Tuesday, October 21, 2014

It's a good day, so don't cry, right?!

It's a good day, so don't cry, right?! As you can see from the picture below our sweet Pierlins hands are healing and she won't need to come back for treatment. If you don't remember her, her story is in our last blog. Hunger, anger, hot oil, good samaritan. What could have easily been infected and club like hands are healed! During the time that she's been coming one of her older brothers burned her arm with a match. That has healed as well. We've been able to love on her and her silence has turned into big smiled soft responses to our questions. "Who's smart, who's pretty, who's loved?" "Me!" One of eight children in a home where she's not shown love. Fear and sadness can easily creep in about her future. This is a good verse for the both of us. 
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 53:3


Thursday, September 25, 2014

1 Year Celebration, We'll Be Seeing You and Pictures!

September 25th! 

It's been 1 year since we've moved to Haiti. 
We can't believe how fast this date has come! Is it really true?!
We can't wait to share all that's happened!
 
October 28th - December 11th we will be back in the states on furlough. 

We're hoping to schedule times to share with churches, groups, etc., visit family & friends, have yearly check ups, visit schools with Braxton, hopefully get his learners permit, (oh, help me now!) and eat some fast food! (i'm sure we'll be sick to our stomachs!) 
We also want to catch up on all we've missed! 
Skinny jeans (with safety pinned bottoms?) or bell bottoms going on now?! 
We would love to see as many of you as possible! 
Please email or face book us so we can let you know where and when we'll be! toddfamilyhaiti@gmail.com 
We'll be flying IN to Minnesota and then traveling outside MN for a few weeks.
I am going to FREEZE!! 
(definitley not BT writing This blog)

Pictures

This is Miali. A candle caught her clothes on fire. She has been coming for several months and last week she got a graft on her abdomen and thigh from a visiting surgeon. We are praying that it works, it has been a long and painful journey for her and her family!

Oh, the things you will see! Every day, All day!


Home school science projects. (that don't work!) Darn...wink, wink

Missionaries or the special agents next door?! 
No smiling FOR YOU!

Sports Disciple launching! iamadisciple.com




Please pray for this adorable girl. She was brought into the burn clinic today by a stranger who heard her screams last night. She stole a piece of fish and her mother held her hands in the hot oil as punishment. She is the middle child of many, has an extra finger on each hand that you can't see in this picture and needs a lot of prayer for healing. The skin on her hands will come off in the next few days and she can't use them to do all the things you need your hands for. 
I had a sweet conversation with her this morning and she knows she's loved.
I am loved because I am 
Chosen by Jesus
I am known because I am
Named by Jesus
I am fearless because I am 
Safe in Jesus
I am brave because I am 
Always with Jesus
                    -ann voscamp

Great note on the kids message board - 
Whether fear or faith prevails depends on the commander we're saluting.

We miss you all and can't wait to hug your necks!
Oct.28-Dec.11th! Brrrrr!






Thursday, September 11, 2014

This story kind of goes nowhere…kind of…












     In May 2013, I drove from Minnesota to Maryland and back.  It all started around going back to my high school football coach’s (Tim Ambrose) retirement party. On many levels it was one of the best trips I've ever been on, many stories came of this trip, but today I’m only going to share the one that kind of left me hanging, well at least until I saw the bigger picture.

     I was heading from a visit with an old college friend and his family near Philadelphia, on my way to Cumberland, Maryland.  It was a beautiful day and drive, western PA is mostly rural farm country, very similar to where I grew up, so it was very relaxing.  Well, we all have some rituals we perform on long road trips and one of mine is to not only fill the tank but also get one of those gi-normous fountain drinks of diet Coke for the ride.  It also doesn't take a scientist to understand that means I’m going to have to stop, basic biology right?  So after a while, I started looking for an exit to pull off and of course there weren't any because I was in the middle of nowhere.  About 10 minutes down the road I finally saw one sign for a gas station, but I was wary…you see the day before I saw one of the signs and pulled off near Baltimore and the station was like 5 miles off the exit, down 3 roads etc…(I personally think it should be illegal to post signs like this, I think I’m writing my congressman…)  so I waited to the last minute, “I’m not pulling off until I actually see it, not going to trick me again…” and right after I passed the exit, there it was behind the trees…(I muttered something I’m not proud of under my breath).  So I started to speed a little and the need got a little more urgent.  Then a few miles down the road there was a town with several gas stations, “Jackpot!” I thought.  As I was preparing to pull off I saw another sign that read “Rest Area 1 mile” I thought, “even better, I’ll go there instead” so I passed the town exit and headed to the rest area.  As I rounded the next bend my bathroom hopes were crushed.  The rest area was also a weigh station for trucks and was backed up a quarter mile, no entrance available for me.  (I muttered something else).  Needless to say, it was getting dire.  You know when you have to go bad, think you’re going to get to go, but don’t get to go, then oh no.  So I had to make a choice, pull over, risking a indecent expose ticket or go really fast and risk a speeding ticket…I chose to floor it.  After using all 5 cylinders of my 4 cylinder car, I saw what seemed like a carnival of gas stations, even one of those cool big truck stops!  As I pulled off the exit I noticed the exit number was 77.  You may only understand this if you are/were an athlete (and yes it makes me kind of a dork) but 77 is my football number so I immediately thought, “guess I’m supposed to take this exit.”

