Haiti Awaits

"Everyone was running, trying to find a place to hide. One man was shot in the outside courtyard, with his Bible in his hand. Bullets were zinging left and right. I saw a pregnant woman screaming for help and holding onto her stomach. A man had just speared her there, and she was bathed in red blood. Another priest was trying to organize people to give her first aid. I saw an American journalist running up and down the aisle with torn clothes; the men with red armbands had torn the clothing, trying to hurt the journalist. A group of young women were in the front courtyard and were attempting to resist, with our own kind of arms, the heavy weapons that the men were using against us from the street- this was a prohetic, historic resistance that we will never forget."
Excerpted from "The Uses of Haiti," by Dr. Paul Farmer.

I write this blog with heaviness in my heart. In lieu of being in Haiti, I am finding quite a bit of material on the country's history. I am reading tons of material and also trying to practice some Creole (a mixture of African and French) What I am finding is that the story above is not one of extrodinary circumstance. It is not a rareity to read. In Haiti, it is everyday life. And I ask myself how can this be? How can there be any hope for this country who, since it's birth as Saint Domingue in 1492 has battled the nations for it's own indipendence and freedom, only to be repressed, used, and drained for hundreds of years, of it's resources, it's pride it's dignity. How can there be hope? 80% of children will die by the age of 5. Many are orphaned simply because their parents can't afford them anymore- they can barely afford themselves, but you don't have to tell that to the starving bellies of the Haitians... It is survival of the fitness.

There is a man in Haiti, who believes in God's plan to redeem the people of Haiti. That one day Jesus Christ will clothe them in righteousness, who will set them at His feet, and call them His own. Arcenio Jimenez is a Pastor who is supported by G.O. Ministries in Haiti, and has a dream of God's fame and glory to be made know on this island. Currently G.O. supports his school, feeding center, and church, and we are finshing the dormotories where teams will be able to come down on short term trips and spend a week there (this will hopefully be my new home as well).


As I spent only a day there last year, I am reminded of the simplicity of hope. Jesus is not complicated- and his hope is freely offered to anyone who will accept it. In Haiti, G.O. offers hope in many ways- through a church, where 1500 can meet to hear the Word of God preached, through a Christian School, where kids will recieve a Christian education, through the Nutrition Center, meeting the most basic needs of the kids in the community by feeding them a hot meal 6 days a week while recieving spiritual encouragement. And the orphanage, filled with kids who are handicapped, starving for human touch, and love, who were once abandoned by their parents are now cared for by their heavenly father who loves us so unconditionally.

God has been doing a work in me as well. As I spent time in Haiti, the Lord bore a deep anguish within me. One that was unshakeable. It is not a "feeling" and it is more that "passion." Out of the anguish, he bore my purpose... To bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, the LORD has come to redeem the people of Haiti through his son, Jesus Christ.

I read these verses tonight and I know there is hope in Haiti:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.^[a]
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,^[b]
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
3 To all who mourn in Israel,^[c]
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations.
5 Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards.
6 You will be called priests of the Lord,
ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
and boast in their riches.
7 Instead of shame and dishonor,
you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice.
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be recognized
and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
the Lord has blessed.”

Isaiah 61: 1-9

...Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed...

Proverbs 3:27 "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."

I urge you to please pray about how you can play a role in bringing hope to Haiti. How you can change a life.
1. Pray- pray for people to rise up to follow the LORD to Haiti and preach the good news to the poor- pray for the Haitians to be freed from the bondage of Voodoo and oppression.
2. GO- Come to Haiti. Lead a trip with your small group, church, Bible study, school, work. Spend a week in Haiti, serving the LORD.
3. Give- G.O. seeks to create partnerships between Nationals and Americans. Pray about how you might be able to support someone in Haiti who, with your support, will answer God's call for their life. If you feel led to support the work that I will be doing, please email me at jackie.douglas@go-ministries.org or leave me a comment.

Con amor de JesuCristo,

Jackie

It's official...

Well, it is official! I live in Louisville, KY! (This is my third time writing this blog- once it didn't save and once it completely disapeared from the screen... gotta love computers.)

Today was my second day of work. It is exciting to be working with G.O., even in the office. Sure it isn't the field, but there is so much that happens in the office to prepare for the work on the field. I understand this from my past experience on church staff- Church doesn't just happen on Sundays, the staff work really hard all week long to make each Sunday experience happen. So it is with G.O., and I am happy to contribute in any way I can.

