Hey everyone,
I've moved my blog over to a new site, giving you more ways to keep up with what's happening in Haiti! You can expect regular blog posts once I've hit the ground in Petit Goave. There will also be pics and videos posted in the Media section, and prayer updates on the Support page. This is also where you'll be able to sign up for my listserve email updates and subscribe to the blog. I'll no longer be updating this site, so check out the new one (http://rjintowords.wordpress.com) and feel free to send me suggestions and questions - I'd love to hear from you!
-Rachael
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Background - Part 3
In May of '08 I went with a few other students & volunteers on a 10-visit to Haiti. This crowd here - up dark & early for a 4AM flight:
That was the first time we got to meet Thony (pronounced like 'Tony') and see all the great stuff that WHI was doing in the country. One of my favorite things about WHI is that they only hire staff members who are native to the countries in which they work. This is a great method for multiple reasons, which I may get into another time.
Anyway...Thony really walked us through the shock of being in Haiti for the first time as he showed us the WHI efforts in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, and Petit Goave. We were able to:
• Meet kids in the child sponsorship programs in Port-au-Prince
• help referee a high school track meet (also Port-au-Prince)
• participate in an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop in Jacmel
• put on children’s day-camp activities & help build houses in Petit Goave
Yeah, in 10 days! All of it was amazing work and each place was so different from the next. But the people in Petit Goave were the ones that really stole our hearts.
In our first debrief meeting in Petit Goave the entire team felt like this was the place that The Gathering (MBC's college ministry) was supposed to be. After spending 2 more days in the neighborhood of Percin we were sure of it. You know how it's sometimes difficult to put into words why you know something is the right fit...you just know?
Well that’s how this was for us. Each place we visited had some of the elements we were looking for; things that would provide a good fit for college students’ abilities to engage in and serve the communities. There was potential for students to get involved in any of the community development programs that we had seen that week. But we could actually visualize them building relationships in Percin. And the feeling was unanimous in our team of seven, so that’s how we settled there. Sarah & I returned later that summer for a few weeks…which is Part 4, for later.
That was the first time we got to meet Thony (pronounced like 'Tony') and see all the great stuff that WHI was doing in the country. One of my favorite things about WHI is that they only hire staff members who are native to the countries in which they work. This is a great method for multiple reasons, which I may get into another time.
Anyway...Thony really walked us through the shock of being in Haiti for the first time as he showed us the WHI efforts in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, and Petit Goave. We were able to:
• Meet kids in the child sponsorship programs in Port-au-Prince
• help referee a high school track meet (also Port-au-Prince)
• participate in an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop in Jacmel
• put on children’s day-camp activities & help build houses in Petit Goave
Yeah, in 10 days! All of it was amazing work and each place was so different from the next. But the people in Petit Goave were the ones that really stole our hearts.
In our first debrief meeting in Petit Goave the entire team felt like this was the place that The Gathering (MBC's college ministry) was supposed to be. After spending 2 more days in the neighborhood of Percin we were sure of it. You know how it's sometimes difficult to put into words why you know something is the right fit...you just know?
Well that’s how this was for us. Each place we visited had some of the elements we were looking for; things that would provide a good fit for college students’ abilities to engage in and serve the communities. There was potential for students to get involved in any of the community development programs that we had seen that week. But we could actually visualize them building relationships in Percin. And the feeling was unanimous in our team of seven, so that’s how we settled there. Sarah & I returned later that summer for a few weeks…which is Part 4, for later.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Background - Part 2
Part-way through college, my church's college ministry had started learning about the modern day slave trade, and decided it was time to get the word out to our fellow students. I got to work with a great team of students to put on a fundraiser/awareness event on campus: Seesaws Against Slavery. We made a 24-hour seesaw marathon, where students raise $ to seesaw for an hour out on the main quad. There were some amazing conversations that happened, with people running around campus wondering why the giant seesaws were there...and wanting to be a part of it! Well, the campus community ended up getting so involved that a few thousand dollars! The funds were donated to help complete new curriculum used in aftercare centers, bringing restoration and healing to young women who had been rescued from human traffickers.
College students have an amazing ability to mobilize & lead their peers, and seemingly endless stores of energy. Or coffee on campus is just stronger. Either way, the people at WHI took note of what our little church group was doing, and asked us to be involved with their projects overseas. After many discussions to figure out the best fit, we all decided that Haiti was it! In spring '08 the first team of students went to see what WHI was doing in-country, and consider how we could be a part of it. Which is another blog post, because now I gotta go camping! Memorial Day weekend! Woo!