     After I raced into the parking lot, sprinted through the aisles of the truck stop and took care of my problem, I went out into the store section to browse.  So I’ll admit I have a problem right now, don’t judge, but I went right to the fountain drinks and filled up another 64 oz’er.  As I was filling it I glanced over at the couple next to me. He was an older gentleman, guessing in his 70’s, his wife looked to be in her 50’s and they were getting hot dogs off the self-service roller.  Then it dawned on me, the gentleman was Robert Duvall.  He was wearing a short brimmed flat cap pulled down (incognito) untucked shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.  I thought “nawww…it can’t be Robert Duvall, he wouldn't be eating hot dogs in a truck stop in PA, besides, no one else recognizes him or thinks it’s him.”  Now, I don’t get star struck, I didn't think much about it actually, but he kept looking at me, maybe he thought I’d give him up, I don’t know.  Either way, I waited behind him in line, neither the cashier nor none of the dozens of people recognized him.  As I left, I saw him and his wife off in a corner eating the hot dogs and as I step outside, I see the brand new Porsche Cayenne Turbo, I thought, “yep, it’s him” then I got in my car and drove over to the McDonald's drive through.  As I sat there waiting to get my order, I Google imaged Robert Duvall, and there he was with his wife.  They had just been at a fund raiser (where the picture was taken) to raise money for a children’s charity he supports.  Now at this point, the old Barrett would have just said “I knew it!” and that would have been it.  But the new Barrett, the one that tries to be obedient in every situation, looks up and says “I’m willing to make a fool of myself for you, you made it so I HAD to go here, the exit sign even said 77…okay, I’ll go introduce myself.” 


     I reeeaaalllly didn't want to, but I pulled out of line at the McDonald's and pulled back into the parking lot of the truck stop.  I got out of the car and started walking towards the entrance and at the same time they exited, meeting right before their car.  No one else was around, I’m sure I probably startled them at first (if you’re reading this and don’t know me, I’m 6’3 295lbs) and I asked, “excuse me sir, are you Mr. Duvall?”  he replied “yes, yes I am”  I apologized for interrupting their day but just wanted to let him know “Mr. Duvall, I just wanted to say thank you.  I know you do a lot of charity work and as a person that works with the hurting people in Haiti I know how important your time is.  You probably never get to hear thank you directly from someone on site, so I’m telling you, thank you for them, I know they truly appreciate your efforts.”  I think I caught him off guard, probably not expecting that.  Then I told him “and as a side note, thank you for making the movie Second Hand Lions, it’s one of my family’s favorites, I wish more movies were made for families and that his character reminded my kids of their Grandpa.”  He laughed and we began an extended conversation.  He asked me about what I do, I explained it all and in the end, we both thanked each other for what we did to help others.  He shook my hand and left. 



     Now, I didn't share this story with anyone for a while, it didn't seem to go anywhere and when I did, I kind of left them hanging, like there was something amazing supposed to come of it, like “then he cut me  a check for $100,000 to fund our program” or “hey, I’m heading to Cumberland too, lets hang out and become Buddies!”.  No, nothing exciting.  But I've come to realize that this is actually one of my most important stories, it marks a turning point.  I had swallowed my pride and was willing to embarrass myself in order to be obedient to what I felt God was asking me to do.  I had no idea what I was going to say to Mr. Duvall right up into the time the words left my mouth and in God’s perfect timing, I said “Thank you”.  I may never know why I was placed in those circumstances, maybe God knew I would be willing to give a word of encouragement to someone that needed it, a word of encouragement to a man, who in his fame, may not know people’s real intentions.  But I do know, after looking up and saying “okay, I’m willing to make a fool out of myself for you” He has given me opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to lift someone up, to speak life into someone.  He has also let me live out and through some really amazing experiences, some nothing short of miracles.  It’s like when I said “I’m all in” He said “Now I can use you.”