They have put me right to work collaborating on a promotional project for a church planters conference we are attending in April. Church planting? Yep, I said it! This is huge for us to be able to communicate the desire to see church plants adopt a global perspective for the world and to incorporate that in their DNA from the birth of the church! Can you imagine building a church in the US, while simultaneously building a church in the third world offering hope and salvation to a community desperate for a glimpse of hope? Well, this is what we will be sharing with church planters in April... and I have been helping design our CD promo handout that will be included in the gift bags that each person who attends the conference will receive- over 2000 people!
I love to design and put photoshop to good use so this has been a fun project for me! It seems there will be many things here in the office that I will be useful in helping and I just thank the LORD for the experiences he has allowed me to have to further His kingdom!

A few pics. I took today at work!

G.O. Ministries office

My little space!

I am adjusting to things here in Kentucky- things are still so new for me. The G.O. staff has been wonderful and I am very thankful for Brook (the Pres.) and his wife Sandra for offering a place at their house for me to stay during my two months here in the office.

I hope to keep everyone updated on all the wonderful things the LORD is doing here in Kentucky and on the field in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. I have posted links to all the missionaries with G.O. Ministries on the right side of the page. They coordinate medical missions, sports missions, children's ministry and so much more- please check them out to read their stories from the field!

Also, thank you so much for all of you who have said "yes" to the call of God to support this ministry. I, as well as the nationals in the D.R. and Haiti, will be allowed to follow what God is calling us to do by your generous donations... Thank you for being so faithful. I look forward with excitement and anticipation of all that God has in store for me.

1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

For His Glory,

Jackie

Thank you Soulstice

As many of you know I am days away from moving across the country in what has been an incredible God-filled journey in pursuit of bringing glory to His name in the Dominican Republic & Haiti, with a pit stop in Louisville, KY first! As the days draw closer to my departure date I am flooded with memories and experiences over the last two years as a church-planter that I believe has helped to shape who I am and has prepared me for this next phase of ministry.

Thank you Soulstice- it has been an honor to serve along side of you. Thank you for sharing your lives with me over the last two years.

I believe this was a foundation for a partnership between Soulstice and God's plan for the world. Please continue to pray for this journey, for G.O. Ministries, for the Nationals we partner with, for love to abound, for hope to be shared, and for eternal life to be offered and received, for the Kingdom of Heaven to expand, and to know that your prayers help make a difference in the life of one person will surely bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

*To Alex: You have broken me down... I guess I am a now a "hugger"... Thanks for that!

Here are a few pics. from my "sending off" today at Soulstice.

Alex and I on stage as Soulstice is commissioning me (He's trying not to cry :)

I prefer laughter to tears (it's my secret weapon)

Prayer Commissioning during my last Sunday on staff with Soulstice

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

I just wanted to say...

Free Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com..


I am under 3 weeks away from moving across the country to work for G.O. Ministries at their stateside office. Please continue to pray for me and the ministry that I will be working with, the missionaries on the field, and the Nationals we work with.
My fundraising is coming along... I am over 50% committed to my "C" budget. This is the lowest of my three budgets, and I must have this committed and coming into the office by the end of May to go to the D.R. Please continue to pray for new partners in ministry who will commit to financially supporting me. If you are interested, send me an email, and I will get you all the info. you need.
Also, please email me and share some ways I might be able to join you in prayer as well.
Dios te Bendiga,
Jackie

G.O. Derby! (click on image for larger view)

We have a great opportunity to raise funds for G.O. Ministries state side this year. This is an invitation to help us at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY (We know that not all of you are from Louisville but are close; if you should decide to help we will take care of your lodging (because ideally we need you for at least 2 days and possibly 3). We already have some people coming from Lexington, Nashville, and Indiana.) Here are the details:

"The Game" is the company that produces all of the NCAA sports fan gear, jerseys, etc. They are 1 year into a 5 year contract with Churchill Downs for providing all of their souvenirs during The Oaks and Derby. The Game is partnering with G.O. by offering us $20,000+ if we can staff their souvenir booths on May 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th. We’re up to the challenge and would like you to help us by volunteering and getting the word out! We are hoping that this relationship (as it grows) will help us to become one of the supported charities of "The Game" annually. Please consider helping us out.

We need 25 people that can work all three days, May 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th. In addition to that we need at least 60 more that can work the 4^th and the 5^th. We need people that can work both days. We will not be able to split a day shift. At the very least we will need a 12 hour commitment. If you know someone who wants to help but can only commit to one day we can use them but we really NEED people who can do both if possible. It will earn the ministry $20,000+ and help move us closer to being on "The Game’s" list of supported charitable organizations.

