The morning after I posted "Dirt" Vicki was reading over the entry while Sophi and Raena were eating their breakfast. When Vicki started watching the news report on youtube Raena came over to watch the "movie." She saw the women mixing the dirt into mud and making patties. She asked Vic what they were doing. Vic explained that these people didn't have enough food to eat so they were making cookies out of dirt and feeding them to their children. Rae couldn't make sense of this at first but the reality quickly set in. I could barely hold it together when she started to express with concern, "Mommy, no! People don't eat dirt! That's for animals! Mommy no! That's yucky." She said some version of this four or five times.
I have a hard time telling this story without getting choked up. I'm choked up right now typing it out. You can read what she said but you can not hear the tone in her little voice... A tone that communicates an awareness that something is deeply wrong with this scenario. A four-year-old gets that this shouldn't be. It shocks her. She knows its wrong.
This offered up an opportunity to give Raena a glimpse into our work with G.O. Vicki told Raena that morning, "Raena, Mommy and Daddy go to work at the office because part of what we do is work so that children don't have to eat dirt." I'm still not sure what Rae makes of this but time will tell.
Sophi continued to eat her breakfast and appeared (as she often does in some educational environments) oblivious and disinterested. But she's a sneaky perceiver. She get's more than you'll ever know until she shows you. That night Vic got the girls down for bed and Sophi spontaneously prayed for the children who had to eat dirt cookies, that God would help them get food so they didn't have to do that anymore. Beautiful, from my other 4-year-old.
So these were the bookends to my day that day, a child's discovery of human desparation and a child's intuition to pray that it would cease. And tonight, before Thanksgiving, Sophi did it again, unprovoked, unencouraged, "God, please help the children that eat dirt; they don't have food. Give them food. Dirt is yucky."
So I'm choked up again. I'm grateful for both of my daughters' hearts, grateful for the work that Vicki and I share in, grateful for those that make our work possible, grateful that ultimately there is profound hope for the broken, marginalized and us. I'm thankful that we're blessed to be a blessing and that my daughters are arriving at the starting point of beginning to understand this. It took me over 20 years.
Dirt
Today a dear friend brought me a terrible and yet precious gift. I was surprised by the rush of emotion and anger that came on me upon receiving it, over something so simple... I was distraught and inspired by it at the same time.
Tim Krauss and John Martinez are my co-workers in the Gospel and co-leaders in our ministry along with Vicki and myself. John and Tim recently spent several days in Haiti, visiting with 5 of the 6 pastors G.O. works with there in their own communities. Tim has returned to Louisville for a few days and carried with him this small yet profound gift.
Tim came into my office today with a scrunched up clear plastic bag. At the bottom of the twisted mass was a sampling of dirt from the interior of Haiti. Tim had presented me with the actual dirt from the mountains of Haiti used to make dirt cookies, eaten by Haitian children and adults to stave off the pangs of hunger. He acquired the dirt in a Haitian market during his visit.
Now I have a few dried shards of this Haitian soil, originally bound for the gut of some child or adult sitting on a bookshelf in my office.
I’ve known for a long time about the reality of dirt cookies in Haiti. I’ve been to Haiti several times and witnessed some of the challenges there. But there is just something about the actual presence of this substance up close and personal that really brings the weight of the reality to bear on my heart. Tim gave me the dirt and I could instantly feel heat behind my eyes. It was hard, suddenly, to speak without getting choked up.
In my hands I felt what was clearly the food of desperation, a lie, told to the body that everything was ok, that it was, in fact, fed. In my hand was a mother’s hope to quench the suffering of her hungry child regardless of whether or not it actually meant anything.
But it does mean something… It means we are a broken humanity in need of profound healing. The existence of this “humanitarian crisis” points to the spiritual realities that make its existence possible. The reality of this kind of suffering means that I’ve got no right to complain about anything. However bad I may ever imagine things to be, it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever be feeding my daughters, Sophi and Raena, dirt. It means that as a Christian I can’t sit comfortably by and appreciate how “blessed” I am because I have stuff without remembering that the only reason I’m blessed in the first place is so that I can be a blessing to others. It means that I’m called to figure out what I can do to help make a difference because children in the Kingdom of God DO NOT EAT COOKIES MADE OF DIRT! And if they don’t eat them there they should not be eating them here!
