Rice and Bean Fast Reflection: Curtis

10 hours to go and I will be done with my ten-day rice and bean fast for my personal ONE 17 Challenge. I chose my challenge specifically because I wanted to be reminded (in a very small way) of the poverty that once broke my heart and left me crying out, "this isn't right!" As a person who has done over 20 trips to Haiti now, I have become desensitized to poverty and human suffering.

On one hand, desensitization makes my life easier. I have become a bi-cultural individual who can switch easily between life in materialistic America and poverty-stricken Haiti without much thought. On the other hand, desensitization makes me feel as though I have lost something, that a piece of my heart has hardened. I don't like the latter. I want my heart to break for the poor and oppressed every time I serve them. So there you have it, the why behind my what.

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Now to the actual fast... I've never been much of a "faster." I have "tried on" fasting a few times, but it was usually a pretty insignificant or even disappointing experience. Regardless, this fast has been different. For the past 9-and-a-half days, I have been able to walk barefooted down the dirt paths of Haiti with children that I love dearly as I imagine them heading home for their 2 pm meal. I have been able to sit at the table watching our students eagerly eat Gertha's (our cook) delicious rice and bean meals (with slightly envious thoughts ;-P) reflecting thankfully on how we, Project 117, get to provide a daily meal to them. I have laid restlessly in bed at night praying for the little stomachs that ache with hunger because my stomach has ached too. It has been a good, humbling, reflective experience.

When we challenge ourselves, God's voice in our lives usually gets a little louder (or maybe we listen better). Psalm 34:8 has been on my mind constantly as I have walked, sometimes humbly, other times like a little brat complaining every step of the way (my poor wife...), through my fast. Psalm 34:8 says, "taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Through my fast, I have come to understand how much pleasure I take in the small things in life (i.e.  food), and how they are not the things that actually satisfy. Through my fast, I have been reminded that only God can satisfy the desires of my heart. Through my fast, I have been able to walk in the shoes of the students that attend our school and remember more clearly why we are doing what we are doing in Haiti. 

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As for my heart, it is little bit softer than it was 10 days ago. It's not where it needs to be, but it is one notch higher on the gratitude dial. I am truly blessed to do what I do, daily. I get to love on beautiful, precious, potential-packed children each and every day whether I am sitting at a picnic table munching on rice and beans in Haiti with them in person or sitting in a restaurant asking a potential donor to join our movement through funding hope through education. 

I'll tell you right now I am excited that this challenge is nearly over. My mouth is literally watering over the idea of pizza and peanut m&m's that I will be devouring at 12:01 am tomorrow. With that said (wiping slobber away), I will also tell you that I am thankful that God put it on my heart to do this kind of challenge. The true goodness of God and the depth of his blessing on our lives is often times revealed not in the fuzzy, warm moments of life, but in the moments of sacrifice, heartache, and challenge. That has been my experience for the last ten days and the first 29 years of my life. I have a feeling that isn't going to change.

To learn more about what other challengers have been up to or to donate, visit the the challenge page here! Thanks for reading.

ps- sorry about the bad grammar. my editor (aka wife) is out of town today....

Student Story: Ferlandes

Storyteller: Curtis Stout

One of the most rewarding parts of working with children is every now and then, you see them get "it." Maybe "it" is intellectual progress... little Woodeley finally wrote the letter "a" correctly! Maybe "it" is a behavioral triumph... not so little Yvenson finally stops wrestling his mates during class. Maybe "it" is physical development... sick, weak Kernande is finally well and attending class regularly. Regardless of what "it" is, watching our students connect the dots, understand the why behind the what, and trust what we are teaching them or moving them towards is AWESOME!

My favorite "get it" story from our November-December trip was the story of Ferlandes (Fair-luhn-dez). His "it" is spiritual growth. Ferlandes sits next to a sweet little girl with developmental slowness whom needs extra help throughout the day. Your average five-year-old is clueless on how to help a child with special needs, but not Ferlandes.