College students have an amazing ability to mobilize & lead their peers, and seemingly endless stores of energy. Or coffee on campus is just stronger. Either way, the people at WHI took note of what our little church group was doing, and asked us to be involved with their projects overseas. After many discussions to figure out the best fit, we all decided that Haiti was it! In spring '08 the first team of students went to see what WHI was doing in-country, and consider how we could be a part of it. Which is another blog post, because now I gotta go camping! Memorial Day weekend! Woo!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Background - Part 1
All this Haiti news is lacking some context. So to get you the full story, I'm putting up a series of posts about how I got to where I'm at now. A shout out to Kirk for pushing me to get him more background info, and thus kick-starting this series. Thanks, Kirk!
Here's Part 1:
It all started back in high school (yeah, I'm taking you that far back) when I started thinking "What do I want to study at college?" Well I was like, "You know what must be a big problem? Cross cultural communications in the global church." Right. I had never ever thought about that before and it just came out of nowhere. But I suddenly found myself with this desire to go spend enough time abroad in another culture to begin to understand it a bit.
Think about it, though...churches, NGOs, missionaries, etc. run into walls over and over again in this area. Culture is a really powerful thing, and miscommunication can occur very easily to slow down or even hurt the efforts in focus in a cross-cultural context. As I spent some time thinking about it, I realized this was an area in which I really wanted to work. So since high school I've always wanted to be a 'cultural liaison' of sorts between two cultures and enable the church in each place to work together more easily. I knew I didn't want to go to a faith-based college, which created some work in figuring out what to study in order to move forward. I knew what I wanted to study, but had no idea what it was called. Until, after hours of searching, I found out that it was called *drumroll...* ANTHROPOLOGY.
Anthro really fits perfectly with the goal that popped into my mind in high school. I looked at urban schools on the East Coast so that I could get some real practice while studying, and wound up at AU (really only because they gave me the best financial aid package). Thanks, AU. Anyway, I ended up going into the Anthro program there and loved it; the topics, the department, and the wonderfully strange student body that I got to join.
And that's really as far back as i can trace it. More to come later in the week!
Here's Part 1:
It all started back in high school (yeah, I'm taking you that far back) when I started thinking "What do I want to study at college?" Well I was like, "You know what must be a big problem? Cross cultural communications in the global church." Right. I had never ever thought about that before and it just came out of nowhere. But I suddenly found myself with this desire to go spend enough time abroad in another culture to begin to understand it a bit.
Think about it, though...churches, NGOs, missionaries, etc. run into walls over and over again in this area. Culture is a really powerful thing, and miscommunication can occur very easily to slow down or even hurt the efforts in focus in a cross-cultural context. As I spent some time thinking about it, I realized this was an area in which I really wanted to work. So since high school I've always wanted to be a 'cultural liaison' of sorts between two cultures and enable the church in each place to work together more easily. I knew I didn't want to go to a faith-based college, which created some work in figuring out what to study in order to move forward. I knew what I wanted to study, but had no idea what it was called. Until, after hours of searching, I found out that it was called *drumroll...* ANTHROPOLOGY.
Anthro really fits perfectly with the goal that popped into my mind in high school. I looked at urban schools on the East Coast so that I could get some real practice while studying, and wound up at AU (really only because they gave me the best financial aid package). Thanks, AU. Anyway, I ended up going into the Anthro program there and loved it; the topics, the department, and the wonderfully strange student body that I got to join.
And that's really as far back as i can trace it. More to come later in the week!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
The letter you've all been waiting for:
Dear family & friends,
I can’t believe I’m finally writing this!
I sat down in my room to start writing this and kept thinking, “Yep. Wow…it is finally time to do this!” It seems so unreal to have waited for three years, and now the Lord has allowed the time to come…I’m moving to Haiti!
Some Background: The desire to stay at least a year in Haiti hit my heart in ‘08 when I spent the summer working there with a friend. Though I was more than willing to return immediately, it was clear that the Lord had more work to do in me before going. So I wrestled to obey, stayed in DC, enrolled in a leadership development program at my church, and have been working there the past two years. He has been faithful and I have been made more ready for this task!
The Details: This summer I’ll be moving to Haiti for 12-15 months to volunteer with a Christian relief and development NGO called World Hope International. I’ll be working alongside a ministry partner, Kerry, who is going with me to build relationships with the local Haitian church community. We’ll be facilitating teams of doctors from the U.S. in WHI’s mobile medical clinics and growing their child sponsorship program. In addition, we’ll be helping the Haitian church and WHI pilot new development programs. We’re excited to see the church grow in their ability to meet the physical needs of their community and share Christ’s love in some really practical ways.
Your Prayers: What I most greatly desire are your prayers. I can’t imagine going forward in this without them, and I’ve never been more aware of this need. I won’t be walking into a very healthy church upon arrival – the church where we will be is tired right now. So I ask for your continued prayers while I’m away. I need His grace to cover me and fill the gaps in my shortcomings. And in times when we’re leaping forward in Christ’s strength and provision, I’d love for you to be able to rejoice with me!
