Three Days of Heaven

Three is a significant number in the Bible. The Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Seraphin cry three times “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Jonas in the belly of the big fish for three days and three nights. The Three-fold gifts of grace are Faith, Hope, and Love. The Three-fold nature of man is Spirit, and Soul, and Body. And, of course, the most profound, the resurrection of Christ after three days in the tomb. It is a number representing divine completion. That was also the number of days recently acknowledged all over Haiti as a time of mourning, prayer and fasting on behalf of the earthquake.

We were here in Haiti, of course, during this powerful time. For us, it entailed meeting early Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning in the Ben’s (our sports center) with all the MDL kids, staff, neighbors, displaced families and friends to pray, fast, worship, read scripture, share testimonies, hear sermons, lift up praises to the Father and petition and intercede on behalf of Haiti. It was one of the most powerful, incredible experiences of my life.

Not only was the prayer and worship time at MDL incredible -- seeing our kids on their faces, passionately crying out to God or seeing the families who had lost everything, smiling, laughing, even dancing to pour themselves out as an offering to God for His glory and honor -- but it was also what was going on throughout the country.

Friday morning, after praying and worshipping with everyone at MDL, I had to drive up to Petionville (about a 15-20 minute drive) for a brief meeting. When I left the orphanage, I had my windows down and as I drove I heard something I only thought possible in heaven – constant, unceasing, intense, continuous prayer, worship and adoration -- from all over and everywhere. People joining together, singing in their tent citys, in their homes, on street corners, to offer up prayer and worship to God. Churches, sounding like choirs of angels, overflowing into to the streets. Small groups in circles on the streets prayed intently. Large groups paraded through the streets – marching and singing hymns -- reciting scripture together in unison. And the most amazing thing was the fact that the “beautiful noise” never ceased -- all the way up the hill.

Add to that the irony – this same weekend was already a celebration weekend, planned out long before the earthquake. It was the beginning of Carnival week in Haiti, the single biggest Haitian event of the year, a Mardi Gras of sorts. A time when people sing, get drunk, celebrate voodoo, march through the streets, and often get very violent. It is a week when all schools close down for the week and many churches host weeklong “family camps” to pray against the “spirit” of Carnival. To hear prayer and praises to God replacing the drunken revelry of Carnival must have been like a sweet sweet fragrance to the Creator of all.

Many say this weekend was a turning point. A miracle. A second earthquake – occurring not in the earth, but in the hearts of the Haitian people. A time of repentance and turning to the One True God.

I don’t know if that is the case but I’m praying. I’m praying that this is a major shift in Haiti. That the gods of the past will be rejected once and for all. That Truth will overcome culture. And that the people of Haiti will break the chains they sought to break over 200 years ago.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

Please join me in praying that this very special weekend not just be a onetime event but, instead, that it mark the launch of a new beginning for Haiti, a time where God is lifted up, first and foremost, above all, and that the people of Haiti be truly set free, once and for all, by the power, grace and might of a loving God.

Back in Haiti!

Sorry I haven’t written for a while. Unfortunately, I was flat on my back from a back injury and was pretty much unable to do much of anything. I was totally out of commission as the result of trying to draw a bucket of water from our cistern.

You see, our generator died and we were without power – which can actually be quite fun. We’ve kinda grown fond of “no power” days here. No DVDs. No computers. No video games. It’s kinda like “Little House on the Praire.” Sometimes, however, the kids don’t like it that much, because I insist they call me “Pa” instead of “Dad” during “no power” days. When I light the kerosene lamp I will warn them of Indians lurking in the shadows.

So, this one night, I was heading out the door saying, “You younins keep the door locked while I’m out fetchin’ water from the well. You never know what’s out there.” I could see their eyes roll in their heads behind the faint pale of the kerosene lamp.

When I made it to our cistern, I dropped in the 5 gallon bucket, (set my rifle aside for a moment) filled it with water and began pulling it straight up, I took a step to adjust the rope and “pop” twisted my spine -- the wrong way. “Aghhhhh,” I shouted, and down dropped the bucket and down I fell. It was pretty pathetic. I could have laid there by the cistern, moaning and looking pitiful for the next hour or attempt to make it back to the house. So I chose the later – I hobbled upstairs, making my back pain even worse. As I walked in the door, I expected my kids to be standing there shouting, “Pa! Pa! What happened? Should we fetch Doc?” But they were nowhere to be found. I had to make it to my bed by myself. That is where I remained for the next three days.

