▪••  •  • ••  • •  • •  •••      July, 2017      ▪••  • ••  • •▪  ▪▪  ▪•••  •  •▪ ▪  

           Fishers of Men:

            I will make you fishers of men.  This famous passage can be found in the Gospels in the books of Matthew and Mark.  Jesus was talking with Peter and Andrew, and he challenged them by saying, “…come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  What an amazing call to work alongside Christ, and be used of Him to add to the Kingdom of God.

            Unfortunately, we have seen and experience a whole new meaning to this concept of being, “fishers of men”.  We call it selfish fishers of men, and before we share further, we do want to qualify ourselves, and say that we have an appreciation and respect for the people of Haiti.  Over our almost six years of working in Haiti, we have made many wonderful friendships, and have grown to trust and depend on them greatly.  What we have also learned is that the vast majority, although they would want us to believe they are our friends, have true friendship as the last thing on their minds.  For many it’s all about what they can get.  Sure, they may say the right things, and even early on, do the right things, but once they have “caught” a person, the true motive or reason rises to the surface.  Honestly, we have served no other place in ministry where the people are so crafty and polished in being selfish fishers of men.  It’s a personality trait that has been taught through culture at a very young age, and the best way to describe it would be to call it a false sincerity.

            The word sincere has a strong pictorial meaning.  The Latin words from which we get the English word sincere are sine cera, meaning “without wax”, and  I, Les, can remember years ago…and I mean y-e-a-r-s ago, while studying in ministry school learning about the meaning of sincerity.  It is a very unique concept that helps describe what we are experiencing.  In ancient times, the use of marble and porcelain were very common.  The workmanship and value was graded by how smooth and polished the item would appear.  A common trick used by inferior craftsmen would be to take wax and rub it into the cracks and imperfections to hide any poor workmanship.  So if it was “without wax” it was genuine, or sincere.

            As we serve in Haiti, we find ourselves sorting through the motives and sincerity of people that come alongside us.  Some from the very beginning show their selfish purpose, and heart, and there is no guessing needed.  Others truly display sincerity and remain faithful regardless of the benefit, or lack thereof, that we represent.  It’s the third group that proves to be the most challenging.  They show a genuineness and sincerity, but it’s all a façade.  They have “rubbed wax” into the cracks of their character with one purpose in mind; to exploit and take advantage of the potential opportunity represented by the foreigner. A recent experience helps give you a simple example.  Both of us were standing outside a church building during the morning worship service, and a young man, who we have known, walked out of the church, and came up to Les to greet him.  In the brief exchange that lasted all of 45 seconds, he asked for money and a cell phone. One could assume the only reason he attended church was to have a chance to solicit.  It becomes so foggy, for us, when religion or faith are used as a means to draw close for selfish reasons.  We have found that even Pastors and Christians are not exempt from false sincerity…Lord give us wisdom.    Our hope is that individuals like this young man learn to lean on a risen Savior who creates within us a clean heart, and he learns to reflect a character “without wax”!  We also pray our own hearts and motives reflect a godly sincerity.

          While on one hand, it has been hard work, and at times frustrating work due to so many complications and setbacks, on the other hand, it certainly has been rewarding and appreciated.  Can you tell us the last time you shouted, “Praise the Lord” when you turned on the water at your kitchen faucet?  Or tell us the last time your whole family shouted, “Praise the Lord” when you switched on a light switch and watch the lightbulb light up?  Those are the things we have experienced at the Center of Help.  38 children who have never had a light switch in their home before…  A cook who has worked with buckets of water and never used a sink with a faucet…  

          As you can see by the pictures, a transformation has taken place.  What once look a little bit like a penitentiary, now is getting a facelift.  We have a local artist painting the metal homes with scenic murals.  We think it looks great, but the kids and staff really like it.  It seems like a small army has come together to help fund all the necessary projects to make these milestones possible.  On behalf of the children and staff at the Center of Help, and of course, Laborers With Christ, thank you!  
 

            The Lord God literally truly set the pace for me and downloaded just in time just how to prepare for every class (sometimes almost to the last minute) on certain project details.  This is no exaggeration!  Throughout the last four weeks process, what could have sent Catherine over the stress edge actually went quite smoothly.  Even when the printer ran out of ink, the Lord God’s still small voice encouraged me that it was no problem and not to worry.  There was no need to get stressed over getting certain things done now, there was the next week.  If you don’t know me already, I usually like to be well planned and prepared ahead of time for anything I am involved in. I do not handle doing things on the fly very well.  So consider someone like me being in a country that lives on the fly and living with a husband that adjusts well living on the fly. 

            The idea of teaching a variety of what I call the “Finer Arts” for specialized skills in life came about a year ago to be taught through Summer Camps, but the implementation of it took some planning - my cup of tea.  Last summer I had barely got my feet wet, wading through shallow waters on the how to teaching method with these classes.  By just testing the waters to learn first as to what was needed and what level to start with, I felt better prepared to begin the task.  At the beginning of July, I started teaching skills in three Finer Arts classes:  1) paper bead making 2) basic hand sewing (which uses the same basic stitches as in embroidery) and 3) basic crocheting. 

