We are now are back in Gonaives.

We’ve just finished Science class. Rebecca is definitely the top of her class, and her teacher is the best in the whole school.  True, she and her mom are the only ones involved here, but we did it! Ha!  I think this means we are settling in. It is a good feeling .

Interesting as we learned today in said Science Class, one sign of something actually being alive is that it contains DNA. DNA is what tells the big package of chemicals how to organize themselves in order to become a Living System.  I can’t help but make the connection to the sounds I hear right now: power tools being used on the roof; two people in the next room going over a creole lesson; phone calls incoming from the girls in Jubilee as they begin the first day of school; Mommie Evans hanging out the clean laundry; and many other activities within ear shot.

A bunch of parts becoming a living system, indeed!

The Holy Spirit is DNA for the BODY of the Beloved

This past weekend, we had a gathering of people in the mountains of Haiti…Kenscoff. Oh my, that is a different Haiti than I had ever seen.  First of all, we were cold!  Imagine paradise: tropical plants; HUGE trees; mountain side terraced gardens; deep fertile valleys.  All breath taking views.  The gathering helped us to step back and look at this thing that God is doing in our midst.  It has come into focus, and it is all about RELATIONSHIPS.

A few months ago Emory came to a strong conclusion: we must love one another well, or we need to go home.  We can only give away what we ourselves possess. If we don’t have authentic LOVE, then we will not produce anything of value here. We’ll just be a nuisance of sound and stuff (noisy gongs, clanging symbols). God help us!

As we work with the beautiful community of Jubilee, Gonaives, Haiti, we have also been studying the principles in the book, “When Helping Hurts” (A MUST READ for anyone involved in missions).  It helps us to realize that some of our best laid “projects and plans” can actually enhance the spirit of poverty on a people group. God help them!

So we pause.

We want to get it right (er).  We are now are back in Gonaives. Full steam ahead. Teachers started school in freshly painted classrooms.  Interns help Tom Walker build.  Jewelry classes resume, and teams are scheduled into the calendar.  We appreciate all of you reading this that are playing other parts in this “system of living ones”.  So thankful we all get to be a part.