Month: November 2009

Posted in NW_General, Personal Stories

Thanksgiving In Haiti 2009

Posted on by Castillo

We’ve had so much fun the last several days cooking, laughing, and joking around with our mission family. When Jose and I decided we would start doing our Thanksgivings in Haiti – we really wanted to make it special. In the states you have all your extended family. When you live in a 3rd world country – not many people want to fly in for the Holidays! So we thought what better way to begin our Thanksgivings here than to have our mission family gather in our home and create a new tradition. Four years ago we started with 16 people and this year we had 38! Jose and I gave up our seats so a few more people could join.

Oh what fun! We all stood and said what we were thankful for. I have to tell you something that Angeline said that totally blew me away. Angeline’s husband died last week with TB. She stood up and said – Thank you Lord for giving me a husband that I could love here on earth. Then she broke down and cried. Can you imagine? I don’t know that I’d be “thanking” God for anything so shortly after someone I loved died – and yet here she is still giving God glory!

Every year someone at the party ends up announcing their pregnancy. The first year it was me. The 2nd year it was Ginnete. The third year it was me again. This year the lady who watches our kids – Immadel – announced she was expecting! Every time a lady spoke to say what she was thankful for – we all would say SURPRISE – waiting to see who would be the lucky one!

It was just so good to sit together and laugh. It was nice to have some Americans with us this year too. Beth, Matt, and Courtney were a wonderful addition!  In a country where there is such heart-ache on a daily basis – we all got to “forget” for just a little bit. There was so much food – I mean the line went on for forever! People made 2 and 3 trips to the buffet. I am just SO THANKFUL for my family in the states and my family here in Haiti. There is no other place I would rather be.

Posted in Personal Stories

THANK YOU LORD – FOR YOUR BLESSINGS ON ME

Posted on by Castillo

The world looks around me as I struggle along
They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong.
In my heart I’m rejoicing, how I wish they could see
Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me.

There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep.
There’s food on my table, and shoes on my feet.
You gave me Your love, Lord, and a fine family.
Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me.

I know I’m not wealthy and these clothes are not new,
I don’t have much money, but Lord, I have You,
And to me You’re all that matters tho’ the world may not see.
Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me.

Posted in Mission Stories, NW_General, Personal Stories

Christmas In Haiti – Part 1

Posted on by Castillo

We’ve spent several days decorating the courtyard. Our Boys (those that live on campus) have been working really hard. They decorated the upstairs all by themselves this year. I have to tell you – it’s pretty funny. Not only did they use all the decorations we had designated for upstairs but they then went downstairs and stole about 50 strands that were for the courtyard. You know they’re taking it serious when they get out the drill and start drilling lights to the concrete. I’ve NEVER seen so many lights upstairs! It’s really beautiful.

Ivenor went up in the tree further this year than we’ve ever gone before. Pierre was working until the generator went off at 11pm for two nights straight. They surprised me and started stringing lights all around the ledge of the roof. Edril and Wagner were helping Jose fix all the broken light strands. It was a real team effort.

We all stood by the gate and looked through the courtyard at all the decorations we put up. We were proud of the work we had done. After about 3 minutes of looking at everything we all had the same thought…..we need more lights!! 🙂

Jose and I will fly to the states for 4 days in December to go to the board meeting. The boys have begged me to bring back 2 more suitcases full of lights! They want to go all the way around the compound – over by the baby orphanage. They’re so funny! I love it!

Here is our work thus far:

Posted in NW_Special Needs, Personal Stories

Thomas is Now at Peace…

Posted on by Castillo

At 4:45am this morning Thomas met His Healer and will no longer feel any pain. One of the most precious things today was talking with Celidia – a caretaker in the Miriam Center. She loved little Thomas like he was her own. The small service was held at 4pm and we loaded the casket and the workers on the back of the truck and went to the cemetery. As some of the workers got out of the truck Celidia was too emotional to stand-up. Courtney and Beth went ahead with the rest of the workers and I sat back on the truck with her. She told me that we’ve been to too many funerals together. I shook my head yes. She asked me why does God take all her children?

Thomas was a child from the Miriam Center with hydrocephalus. We watched him as a perfect little baby with perfect little skin and a beautiful smile  turn into a child that cried in enormous pain, who’s head continued to grow until he became blind, and his weight wasted away to nothing. He wasn’t simply a child of God – but he was also the child of every worker who took care of him.

We watched Celidia before – when she would gently hold him, sing to him, and wipe the little  tears that would stream down his face. She took time to love on him – to value you him. Yes – he was definitely her little boy.

But I gently reminded her – that even though he is her little boy – he was God’s little boy first. I told her that today is sad but it’s also a beautiful day for Thomas. He got to  see the face of Jesus this morning. What better arms to hold him? What better face to smile at? I picture God tickling under his chin and finally Thomas is able to smile – – a smile we haven’t seen for weeks.