     Now, the question is, if the next time, you and I get that nudge will we listen?  The next Robert Duvall might be the guy with a flat tire, will we stop and help?  Or it may be someone needing prayer, will we pray for them on the spot?  Or it may be just a feeling that you need to reach out to the elderly neighbor, offering an ear and a cup of coffee. Just imagine...just imagine if we all became fools...  




     I hope you enjoyed this “God Story” and I hope I didn't leave you hanging.  I do want to share with you, if you haven’t seen them yet, our new promotional video for Sport Disciple and our new website, please take a few minutes to check them out.  We are also beginning our fund raising campaign for construction and program costs.  If you are able, we would really love for you to be a part of the Sport Disciple Team.  Below are links to the video and website as well as donation links.  We are 100% funded by people just like you and every gift is considered a blessing regardless of the amount so please prayerfully consider joining the Team.


 Our Goals & Needs:

·         Monthly sponsorship increase $4,000.  Please consider joining the monthly sponsor team, $20, $30 etc…

·         One Time Gifts large and small!  Total initial project, Phase 1, costs are estimated $110,000.  Phase 1 includes 2 regulation size fields, equipment building, concession, laundry facilities, pavilion, rest rooms, gym, 30,000 gallon cistern, shipping container with equipment donation + shipping costs and general infrastructure.


To learn more about the details or to become a sponsor please visit www.sportdisciple.com and to view the Sport Disciple video click here..

Sunday, August 17, 2014





"Run Dummy"

Happy Anniversary to 2nd chances!!  18 yrs ago today I was given that 2nd chance.  When I woke up this morning I had a scene from the movie Bull Durham in my head, "Run Dummy"...I added the clip from youtube if you don't know the scene.  Basically the catcher lets the batter know the pitcher is going to throw a fastball.  The batter crushes the next pitch out of the park then he just stands there.  The catcher then yells at him " I just gave you a gift and you just stand there?  Run Dummy!"  

How many times do I forget this gift that God has given me, a 2nd chance, a beautiful loving wife and 4 incredible children.  He's given me an amazing adventure over the last 18 yrs that really is just the beginning. Over the next few days I'll be releasing some really exciting information and our first video about our youth sports discipleship program.  I really hope you all love it!

I pray today that we all see the gifts God has given us, that we don't need to have tragedy or near tragedy  strike before we sit up and take notice. That when we're given a gift or opportunity we don't just stand there and watch, we all run the bases as fast as we can, that we're never mistaken for spectators.

Have an awesome day and God Bless!!



"Run Dummy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20NEbFeXU7w









Thursday, July 3, 2014

become like little children...

    






 I just came back from an orphanage, it was awesome!  Funny how the words orphanage and awesome don’t seem like they should be in the same sentence.  The reason for its awesomeness was that it was overwhelming evident that the kids were loved.  The family that ran it, the children all exuded love on us as we visited no sadness except in my own heart that I couldn't take them all home.  I've been able to visit quite a few orphanages and it’s not always the case, Lord please let this family be an example of how we all should take care and love on the least of us.


                                                 
 a couple of boys from the orphanage

Carrie translating a letter to one of the boy's, it was from his sponsor, loved being apart of this!


     Things are getting exciting around here!  Summer is here and we’re going to start our sport day camps in a week or two.  The camps will be a great way to build relationships with all of the local children and families and a great way to kick off our youth soccer league.  We’re hoping we can get the league started this fall.  Below are some pictures of our first sports camp and community service outreach, can’t wait to be doing these several days a week!

Our Soccer/Futbol Program:

     We will initially have over 1,000 kids, ages 6-16, both boys & girls. Our goal is to make it free but the kids will have to be involved in the whole program, which will include:

         Community service - teams will work hand in hand with us on multiple projects
         Each team will adopt a home of an elderly person or family in need & with our help, will provide  them     assistance & care
         Scholarship opportunities
         Feeding Program
         Life skills training, health & hygiene leadership development

     Our Vision is to develop a prototype youth sports discipleship program that can be duplicated nationally & internationally.  Raising a new generation of leaders that will love their fellow man, instill hope in their future & help change the cycle of poverty.