            With the Center’s schedule becoming so much busier this summer, I was not sure how all the previous planning would go.  I decided to jump in over my head with this commitment and *took Les with me.  I created sign up sheets for interested parties with limited seating space.  The thought was to included four girls and two Madams - the most I knew I could handle at a time.  I honestly work better with and wanted that 1:1 ratio of student:instructor giving attention on an individual level on a hourly slot for a morning; but I knew there were far more wanting to learn than I was capable of giving, and that meant teaching at the Center with too many distractions.  The line had to be drawn in the sand. 

            I also included the Madams to give the same opportunity and chance for them to learn as well.  Four Madam’s chose to attend two of classes: two for the hand sewing and two for the crocheting.  As a side note, I also appreciated the authority that the Madams brought to the classes as well.  These classes were intentionally geared towards offering a professional, apprentice level, training that included simple start to finish projects while learning the basics, how to prevent and correct errors, a certain amount of critical thinking, and doing a job that pleases the Lord.    As for the instructor?  The following quotes describe very well my goals in a nutshell.  I wish I could've used more because there were so many more worthy of mentioning here but...here they are:

• “There are three things to remember when teaching: know your stuff; know whom you are stuffing; and then stuff them elegantly.” ~ Lola May
• “A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” ~ Author Unknown
• “Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.”  ~ Nikos Kazantzakis
• “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” ~ Albert Einstein
• “Give me a fish and I eat for a day.  Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime.” ~ Chinese Proverb

            Hmmm, does that last one sound familiar?  It should! That is Laborers With Christ (LWC) Motto. 

            In the end every participant worked very diligently on their creations and each participant is to receive an awarded, instruction booklet, and certificate. And, the instructor was truly exhausted but the reward exhilarating to see the happy faces.  Most of all relationships were built.

            I want to thank Les and the Rasmassen’s for collecting all the girls and madams for these classes three days a week then taking them back to the Center.  It really helped me to be able to set up and prepare for each class.  Having the classes at the beach house truly allowed for concentration and a good, quiet place for learning.  It was also a way for them to get away and learn a skill that would be able to keep their hands busy with something in their free time that was constructive.

            Intentions are to write more in the Laborers With Christ blog about these classes soon.  Be sure to subscribe or visit to get the rest of the story.

 Jasmine Sanon:
          Jasmine is 13 years old and lives at the Center of Help (CoH) orphanage.  She attends school at the Consolation Center of Haiti (CCH).  Like most of the kids at the Center of Help, her background is a mystery to us.  We know she has been there several years, and has had some sort of struggle within her immediate family that has displaced her to an orphanage.  She is one of the older girls at CoH, so she is involved with food preparation and helping take care of the smaller children who live there.  

            With our involvement increasing at CoH, especially after the hurricane, we get a better sense of some of the daily struggle in Haiti.  Recently report cards were released for all the students at CCH, and we found out Jasmine failed to pass her grade level.  She was crying and hiding her face in shame.  I asked how that could happen, and even talked with her, and found out all her books had been destroyed by the hurricane (a common problem with many students), plus the destruction at the orphanage was too disruptive to daily life and schedule.  Ultimately, she could never recover in school.

            Laborers With Christ (LWC) is now helping fund a summer teacher, and buying chairs and chalkboards to help give all the kids a better chance in catching up and excelling in school.  Thanks to so many who gave for hurricane relief, we can purchase these items, and build a veranda to give them a place to study, as well as, a shady place to spend their days during the heat of the day.  

           Currently Jasmine is not sponsored, if you would like to make a difference for someone less fortunate, please contact us for more information…Thank you!

 

 

              "Heart Disease" 

  

Together, the 10 causes of disease account for 74% of all deaths in the United States and 25.5% for children.  Are you on the brink of bypass surgery, needing a personal secretary gadget to keep track of your medications, or a living better through angioplasty. Do you have a family history prevalent to heart disease?

I am beginning a new series dealing with the Top10 leading causes of deaths in the US. In this series I hope to bring hope that there are simple preventative methods, reversal strategies, along with recipes with ingredient awareness to help motivate improvement for your best life ever now.  

Can a Heart Attack Be Prevented?
Can the contents of your kitchen seriously save your life?

We only have one life to live.  Your best life can be now.  Here's how:  find recipes, ingredients analyzed for nutrient quality - all specific to help the heart.

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Berry Smoothie
Peach Smoothie
Apple Pie Smoothie
Ginger Pear Smoothie
Coffee Cashew Smoothie

 

              

Please click here to read more about the steps that you can do to begin your best life now on Catherine’s Genesis Health blog.  

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Catherine’s Genesis Health blog:
 

 

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