Here are the hours:

May 4 (Oaks day) 7:30a.m-7:30pm

May 5 (Derby day) 7:30a.m-7:30pm

For updates you can visit www.goderby.blogspot.com

Please consider sharing this information with your small groups, Bible Studies, or Sunday School Classes. It will be a great opportunity for fellowship.

If you would like to help please send an email to mailto:jeff.rogers@go-ministries.orgwith the days you are committing to. Also, let Jeff know if you’re coming from out of town so we can further discuss housing arrangements while you’re here. Please include your phone number and physical address.

If you would like to recruit a team (from your church, school, Bible study, etc.) to go with you (we recommend it!) let me know and I will forward you fliers, etc.

Please confirm with Jeff by Monday, February 19^th.

If you know you're loved by the king, sing sing sing

What a week of blessings, and it is only Tuesday! So many things I have to be thankful for. My week started Sunday- I was tired and rundown. As soon as I layed my head down to go to sleep Saturday night (I was so tired!) my mind decided to go into full spinning mode & I couldn't go to sleep until after 1am. I had to be at setup at 7:30am, so needless to say, I was in need of a serious pick-me-up. I was scheduled to work in Children's Ministry in the Toddler/ preschool area and as it turns out we had more than enough leaders in the t/p area as well as the elementary, so I got to go to service and worship Jesus with the adults!!! This is huge, since the majority of 2006 I spent in the back hallways teaching kids- which I absolutely love- but it is nice to fellowship with the adults too!

That was blessing #1! That night I decided to go to South Hills Church and it was a message for me. Bret spoke about New Found Life and the thing that spoke to me the most was how he was talking about sin. Through the power of Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit which lives inside of us- we don't have to sin anymore. We still fall prey to sin, and so often I hear this phrase "we're just a bunch of sinners," but the truth is we don't have to sin anymore.

If you know you're loved by the King, sing sing sing. If you know you're loved by the King, then live for him, live for him.

These were the words to a Matt Redman song, which brings me to blessing #3... My mom & stepdad suprised me with a ticket they bought me to the "How Great is Our God" tour with Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and speaker Louie Giglio. I couldn't believe it! I had been to the Indescribable Tour last year in Vegas, and had gone to Passion 05 in TN. Being at the Passion Conference changed my life and was only a step in God's calling on my life as a Missionary, so it was so great to be worshipping with some of the most annointed worship leaders and speakers once again. As Chris began his worship set, I had a hard time focusing on God. It seemed there were so many other distractions and hinderances, not to mention I could barely move! I felt oppressed and began to pray. Louie began his message and spoke first about how BIG our God is. He spouted out #'s in relation to the stars that God simply breathed into existence. He told a story about the Whirlpool Galaxy and how it is 31 million light years away. The Hubble Telescope was able to capture a picture of the heart of the galaxy.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, 31 million light years away.

At the center of the galaxy, as if it were a stamp of God's workmanship, right there in for the whole world to see was a giant cross- one of those black bars is apprx. 1 light year wide! Interestingly enough, this pics. were transmitted by Nasa! Science, in all of it's advance technology, and theories about creation, sent this back to the world to see.

Core of the Whirlpool Galaxy

Do you see it? A giant Cross at the core of the whirlpool galaxy. WOW. I am speachless and nothing I could say would do justice or bring the glory to the LORD that he so deserves. So, I will move on to say Louie continued to preach, but instead switched gears to us, and how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. Not just in the Universe can we see the cross is at the center, but we can look at our own bodies. There is a cell adhesion in our bodies called Laminin. Laminin takes the shape of a cross in our bodies. Millions of crosses in our body- holding our cells, holding our flesh, holding us together!
I was moved. And I truly entered into worship with the King.

If you know you're loved by the King, sing, sing, sing. If you know you're loved by the King, then live for him, live for him. Forgiven and Free, how could I not sing? If you know you're loved by the King, sing, sing, sing. If you know you're loved by the King, live for Him, live for Him.

How about 1 more blessing? I had to print up more brochures for my mission to give to supporters. Our printer at the office is not printing right now, and I needed them by morning. I took them to Office Depot, and after waiting for 30 minutes (there were many problems) and realizing they were .89 cents a side, double sided & full color meant I could not get the 30 I wanted. I settled on 15 knowing it was going to cost me $30 (an amount I could not afford, but what could I do? I was in a bind) I said a quick prayer. Because there were many printing problems the lady helping me was reading my brochure and began to ask me about the work I would be doing. She decided she was going to charge half price, so I got the 15 brochures for $15.