The Finances: I’m confident that God will bring in the funds needed in order to go serve Him in this way, and I think He has chosen to do that through His church. There is about $20K to raise, but we serve a mighty God, and it is the Lord who provides! I'll soon post about how to donate. Please prayerfully consider whether making a donation is one way that He would have you be a part of what is happening in Haiti.
The goal is not to ‘fix’ Haiti. The goal is to build strong friendships, share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and be a light in the darkness! The goal is to see more brothers & sisters whose hope lies in Christ, our light & our salvation, knowing that they are loved by the King of kings and created for His glory.
I’ve never been more excited to watch the Lord work!
With love and a great hope,
-Rachael
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” – 1 Timothy 4:10
I can’t believe I’m finally writing this!
I sat down in my room to start writing this and kept thinking, “Yep. Wow…it is finally time to do this!” It seems so unreal to have waited for three years, and now the Lord has allowed the time to come…I’m moving to Haiti!
Some Background: The desire to stay at least a year in Haiti hit my heart in ‘08 when I spent the summer working there with a friend. Though I was more than willing to return immediately, it was clear that the Lord had more work to do in me before going. So I wrestled to obey, stayed in DC, enrolled in a leadership development program at my church, and have been working there the past two years. He has been faithful and I have been made more ready for this task!
The Details: This summer I’ll be moving to Haiti for 12-15 months to volunteer with a Christian relief and development NGO called World Hope International. I’ll be working alongside a ministry partner, Kerry, who is going with me to build relationships with the local Haitian church community. We’ll be facilitating teams of doctors from the U.S. in WHI’s mobile medical clinics and growing their child sponsorship program. In addition, we’ll be helping the Haitian church and WHI pilot new development programs. We’re excited to see the church grow in their ability to meet the physical needs of their community and share Christ’s love in some really practical ways.
Your Prayers: What I most greatly desire are your prayers. I can’t imagine going forward in this without them, and I’ve never been more aware of this need. I won’t be walking into a very healthy church upon arrival – the church where we will be is tired right now. So I ask for your continued prayers while I’m away. I need His grace to cover me and fill the gaps in my shortcomings. And in times when we’re leaping forward in Christ’s strength and provision, I’d love for you to be able to rejoice with me!
The Finances: I’m confident that God will bring in the funds needed in order to go serve Him in this way, and I think He has chosen to do that through His church. There is about $20K to raise, but we serve a mighty God, and it is the Lord who provides! I'll soon post about how to donate. Please prayerfully consider whether making a donation is one way that He would have you be a part of what is happening in Haiti.
The goal is not to ‘fix’ Haiti. The goal is to build strong friendships, share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and be a light in the darkness! The goal is to see more brothers & sisters whose hope lies in Christ, our light & our salvation, knowing that they are loved by the King of kings and created for His glory.
I’ve never been more excited to watch the Lord work!
With love and a great hope,
-Rachael
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” – 1 Timothy 4:10
Monday, May 2, 2011
Asking for: Prayer
How to pray with & for me:
Consistently:
Whenever you think of it, please take a moment right then & there to pray for me! Even just 2 sentences. Or maybe choose a certain day of the week to spend time praying for God to be glorified through His people in Haiti.
Specifically:
As the year progresses, I’ll be posting regularly here on the blog. Sometimes it will be about prayer requests, and other times a story or thought. I won’t be able to share some things that happen for various reasons. However, this blog will be the best tool to use in order to pray as specifically as possible.
Together:
As most of you are all in the States here together, I want to encourage and ask you to make time to pray for me when you are with each other. Since I can’t be with you in person, when you are together in a group and notice/remember that I am not there, please remember to pray!
Consistently:
Whenever you think of it, please take a moment right then & there to pray for me! Even just 2 sentences. Or maybe choose a certain day of the week to spend time praying for God to be glorified through His people in Haiti.
Specifically:
As the year progresses, I’ll be posting regularly here on the blog. Sometimes it will be about prayer requests, and other times a story or thought. I won’t be able to share some things that happen for various reasons. However, this blog will be the best tool to use in order to pray as specifically as possible.
Together:
As most of you are all in the States here together, I want to encourage and ask you to make time to pray for me when you are with each other. Since I can’t be with you in person, when you are together in a group and notice/remember that I am not there, please remember to pray!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Isaiah 43
This chapter has been taking over my brain ever since last week, which is a good thing. It's too long to post it all right here, but you can click here to see it.
I've been looking ahead towards Haiti more recently - looking at uprooting what's been established here over the past 6 years (friendships, my church, my connection to the city, etc.) and getting ready to step into something new that I don't know. But in all of the natural, human insecurity that gets brought up with that, focusing on God's possessive approach and love towards us (v.1, v.10) in Isaiah 43 has kept me more secure as I think about this transition.
