Helping Haiti – Scotty & Danielle’s Stories

Randy’s November, 2012 Update

When I start meeting with young people, I never know how they will give away all the things that God will pour into them through this process, but I trust it will be exactly what He planned for them to do and that it will somehow bless and transform the world.  It’s always a fun surprise to watch their destinies unfold.

Mentoring Scotty – 2008:
In my October 2008 update, I wrote about Scotty In Africa.  At that time, Scotty had gone on a two-month mission trip to one of the most dangerous areas of Africa, helping develop a school and introducing humanitarian efforts in one of the world’s most impoverished countries.

That experience changed the course of Scotty’s life.

Scotty and I met for another year after that initial trip.  It was a time of preparation for what was to come next – he would go back to the same place in Africa for an undetermined length of time.  This time an even clearer vision would unfold.  A vision he is living out today.

Scotty’s Story – Building Relationships That Open Doors – Late 2009 to Early 2012:
“I left my accounting job in 2009 to join a mission team in Africa.  The initial goal of our team of three was to develop meaningful and lasting relationships with the government and local people who often feel wary of and threatened by outsiders.

“Through the relationships we developed with the government, we were able to start a humanitarian organization that offered health training to families living in rural villages, and did work with forgotten children in the city orphanage.

“Starting this organization created a way for long-term charitable workers to obtain entry visas into the country and immediately begin working in the community and developing relationships with a people group that was 99.9% Muslim.

“We went from having just three of us to having teams located all over the capital city.  God far surpassed our wildest expectations.  I am still in awe of all that He did.

Refining the Vision – A New Organization is Formed:
“During my time in Africa, God began to reveal His vision for my life.  He showed me that I have a heart for kids who are destitute and vulnerable.  He showed me that I am uniquely gifted at developing strategies that will meet the needs of hurting children and help them thrive.

“Realizing my passions and gifts led me to start a non-profit organization that partners with grassroots organizations to improve the health, education, and well-being of forgotten children.  My favorite thing about a partnership approach is that the local organization is the leader [owner] and visionary of their initiatives.

A New Orphanage Project in La Gonave, Haiti:

“In early 2012, some friends contacted me about an orphanage founder who had a vision for building a children’s village for kids who are at high risk of entering the sex trafficking industry.  The orphanage is located on the highly impoverished island of La Gonave off the coast of Haiti.

“After doing an assessment trip to Haiti and praying with our board of directors, it became very clear that God was calling us to partner with this children’s village initiative.

“Our main focus in this effort is education and skills training for these kids.

“In July, my wife and I led our first trip to La Gonave.  The team was made up of 13 people.  [Note: This trip included a young woman I mentor named Danielle.  Who knows what this trip will end up doing in her life].

“Our team worked tirelessly to help build the children’s village for 75 orphans that we hope to complete by early 2013.  In the afternoons we spent time with the orphans, teaching English and showering them with love.”

         

What’s Holding Scotty Back?
Scotty and I are meeting regularly again, since he returned to the U.S. upon successfully completing his initial goal in Africa.  While Scotty is continuing to discover his unique purpose in the world, he is also discovering and working on some fears that may be holding him back from becoming all he is meant to be.

Scotty’s Story – Facing Fears:
“The main theme for me in this latest season of life has been conquering fears – the fear of rejection, the fear of failure, and the fear of other peoples’ perceptions of me.

“Up until recently, I didn’t realize just how many fears were crippling my ability to be a strong leader, let alone a functional person.

“In the past when I would feel fear creeping in, I would immediately suppress it and find some workaround so I could avoid facing the fear.  What I didn’t realize is that my decisions and actions were being dictated by my desire to avoid fear instead of my desire to follow God’s purposes for my life.

“Last spring I started the long journey of pinpointing some of these fears and began seeking to understand where they came from.  I came to a point where I told God that I was ready to begin facing some of my fears.

“I found my first major opportunity to try this out when I led the short-term trip to Haiti this summer.

“I have led a lot of international serving trips in the past, but I always came home feeling like I didn’t give all of myself or didn’t lead to my full potential.  I wanted to let God use me as a leader, discipler, and community builder during these trips, but I was not willing to step out of my comfort zone and take risks that could result in me being rejected or seen as anything but successful and competent.

“Days before we were set to leave for Haiti, I promised God that I would take a leap of faith and do it His way.

“The things that transpired when I finally made the decision to submit myself to God instead of my fears were truly incredible.  I found myself investing in others and focusing on them in a way that I had never been able to do in the past.  I was able to disciple and encourage in ways that were motivated by love and obedience to God.

“It was a truly life-giving and healing experience for me.  This trip was a huge step in my journey and has given me the drive and belief that I can face more of my fears and become the man that God designed me to be.” – Scotty.

Want To Make A Difference?
During the course of this year, I have regularly met one-on-one with 37 young people, like Scotty, (no more than 30 at any one time – that’s my maximum capacity currently) with limitless potential just waiting to be unleashed.  This work is so beyond me.  It is undeniable that God is doing something powerful, mysterious, and amazing through this ministry.  I see it as a catalytic event in these young people’s journeys.

Scotty once told me that he wouldn’t be doing what he is doing without the work God did in him during our time together.  What a loss that would be.

These young people are worth our investment, as are the people whose lives they touch.  The world that God so loves needs young, energetic leaders like Scotty who will carry out His loving, transformational, and redemptive purposes  in the world.

If you haven’t already, I’d love to have you partner with me in this life-changing ministry.

Contributions are tax deductible.

In His Love,
   Randy

Extra Bonus Special:
I know this update has gone on far too long, but some of you may be interested in what Danielle wrote about the trip to Haiti as well.  For you loyal, die-hards, here’s an extra bonus special…

Danielle’s Story:
“This past summer I had the incredible opportunity of going to Haiti with some of my closest friends.

“I saw huge contrasts:

I saw incredible beauty…

amidst destruction.

I saw people who were incredibly poor…

yet overflowing with joy.

I saw large amounts of trash littering the streets…

yet also saw crystal clear water

and sand as white as snow.

“The orphaned children we met on the island of La Gonave were so beautiful inside and out.   I saw so many smiling faces among these children whose parents were absent in their lives.  I will always remember the way they took care of each other.  It was so beautiful.  They have taught me to love people better because of how well they love each other.

“I also learned on a deeper level the joy of living simply, to be happy with what I have, and most importantly to praise God more often for my many blessings.  I have been given so much from God, yet sometimes he is not the front runner of my thankfulness.

“One main thing I learned to appreciate is our easy access to healthcare.  Visiting the hospital there moved me so much that I hope to go back when I graduate [from nursing school] to help medically.  I look forward to the day I can return to La Gonave.  A piece of my heart will always be in Haiti.

“And finally I saw the realness of the gospel even among those who don’t have much to lean on.  I have heard that the gospel seems to flourish most among the poor and vulnerable.   The people we met in Haiti have learned through trial, destruction, famine, oppression, amongst death and sickness, pain and hurt, that their only hope is in Christ Jesus.  He is their only source of strength and security.  They find hope in his name.

“I am forever grateful for my time in Haiti.” – Danielle