Ferlandes is her knight in shining armor, patient helper, protective guardian, helpful classmate, and watchful friend. He constantly looks after his sweet neighbor during class. The watchful friend tucks her chair under her when she is about to miss and land gracelessly on the floor. The helpful classmate assists her in putting stickers on her papers during art activities but doesn't takeover and do it for her. The guardian protects her space when other classmates encroach. The knight in shining armor lends his arm and guides her around the class or out to recess. Ferlandes gets a very spiritual "it" at a young age.

At this point Ferlandes sounds like a saint....he isn't. He is still a five-year-old who probably pees his bed nightly and most likely thumps his friends like Yvenson every now and then, but here is the point: Ferlandes understands what "being the light" (Matthew 5:14) and "loving your neighbor" (Matthew 22:39) really means AND he lives it out! 

When I watch Ferlandes and how he treats his neighbor, I get a little glimpse of how Jesus cares for me (and you). Sometimes I am a slow developer. Sometimes I need a little extra help. Sometimes my lack of ability is annoying. BUT, like Ferlandes times 100, my patient friend, my knight in shining armor, my Savior is always ready to help me grow and waiting for me to overcome my next "it." 

I love the story of Ferlandes not because of what he did, but who compelled him to do it. Only God can put love like Ferlandes' in a five-year-old heart. I like to think our 1:17 curriculum, our sharing of bible stories, our reenforcement of truth through art that happens daily in the school has helped Ferlandes develop this love, but I can't measure it or quantify it. All I know is God put it in his heart and I am happy I got to learn this lesson from a five-year-old.

Thanks for reading. Keep praying that our students learn what it means to "be the light!"

SHINE!

Storyteller: Curtis Stout

I have a confession to make: I am a dreamer. Day or night, mid-conversation or in solitude, big or little, dreams are constantly spinning in my head. 

One of my favorite things to do while I am in Haiti is dream about the future our students will create. I love imagining how God might use Licknerson to start a business that changes our community. I love thinking about how God might use Kenchesky to change his families’ future. I love visualizing the beauty and art that God might create through the life of Woodtherlie.

Licknerson

Kenchesky

Woodtherlie

My favorite passage in the Bible right now is Matthew 5:14-16. In this passage Jesus cast an incredible vision for our lives. He said (my paraphrase), “You are light. Go out and shine. Don’t hide the light I created within you. NO! Let your light shine so that you may bring glory to my father.” This is our school vision for year 2!

Licknerson, Kenchesky, Woodtherlie, and 57 other students go to school in a beautiful, new building this year that a handful of generous donors and servants built. Our new building is an incubator of light for our community in Haiti. 5 days a week from 7:30 am til noon, our students are learning who God is and what he wants for their lives. Our students are learning skills and developing abilities that they will use to be the light. Our students are learning how shine in small ways today so that they can shine in bigger ways tomorrow. Our students are young prodigies with beautiful stories to tell. 

Join me in dreaming and praying for our students and their teachers. Now go and shine too. We were all created for greatness. We all have beautiful stories to tell!

Makena's Lemonade Stand

Lemonade + Cookies = HOPE

Makena (and some lovely mothers) raised $804.49 at First Friday in downtown Kokomo on August 1st! 47 bibles are being purchased because of Makena's faith and willingness to do something to make a difference. Way to go Makena and friends!
Big thanks to Oakbrook Church (one of our church partners) and the beautiful people of Kokomo for getting behind Makena!!

Mountains beyond Mountains

"Deye mòn, gen mòn. Behind every mountain is a mountain."

Storyteller: Curtis Stout

A popular Haitian proverb says, “Deye mòn, gen mòn.” Behind every mountain is another mountain. How true of life is this? After one challenge is finished, another challenge is ready to chase. Just when we think we’ve got “it” beat, we see a bigger, uglier "it" behind the first one. Behind every mountain is another mountain.

Last Summer (2013), two friends (Guy & Greg) and I went hiking near our property in Haiti. We climbed a small mountain just for fun, just for a break from the week of work. We enjoyed each others company and God's creation, descended into a nearby town, drank toros (Haitian energy drinks), and hopped on motorcycles to ride 5 miles back to our land. Last summer, the three of us were climbing mountains for fun, this summer we are climbing mountains for influence.