Getting ready to go to a country where I won't have the social, cultural, or (especially) linguistic capital that I have here is pretty unnerving. (ah, Bourdieu. He was so smart.) But with all of that I'm reminded that He is literally with me in every situation in which I'll find myself (v. 1-3). And that's the most comforting thing right now. And I'm told not to fear (v. 1, v.5), that the Lord is strong (like, the whole chapter), that He's powerful enough to make a river spring up in the desert (v. 19), that He loves me and has gone to great lengths to make me His (v.25-). I've been spending a lot of time reading & sitting with that beautiful love expressed in Isaiah 43 for a week and am still overwhelmed by it to the point of being almost unable to get it out into words. But I'm trying. I'm still just amazed at this great, complete, personal, and tangible Love!! This week I have been especially happy to be His.
I've been looking ahead towards Haiti more recently - looking at uprooting what's been established here over the past 6 years (friendships, my church, my connection to the city, etc.) and getting ready to step into something new that I don't know. But in all of the natural, human insecurity that gets brought up with that, focusing on God's possessive approach and love towards us (v.1, v.10) in Isaiah 43 has kept me more secure as I think about this transition.
Getting ready to go to a country where I won't have the social, cultural, or (especially) linguistic capital that I have here is pretty unnerving. (ah, Bourdieu. He was so smart.) But with all of that I'm reminded that He is literally with me in every situation in which I'll find myself (v. 1-3). And that's the most comforting thing right now. And I'm told not to fear (v. 1, v.5), that the Lord is strong (like, the whole chapter), that He's powerful enough to make a river spring up in the desert (v. 19), that He loves me and has gone to great lengths to make me His (v.25-). I've been spending a lot of time reading & sitting with that beautiful love expressed in Isaiah 43 for a week and am still overwhelmed by it to the point of being almost unable to get it out into words. But I'm trying. I'm still just amazed at this great, complete, personal, and tangible Love!! This week I have been especially happy to be His.
I think springtime is here? Thunderstorms at night, cherry blossoms, daily high temps swinging between 80 and 50...yep, it's here. Also, I just finished reading The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros and the cover was turquoise, so that definitely makes it feel like springtime, the turquoise. I liked it. It's really easy to pick up and put down whenever and you don't have to put in any effort to getting in and out of a storyline, so that was a nice change from Oliver Twist, which is the other fiction book I'm (sloooowly) reading now. I think Oliver Twist is more of a winter book.
In other random news, I printed out all my paperwork for WHI today and will be filling that out this week. Finally, I have something to do for Haiti prep stuff. If you're just catching up, I'm planning to go to Haiti this summer for 12-15 months in a paired placement through WHI. I'll tell you more about that in another post. In regards to Haiti though, it looks like Martelly won the Presidential election. So we'll see how that goes...
In other random news, I printed out all my paperwork for WHI today and will be filling that out this week. Finally, I have something to do for Haiti prep stuff. If you're just catching up, I'm planning to go to Haiti this summer for 12-15 months in a paired placement through WHI. I'll tell you more about that in another post. In regards to Haiti though, it looks like Martelly won the Presidential election. So we'll see how that goes...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
It's an upgrade.
Welcome to my 'new' blog page! I finally got some time to re-vamp the ol' blog and it's looking goooood. In fact. it's looking like I might actually use it now that there's space for things other than just posts. Those are sometimes the most boring part of a blog, I think.
Instead, now there's a twitter feed on the side, see? -->
No laughing...that's pretty technical for me. And i realized I can put up pictures and videos! And I can post quotes from the books that I'm reading! I know that makes me sound like an 80 year old, but hey, maybe I'm a little bit behind the curve? That's okay. Slowly but surely. If there's anything else that I can do with this thing you guys should let me know and soon it will be The Greatest Blog In The World. Or at least maybe just a little bit better than before since I actually want to use it now.
The internets are amazing!
Instead, now there's a twitter feed on the side, see? -->
No laughing...that's pretty technical for me. And i realized I can put up pictures and videos! And I can post quotes from the books that I'm reading! I know that makes me sound like an 80 year old, but hey, maybe I'm a little bit behind the curve? That's okay. Slowly but surely. If there's anything else that I can do with this thing you guys should let me know and soon it will be The Greatest Blog In The World. Or at least maybe just a little bit better than before since I actually want to use it now.
The internets are amazing!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Where Do We Go From Here?
Last week I was in Petit Goave, Haiti, with a team from The Gathering. On Thursday afternoon, here’s what happened:
“…the last day of kid’s camp, we had special presents for the kids as they left – hygiene packs that students from The Gathering had collected the week before. When they saw what was in them, soap, combs, lotion, tissues, etc., they would come running back down the street with huge smiles to say “thank you, thank you!”
