Starlight

I guess I just wanted to get back to writing again & sharing while I lie here beneath the starlight. It's been a challenging several weeks. I look forward to Christmas break starting in about a week and a half, except there are so many details to take care of and so many things to work out it could go bu incredibly quick.
Dual thoughts of note: community & friendship helps us thrive. On Sunday I went, regardless of some time-crunch necessities, to church and had lunch with an amazing group and they prayed for me, and I was therefore fed body & soul.
The other item is that I went to another church and sat/stood while they sang hymns for well over an hour. I still can't decipher Creole singing so I read from the first book of Isaiah. My opinion that I felt nothing in my soul stir while a church sang out and the words of scripture implying God cannot be present or won't be responsive to those whose words he doesn't believe is profound to me, here in Haiti.

Let us all be true and a window instead of a mirror or tinted glass.

Blessings,
David


Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Line at the bank

10am start, ??? finish
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

I didn't actually stop writing...

...I just stopped publishing.

Ever since my quick excursion back to the U.S. In October my brain has been consumed with so many things: finances (or general lack thereof) for homes, hurricanes, cholera, elections, school for the boys, budgets, fantasy basketball injuries, and more.
In the midst of such chaos I've found comfort and refuge in prayer and its visible answers played out in my life. Still there are endless possibilities here to go with the neverending around the next corner potential setbacks.
That, and I've definitely missed hot showers tremendously.

I'm going to leave it there for now. Life is a complex knot for me right now, but I know that because you're all out there somewhere I am not alone, and for that I am grateful.

I pray you all had blessed Thanksgiving with time to reminisce in all the joys you've garnered this year, and that this holiday (Christmas, Chanukkah, ... Other(?)) season provides us ample opportunity to dole out even a drop of the same unto others that has been poured out on us.

With great faith, hope, and love,
David


Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Sunday = Haiti Presidential election day

Hi all,
Just wrote a long, thought provoking email about the elections tomorrow. The software crashed as I sent it. It's gone. :(
So: please pray for the tomorrow. It might be crazy or dangerous, according to rumored reports. More importantly Haiti could use a strong, honest, strong character & integrity based leader for a strong foundation of change.

Bon nuit,
David
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

A question about Suffering

If suffering produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope, isn't this something that everyone on the planet knows about and has the opportunity to access?

We all suffer. Even the rich suffer in their spirit with worry. All can be struck by accident, disease, war or disaster.

Right now Haiti suffers from cholera, earthquake damage, decades of poverty and political strife, a damaged ecosystem, and poor education system. I know many here who endure much, but have begun to wonder if all the handouts and lack of collaborative focus have resulted in fewer with character and very little hope.
I pray for it, but I just don't see hope in enough eyes.
I want to see hope.
Because with hope, one can have faith in the unseen and the future.
And we all need something to believe in.
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Cholera. Port-au-Prince

Apparently the cyclone pushed infected waters to more than the north. Or the water tables in this country are just too close. Either way it looks like it might get worse before it gets better.
If you have any medical friends that are looking for a place to volunteer for a week...???
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Never Be

I'll never be who you want me to be.
I'll never stay in one place long enough for you to see
me every day, never there to hold your hand;
always going to the places where someone else demands
my attention and love - even though I love you.

I can't stay or be that guy that doesn't care;
can't watch others die lonely and is despair
without someone to just try;
without someone willing to sacrifice and die
like I would for you, which is why you love me.

I'll never stay where you are unless you go with me.
I can't stop because it's my life, and I must be free
or I'll be caged like those I risk to attend
who have no hope without the love shown me; and in the end
I want to never be someone except know by haith, hope and love.
And the greatest of these is love.

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Cholera in Haiti is still a problem

Hurricane Tomas has passed without great harm done in and of itself. Unfortunately, a problem thought to be contained just a few weeks ago is back in force because the cyclone caused rains that flooded rivers and seems to have carried the disease to the northern part of Haiti.

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Faith & Fear(lessness?)