I believe Celidia’s crown will be too heavy to wear. I told her that maybe God placed her here so she could be the mother to all these children – so that they can feel valued  and loved before they go Home to meet their Daddy.

I believe that the babies who pass through this world that we get the pleasure of loving on – will remember us in Heaven. I told Celidia to imagine the day when she walks through those gates and she sees all these little babies clapping and smiling….no more tears will she wipe as they yell and  run to her. To imagine that day when she gets to reunite with all her children. What a magnificent day that will be!

Posted in Personal Stories

One of the Things I Come Home To Every Day

Posted on by Castillo

Seeing Heather’s beautiful new boy – I couldn’t help but remember that special day. After 92 days in the hospital – seeing two perfect little boys – how amazing is our God! I have been so worried for Heather these past few weeks. She doesn’t blog about her troubles like I did! LOL! But she really had some scary moments. Her faith is so strong. I cannot wait for Zeb to play with Levi and Asher. How truly blessed we are on every level imaginable!

Posted in NW_General, Personal Stories

Prayers for Heather and Janeil

Posted on by Castillo

Heather and Janeil are in the hospital tonight awaiting the arrival of their 4th child – little Zeb. Heather’s platelet count has been very low and she is being induced tonight. Please pray for peace, for a healthy little boy, and for a healthy momma after it’s all said and done. It’s such an exciting and yet kind of scary time.

janeil and heather

Posted in Mission Stories, NW_Baby Orphanage, NW_General, NW_Sponsorship

Shower of Blessings for Candy Land!

Posted on by Castillo

I love that today I get to write about one of my favorite programs – the baby orphanage. I am so excited to tell you what God is doing!

I’ve written a lot about Kandiance who passed away last month from cancer. She was truly an amazing warrior for Christ. It didn’t matter the conversation – it always ended with Kandiance talking about Jesus. She would get off on one of her tangents and everyone would say – “There she goes – she’s off in Kandi-Land!” Yes – she often lived in a world of her own but it was always her heart’s desire to come to Haiti and work in the baby orphanage. She never got to make that trip here but she will never be forgotten just the same.

In honor of Angel and in memory of Kandiance – we are naming the baby orphanage – Candy Land! We cannot wait to dress that place up and make all the babies feel like they’re apart of the game! We are currently fundraising to finish off the 3 bedrooms we’ve started – so we can house more children. There are many ways you can help.

1)We need things like tile, paint, fans, lights, wood, plumbing parts, electrical parts, fabric, etc. Write some places and see if they’ll donate some of the supplies.

2)Join us next summer when we bring in people to literally make the place look like the game board.

3) I’m serious about this. I plea for it every year and I never get a response. Be at Walmart the day after Christmas and buy out their lighted candy canes and Christmas decorations. I’m serious – really do it. I hate it that I’m not in the states the day after Christmas to buy decorations. We start decorating the campus in October. We can never have enough lights! The babies love to look at the lights and we bring kids in to tour and watch movies every December.

4)If you can draw or paint or sew curtains – or contribute to the decorative supplies in any way – let me know. I’d love to put your gifts to good use.

5) Sponsor a child. We need people who will consistently give to sustain our program.

6)The other thing you can do is throw a baby shower without a baby! Want to know how to do it – I know just the people you should call. First Church of Christ in Burlington, KY  just hosted a Shower of Blessings for our precious little babies in Haiti. They have been collecting things for a while and we now have a truck and trailer-load worth of baby items! I am so excited – I cannot WAIT to see everything! The nurses and all the workers cannot wait to unload that boat full of supplies!

It can be a real burden on your spirit when you see programs you love lacking the essential items they need just to function. Our Burlington folks not only got the things we needed but they got so many things we WANTED – things we DREAMED of having! Can I just share a “few” things? How about a new washer/dryer, industrial ceiling fans, a new dvd player, and get this – a 42-inch TV!!! I know where my kids will be every day – – – well they’re already there everyday! (Except this week because there is a scabies outbreak – another story for another day! LOL)

We’ve got walkers, swings, potty chairs, high chairs, picnic tables, cleaning supplies, baby wipes, washes, shampoo, diapers, food, medicines, formula, clothes, blankets, bottles, a play kitchen, play gyms – i mean the list goes on and on!

One person took an idea and decided to make a difference for babies in another country. I don’t ever want to hear someone say that something is too big – that there is no way they can make a difference. I challenge you to do something so extraordinary that the only way it can be accomplished is if God intervenes……and then watch Him work!

It’s our goal to raise $25,000.00 to FINISH the construction of the baby orphanage. That is something TOO HUGE for Angel and I to do alone. Thankfully God is with us! LOL! Isn’t He always? What about you – are you with us?

If you’d like to donate money to help the baby orphanage- please send a check to the mission:
NWHCM
PO BOX 829
Versailles, KY 40383
Just write a note it’s for Candy Land!

Just some pics of the Shower of Blessings