In the evening a bunch of guys from Percin came over to play soccer. When it started getting dark and they had to head home, the guys on our team were able to give away some of the full hygiene packs to them. Same thing happened. As each one saw what was in the pack, they’d turn around to say thank you, and shake the hands of the guys on our team…”
That afternoon reiterated something we’ve been learning in The Gathering for the last 2 years – the ongoing prayer and involvement of students here in the U.S. is crucial to what is happening in Petit Goave. God can use a week-long trip in some pretty cool ways, but what we do while we’re in the U.S. is just as important, if not more so.
Students here were aware of some basic needs of our brothers and sisters in Petit Goave. Students here collected supplies. Students here have been praying and praying and praying. Students here can tell others on their campus about the way that God used a donated bar of soap to remind people in Haiti that He is near, that He cares for them, and that He is Jehovah Jireh - our Provider. Students here can be confident that their continued prayer and involvement on the U.S. side of this relationship can often accomplish more than going to Haiti for a week ever could.
So, where DO we go from here?
Pray. Think creatively. Collaborate. Watch God work.
“…the last day of kid’s camp, we had special presents for the kids as they left – hygiene packs that students from The Gathering had collected the week before. When they saw what was in them, soap, combs, lotion, tissues, etc., they would come running back down the street with huge smiles to say “thank you, thank you!”
In the evening a bunch of guys from Percin came over to play soccer. When it started getting dark and they had to head home, the guys on our team were able to give away some of the full hygiene packs to them. Same thing happened. As each one saw what was in the pack, they’d turn around to say thank you, and shake the hands of the guys on our team…”
That afternoon reiterated something we’ve been learning in The Gathering for the last 2 years – the ongoing prayer and involvement of students here in the U.S. is crucial to what is happening in Petit Goave. God can use a week-long trip in some pretty cool ways, but what we do while we’re in the U.S. is just as important, if not more so.
Students here were aware of some basic needs of our brothers and sisters in Petit Goave. Students here collected supplies. Students here have been praying and praying and praying. Students here can tell others on their campus about the way that God used a donated bar of soap to remind people in Haiti that He is near, that He cares for them, and that He is Jehovah Jireh - our Provider. Students here can be confident that their continued prayer and involvement on the U.S. side of this relationship can often accomplish more than going to Haiti for a week ever could.
So, where DO we go from here?
Pray. Think creatively. Collaborate. Watch God work.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Team Details
Dearest friends and family,
I'm excited to tell you that the Lord has given me an opportunity to go back to Petit Goave, Haiti from March 13th-March 20th! The team will be supporting an emergency medical clinic there, while helping to care for the local community. We're not sending out the traditional support letters for this trip because of the quick turn-around time for our departure date, but I've included all the details below. I'm asking that you'll stand with us in tending to the people of Petit Goave. Here's the info:
Who: Rachael Jankowsky (co-leader), Brett Becker (co-leader) John McGowan (Pastor), Laura Kalichak (Medical), Christina Buckel (Medical), Laurence Jackson (Video), Natalie Bingham (Ministry support), and Daniel Gochnour (Survival expert extraordinaire).
What: Medical Clinic and basic community support
When: March 13th - March 20th
Where: Petit Goave, Haiti
How: the team will be self-sustaining (bringing our own food, sleeping outside, etc)
The earthquake in January has really shaken up Petit Goave, and our friends there are struggling in every area of life. The Wesleyan church there has set up a medical clinic on their property, and World Hope International is sending rotating teams like ours to 'staff' it. Samaritan's Purse has gone through the property to set up a water desalinization system. I'm so excited about this chance to go back to the community in Petit Goave and serve our friends there in this time of desperate need. Even though not all of us can go to Haiti to help right now, everyone can help. Here are a few ways that you can be involved...
Prayer needs:
*we desire your prayers SO much! Having a community of brothers and sisters praying for the team is so important to the foundation of the work that will happen there, and as the effort continues upon our return
*the time for the team to prepare is short - please pray that the process goes smoothly. We want to be diligent in preparing our hearts, minds, bodies, and team supplies.
*for the community leaders in Petit Goave to be refreshed by our presence - that having a new team come in would be a blessing and not a burden.
*there may be other teams at the clinic while we are there - we want to form a great team with whoever is there, having the joint effort bring more glory to God than our individual abilities.
Supply needs:
*$750 for in-country transportation, security, and 1 meal/day
*$650 for plane ticket
*any amount over that goes toward purchasing extra supplies to take to the medical clinic and the church
*we're trying to meet some specific clothing requests for Sarah (Thony, the country director's wife) through the MBC clothing shop (2 casual size 8 dresses and a pair of size 8.5 sandals with straps) Or if someone would be interested in directly purchasing these new that's great too.