"And Jesus' disciples freaked out because they thought the wind & storm would kill them. They screamed for him to wake up and when he did he commanded the weather to stop and asked, 'Where is your faith?'" ~Matthew 8:23-27

The rain has begun again at 3pm on Friday afternoon, long after the hurricane was supposed to do great damage. The trailing storms that follow the epicenter that missed us could still produce damage and steal away tent homes for a million Haitians.
My faith tells me that I can intentionally return to a disaster relief world in advance of impending doom (named "Hurricane Tomas"), stand in the face of it and pray for the storm to disappear. I have prayed that I and countless other followers of Jesus and hundreds of expatriates come to love and serve the people of Haiti might be protected simply by our presence & prayers.
Some might call me a fool. A few call me brave. Others may mock my belief in an "invisible" God. But even if the storm strikes with the greatest fury possible, devastating millions of predevastated lives, I will still call Jesus my lord and follow him until the end of time, loving and serving in His name so that others might know and believe He is good, also.
~David


Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Hello Manhattan!

I took this pic on my flight into/through JFK the other day (don't worry, my antenna was off and I was within FAA regulations) and it's probably the 1st time I've seen Manhattan from above.
I loved how I could see the tall buildings, the vast expanse of central park, and the subways (ok, maybe I just imagined seeing those).
Honestly, I really love New York City. Among the facts that it's a 24 hour city, I wouldn't need/want a car, has glorious art everywhere and my friends there are really passionate about community & service & saving the world & loving God, it's definitely a city I'd love to live in someday, if I get the chance!
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

I want my unwarranted optimism back!

I knew I loved Dilbert cartoons for a reason!
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Hurricane Tomas hasn't hit Haiti quite yet

...but it's picking up speed. It was pretty windy this morning. And now it's a little calmer but all the skies are grey since noon. Heavy rains look ready to pounce...
I'll keep you updated as best I can. Mostly we bought extra rice, water, pasta & oil, and we have protein bars that may not taste great, but are still quality nourishment.
Tall trees have been trimmed, the generator is ready w/extra gas, tarps cover important gear, and we're as ready as we're going to be for whatever hits.
Your prayers for the Hurricane to change direction or dissipate are very welcome. A million people living in tents need them very much.

And in the meantime we're sitting around playing music w/not much else to do!
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Communique

In the book of Genesis, chapter 11, a tower in Babel rose because the people spoke a common language and decided to build a great project together. They took advantage of the unity towards good and would have attained the greatest of heights.
But then other language got in the way. They couldn't understand each other and scattered, going their own way.
Communication is one of the hardest things we do - even if we speak the same language! Listening, thinking, questions, patience, repetition all play a part in creating this symphony we call life & living together.
When someone leaves info out, or another bears a grudge, or one person doesn't actually understand or agree to what's been said? Well, we all know what dissonant frequencies sound like, out of rhythm and tune, and it's just not pleasant.
The most beautiful pieces of art were not typically created by luck, but instead by dedication, practice, and willingness to learn more, knowing nothing is ever perfect and never necessarily finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
The book of Acts is filled with lessons of working to (or miraculous) communication:
1) Acts 2:4-12 set up Peter's life-changing talk in verses 14-42.
2) Acts 8:26-39 is where Philip listens to, notices the Samaritan eunech's scroll (from Isaiah 53:7-8), and let's him choose how he wants to change his life and follow God.
3) Acts 10:9-48 is where Peter, a Jewish man, meets and finds common ground (and isn't hindered solely by what he thinks he knows) with a Roman centurion (aka a "Gentile" - these guys weren't big fans of each other) whose world & his whole family are transformed by Peter's communication.
Etc., etc., etc.
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

HUGE (now dead) tarantula

Ok, I may not be afraid of spiders that much but I DON'T want to get bit by one. Especially one this big!
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

3/4 moon and the light left in store

Three-quarters of a moon and there's light left in store today, but not much.
The shadows are cast and the baby still cries, but there is life in store for a world that just may still rise.
Occasional breezes blow to ease the shrill heat, my body sore, tested, and pushed to edges as I race down broken streets.
The smell I could do without, for it is something too unpleasant to describe, but then again, sometimes, that which is easiest to describe is not worth the investment.
One day when the arguments fade, and the government aligns, and the children learn enough to be men shall this desolation be filled with flowers and life once more.
I pray that day is soon.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

I'm actually really patient...

