Gideon and in the three simple words: WEARY YET PURSUING.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:9

Next time: Jairus-Read about him in  Mark 5:21-40

 

John

 

Heartline: Moving Forward

There is no question that we at Heartline are simply plodders who are endeavoring to stay close to God so that when He, simply put, is looking for someone to be His hands He doesn’t have to go looking for us.  Now, I know that this is probably not the best theology but I think that you get the point.

I sort of see Heartline as being like the disciples in Matthew 14:13-18 where we see Jesus feeding the 5000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  Jesus performed the miracle and they were there and handed out the food but really could take no credit except say that they were there.  So Heartline wants to be there, near God when He chooses to do His wondrous works.  Yet, the credit and honor and glory and praise ALL go to Him.

We are so thankful for those that support Heartline in prayer, in encouragement, in coming and in giving.  Your faithfulness enables us to live in Haiti, where our days and often nights are about endeavoring to be the hands of Jesus to the people of  Haiti.

We through the Maternity Center, Teen Mom House, Women’s Center (sewing, literacy, bead making, craft, and cooking classes) and Haitian Creations where beautiful handmade purses and beads are made and marketed are working to make a difference.

Our goal in 2012 is to start a men’s ministry where we can disciple a small group of men who can in turn disciple others.  This will take place on the property that we purchased last year which we call the Okay.  We as well have several buildings that we would like to put on this property.  Let me tell you about the Okay.

What we call the Okay was once Haiti’s only western theme restaurant which was named the Okay Corral  Bar and Restaurant.  I used to love eating there but Beth didn’t and it seems neither did other people as it just never seemed all that busy.  I used to bring groups there and we would sit outside under a dimly lit bulb when there was electricity and when there wasn’t we would eat by candlelight or really by the shadows created by lighted candles.

The food was cooked in some room that was even darker than where we would eat.  My favorite food were  the ribs, which sometimes had meat but would always have fat.  I liked Eddie the owner and he would often say to me, “John, you should buy this place.” I would laugh and not say much.

Well about two years ago Heartline did buy the property although it now was about three acres instead of about 8 acres.  Eddie, the owner, sold off some of the land since having me as a faithful customer wasn’t enough to keep the restaurant open. It is a beautiful piece of property, especially the front section which has numerous trees.

Look below and you can see the outline of the Okay property.

Our property line extends to  the first line that you see as you follow the property to the back.  The rectangular section is actually owned by someone else and was the last piece sold off by Eddie before we bought our property.  We very much would like to have this back piece which is about two acres and as you can see is already walled in.  This means that the property would already be walled in, which would save us quite a bit of money as we wouldn’t have to put up the wall separating the properties.

One of the things that surprises people is how expensive land is in Haiti.  Now out in the village areas it does not cost near what it costs in the cities or near Port au Prince.  The country of Haiti

is contained in 10, 714 square miles of land mass and is often compared in size to the American State of Maryland.  Yet its population density is quite high at 938 people per square mile.  Compare this to the United States which is 83 people per square mile.  And with Haiti being largely mountainous the population density rises in the low areas and even on the mountain slopes.

So the land that is available is expensive and even though I have lived here for 22 years, I still find it hard to take in how much land costs.

The almost two acres that we would like to purchase which will give Heartline the whole walled in area could cost $170.000 which includes the taxes and legal fees.  Yikes, $170.000!  And yet we believe that this is what God would have us do.

We have plans to move much of what we do to the Okay property but are holding off as we look to God for His provision to purchase the back property.  Our concentration has been on endeavoring to stay close to God and to be faithful to what we has called us to be and to do in Haiti.

But now I believe is the time for us to tell you of this opportunity and to ask you if you would pray and see if God would have you help Heartline.  Honestly, I’m not just looking at the land as much as what will happen on the land.  I am seeing the thousands to whom we will be able to touch with the Good News of Great Joy and to whom we can teach biblical and life skills.  I am seeing the women that will have a safe place to learn and to give birth.  I am seeing men who can be disciples and trained to be men of integrity, to be godly men, fathers, and husbands.

I am excited to see what God will do and how He will provide and as we endeavor to stay close,  and to be faithful in serving Him in Haiti.

Perhaps the Lord would have you be involved as we look to lose sight to gain vision.

John McHoul

A Savior is Born

^{Luke 2: 8-12}

⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

It is the season that we acknowledge and recognize God’s love shown to the world by the birth of Jesus Christ.  Notice in verse 10 that the birth of the Savior is:

 “Good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

 

I am overwhelmed, that the eternal, infinite God, would reach out to a world which had largely turned from Him and He did so by the sending of His only Son to take upon himself the sins of the world.

This is, “Good news that will bring great joy to all people.”  Yet, as I look at the world and consider its condition, it would appear that much of the world has not received the message of Good News or for millions not even heard of this Good News.

Since this Good News is for all people, I today and on most days, think about those that have not yet received or heard the Good News that a Savior has been born.  And I ask, “What can I do or What should I be doing that others many experience the great joy of knowing Christ Jesus?

And so let me ask you: What are you doing that others may have the opportunity to experience the Good News of Great Joy; that others may know the Christ that you know.

As we soon will enter the year 2012, a new year, let’s make a new commitment to pursue opportunities to share the Good News of Great Joy which is for ALL THE PEOPLE.