     Thank you to all of you who have supported us with good wishes, prayer and financial support; we can’t do it without you.  We are currently in the need of continuous monthly sponsors and individuals who would like to make one time donations, anything you can do is a blessing.


First score of the game!

community service trash pick up

 I'd say we worked hard but it was so much fun it went by fast...building a servant's heart.

the girls weren't going to let the boys win trash pick up

Yes, we introduced the kids to "dizzy lizzies" 

think they we're having fun?

these kids did dizzy lizzies then dribbled a soccer ball down & back, awesome!!

more play!



run, run!!

 time to eat!

my wall guys, finished the wall, now let's plant some grass!








Monday, May 26, 2014

You got The Fever?

People are smacking each other left and right to kill these bad boys


You got The Fever?

That is by far the most asked question around here in the last few weeks. Chikunguyna has reached Haiti and it is affecting people here more than the news is reporting. 
While we've come up with some funny ways of saying the name, there is nothing funny about this disease.  It's heartbreaking to see children with temps over 102 coming into the clinic with pain and nausea. There were two young girls with high fevers that walked over with their young brother looking for help because their mom was at home with "the fever".  Almost everyone we know has someone in their home who has it. New born babies are getting it via vertical transmission. 
Please pray for all those who have this painful disease.

The last few months have flown by! Watch for a new newsletter mailing soon and I will get some pictures posted here in the next few days (including a few from our soccer fun day!!)
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! 
We love and miss you!



Monday, April 7, 2014


“IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR FOOTBALL!!”


About 20 years ago or so, on any given day I would be lying flat on my back on a green carpeted floor, “the green room" we called it.  It was pretty much a given I was hurting just a little, probably a little tired too and that’s right when I would here it “IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR FOOTBALL!!”.  It was our football coach, Bill Struble.  Coach Struble always entered the green room yelling out the same thing be it sunny, raining, snowing, sleeting, overcast etc... It was always a beautiful day for football.  Until this morning I always thought Coach was talking about the weather.  I woke up this morning a little tired, not excited about the day and with a little pain and those words rang through my mind, “it’s a beautiful day for football”  Coach Struble was close to my current age, he had a family, he had bills, he had alumni pressure to win, he had to be a leader to a hundred young men and coaches, he had to deal with discipline issues (not always me…) bottom line he had hundreds of things on his mind but when he hit that room it all turned off and football turned on.

The reason I’m sharing this is because after I whispered “it’s a beautiful day for football” I realized what it meant, I whispered “it’s a beautiful day to be a husband” “it’s a beautiful day to be a father” “it’s a beautiful day to be a friend, a co-worker, a mentor, a pupil, a listener, a leader, a son of God.”  We all have those days when we wake up and it’s a fight to get your feet to hit the floor but I made a promise to myself this morning that when my eyes open I will whisper “it’s a beautiful day to be the man God wants me to be, today is a day that the Lord has made I’m thankful He’s going to let me experience it.” and of course, I’ll whisper it’s a beautiful day for football.  Thanks Coach for lessons learned years later.





spent the last couple weeks hanging razor wire on top of our wall, I wish it wasn't needed but I also realize we need a safe environment to operate all of our outreach out of, good news is we're almost finished:)

actual conversation "I'm thinking we should put the older razor wire down in the field and the newer razor wire by your house, you know, cause it will look nicer"  decorating Haiti style:)


 Sharing the love of Christ:)




they all think he's crazy, he's trying to get them to play catch with a Frisbee

new dogs is so lazy, eats laying down


Braxton likes to climb things...next American Ninga


when we first got the puppy he tried to hide, guess from who?


yep, you we're right...



 Carrie lovin on one of our patients



a "light load" in Haiti


some of our school kids

one of our 350+ wells


If you are interested in giving a financial gift or becoming a monthly sponsor please visit one of the links below, God Bless!




Psalm 118:24

 This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

 




Friday, March 7, 2014

Likson

Abbi and I love being extra hands in the burn clinic. 
This is a special story she is sharing today about one special little boy. 
Mwen konton Jezi renmen m'  
(I'm happy Jesus loves me. A song we sang to him)