I'm not big on excuses but I'm fuller of grace, please just give me a real reason, no more spitting in my face as you taunt and torment me with the things that I bought but you hide, because I really can tell if you lied since I asked directly - or did you just not want to hear when I was so absolutely clear of my intentions before I opened the floodgates and asked for so much more than I could give because I wanted to see life have a chance to actually be lived in a place where the uneducated, inhealthy, malnourished toxiclty resides; where paradise used to be found before reality invaded; where love and light can do so much if only you'd let me buy another battery to light this little lamp at my feet.
I once was lost, but now I'm found. You, on the other hand, leave me so confused...

+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

Treasuries

When all that's left is memories of how good it was, and it makes you smile?
When there are no words left to describe the sheer joy & pleasure of the moment, and no one caught it on photo or film?
When I can hear your voice in my mind even though we haven't spoken since I walked down the ramp and boarded the plane?
When all that's left is daydreams and prayers for an even more incredible future?
Those are treasuries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is assurance in what we hope for, the certainty in things we cannot see...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riding the schoolbus

I haven't done this in years...

City of the Sun

Yesterday I rode a motorcycle (I prefer to drive... Enough said) to the cite du soleil which is essentially at the actual shipping port of port-au-prince.
It is really sad there. I'm glad to see 122 homes on their way to being built and I hope we can help there too. Let me know if you want to also and I'll explain more how.

Blunt heated sharpened forgery

Burning sun melting thoughts and shape and resistance until hammer strikes not once but a bakers' dozen of blows before casting me back into the flame that I cannot stand beneath and so I fail and fall not into arms but clutching hands that lay me down on pig iron and beat me mercilessly, crying, "More! More! More!"
Fetally I pray that I am done and made, shaped and honed into designed art form; my prayers go unheeded and the oven reopens its mouth to feed upon my anguished screams. The sledge rises and falls and all that does not belong - every gap in my chemical makeup - is compressed into a substance with no more weakness, no more ability to just fall apart, and no more chance to come undone.
My maker lets this world forge me into a man, taking all of me and purifying me, shaping me down into an instrument of peace and beauty: eternal and perfect after endless trial by fire. Refined. Steeled. Ready to cut down walls so as to build new homes - a new world - on rock foundations.

127 homes right by the port by foundation St. Luc w/ the Dominican Republic

+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

Stars & lightning. Cloudy.

Current ends as skies light up, offset by cotton mirrors that float along rivers of air to destinations unavailable to those without wings.
Dots line up to attention and shine not so bright against onyx backdrop, revealing unto me the places I've always wanted to go, but never was afforded the chance to break space-time-oxygen laws.
Without thought I imagine myself there and no longer here. I perceive what collections of good are needed and pretend to shut off eye and ear from every similarly strained cry that says, "give me."
It is silent but all I feel is pain. These muscles are inflamed by curved bed, laundromatted forearms, and the mental stress of ridiculous situations, plus walking the roads of this life with no sign of wheels anywhere.
Chickens, dogs, drums & thunder will surely wake me as much as the dead-air heat, the repowered fan from three to four in the morning, and the next email that tells me who I disappointed or what I did wrong in the midst of giving my life away freely.
Broken chains may rust, hacksaws may cut us free, and plane tickets are within grasp, but only one thing might become the rain, the lightning & the perfect nightly distraction.
Break me and make me new. I cannot forget but I've already forgotten. Let me be weak as you are strong, and I will be your sheep. I am thirsty - leave me to attend, and I will love you as much as the day before.
It is a dark and stormy night, but all I see is the heavens in this hell.