God is sooooooooooo good! I came home tonight and as I was folding my clothes and putting away sweaters I praise Jesus for providing for my every need as he sees it necessary. I am so thankful I don't have to be in charge of my life anymore.

Colossians 1:15-17 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together"

Lord Jesus, thank you for holding me together, thank you for creating me to worship you, to love you, to sing for you, to live for you. Thank you for calling me. Thank you for loving me. Jesus Christ I pray for peace and guidance. For your divine wisdom. Jesus, lead me. I surrender to you. I abandon my ways, I abandon myself, I choose you Jesus.
I choose you.

Keeping me on my toes

I think God likes to keep us on our toes. We have a perpensity to get comfortable in our situations- which I am not always sure God likes. Comfortability brings it's friends self-reliance and pride.

I had gotten comfortable with the idea of working at Soulstice until May, maybe going to KY a little early, taking a slower approach to fundraising... But, I think it times likes these, actually in life in general, God is calling us to a life dependant upon Him.

So, I found out 3 days ago, that I am needed in the office in KY March 1st! I kind of freaked out silently, and argued with God in my head about how I was going to make all this happen, and by "all this" I mean train 5 people to do my job, so it can be volunteer ran, raise an additional $2,800 a month, continue trying to get back in shape, spend time with friends and family, coordinate our church's garage sale... the list goes on & on. And then it hit me... Had I fall prey to self-reliance?

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 says:

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us"

It is God who will accomplish all of these things I had once relied upon myself for. I trust in him, my hope is in him!

So, my encouragement as I pray for all of these tasks and urgent things that must be accomplished comes from Matthew 6:33-34:

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

For His Glory,

Jackie

The Nobodies

I picked up this great book about 7 months ago called Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor. It is written by Dr. Paul Farmer, who is a Professor of Medical Anthropology at Havard. He has worked in Haiti for over 20 years providing medical care at a hospital in a remote area of the Central Plateau located in Cange, Haiti. It is a 35 mile drive from Port-au-Prince, but is known to take almost three hours to get there. Dr. Farmer spends most of the year working at his clinic called Zamni Lasante, which means Partners in Health in Creole. The book I am reading focuses on several of the most impoverished places in the world: Cange Haiti, Chiapas Mexico, Lima Peru, and one of the prisons in Kemerovo Russia.

He argues, that the real problem is not neccesarily the illness, but they are a bi-product of their poverty. They not only treat patients for their diseases, but they provided food, money, and much much more.

I admit, it is hard to read. It is difficult to understand. But moreover, it is hard to read, because each page turned breaks my heart. I am profoundly disturbed by how the Haitians are treated. It is as if the world has forgotten all about this country. It's people are not humans, but faceless nobodies.

This poem below is the introduction to the book. I have spent a total of about a day in Haiti, but reading this not only confirmed my love for the "nobodies," but impresses on my mind the importance of the spreading the Gospel to this country. The importance of loving another person. The importance of reaching out, to the needy, to the homeless, to the prisoners, to the sick children, to the people we won't let come near our kids, to those who don't share our language... to the world. May we have compassion for the nobodies in the world... Compassion is not pity... It is love in action.

The Nobodies, by Eduardo Galeano

The Nobodies:
Fleas dream of buying themselves a dog, and nobodies dream
of escaping poverty; that one magical day good luck will
will suddenly rain down on them- will rain down in buckets.
But good luck doesn't rain down yesterday, today, or tomorrow, or ever.
Good luck doesn't even fall in a fine drizzle, no matter
how hard the nobodies summon it, even if their left hand is
tickling, or if they start the new year with a change of brooms.
The nobodies: nobody's children, owners of nothing.
The nobodies: the no ones, the nobodied, running like rabbits,
dying through life, screwed every which way.
Who are not, but could be.
Who don't speak languages, but dialects.
Who don't have religions, but superstitions.
Who don't create art, but folklore.
Who are not human beings, but human resources.
Who do not have faces, but arms.
Who do not have names, but numbers.
Who do not appear in the history of the world, but in the police blotter of the local paper.
The nobodies, who are not worth the bullet that kills them.

Down Sizing

So after much deliberation, I have decided to sell my car! This will be a good thing since I still owe on it and won't be able to carry the insurance or payment once I am on the field... so anyone want to buy an izusu rodeo? Goooood condition! 2000 Roman Bronze Rodeo, 82,000 miles! I am going to sell it for what I owe- leave me a comment if you are interested!
Peace-
J