Speaking needs:
*Now that it's not on the nightly news, Haiti has already passed out of the realm of public consciousness and dialogue. The problems there now are just as drastic as they were when it first happened, simply in different ways. Yet we have a God who is able to overcome even the most desperate situations! Please continue to stay connected to whats happening and speak about it with people in your sphere of influence!
If you'd like to join with us by praying, supplying, and speaking, please visit www.haiti.gatheringonline.org. The team will be trying to keep this website updated as much as possible while there, and will maintain it after the trip as well. Below are some links where you can also track with my personal updates regarding the trip and further involvement with efforts in Haiti!
Thank you for joining with me in your heart and prayers for the people of Petit Goave!
love,
Rachael
http://twitter.com/rjankowsky
http://facebook.com
I'm excited to tell you that the Lord has given me an opportunity to go back to Petit Goave, Haiti from March 13th-March 20th! The team will be supporting an emergency medical clinic there, while helping to care for the local community. We're not sending out the traditional support letters for this trip because of the quick turn-around time for our departure date, but I've included all the details below. I'm asking that you'll stand with us in tending to the people of Petit Goave. Here's the info:
Who: Rachael Jankowsky (co-leader), Brett Becker (co-leader) John McGowan (Pastor), Laura Kalichak (Medical), Christina Buckel (Medical), Laurence Jackson (Video), Natalie Bingham (Ministry support), and Daniel Gochnour (Survival expert extraordinaire).
What: Medical Clinic and basic community support
When: March 13th - March 20th
Where: Petit Goave, Haiti
How: the team will be self-sustaining (bringing our own food, sleeping outside, etc)
The earthquake in January has really shaken up Petit Goave, and our friends there are struggling in every area of life. The Wesleyan church there has set up a medical clinic on their property, and World Hope International is sending rotating teams like ours to 'staff' it. Samaritan's Purse has gone through the property to set up a water desalinization system. I'm so excited about this chance to go back to the community in Petit Goave and serve our friends there in this time of desperate need. Even though not all of us can go to Haiti to help right now, everyone can help. Here are a few ways that you can be involved...
Prayer needs:
*we desire your prayers SO much! Having a community of brothers and sisters praying for the team is so important to the foundation of the work that will happen there, and as the effort continues upon our return
*the time for the team to prepare is short - please pray that the process goes smoothly. We want to be diligent in preparing our hearts, minds, bodies, and team supplies.
*for the community leaders in Petit Goave to be refreshed by our presence - that having a new team come in would be a blessing and not a burden.
*there may be other teams at the clinic while we are there - we want to form a great team with whoever is there, having the joint effort bring more glory to God than our individual abilities.
Supply needs:
*$750 for in-country transportation, security, and 1 meal/day
*$650 for plane ticket
*any amount over that goes toward purchasing extra supplies to take to the medical clinic and the church
*we're trying to meet some specific clothing requests for Sarah (Thony, the country director's wife) through the MBC clothing shop (2 casual size 8 dresses and a pair of size 8.5 sandals with straps) Or if someone would be interested in directly purchasing these new that's great too.
Speaking needs:
*Now that it's not on the nightly news, Haiti has already passed out of the realm of public consciousness and dialogue. The problems there now are just as drastic as they were when it first happened, simply in different ways. Yet we have a God who is able to overcome even the most desperate situations! Please continue to stay connected to whats happening and speak about it with people in your sphere of influence!
If you'd like to join with us by praying, supplying, and speaking, please visit www.haiti.gatheringonline.org. The team will be trying to keep this website updated as much as possible while there, and will maintain it after the trip as well. Below are some links where you can also track with my personal updates regarding the trip and further involvement with efforts in Haiti!
Thank you for joining with me in your heart and prayers for the people of Petit Goave!
love,
Rachael
http://twitter.com/rjankowsky
http://facebook.com
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Returning the 13th!
I'm going back to Haiti on the 13th of March!
These last 2 months since the earthquake have been such a whirlwind of emotion and business in dealing with everything on top of normal life, but now I have something solid to share! But between that and my horrible upkeep of this blog, here is a post for you!
World Hope is sending relief teams to Haiti and I get to go on a team based out of my church's college ministry, The Gathering. We will be going to Petit Goave, Haiti, which is where we have served consistently on each of the past trips. There is a medical clinic set up on the property of the Wesleyan church there and we will be based there. We have 2 medical personnel and a pastor on the team, as well as a few very capable volunteers (incl. me!) and the team will be helping to get basic supplies to people and care for people in the emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical stresses being dealt with in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Not everyone can go to Haiti right now, but everyone can help. There are 3 ways that you can help the people of Haiti:
1. Pray: If you are a praying person - we need you. Most of the requests I've gotten from friends in Petit Goave are for prayer, more than anything else. Please pray for the people we'll be helping and for myself and the team as well.