David Sandler, 10/10/10
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

Courage

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."
~Mark Twain

Yesterday afternoon a woman got beat by her boyfriend on the road outside our house. The boys we help take care of were upstairs, and witnessed it happening. Instead of running out to protect her or yelling or getting anyone during or even afterwards, they laughed about it.
My friend Nick & I found out about the whole thing 20 minutes later and went to try to help the girl. Afterwards we went back to talk to the boys, who... didn't get it? Some did, but one youth in particular kept laughing about it.
It's possible that he just couldn't imagine fighting someone twice his size so just the thought of it was crazy to him, but he said he'd punch me if I - hypothetically - punched his sister. Still, he couldn't grasp the connection.
We talked to them for over a half hour about the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus on the cross, loving one another, sacrifice, etc., and seeing any woman as if they were their sister & defending them just the same.
Then we asked them to envision the future and how they would want to be remembered when they died: as brave, giving, honored and loving, or something else? We believe they can become those great men and we'll sacrifice to get them there.
They were afraid of a big, scary guy who beat a woman with a stick. I get that. My prayer is that next time they will triumph over their fear, no matter the cost.
A great & difficult journey lies ahead for these boys, this culture & this nation to rise up. But there is hope: a light, and his name is Jesus, if they will follow and believe.
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Entrustment

Last week I was informed that I trust people too much, that I give them chances and opportunities they don't deserve because they will take advantage of me.
I think back to the way I was through high school and even coming out of college and I laugh because I am so thankful how much I've changed into a person that can give 2nd, 3rd, and onwards chances.
Not that I trust them the same after multiple broken promises or failures, mind you - I'm just not hateful about it. I try to keep love in my heart. I've got to be wise, and I try not to be jaded.
Trust is precious - a gift. I believe its necessary to grant it from time to time.
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

What it's like to know someone

If someone could run a test on your mind, body & soul to find out everything there is about you, would you take it?
Doctors can scan our bodies, draw blood and run us through physicals; still they can't discover or solve every problem.
Psychiatrists research, ask, prod, and even use brain scans now; still there are too many corners to hide in when we use only 10% of our brains and they can only try to comprehend.
And what of the soul? There is no spelling bee or SAT to score our abilities there. Our soul is measured by the results of our lives - often found in the little things: opening doors, offering to share, taking time out of one's own busy & hectic schedule to help another in some way. But even then, sometimes, we do things without the purest of intentions.
So would we ever really allow for someone to know us - to know ALL of who we are inside and out?
Someone already does. And perhaps if we seek or continue to strive to let people in then we will become our best. For if we stand exposed in the light for all to see, we would always try live a life that does no harm, but only good.
----------
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
  and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. 3 You see me when I travel
  and when I rest at home.
  You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say
  even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me.
  You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
  too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
  I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
  if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
  if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me,
  and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
  and the light around me to become night— 12   but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
  Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
  and knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born.
  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
  before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
  They cannot be numbered! 18 I can't even count them;
  they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
  you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
  Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you;
  your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate you?
  Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
  for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
  and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

What it's like to know someone

If someone could run a test on your mind, body & soul to find out everything there is about you, would you take it?
Doctors can scan our bodies, draw blood and run us through physicals; still they can't discover or solve every problem.
Psychiatrists research, ask, prod, and even use brain scans now; still there are too many corners to hide in when we use only 10% of our brains and they can only try to comprehend.
And what of the soul? There is no spelling bee or SAT to score our abilities there. Our soul is measured by the results of our lives - often found in the little things: opening doors, offering to share, taking time out of one's own busy & hectic schedule to help another in some way. But even then, sometimes, we do things without the purest of intentions.
So would we ever really allow for someone to know us - to know ALL of who we are inside and out?
Someone already does. And perhaps if we seek or continue to strive to let people in then we will become our best. For if we stand exposed in the light for all to see, we would always try live a life that does no harm, but only good.
----------
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
  and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. 3 You see me when I travel
  and when I rest at home.
  You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say
  even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me.
  You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
  too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
  I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
  if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
  if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me,
  and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
  and the light around me to become night— 12   but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
  Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
  and knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born.
  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
  before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
  They cannot be numbered! 18 I can't even count them;
  they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
  you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
  Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you;
  your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate you?
  Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
  for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
  and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