A lot has changed in a year. Our school is no longer an idea, but a 1-year-old baby. Guy has become the Assistant Director for our partner, Ephraim. Greg has become our principal. I have been a full-time employee of Project 117 for almost 1 year. Yowzer. 

Just one week ago I was in Haiti for my annual recruitment trip. My goal was to hire Gregory as our Principal officially, meet with current staff, interview a new teacher and secretary, enroll 25 new students, and oversee some construction work. Together, with my two friends, we did all of these things. 

What I realized on this trip and saw to be true about our climb is that my Haitian friends are the leading the ascent. I listened to my friends drill potential employees protectively. I listened to them strategize distribution of roles and responsibilities. I listened to them dream about the future and talk about God’s faithfulness when we take one step. This was incredibly encouraging to me.

So, looking ahead, we have a big mountain to climb. We have a building to build so that we can provide hope through education. We have a school culture to create and steward. We have staff and students to care for. We have sponsorship and operational funding needs. We have mountains beyond mountains to climb. But, before I get worked up into a worried frenzy, I need to remember that: 

1. There are strength in numbers…challenge isn’t unique to me, you have your own set of challenges too and together, we can share in the joy of being challenged and encouraging one another to overcome!
2. When God calls us to take a step, he provides a place for our foot to land or will at least give us a hand up when we fall down…either way he is teaching us something about his love.

If you see me, remind me not to worry and to keep climbing. Thanks for reading.

Intern Reflection: Hadley

Interning for Project 117 is something I have wanted to do since the first time I went to Haiti during my freshman year of college.  Now that I have actually completed the internship, it is humorous to see the differences between what I expected versus actually experienced.  

Expected: I’ll probably be in the office for seven hours each day.  

Experienced:  I had the freedom to choose my own schedule.  I never once was dictated in choosing anything and was treated like an adult in that I knew how to get things done on time (even though sometimes I did fail in that).

Expected:  I’m just there for the job.

Experienced:  With Project 117 being a Christian organization, mentorship was very valued and I felt like I was cared for as a whole person.  I received grace when I messed up and was critiqued with the same gentleness of Christ. 

Expected: I will be given tasks.

Experienced:  I was given RESPONSIBILITY.  This was absolutely huge!  I have learned more and more that leaders give responsibility, not tasks.  When you truly own something, you grow more.  You have to plan everything and also have the freedom to get as expressive and creative as you want.  

Expected:  I might run out of things to do 

Experienced: Not True!!!!!  There was always something that I was invited to learn, plenty of responsibilities to manage, and the freedom to branch into other projects as well.  There is something for every type of worker at Project 117.  If you enjoy people and education related things: covered.  Marketing and Design: covered.  Business and Tax-related interests (yuck! In my mind): Yes, covered even for you imbeciles!    

Okay, okay, so I don’t get me wrong, I did not expect this to be the worst experience of my life, I had a few apprehensions, but I knew that this was a great opportunity and an honor for me to participate in.  I am so thankful that I had the chance to be the first intern of Project 117.  And now, to the next Intern, I pass the baton. 

Trip Reflection: Hadley

1/25/2013

Hi! Je m’appelle Hadley Orr! (There’s some French for you!) I’m so honored to share a little bit about my experience with Project 117 and it’s most recent trip to Haiti. I’m a freshman volleyball player at Michigan State, and I’m majoring in French. So, it was amazing to practice my French and be able to understand the people there. Not only was this my first mission trip, but also an opportunity to understand what I want for my future. My goal is to teach oversees and serve “the least of these.”  Seeing Haiti was a front-row experience of what it would be like to live, eat, and work with the locals there.

We accomplished a lot on our trip and spent precious time with the people of Haiti. We did physical work, painted Tom’s Shoes with the kids, played soccer, led a Sunday school lesson on the Christmas story, and gained an understanding of people’s needs by surveys! I enjoyed loving people and meeting their needs in every single way. Not only did we love people in Haiti, but we also got to let people know that we were doing it because of our love for Jesus!