2. Donate: Please be part of making this relief effort possible - you can do so by contributing HERE.
3. Stay tuned in. Keep up with what's happening in Haiti as the days go by. Don't let it slip out of your mind just because it's no longer in the media. If you don't know how to do that, I have an idea: subscribe to my blog, Brett's blog (he has great pictures from when he was there), or The Gathering blog. We'll work to keep you updated and when a post is written, BAM! It ends up in your email inbox. Super-easy!
These last 2 months since the earthquake have been such a whirlwind of emotion and business in dealing with everything on top of normal life, but now I have something solid to share! But between that and my horrible upkeep of this blog, here is a post for you!
World Hope is sending relief teams to Haiti and I get to go on a team based out of my church's college ministry, The Gathering. We will be going to Petit Goave, Haiti, which is where we have served consistently on each of the past trips. There is a medical clinic set up on the property of the Wesleyan church there and we will be based there. We have 2 medical personnel and a pastor on the team, as well as a few very capable volunteers (incl. me!) and the team will be helping to get basic supplies to people and care for people in the emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical stresses being dealt with in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Not everyone can go to Haiti right now, but everyone can help. There are 3 ways that you can help the people of Haiti:
1. Pray: If you are a praying person - we need you. Most of the requests I've gotten from friends in Petit Goave are for prayer, more than anything else. Please pray for the people we'll be helping and for myself and the team as well.
2. Donate: Please be part of making this relief effort possible - you can do so by contributing HERE.
3. Stay tuned in. Keep up with what's happening in Haiti as the days go by. Don't let it slip out of your mind just because it's no longer in the media. If you don't know how to do that, I have an idea: subscribe to my blog, Brett's blog (he has great pictures from when he was there), or The Gathering blog. We'll work to keep you updated and when a post is written, BAM! It ends up in your email inbox. Super-easy!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I'm sure everyone has heard about what's been happening concerning Haiti and the earthquake recently. First off, thanks to all of you who have been calling and emailing to check on me, see how things are going in Petit Goave, and asking about how you can help. I've been wanting to get something up on the blog, but have just been so busy working with people in DC on putting together response efforts. Thanks for your patience in waiting to hear an update!
A few pieces of info for you:
1. We did have a team of college students in Petit Goave, Haiti when the earthquake hit. No one was hurt (not even a little bit!) while there, and they all safely returned to the U.S. last week. Praise God! You can read a little more about what happened with them by going to the Gathering Blog.
2. Two friends, Dave and Wislo, have been able to contact me and talk a little bit about what's going on with them right now. It was so relieving to hear from them. They are both fine, but have lost thier homes and family members. Still have not heard how other friends and students are doing.
3. If you are a person of prayer, please continue to pray for the people of Haiti. Tomorrow I'll be posting some specific prayer requests that we've been getting. Please continue to look for ways to help and donate. Two great places to donate include World Hope International and The Red Cross.
4. Please check out Brett's blog He is the Gathering staff person who was with the George Mason team in Haiti during the quake. You can access it by going to http://lettherebelightphoto.blogspot.com/
A few pieces of info for you:
1. We did have a team of college students in Petit Goave, Haiti when the earthquake hit. No one was hurt (not even a little bit!) while there, and they all safely returned to the U.S. last week. Praise God! You can read a little more about what happened with them by going to the Gathering Blog.
2. Two friends, Dave and Wislo, have been able to contact me and talk a little bit about what's going on with them right now. It was so relieving to hear from them. They are both fine, but have lost thier homes and family members. Still have not heard how other friends and students are doing.
3. If you are a person of prayer, please continue to pray for the people of Haiti. Tomorrow I'll be posting some specific prayer requests that we've been getting. Please continue to look for ways to help and donate. Two great places to donate include World Hope International and The Red Cross.
4. Please check out Brett's blog He is the Gathering staff person who was with the George Mason team in Haiti during the quake. You can access it by going to http://lettherebelightphoto.blogspot.com/
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Very Different Summers
This past week marked the 4th of July, and all weekend long I couldn't help but think about where I was last year. Sarah and I had been in Petit Goave, Haiti for about a week last year when the 4th rolled around; we spent it playing with the kids who lived next door to us - substituting dollar store flying discs for fireworks.
Though this summer is very different in circumstance, my heart is pulled toward Haiti just as much as ever. I'm currently in a one-year leadership program at my church here in DC. As school came to a close this spring I thought and prayed a lot about going straight to Haiti after graduation. The result of that was an overwhelming feeling that I should wait. I am willing to get up and go whenever the doors open, but for now I know that God wants to prepare me more before jumping in. In the long run, the more equipped I am to work there, the better the relationship will be in the long run. So I decided to take this leadership program at my church, which will allow me to see what it is like to not only work in a church, but also see what it is like to start a church, which is what I will be helping with this year.