2:23am waking

Waking in the dark no sleep left within, turning to pray a prayer that is not for me, but a hope that anothers' life may still rebegin.
Rest flees me now as only discomfort remains - mixtures of heat, aching neck, hunger and confusion a frozen wave like the first cold shower at a still cold dawn.
No flavor to spirit me away to some other memory, no touch to soothe my troubled soul, only prayers screamed silently, begging for the wisdom and grace long assumed to be naturally known.
No reason to shut my eyes, I can feel myself waking up further, wondering when I will wash all the filth from me, when it is that I will find a way to be cleaned from this mess that I have poured upon myself.
Praying that I can remember it is not my job - that I can't do this alone, that by grace I was returned from death and at infinite & free cost.
I made up my mind in a galaxy far, far away - now I will wake at 2:23 in my morning and ask that others might make up their own minds to do the same.
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

A Haitian's "Best Friend"

My buddy Nick got in a conversation with one of the Haitians we've spent some time with here, and someone asked if they were best friends. Many times here I've met someone and they immediately refer to me as their best friend.
I have best friends (shout out to kevin, mark, david, aaron, patrick, jessica, and more) and these newbie locals don't qualify yet. Nick asked a question that hadn't occurred to me though. I'm glad he did.
"What does 'best friend' mean to you?"
It turns out a "Best Friend" is someone who they can come to and share dreams, passions concerns, ask questions, get advice, etc.
So all this time I thought it was awkward that people kept referring to me as their best friend, when actually it was them asking if I'd mentor them.
So now I hope I get to be everyone's best friend here. :)
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Iron sharpens iron, but does lead sharpen titanium?

Proverbs 27:17 says that "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." But I've got to wonder: lead may be good for shielding Superman from Kryptonite, and so is a good defensive substance, but isn't it too soft to sharpen titanium?
I want to be titanium: forged and strong, refined & purified by high heat & pressure.
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Last pics for today from haiti

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

More morning haiti pics

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Latest pics of driving through port-au-prince, haiti

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Action or words?

One of the more intriguing pieces to the puzzle of my spiritual journey of trying to know the one God has resided in my heritage mixed of Jewish & Catholic upbringing but modernly defined as more "Protestant" in nature.
For me, the lessons instilled in growing up were ones of effort, discipline, sacrifice & servanthood. My parents are amazing models of dedication & devotion to caring for not only their loved ones, but all of humanity.
When, at 19, I came to believe in all the things I'd been taught as a youth, it was forged in a belief that the invisible was real, the ethereal was concrete, and that love did not have to be so mysterious.
But it was natural for me to keep doing things. I knew the words and practiced them, but had to play the game of real life too.
I have faith, but how will anyone else - myself or Jesus included - know it if I don't actually apply it?
I try to do it. Just like Mother Theresa. Just like Jim Elliot or Martin Luther King.
Say it? Do it. Be the change, don't just talk about it.

James 2:14-26
Matthew 7:24-29
Luke 10:25-37

Love everything: "Do this and you will live."

~David
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Reparations past prime

Mentalities and memories don't change just because you felt it was time for you to walk back through the door. Airs of expectation for me to share my innermost thoughts when you woke me up are even less likely to be met with a joyous chorus of echoes.
Shake my hand because I want you no closer - why trust when the lens was shattered by your ignorant intentional obtuseness. Leave, and I will resolutely be grateful for your absence and a return to normalcy in whatever tangent form to my past life it takes.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

RE: [indosand] Rules or relationship?

---

From: David Sandler sandler_david-at-yahoo.com |indosand| <fnafqrx2yt@sneakemail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 16:14
To: craigster.sneakemail@madmax.mm.st; HaitiSand <kjshoemaker.blanc@blogger.com>
Subject: [indosand] Rules or relationship?

