I’m going to be raw with you right now because raw is what I’ve got. Emotions and facts firing non-stop in my head around situations that cut to my core. If it weren’t for God’s promise to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28) and my trust in His faithfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:3) insanity […]
Not all folks are easy to serve – if you’ve served others you’re feeling what I’m saying 😉 One of Accolade’s program fellas was particularly unruly in the beginning years. Over the past 6 years he has presented many an opportunity for staff to learn and practice patience, consistency and self-control. Following the recent earthquake […]
In a land with 3 growing seasons Haiti consistently imports 90% of the food consumed. This has led to horrific food insecurity this year amidst political instability and COVID closing borders and making travel unsafe. In our city of Les Cayes we depend upon local markets. Vendors at the local market get their goods largely […]
I cried over a 5 lb bag of chicken legs that I bought for $3.97 at Hy Vee Grocery. I had flashbacks to my friend at the local market in our Haiti neighborhood. Donicia would smile up at me as she reached for the fresh chicken she had saved back just for me. She had […]
Allow me to introduce you to Tikilene, one of the most incredible human beings you could be privileged to meet. Tikilene and her husband have three sons and one daughter, all of whom have completed high school &/or are working their way through a college education. Tikilene gives all credit to the grace of God, […]
There is really nothing about sewing men’s dress pants that used to be fun for me. Honestly, I dreaded waist bands, cried over a few zipper installations, and welt pockets?! Really?! That was then. For three weeks I have awakened excited to dive into the next task. Determination is contagious. Hope is contagious. Love is […]
“Be patient, and when your opportunity comes, I encourage you to do it,” said Ofanise. We were enjoying an afternoon together with the Accolade for Saving Lives (ASL) program moms. Oflanise and 4 other moms had just completed their second week of sewing training and she wanted to share about her experience and encourage the […]
We at CLIMB think often of how God chose us to be his vessels. What have we done that could possibly merit such a privilege? Nothing! I was recently settling on that wonder for a moment longer than usual. I sat humbled in the knowledge that the same Jesus that was beaten, spit upon, hated, […]
Sunday’s message at church was around Matthew 25:31 – 46. It tells about Jesus’ return and the separation of people, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. One of our elders (also named Matthew) spent some time discussing the behavior of sheep vs goats. I couldn’t help my mind wandering to a unique […]
We have been talking about something just like this since CLIMB was a simple concept. Haitians changing Haiti. Empowering those Haitians that step out to be the change, giving them a hand up to set God’s plan for their ideas in motion. And then it came to us – no, literally! One day while […]