Spending time with the Haitian people was definitely my favorite part. I don’t know why God made me this way, but he’s given me the heart of an eight-year-old boy! I want to be goofy, race to the soccer field, and play tag with everyone in site. I became extremely fond of the kids in Haiti and especially the little boys. The little boys would grab my hand, run down to the creek with me, and before I could yell “Arretez!” they would strip to their underwear and jump in without hesitation. Needless to say, I was a little uncomfortable at some points considering I am a girl. Those kids captured my heart and I honestly didn’t want to leave them. I don’t know where I want to teach yet, but I would love to be their teacher someday!

As much as I love talking about the “mushy, gushy” feelings of love on the trip, I need to talk about the desperation found in Haiti as well. Yes, the kids were amazing, the people were welcoming, and the scenery was beautiful, but there is something very wrong going on in our midst. As I mentioned, we did surveys with the locals to gain a greater understanding of their dreams for the future. Almost every single kid said they wanted to be a doctor or nurse. Choices appeared to be strictly concerned with money. I feel that kids are told by their parents what job makes the most money and are then told to go for it (without the means to achieve it). Their goal becomes making a lot of money so they can all be happy as a family. I found this extremely unsettling and unfair.

Kids in Haiti do not have the same opportunities as kids in the United States. The privilege gap is immense. One kid we asked said he wanted to be an engineer, but when we asked him what an engineer did, he couldn’t really explain it. This was obviously disheartening, but I believe God is about to do something BIG in Haiti!

Here’s where Project 117 comes into play. While in Haiti, there were discussions of character development (which would hopefully lead to the better treatment of women there), fair trade business, and all around lifestyle development. This isn’t about just giving people food, giving them clothes, or even giving them a school. This movement is about giving people the life that Jesus intended for them, and the love that can only come from Him. There is no guarantee that we can do this alone, in fact, the bible says we can’t do ANYTHING without God (John 15:5), but with Him, ALL things are possible!

Everyday on the worksite in Haiti, we finished with alone time and prayer. One day the kids joined me in prayer for the school and their families. It was breathtaking to see the passion these little kids had as they spoke to Jezi (Jesus in Creole). I am so excited to see the change that is already taking place in Haiti and the change that is to come. I look forward to the day I can reunite with all of my new friends in Haiti!

Trip Reflection: Emily

8/1/2012

Stories play a major role in the framework of Project 117.  It is the story of a boy who had no opportunity for education that led Curtis to build a school in Haiti.  We are all telling a story with our lives.  Often, it is the small, seemingly insignificant stories that make up the bigger stories; the stories that God wants to tell through our lives.

After a 7-day trip to Haiti, the story I want to tell involves a short walk and a coconut.  It happened one afternoon when we decided to venture out of the house and take a walk through the countryside.  It wasn’t long and we came upon a coconut tree.  I immediately wanted to take a coconut, but Curtis quickly shot down the idea since they belonged to someone else.  We continued to walk, and I soon forgot about my coconut craving.  A few minutes later, we came across a group of kids playing soccer with a teddy bear head.  Gotta love their resourcefulness! So, of course, we went down to watch them play, and a family that lived in a nearby house immediately welcomed us in.  They brought us chairs, hugged and kissed us, and offered us a COCONUT.  A mere 15 minutes after I wanted one, God provided it.  I didn’t pray for it; I didn’t expect it; I had actually forgotten about it.  However, God still provided.

He loves us enough to provide the seemingly insignificant things, but it is those stories that God uses to build our trust in him. These reminders offer reassurance to us that if he’s faithful in the smallest of things then he’ll surely be faithful in the biggest of things.  He builds schools, and he provides coconuts. He knits together a team of only six people to build a well house, form a road, start a retaining wall, and connect with the local community.  He composes a few 20-question surveys to open our eyes to the Haitian culture and give us greater insight into the lives of the people we will be serving.  He gives a woman in Haiti a dream to start an orphanage, and then he connects her to a Haitian man who is willing to gift her the land in order to accomplish that dream.  However, he doesn’t stop there.  He connects that woman to a guy in Indiana who desperately wants to start a school in Haiti.  They decide to form a partnership, and Project 117 officially has a place to call home.