 

Just yesterday I was asked (again) what my religion was, and I started to describe it except then I finished it with "yes people would call me a christian but here's what I say." Thus begun a description how religion is about rules, while relationship with god - like a marriage or real friendship - is about knowing and loving someone, and how that is SO much harder than following the rules.
Rules are easy: follow them or get in trouble. Relationships take time, effort, learning, listening, sharing, doing things together, making mistakes and repairing them while learning what the mistake was and adjusting to not make the same mistake again b/c it's the right thing to do but because you want to do it to love the other person better.
One of my best friends? We're not even that compatible. He & I are similar and very different. But we lived together for 3 years, ministered in the inner city together, prayed & played basketball and served together and each other. When we moved out, we acknowledged all this. We may never be the closest of buddies, but we will always and forever know we can count on and trust each other with love & support in even the toughest of times. THAT is relationship. He is like a brother to me through and through.
Real relationship is worth it. Especially relationship with God.
I think sometimes people are afraid of it b/c it's hard & risky and exposes oneself to hurt. Maybe that's why they oppose so quickly. Which is sad, because Jesus exposed himself to being hurt via fist, whip, cross & death.
Rules keep us in line. Relationships go far outside and beyond if we let them. I know which I prefer.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

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Rules or relationship?

Just yesterday I was asked (again) what my religion was, and I started to describe it except then I finished it with "yes people would call me a christian but here's what I say." Thus begun a description how religion is about rules, while relationship with god - like a marriage or real friendship - is about knowing and loving someone, and how that is SO much harder than following the rules.
Rules are easy: follow them or get in trouble. Relationships take time, effort, learning, listening, sharing, doing things together, making mistakes and repairing them while learning what the mistake was and adjusting to not make the same mistake again b/c it's the right thing to do but because you want to do it to love the other person better.
One of my best friends? We're not even that compatible. He & I are similar and very different. But we lived together for 3 years, ministered in the inner city together, prayed & played basketball and served together and each other. When we moved out, we acknowledged all this. We may never be the closest of buddies, but we will always and forever know we can count on and trust each other with love & support in even the toughest of times. THAT is relationship. He is like a brother to me through and through.
Real relationship is worth it. Especially relationship with God.
I think sometimes people are afraid of it b/c it's hard & risky and exposes oneself to hurt. Maybe that's why they oppose so quickly. Which is sad, because Jesus exposed himself to being hurt via fist, whip, cross & death.
Rules keep us in line. Relationships go far outside and beyond if we let them. I know which I prefer.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

Center of Hope & IYI: Being the Change

http://www.iyiglobal.org

The Center of Hope & International Youth Initiative:
Being the change in Haiti

Training teachers, laborers, pastors and more new techniques, information, rooted in character & integrity with action.

Raising up youth and youth leaders to transform the future of Haiti, rooted in character & integrity with action.

Rebuilding homes and serving the community with love, rooted in character & integrity with action.

Be a part of the change! Pray for us, come work with us for a week (or longer!), or give here:
http://www.iyiglobal.org/donateonline.html

Center of Hope
59 Cottard
Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
+18? 34' 23.70", -72? 12' 58.10"
http://m.google.com/u/m/wPwR9L

http://haitisand.blogspot.com
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

CoH Bathrooms completed pictures

Women's area, toilet w/door, powder room (minus a mirror right now), mens room, walkway with smoothed gravel & sections prepared for new trees (if desired), plus a watertank with 3-level wall to keep it in and intake pointed towards open area for potential cistern, output toward the bathroom (with gap in wall for easy access, shutoff valve, etc.)

Feel free to come check it out.
:)

Center of Hope
Cottard 59
Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
+18? 34' 23.70", -72? 12' 58.10"
http://m.google.com/u/m/wPwR9L

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Guided in the dark

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil or harm."

Night comes and fear is the natural reaction. We can't see quite right. We don't know what's around us. Little noises and movements play tricks upon our minds.
Every day the boys repeat Psalm 23. Every day. Recently I'd asked the boys to each do a devotional on a rotation system (so they'd each go once evry two weeks) but it meant actually asking questions and investing some time in whatever passage they wanted.
And one of them chose Psalm 23.
I'm a big fan of this psalm - it is a reflection of a weary man whose life is surrounded by challenges in a scary, difficult place.
Eventually the conversation got good and the questions were intriguing. But then it stopped. A moment later they asked what I was thinking about.
I had them shut off the lights and close their eyes.
My flashlight became my rod & my staff. I prodded them gently forward, or to the right or to the left.
If Jesus is my shepherd, then my comfort is found in the fact that this lamb I am is guided through the dark, away from edges to fall off of or rivers to drown in, protected from the wolves and thieves that would seek to do me harm.
Such love & sacrificial, parental-type care is why this psalm means so much to me. It describes a God who will lead me to good even though life is full of danger that I may experience by my surroundings, but can be led through safely. If I just listen.
I pray we listen.