Dirt cookies mean we’re in serious need of a savior. If we get a hold of Jesus Christ and let him get a hold of us he will begin to shape us into responders and engagers for the sake of the Kingdom. We’ll be angry about the things that anger him, we’ll celebrate what he celebrates and we will learn to be servants to all. If we learn, as brothers and sisters, to live up to the calling of what it really means to be the People of God, the true humanity, there will be less and less of this kind of thing, but only if its born of love, not guilt.
So this dirt sits on my shelf in my office. It tells me to guard against self-righteousness because whether I know it or not some of my economic practices help constitute this grim reality in Haiti just by virtue of my participation in everyday buying and selling. It tells me that making an effort to change those practices is an act of good faith and in line with redemption. It tells me to not forget the severity in which my Haitian brothers and sisters (and others like them) live. It tells me to pray for revival and renewal in the land. It tells me to take heart because our work with G.O. begins to address the issue of hunger in Haiti both with food aid and the Gospel. Lastly, these shards of dirt point me to the promise that a day is coming when all bellies will be filled from the banquet table of King Jesus when his reign over the world is universally revealed. Dirt will be for walking on and the mockery of the adversary will be silenced forever.
For those of you that support us through your prayers, your financial commitments, your use of our Kroger gift cards, thank you. Through this support you are at work in Haiti too, helping to bring the Gospel to bear on the challenges that exist there. You help to bear the hope we share leading to the Gospel transformation of entire communities.
Tim Krauss and John Martinez are my co-workers in the Gospel and co-leaders in our ministry along with Vicki and myself. John and Tim recently spent several days in Haiti, visiting with 5 of the 6 pastors G.O. works with there in their own communities. Tim has returned to Louisville for a few days and carried with him this small yet profound gift.
Tim came into my office today with a scrunched up clear plastic bag. At the bottom of the twisted mass was a sampling of dirt from the interior of Haiti. Tim had presented me with the actual dirt from the mountains of Haiti used to make dirt cookies, eaten by Haitian children and adults to stave off the pangs of hunger. He acquired the dirt in a Haitian market during his visit.
Now I have a few dried shards of this Haitian soil, originally bound for the gut of some child or adult sitting on a bookshelf in my office.
I’ve known for a long time about the reality of dirt cookies in Haiti. I’ve been to Haiti several times and witnessed some of the challenges there. But there is just something about the actual presence of this substance up close and personal that really brings the weight of the reality to bear on my heart. Tim gave me the dirt and I could instantly feel heat behind my eyes. It was hard, suddenly, to speak without getting choked up.
In my hands I felt what was clearly the food of desperation, a lie, told to the body that everything was ok, that it was, in fact, fed. In my hand was a mother’s hope to quench the suffering of her hungry child regardless of whether or not it actually meant anything.
But it does mean something… It means we are a broken humanity in need of profound healing. The existence of this “humanitarian crisis” points to the spiritual realities that make its existence possible. The reality of this kind of suffering means that I’ve got no right to complain about anything. However bad I may ever imagine things to be, it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever be feeding my daughters, Sophi and Raena, dirt. It means that as a Christian I can’t sit comfortably by and appreciate how “blessed” I am because I have stuff without remembering that the only reason I’m blessed in the first place is so that I can be a blessing to others. It means that I’m called to figure out what I can do to help make a difference because children in the Kingdom of God DO NOT EAT COOKIES MADE OF DIRT! And if they don’t eat them there they should not be eating them here!
Dirt cookies mean we’re in serious need of a savior. If we get a hold of Jesus Christ and let him get a hold of us he will begin to shape us into responders and engagers for the sake of the Kingdom. We’ll be angry about the things that anger him, we’ll celebrate what he celebrates and we will learn to be servants to all. If we learn, as brothers and sisters, to live up to the calling of what it really means to be the People of God, the true humanity, there will be less and less of this kind of thing, but only if its born of love, not guilt.
So this dirt sits on my shelf in my office. It tells me to guard against self-righteousness because whether I know it or not some of my economic practices help constitute this grim reality in Haiti just by virtue of my participation in everyday buying and selling. It tells me that making an effort to change those practices is an act of good faith and in line with redemption. It tells me to not forget the severity in which my Haitian brothers and sisters (and others like them) live. It tells me to pray for revival and renewal in the land. It tells me to take heart because our work with G.O. begins to address the issue of hunger in Haiti both with food aid and the Gospel. Lastly, these shards of dirt point me to the promise that a day is coming when all bellies will be filled from the banquet table of King Jesus when his reign over the world is universally revealed. Dirt will be for walking on and the mockery of the adversary will be silenced forever.