Fortunately, however, we had no shortage of aide with three nurses and a visiting doctor to assist. They had pain meds and back patches and all kinds of things that made it a very painless recovery. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much about those three days other than images of visits from Doc Baker . When I finally was able to walk, I got up and realized I lived in Haiti, and discovered that much was going on.

Many of the journalists that were here to cover the earthquake are leaving. Haiti will slowly begin fading from the news and the eyes of the world. People will soon likely forget and go back to their lives and daily routines. However, for those of us on the front lines, the images remain. The smell of death beneath the rubble will become more commonplace. The pain and suffering of the people we serve will be more heart wrenching and challenging than ever before. Daily, we will be dealing with the toughest task – rebuilding, restoring and trying to get “back to normal.” And the questions: What about all the new orphans? Where will they go? Who will help them?

None of us is looking forward to what is ahead. The task seems insurmountable but we walk completely in faith. We are on our knees, praying that God will move mightily through this terrible tragedy. That it will not be the final straw of a country already doomed, but instead that it be a place for new beginnings– a renaissance, a rebirth. The Haitian people, better than most of the world, understand that this is a spiritual matter of greatest importance. They are asking themselves and the rest of the nation, “What do we believe? Where are we going to put our faith – in other countries, NGOs, relief funds and programs or in the One who can create and take life away?”

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14

Please join us in continual prayer for the nation of Haiti and let us help others not to forget. There are years, perhaps decades of work to do here. And although the press will move on to the next big story, we cannot forget. First and foremost, we must keep the Haitian people alive in our daily prayers, and secondly, rally our friends, families, churches, schools and communities to remain involved. When all others fade away, the Church remains. We are the ones called to a higher purpose.

I Tripped Over a Rat!

i love our life in Haiti!

We appreciate every moment because everything we do is linked to everything else we do. Taking a shower, flushing a toilet or simply getting water into the house is not just a matter of turning on a tap. It requires quick pre-thought and planning. An alert, non-hesitant individual must be constantly on guard and, at a moment's notice, be ready to pump water from our underground cistern (provided either rain or a water truck have kept it filled) through our water pump, up to the roof of our second story to a 250 gallon shadadow (a water holding tank on top of our house). From the shadadow, the water is then gravity-fed to the rest of the house. Voila! Water!

i try to perform this vital duty every day (Lord willing) to avoid running out of water. Now, i used to be able to turn on our generator to provide the power to operate the water pump to accomplish this important task but the generator is sort of on it's last legs and no longer handles the major power drain. Therefore, i wait, hopefully, expectantly, for city power to come on (usually, anywhere from 8-11pm at night -- if we're blessed). Then (and if) it comes on, i dash downstairs to the water pump, sometimes in heavy rain or other less than favorable conditions, and switch on the pump.

Recently, we were already out of water and i needed to pump soon or the family would start melting-down ("No water for dishes!" "Can't take a shower" "The toilet hasn't been flushed in DAYS!").

i kept getting up to check the street light in front of our house (the most visible sign that city power has arrived). Nothing! Again, i checked. Nothing! i started to dose off. Quick, you can't sleep now! If you miss this opportunity, the whole household will collapse! i tried to stay awake but couldn't. i dosed off.

Yipes! i startled myself! The beautiful beam of blueish-green light shone through my window. How long had i been asleep? No time to check i just had to move! i jumped up out of bed, slipped on my flip flops and dashed downstairs. It was dark and i couldn't see well. As i approached the pump, i slowed down, just in time to feel something warm and hairy slither between my feet. i stopped. Tripped. Stumbled. Grabbed on to the pump house door. Ugh!!!! i tripped on a rat. But i had to keep moving and switch that switch. My life -- the well-being of my family -- was at stake! i grabbed hold of the switch, switched it up and heard that musical sound that brings joy to many (well, at least me) -- the hum of the water pump -- pumping water rapidly up from the cistern to the shadadow. i did it! We were going to be alright! i saved my family!