-----
Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

 1 The Lord is my shepherd;
      I have all that I need.
 2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
      he leads me beside peaceful streams.
    3 He renews my strength.
   He guides me along right paths,
      bringing honor to his name.
 4 Even when I walk
      through the darkest valley of death,
   I will not be afraid,
      for you are close beside me.
   Your rod and your staff
      protect and comfort me.
 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
   You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
+509(3)895-3360 http://haitisand.blogspot.com

Double Harvest

Double Harvest has been around Haiti for many generations. They've got a plantation, grow plants & trees for sale, a school for vocational purposes & another for kids, and a hospital.
It's pretty awesome.

http://www.doubleharvest.org/where/haiti/haiti/

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Guy wanted $5000 USD for this "truck"

I could barely keep a straight face
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Haiti homes: $2500 to get a family out of a tent

This attached .pdf is the sheet describing what we're (International Youth Initiative, http://www.iyiglobal.org) doing for homes in Haiti.
The budget is set for $2500 which, with materials, labor & delivery is turning out about right.
The only real changes are: 1) we've improved upon the material for cement mixing (the "sand" was limestone which rusts the steel rebar) and 2) we work a little bit more with the homeowner to adjust size/shape of house if there's a prexisting foundation we can work with.
I'm excited about this. It's tax-deductible. It's tangible (give money, see a house built for someone living in a tent). And I'll send tons of pics & updates to your chagrin.

One note: if giving online there's still a 2.9% fee. That amount lost per house feeds one of the boys we take care of for a month. So, if you don't mind writing a check or going online and having your bank send it automatically, the boys, the Haitians, and me too would appreciate it! (But if not, no worries)

If every church, organization and company (& their matching dollar-for-dollar program?) each built a home, wouldn't it be amazing?!

By the way, I'm the quality control expert on this, keeping overhead to next-to-nothing.

Truly,
David

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

2nd day of construction!

The house is coming along. Budget's being monitored. Techniques being adhered to, if with a little bit of resistance... :)

Live from Haiti,
David
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

The walls are going up!

The first home's wall is going up! The foundation needed some work this morning so we finished that first, naturally!
I'm excited, and want to send a big thanks to Stephen & Caroline Kowalski (and their 2 kids) for their generosity & partnership for the people of Haiti!!!
Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

River sand

They say this'll prevent rusting in the steel. And I get more for the slightly higher price so realistically I get better quality & quantity for what I'd pay to get the junkier stuff! (Here's hoping)

Haiti direct: (+50938953360), BBM: 24B46DD9

Banana leaf cards

Local businessman makes cards with dried banana leaf for the designs
$2.50 each or buy 10 for $20
Contact me for more info!

Center of Hope @ Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti

The Center of Hope @ Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
http://m.google.com/u/m/zQ2ulJ

Packers highlights make me happy

http://m.facebook.com/david.s.sandler?rbe35f428&refid=0

9 years later is the world changed?

Once again my aching body wakes up at the crack of dawn to the sound of dogs barking and roosters crowing. The city around me lies in rubble, rains wash mud under & into tents and makeshift huts for hundreds of thousands of people.
9 years ago hate crashed into twin towers and since then wars have started in response, bombs blown up on trains, subways, in hotels, and even been attempted via sneaker soles. Hate existed long before Sept. 11 and will last until the end.
But in the beginning God created everything and lit it up and saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:4)
Light shines through the darkness and can never be extinguished. (John 1:5)
God loved the world and sent his only son Jesus to sacrifice for and save it. Jesus NEVER condemned anything. (John 3:17)
So I woke up early this morning yet again, remembering the date and wondering if anything has changed. Then I recalled all the love my friends and family and millions of others have demonstrated to sacrifice, give to, serve and love the homeless & hungry and needy in Los Angeles, New York & everywhere else, protect the victims of abuse in Thailand & more, and help after tsunami & earthquake or other disaster, and I know this:
Some things like hate will never change. But real faith, hope & love shall change what matters: our own hearts and sometimes those of others'. (1 Corinthians 13)