It’s the small acts of faithfulness that God uses to write the bigger stories.  He reminds us through the water of a coconut that He is the living water who always provides for us in situations, big and small.  He will use Project 117 to teach a child who may someday change the plight of the people in Haiti.  He will form a soccer team for women on P117’s land that may empower them to go after something bigger than themselves.  He will use the success of a school in Lacopa, Haiti to someday build more schools and impact even more children.  He will use the small, seemingly insignificant “coconut stories” to connect the dots in his bigger story; the story he’s writing through Project 117.

Trip Reflection: Jamie

6/16/2012

WHO ARE THE POOR?

Going to Haiti for the first time was kind of unreal to me. When I first got there, I saw everything that I expected because I prepared myself to expect the worse. It wasn’t much of a surprise to me. Although it hurt me inside… the real pain came from seeing the happiness of those poor, sweet, deprived children. Why would that cause me pain? I felt bad that I had to have, and get, and want soooo much to make me happy. When they had so little that made them happy. When you see how happy a poor child can be just from something so small to you, it’s crazy to think about what their life is really like. It’s crazy to think about what Life is really meant to be about. But one thing is for sure, it’s obvious that God is in their presence. Maybe God is even more there than here. Here, living in America, even the poor are rich. In Haiti, the poor are many; the poor are hungry, thirsty, dirty, and smelly. But the poor have more than us rich Americans. They have Jesus, Jezi. When you live with having so little you learn to grow spiritually and love and feel bigger than “stuff”. The poor in Haiti should be loved and cared for just like any of us want to be cared for. Because, let’s face it, no matter how independent we think we are, we all want friends, we all want to be accepted;We all want to be loved.

Maybe it’s better off for the Haitians that they don’t have all the advanced technology, music, and tv shows, that we Americans have. Then they don’t have an illness to weaken their mind. We have taken advantage of our smarts, of our talents. We use them to show off bad instead of good. I feel safer knowing that the Haitians don’t have as many chances conforming to unchristian like activities.  One time at church, our student ministry had a talk about culture and God. At the end of the service our speaker had us write down these exact words, “I know what culture tells me. I don’t believe it. It is a lie. Honor God.”  You wouldn’t hear a pastor in Haiti say a phrase like that. Because you see God in them. The Haitians aren’t perfect, they are people and all people make mistakes. But I could easily say that I’m jealous of what they have, because they have huge, enormous hearts for God, a will to live for him, live like him.

One evening when our group went to church we ended up in a loud service much like home. It wasn’t loud because of all the speakers and singers and microphones and instruments on stage, because there really weren’t any in Haiti. It was loud because of their choir, their drums, and the voices of their community, unafraid to sing out loud. The voices of the people outweighed any instrument they had. It was similar to a Baptist church. The moment I remember the most was when a slower song came on. Even in every song everyone in the room would sing. You could easily hear their voices crying out to God; They were worshiping him. I enjoyed this service a lot because it shocked me how 200 Haitians could outsing a church of 900. We sing at home in our church, but people are too afraid to let their own distinct voice be heard. Maybe it’s because we all can’t sing like Carrie Underwood or Chris Tomlin. But does that really matter? The service carried on and we would sit and stand, sing and preach. This service wasn’t just an hour but two or more. When someone tells you time isn’t a big deal in Haiti, believe them, because their time is spent being active, doing things physically. We can get a lot done at home on a desk, but in Haiti everything is physical.

The week went by and our team got a lot accomplished; We dug out a path for our road to our land, we got some gravel (which were mostly just chunks of rock all sizes), we made some arts and crafts with the children, which brought many smiles, and most of all we built relationships with the community of LosCahobas, Haiti. In the end of our trip we set a new beginning. The well was available to reach and ready to be dug and filled with water, but this would be another trips task.  Every trip to Haiti will have a goal and purpose, but most of all ,follow God, because he will lead you towards the best path, a never ending path, because our hopes for Haiti will not end. There will always be another project to fulfill.