For those of you that support us through your prayers, your financial commitments, your use of our Kroger gift cards, thank you. Through this support you are at work in Haiti too, helping to bring the Gospel to bear on the challenges that exist there. You help to bear the hope we share leading to the Gospel transformation of entire communities.
The Rogers Family: Down in a "Hole"
Frequent flash flooding has finally taken the bridge down
Rather than tip toeing through the tulips... We're just trying NOT to step in sewage
This summer we felt that the girls were old enough to really experience the Hole for the first time. We had taken them to the church before but never explored the broader community with them. It was very special to walk with them through the neighborhood as a family for the first time. We stumbled into this kind of work and ministry (rather, God high-jacked us into it!), I can't imagine what it means to grow up with this kind of experiance being "normal" or "expected." Our prayer is that God shapes our girls into radical, committed servants, whatever shape it takes.
We helped out with the nutrition center on this day in addition to helping with children's ministry.
Raena and Soph passing in between houses
Hanging out with Dad by the river where the basketball court used to be before frequent flooding wiped it out
Vic takes time to love on a child from the nutrition center
Vic signs with Sophi during children's ministry
Sophi soaks up the children's ministry
Locals cross the river
Looking ahead
Clean Water...
Felix over-looking the Hole
Felix and Jenni Abreu serve the community of Hoya de Bartola or "the Hole" as it is rendered in English. It's a landfill community that has raw sewage contaminating the river that divides the barrio in two.
Recently, Jeff has had the opportunity to help coordinate the installation of a water purification system there. This reality came to be thanks to the efforts and colaboration of G.O. Ministries, Michael Ekman, St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Edge Outreach team.
Michael had served on a short-term team and spent some time in the Hole. When he got back to the states he wanted to do something to help make a difference there. He got in contact with Jeff and together they got the ball rolling.
In the developing world contaminated water kills regularly and without mercy. Before you can deal with the issue effectively you need to get the local community on board. Felix Abreu recognized the importance and benefit of clean water to the community that he has been serving for so long. When the offer was made to him for the system he jumped at the opportunity. He had a vision to use the purified water to supply the nutrition center he ran for 120 or so children in the Hole. He wanted to use the rest to help generate a little income to help run his ministry. Felix sells the extra purified water for less than half of what the big companies sell it for to meet his neighbors where they are at financially. In doing so he is helping offset the costs of doing ministry and avoiding the trap of entitlement.
It's taken some time to get this project complete. The first issue we faced was where to set it up. Thanks to St. Paul United Methodist we were able to purchase a house for $1500. The Edge sent a team down this summer to install the system. Michael Ekman's advocy helped bring those two agents together to help make this project happen and we are deeply grateful to him!
The house acquired with the help of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville, Ky
Felix demonstrates the system to a visiting team
Felix tests the clorine level to insure a "total kill" of any creepy crawlys lingering in the agua
From the Dominican to Urban America...
Dee Dee (Norman's mom), Norman, Miss Pat and Gerard (our neighbors)
We serve the world with our work with G.O. Ministries. We're blessed to be involved in the inner city of Louisville, Ky where we currently live. Over the last two years we have developed a strong relationship with our next door neighbors and have had opportunities to serve them in some difficult circumstances.
We were asked to attend a memorial service on Miss Pat's grandson's birthday at the corner where he was shot and killed. I was asked to take photos for the family. Such an unfortunate reality for so many who live in the inner city. While I was taking photos for the family a single mother approached me and asked if I could do the same thing for her later in the year, a few blocks away where her son had also been murdered. So much darkness... and yet, so much light. There is hope here and the enemy has no option save retreat. It's only a matter of time...
Crosspoint, again!