Love and keep loving with everything you've got (Deuteronomy 6:5),
David

Driving uphill in 1st gear for 20 minutes to Petronville

An adventure in plumbingism

(Note: NO picture attached)
I guess this story is two weeks old now, but it deserves a go.
Basically, Saturday late morning the team that was here in Haiti with me comes and says that the toilet isn't flushing.
Anxiety was clear on their faces.
I spent the next hour and a half trying to fix the problem.
I have to say, a good plunger is well worth the money. This one (again: NO picture attached, you'll want to just take my word for it) had a crack in it. AND it didn't have one of those suction cup type things extruding from the bottom. So it was a cheap $2 plunger. And it was broken.
I put surgical gloves on and tried real hard. That failed so I got the duct tape to fix the crack in the plunger. THAT failed so I wrapped it fully (a "duct plunger" if you will). Still no success.
I had a pot of water boiled and put detergent down it. In the end the mess went down and I bleached the area.

The next morning at 6am I awoke and needed to use it. immediately afterwards I discovered my work was not complete. I got another pair of gloves, grabbed the duct plunger, and 15 (!) minutes later the problem was finally resolved. I almost screamed out a "YAH-TAH!" in celebration. Being 630am on Sunday I muted it to myself in a joyful smile and a whispered thanks & praise.
I hope I never have to do that again. :)

HAILING in Haiti

Not kidding here folks, those are three little pieces if ice in my hand.
Enough said.

50 tents... 5 families remain...

One of the greater challenges in place remains finding people who are actually in need of homes vs. those that are/were just afraid to go back to theirs after the earthquake.
From everyone around me that I ask, the local tent village - comprised of 50 makeshift tents (covered in plastic & strong tape) that used to be sticks & sheets - really only houses maybe 5 families now. Beyond that scope the place is a virtual ghost town, except that there are homes where people live just next to it that say hello as I pass.
Therefore the goal is to build homes for these 5 that don't have anything to goto. Then keep finding more families like that.
Another example is a local pastor and his family. They've been living in a tent outside their home for months because the cement roof shifted and its too dangerous to live in. We'll deconstruct the home and rebuild to an affordable level. Fortunately we'll be able to reuse cement block and rebar metal (from the former roof) to strengthen the new one. Also, due to an existing foundation in place, we'll save funding to apply to as many others as possible.
Another case is a gentleman who's been living in a 4'x4' tin shack for years. He's bought a piece of land and only wants a 12'x12' room with a door and a roof, with extensions he can add onto from there himself as he gets the money. The cost for that should be less than $500 if he can get the paperwork proving it's his land - we don't want to risk another owner coming back and taking the property away from someone in need.
Finally, as I said, many are afraid to live in their homes. The other day a woman came to us and asked for a new one. Upon inspecting her house I then spent the next 20 minutes reassuring her from an engineer's perspective that her house was very, very safe & strong! Besides a few 2-foot long cracks in the outside finish of her walls, there was no evidence of any separation of roof to the walls. It had to be one of the best houses I've seen here! She was very happy to hear it & hopefully she'll sleep well at night now.
God-willing we'll be able to provide all reasons for everyone to sleep better here as Haiti changes towards a better future.

Maybe it's just the way I am

I need someone to miss, I guess.
Don't know why - and nothing's a mess.
Just lonely sometimes a million miles away.
Just exhausted with so much to say.
Words to sing scream out in my mind,
but without privacy I say nothing so none will find
this way that I am to be stranger more than it already is.
So it's not even needing someone to miss -
it's you who I want to share it all with;
you who I want to understand.
Or maybe something more.
I don't know - not a thing; never what's in store.
I guess I am who I am.
Sometimes I'm weary.
Mostly I try to love & care.
Once in a while I'm a superhero.
Deep down, though? Just a man.

My "new" car?

Goldilocks started this morning. A few more tweaks, a rotation of (or 2 more new) tires, and she may be juuuust right. (Well, enough).
Of course, she needs a renewed registration and license, too...