    We have a story we would like to share with you. It is about a little boy named Likson. Likson is two years old. He was a patient at our burn clinic. His mother was holding him and a kerosene lamp. She accidentally dropped it on him. He got burned on his stomach, top of his left arm, and under his chin. They live up in the mountains, so it takes them awhile to get to the clinic. (They had to stay with family in the mountains because they were from another place in the mountains very far away) But yet they were still here every morning, early, just like they were told, so they could let the medicine kick in while he was still soaking before they started washing and dressing his burns. His burns were third degree. (so they were very deep ) He was also very swollen due to dehydration (3rd spacing). Some days his eyes would be swollen shut. We gave his mother some packets to put in water to help rehydrate him, and told her to really make sure he drinks lots. Everyday he would come back, and every day we would soak, wash, scrape, and dress him. They were very good at coming and he was getting a little bit better, but he was still in very bad condition. They would check his blood to make sure it was still okay. He had been coming for about six weeks.  One day his Dad came with him for the first time since he got burned. He had been at home with their four year old child, he hadn't seen Likson for a long time. The next morning Dad left while Mom and Likson got his bandages changed, then they went home (the house they were staying at). They didn't come back Thursday, so someone called the Dad and he said that Likson was still alive. Today they didn't come. Miss. Sharron received a call when she was with a patient, it was the Dad. He told us that Likson died. We were all heart broken, but had to realize he was with Jesus and wasn't in pain anymore. Please pray for Likson's family and for all those who were close to Likson. Likson didn't laugh or smile all the time, but when he did it just filled your heart up with joy. I remember one of the first times I saw him smile. He was staring at my scrub shirt. It was covered with angles, flowers, rainbows, and sunshine. I look down at my shirt and when I look up he is staring at me with the biggest smile. He is such a sweet boy.
                                                                    ~Abbi
                                                                                 There is no better place to be than in His hands.         
















Thursday, January 16, 2014

Planting Light


     I went back to Sodo (Saut d'Eau) on Tuesday, the voodoo capital of Haiti and some say the world.   Last time I was there I had a life changing experience to say the least; I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, an evil place.  We don't talk about evil very much back in the states, but here it's out in the open.  Voodoo is evil. I've personally witnessed how awful it is. It's not some "culturally" different ritual or some legitimate form of religion, it's the worship and practice of evil.  The best way I can explain it is by giving examples: children will come for the treatment of cholera but will be beaten from head to toe because their parents took them to the voodoo priest first and he tried to beat the sickness out of them.  We had a mentally ill lady who had been severally burned with a hot iron, they tried to burn out her sickness, unfortunately there was nothing we could do and she passed away. Horrifically, these are not unordinary. The challenge isn't if you or I believe it or think it's crazy, it's that they believe in it and until they stop believing it, this country will never change.
      A few years ago a gentleman came down to Haiti and visited our mission and during his time here he fell in love with the Haitian people.  Tragically that man passed away recently, but his family remembered his love for the people here and has raised the money to build a church and I am honored to help in the process.
    So Tuesday we traveled out to Sodo to drive some stakes and mark where this new church will be planted.  We joined in prayer that it would be a beacon of light in that area, a place where people would be loved, a place of refuge for the hurting and a place of strength to those that are willing to stand and face evil. We'll be heading out there everyday over the next few weeks, please keep us in your prayers and I promise to post some updates.

We also started a new well in a pretty rough place on Wednesday.  A couple weeks ago there were some land disputes, lots of tires burning/gunfire, but we're hoping that's all past.  It's in one of the new villages that have popped up after the earthquake, thousands of squatters move in so fast they kind of take ownership.  There is no water there now for the thousands of people living there so please pray that we get clean water for them.  It's a sad place to be while you are there because it's right next to one of the mass graves located near us, if you look at the picture below you can make out the fencing blocking people from building on it.  But maybe someday soon, with clean water, schools, soccer fields and the love of Jesus Christ ,this can become a welcoming place. 

Grace & Peace,

Barrett

I share the story my experience in Sodo in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGHMuKGD5Ms
 
The old makeshift tent church we are replacing.
 
 
Fellow Missionaries Chris Brumley and David Heady as well as Pastor Kelly 
 
 
 Some of the church members were waiting to meet us



Love that they came to worship regardless of the conditions, soon they will be in their new home!
 
Footers for the new church all dug out!
 
Beginning to Drill

 
the field is one of the mass grave sites

 
loading up to head to church, thank you to all of our sponsors for helping us have a safe vehicle!
 


 
Braxton helping put out the brush fire next door
 


heading back to Sodo up the mountain, no guard rail (only about 1,000 ft. straight down)

 
the fire truck (yes, we have a fire truck, water transport and to help Braxton fight fires) needed a little jump start.

 
 
New blog coming soon with some exciting soccer news!
Hint. It will include the word...bulldozer!