As i paused to reflect upon my self-congratulatory thoughts and what a good provider i was, i heard a squeaking sound -- kind of a squeaking, clicking sound. It was coming from above me. i slowly lifted my eyes up into the tree above me only to see a massive number of rats right above me rapidly scurrying about in the tree -- right over my head! My stomach churned. i hate rats!!! They are the nemesis of my existence!

For a moment, i felt like the guy in the movie "Willard" -- a B-rated horror film i viewed PC (pre-Christian) days. It was about this guy who went a little crazy and trained all these rats to take-out revenge upon his enemies. i walked away from the pump slowly, cautiously, hoping the rats would not decide to turn and jump on me.

As i made it back to walk up the stairs, back into the house, i thought perhaps i had been a bit harsh on the rats and soon found myself singing the Michael Jackson song from the sequel to Willard - "Ben."

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You've got a friend

Needless to say, pray for me and all your missionaries in Haiti and around the world.

"The Paradise Man"

One thing i really love is when my kids show their love for God's word. They often like to share their memory verses from school or church or, sometimes, share a new Bible story they recently discovered. Or, if it's Elijah, sometimes he likes to present exegesis on the book of revelation.

Well, this morning, Frankie was all excited about a new Bible story she heard in her class at school. She said, "Hey Dad, did you every hear the story about 'the paradise man'?" And, i had to admit, that must have been a story i skipped over in my Bible studies.

Now, for a moment, i thought she was referring to the story of the thief on the cross next to Jesus whom Jesus told, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

But before i could say anything, she proceeded to lay out the story, "You see, there was this man -- this paradise man -- and he had some good friends who wanted to help him. So, his friends put him on a mat and lowered him through a roof so Jesus could heal him..."

A big smile filled my face as soon as i got what she was saying, "Oh, Frankie, i know that story. It's one of my favorites! However, i think he was called 'the paralyzed man' not the paradise man."

bill

Welcome

Greetings in the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We have set up this new blog as a means to keep friends, family and supporters up-to-date on the day-to-day activities of our ministry. For those of you who are not familiar, we, the Manasseros, are a missionary family who operate (by the grace of God) an orphanage for street kids, and homeless and at-risk children in Port Au Prince, Haiti. We have been in Haiti since 2004.

My family consists of Susette, my beautiful wife, who recently had cancer and is in remission. We were in the States for the last 9 months where she received treatment for Hodgskins Lymphoma. It was a trying time but the Lord used that season to draw us closed to Him, bring our family together and to experience His faithfulness and healing power. Praise the Lord for He is good!

Also, living here is my 16 year old daughter Ariana. You see, she is the reason we came to Haiti in the first place. When she was 9 years old, she felt a calling from God to come to Haiti to build an orphanage, school, church and hospital. Little did we know that her call applied not only to her but to her entire family.

Vienna is our 13 year old daughter. Vienna, like Ari, loves Haiti and is already fluent in the native language (Creole). She attends Quesqueya Christian School (QCS) and is doing very well. Prior to that, she was home schooled. Some of her favorite things to do is to explore Haiti, visit Jacmel, hang out with her friends and read.

Elijah is 8 years old and has lived in Haiti most of his life. He considers himself Haitian. He loves Haiti and also speaks Creole very well. He enjoys school and his best friend is Parker Lynch. Some of his favorite things include playing soccer, basketball, GameCube and reading his Bible.

Francesa is also 8 years old and attending QCS. She also loves school and has made many new friends. We are adopting Frankie and are praying that we can finalize our adoption before the end of 2009. She has been with us for three years. Frankie loves hanging out at our girls home, and especially playing with her best friend Katrina.

Kenson is 5 or 6 years old (we have conflicting birth certificates) but will eventually arrive at an accurate date. We are also adopting Kenson who has been with us over 2 years. He's our little comedian and always keeps us and our many visitors laughing. He loves playing with his best friend Ti-Bo and hanging out with his big brother Elijah.

i'm Bill Manassero, affectionately known as "mesta beel" (lol) by the local Haitians. Although i'm starting this blog, Susette and my kids will all be writing and contributing from time to time. It will be our little way of sharing this incredible adventure and our hearts with those of you who are interested.

God bless you.