Coming home from Haiti was a roller coaster ride with mixed emotions. I was ready to come home to fresh AC, but I was not ready to leave behind the new relationships I had made. On the plane ride home there was a lot to think about. I became so close to many of my new haitian friends, it felt wrong leaving so soon, leaving without having done more. It broke my heart to think about the way I live. I am so blessed and I wouldn’t even be considered rich in America. At first, I felt guilty for having everything I do, but I shouldn’t feel guilty about something I was ignorant to. Guilt should only come if I choose not to respond to the things God taught me in Haiti. I have a role to play now that I am home. I can do more for my new friends in Haiti, by making others aware here. I can be grateful everyday, try to spend less, and pray more. Everyone can do something, anything to help. The question is, will we open our heart to doing it?

Trip Reflection: Curtis

6/16/2012

I like to think of life in terms of a story. We, you and I, are the characters and God is the author. When I imagine God as the author, I like to picture him outside on his front porch sipping on a hot cup of coffee staring out into an open field contemplating how his story, the only true story, will unfold. I imagine him deep in thought, contemplating how he is going to use his most marvelous creation, you and I, to tell the his story. I imagine the author picturing you and I doing beautiful things for His Kingdom with a great big smile on his face. I believe God wants nothing more than for his children to tell his beautiful restoration story simply by trusting in the script he hands each one of us.

Last week God handed me and a small team of workers a beautiful script leading us to Haiti on a mission with Project 117. The characters in this story with me were Lynn Hale, Paul Jordan, Britanny Reef, and Jamie Stout. Their occupations are a teacher, a route sales driver, a graduate student, and a recent high school grad! More important than job titles, they are all followers of Christ excited about the mission he created them to pursue. But anyways, back to the story…

We set out on our journey to complete the road to our property for the school and start building relationships with those the school will impact by doing various art projects. God surprised us in how he carried out both of these missions. Our story was full of laughter, sweat, tears, blisters, prayer, paint, smiles, and the kind of joy that fills you up from head to toe and makes you feel like you’re just one tiny step away from heaven. Last week, I fell in love all over again with the story God is asking me to tell with my tiny life. Last week, God did a restoration work, not only in the work we are doing to our land but in us as individuals on a journey with Him. So… enough of the vague feely stuff.

This is what we actually did…

We finished the road leading back to our land by hiring 11 local men to work with us.

We shoveled, pick-axed, carried rocks (5 truck loads worth), and sweat so hard it looked like we just went for a swim (I did at least…I have a sweating problem).

We colored, painted, and made a mess.

We painted shirts with 44 local elementary aged students.

We made hair-bows with 7 sweet teenage girls (well… I didn’t make those but Brit and Jamie did!).

We went to two beautiful church services.

We visited the houses of some new friends from our work crew.

We learned each others stories and the stories of some of our new Haitian friends.

We shared highlights everyday and made fun of each other.

We prayed circles around and through our land asking God to surprise us in how he uses our school to influence this area in Haiti.

We thanked God for using US to build a school and thanked Him for providing everything we need to do it.

We got poured on and slipped around in the mud.

We marveled at the beautiful landscape… at God’s beautiful creation called earth.

We enjoyed the moment and embraced whatever surprise came our way…Haiti is always full of surprises.

For me, Haiti is a very special place. It is a place where there is opportunity after opportunity to do really cool things for God’s kingdom. But that’s not really why it is so special to me. This is why… Haiti is where God revealed my tiny role in HIS big story to me for the first time. It is where I first discovered that the most profound thing I will ever say does not involve words, but ACTION. It is the only place I feel completely comfortable being my awkward, random, slightly crazy self.

Every time I go to Haiti, I experience God in profound ways through interacting with our brothers and sisters from this little island. Every time I leave this island, the drum beats a little louder inviting me back there to live again. I am so thankful that God is inviting me into this story. I am so thankful for the truth of Romans 8:37, “no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” I am so thankful that God is not asking me to conquer the task of building a school. I cannot build a school in Haiti. I am inadequate and ill-equipped for such a task as this. But here’s the thing, GOD IS ABLE. And God uses people like me to do things for Him that are beyond anything we ever imagined for ourselves. All you and I have to do is say ‘yes’ and take a risk. I am so thankful that God the author is simply watching me, asking me to trust him with whatever the next step is. I am so thankful for the school God is building. I cannot wait to see how God uses you and me to make this dream a reality!