Crosspoint Church is an awesome story to tell. It's one that's deeply connected with Morgantown and our marriage. When we were in college it was Pete Wilson who discipled Jeff and he and his wife Brandi who were instrumental in getting us together. Pete planted Morgantown with Harold Mckee who later came down on an exploratory trip with us and lead Morgantown to get invested in our work. What we have is an elaborate web of shared and meaningful relationships. It's truly amazing to sit back and see how God has drawn the threads of our lives together for the sake of his Kingdom in such a variety of ways. And the relationships that we share continue to lead to new, amazing relationships.
Crosspoint came down to continue their work on a Haitian church they are building for Moise, a Haitian pastor that they partner with. The team leaders for the summer trip were Blake and Ally Bergstrom. It was truly an honor to get to know this couple and introduce them to our ministry.
Jeff, Blake and Moise discuss Haitian ministry in the Dominican RepublicBlake was new to G.O. and new to Moise. We had lots of great conversations as we got acquainted with each other and life and ministry in the Dominican Republic. It was great to see Blake connect with Moise and share in ministry in the community in which we are building the church. Dominicans are deeply suspicious and prejudiced against Haitians (this is putting it mildly). We were able to help support Moise's work and build credibility for his ministry as we explored the neighborhood with him and invited Dominicans to up coming ministry events later in the week. It's foolish and fallen that the presence of Americans would cast Moise in a better light than if he did this by himself. Even so, it is an honor to be at Moise's service for the sake of his ministry.
Moise feels that God has laid it on his heart to use this church building as a hub for raising up Haitian church planters. His desire is to help plant over 100 churches in Haiti from leadership developed in this church over the years to come, an endeavor worthy of a lifetime of effort. We're fortunate and blessed to be a part of it!
A Week With Morgantown
We LOVE Morgantown Community Church! They are one of the craziest, most driven short-term teams we have ever seen. Scott Cox and Harold and Sherry Mckee have busted their tails to help their folks raise the funds to come and serve in the Dominican Republic. Morgantown supports our work financially and we are so appreciative of their help! During their week they helped us dig and pour the foundation for a pastor's home in Santiago. They also got to spend a lot of time developing a relationship with Romano, a Haitian pastor who is a dear friend of ours. Our hope is that sometime in the near future that Morgantown will start supporting him financially as well. We are hoping to get their pastor, Josh Scott, down on an exploratory trip this January.
Here Vicki is throwing it down and working like a wild woman! She spent some time working with the Morgantown crew. Little did we know at the time that this lady was doing the work of two. We found out the next day that in a few months she would look like this:
And just so you know, we recently found out that the "pumpkin smuggler" is actually daughter number 3 of the Rogers' clan!Much love and thanks to Morgantown! We love doing life and building the Kingdom with you!
Back in the DR...
This summer we were able to spend a month with the entire family in the Dominican Republic. As has become our habit, the girls spent their 4th birthday there among there Dominican and Haitian friends. During our near 4 week stay we helped facilitate an audiology clinic with Pathways Community Church, a youth team from Southeast Christian Church, Crosspoint Church and Morgantown Community Church. Each of these teams represent awesome partners in ministry and dear friends.
Here Sophi and Raena are hanging with Tony Krauss. We were fortunate to stay with his parents, Tim and Samira, the entire time we were in the DR. They are beloved friends and co-workers at G.O. Ministries.
The girls very much enjoyed their "Princess" party with all of their Dominican/gringo friends.
Audiology Clinic
Vicki was fortunate to be able to help out with our second audiology clinic. It was a tremendous blessing for her to help some children and adults hear clearly for the first time. It was also difficult to treat children who had gone 10 to 12 years without hearing or having any language base at all. Sign language is a resource that not many who need it have in the Dominican Republic or Haiti. Imagine if your ability to communicate was reduced to a crude for of charades your entire life. This reveals a significant need in the Dominican and Haiti to those of us that take hearing for granted. We're praying about what opportunities this might provide G.O. Ministries to serve in the future.
Dr. Rosario takes some patients...
Adults and children waiting in line at the clinic.
A little girl waits her turn at the hearing clinic.
Dominican audiology students making ear molds.
The Dominican Republic does not have an audiology program. The only audiologist living and serving the Dominican full time is an Austrailian Christian who teaches in Santo Domingo. By the grace of God we have connected with her and worked together in two clinics now. She is training students to be audiologists though they can not yet recieve any kind of certification as it does not exist on the island. We're fortunate to have her help in this endeavor!
Conducting a hearing test or crude audiogram.
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