Lets:

• Tell others about what God did to show His love for them.
• Pray that God sends people into the world  to tell of His great love and of how they can experience this Good News of Great Joy.
• Be willing to go yourself.
• Pray for the nations and for those that don’t know Christ.
• Pray for the church across the world.
• Belong to a church that understands that one of its primary reasons for existing is to go, send, pray, and support.
• Support your churches’ mission program.
• Personally support missions through your prayers and finances.
• Ask God what you can do where you are now that others can have an opportunity to hear and experience the Good News of Great Joy.
• Understand that the Good News of Great Joy is for ALL PEOPLE and you have the honor, privilege, duty, and obligation to share it with others.

It is the season of gift giving and singing Christmas carols and family activities and watching our favorite Christmas movie and listening to Christmas music and decorating the house and going to the Christmas service.  All good stuff, but let let us not neglect to share with others about the Good News of Great Joy, about God’s great gift to the world, about Christ Jesus, about the real meaning of Christmas.

John McHoul

Heartline: Top Giving of Life Grant Winner

Heartline has won the first place grant in the Giving of Life grant contest. Check out the reaction of the top three winners. Especially Beth. http://givingoflife.com/winners

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

Luke 2

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

¹ Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ² This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵ in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. ⁶ While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

¹⁵ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

²¹ And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

It seems that so much of the work of a missionary involves medical work, feeding programs, orphanages, schools, adoptions, education, vocational training, agricultural work…well you get the idea.  These are good things, which can make a significant difference in people’s lives.

But these things and others are not the MESSAGE.  The message is this as seen in the proclamation of the angel, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  These things that we do should be in the message. They ARE NOT the message.

On the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter preaching to the large crowd says in Acts 4:11,12,

¹¹This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone].

¹²And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.

 I believe and those who are in our Heartline meetings hear me often say, “Heartline has a lot of activities, we are extremely busy, but what we are doing whether it be student sponsorship, or the maternity center, or the various women’s programs, is not the message and what we are doing in and through the programs miss the mark if we are not clearly sharing the Good News of Great Joy…a Savior is Born.” And that, “There is one name (Jesus) under heaven by and through which mankind can know God.”

I’m sure that many of you will, during this special season, give to and help  those in need.  I strongly encourage you to be sure to share about God’s great gift, of the Good News of Great Joy, of the Savior Christ Jesus, who was born for all.

Joy to the World.

John

Why Women’s Programs

The other day I read the article below and I was especially disturbed by the last paragraph,

According to one of Alusma’s trainees, “in Haiti, most women don’t have jobs and depend on men for clothes and food & help; to keep that relationship they have to have sex with them. I’ve learnt a lot here and when I get out, I’m going to be passing on the information to my son and daughter.”

After reading this paragraph, something in me cried out,

This is one of the reasons we have women’s programs, so the ladies will not have to have sex with a man or be abused by a man  for clothes and food  or for any other reason.

Heartline’s Women’s Programs

Maternity Center

• Prenatal care
• Clean, well equipped place to give birth
• Education
• Postpartum program for six months after giving birth
• Counseling, prayer, encouragement, love, support
• Bible study
• Feeding of ladies in the program
• Women supporting women
• Family planning

Women’s Center

• Literacy classes
• Sewing school
• Jewelry making classes
• Craft making classes
• Cooking school
• An opportunity for ladies to make money  through the sale of the purses, jewelry, and crafts that they make and that we sell in our shops and through Haitian Creations.  The ladies are making money, caring for their children and families and no longer find themselves in a position of having sex for food and clothing.
• Teaching women a trade such as cooking and sewing so that they can, themselves, get jobs and not be dependent on handouts.

Harbor House: The Teen Mom House

• A place where 8 teen moms live with their children.  A two year program  where we are speaking into their lives as we endeavor to see them become godly women  and moms.   A place where we can help these young moms learn life skills.  It is a safe, loving and caring place.  It is a harbor in the midst of stormy seas.

Read the article below and especially the last paragraph.  Think about it, let it sink in, and help Heartline to make a difference in the lives of women in Haiti.

Men

As Heartline moves into the year 2012 we have plans to begin a discipleship/vocational program for men.  It will be a place where we first teach about biblical principles of being a godly man and then a vocation where the men can work, provide for their families, and help others.

You can help us help others.  Click here to see more of what Heartline is doing.  Men, men’s groups, churches, contact us to see how you can get involved in our Discipleship Program for men.

Please read the article below, think about it and as Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision said,

Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.

And let’s shout,

NO MORE!

John McHoul

PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE BELOW

Heroes of HIV: The prison educator

December 1, 2011 at 6:45 AM by AHN ·

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (IRIN) – The latest chapter in our Heroes of HIV film series follows former prisoner Jean Julux Alusma as he works to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS among inmates of Haiti’s jails.

“In Haiti, 120,000 people are living with AIDS, of which 67,000 are women, who are always more at risk,” says Alusma. Today, Haiti has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, with 2.2 percent of adults estimated to be HIV positive. Young women are more than twice as likely to be infected as young men.

In Haiti’s only women’s prison, Alusma trains a select group of peer educators, who in turn pass on the information to other prisoners.

“When prisoners are exposed to other prisoners teaching them about HIV, they are much more willing to accept an HIV test, more willing to access medical care and more eager to take their medications and enter into treatment,” says John May of Health Through Walls, an NGO.

In Haiti, stigma, discrimination, a weak health care system and extreme poverty greatly increase the impact of HIV/AIDS.

According to one of Alusma’s trainees, “in Haiti, most women don’t have jobs and depend on men for clothes and food & help; to keep that relationship they have to have sex with them. I’ve learnt a lot here and when I get out, I’m going to be passing on the information to my son and daughter.”

– Provided by Integrated Regional Information Networks.