While I am waiting to see what the next step will be, I plan to help further the relationship between the college ministry here and World Hope Haiti as a volunteer. There 's a possibility that I may be doing a few different things. Some of the options I'm currently considering are grad school (though I'm not sure what degree yet...), going to Haiti, working with a church, working with an NGO/NPO, etc. Pretty much I want to do whatever I can to prepare myself to get to Haiti as soon as possible!
Though this summer is very different in circumstance, my heart is pulled toward Haiti just as much as ever. I'm currently in a one-year leadership program at my church here in DC. As school came to a close this spring I thought and prayed a lot about going straight to Haiti after graduation. The result of that was an overwhelming feeling that I should wait. I am willing to get up and go whenever the doors open, but for now I know that God wants to prepare me more before jumping in. In the long run, the more equipped I am to work there, the better the relationship will be in the long run. So I decided to take this leadership program at my church, which will allow me to see what it is like to not only work in a church, but also see what it is like to start a church, which is what I will be helping with this year.
While I am waiting to see what the next step will be, I plan to help further the relationship between the college ministry here and World Hope Haiti as a volunteer. There 's a possibility that I may be doing a few different things. Some of the options I'm currently considering are grad school (though I'm not sure what degree yet...), going to Haiti, working with a church, working with an NGO/NPO, etc. Pretty much I want to do whatever I can to prepare myself to get to Haiti as soon as possible!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What to be happy for
I got back from Haiti again on Thursday and have been adjusting back to life here again for the last few days. Its always so much harder to adjust to US life than to Haitian life. There's more to analyze, I think - because it makes you look at your life and your home culture under a microscope. I end up thinking- 'what can I cut out; what don't I need;how do I make my lifestyle less self-focused?'
These are the things that I keep learning more and more each time I go and come back:
-I don't need all of this stuff that I have
-I have grown into the habit of putting my wants over other peoples needs, without even knowing I was doing so - but I can change that
-ignorance is bliss, because knowledge carries responsibility
- the things I do have are a huge blessing from God
-I have to be a good steward of the blessings and opportunities He has given me
-my heart is very much for social justice and for Haiti
And this is what I woke up being happy for this morning:
-I have a bed and blankets to sleep on
-I had food for breakfast waiting for me upstairs
-I have an intricate support system of friends, family, and mentors around me
-I am healthy
Praise the Lord, right!?
These are the things that I keep learning more and more each time I go and come back:
-I don't need all of this stuff that I have
-I have grown into the habit of putting my wants over other peoples needs, without even knowing I was doing so - but I can change that
-ignorance is bliss, because knowledge carries responsibility
- the things I do have are a huge blessing from God
-I have to be a good steward of the blessings and opportunities He has given me
-my heart is very much for social justice and for Haiti
And this is what I woke up being happy for this morning:
-I have a bed and blankets to sleep on
-I had food for breakfast waiting for me upstairs
-I have an intricate support system of friends, family, and mentors around me
-I am healthy
Praise the Lord, right!?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
An Audience
While Sarah and I were prepping some stuff for dinner we had two kids staring in our window at us. They just kind of ran around the house and would say something then hide behind a window. For about an hour they stared at us through the window, I felt like I was in a zoo. Imagine having two kids stare at you through the window for an hour - it was so bizarre! I mean, I understand that Sarah and I are an anomaly here, but it would be nice to escape the constant audience when we get home at night. Just a good reminder about why we're here and that our time (and privacy) is not our own here in Haiti. And while it's tiring and annoying, these are the instances that will really try our hearts and teach us how to approach everything in love...when things are not so easy.
But they DO know they're not supposed to be there because every time that Dave would come by they would hide from him. Then finally he saw them and told them to get off the grounds. It was all really awkward and we both feel like it'll happen again. Anybody have suggestions as to what to do about an audience of children?
But they DO know they're not supposed to be there because every time that Dave would come by they would hide from him. Then finally he saw them and told them to get off the grounds. It was all really awkward and we both feel like it'll happen again. Anybody have suggestions as to what to do about an audience of children?
Flying Solo
Up until now we've had Edzert helping us in the classroom each day with a little bit of translation, but today we went through a whole day without needing any translation at all. Actually, I think it went better than it has been, because the students are better able to focus on what Sarah and I are saying and teaching. That kind of forces them to learn it much faster than when Edzert is there. Its definitely a cool thing to see that we can put forth our best effort in the classroom and trust that God will make the rest of those connections that need to happen!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Going back, gearing up...
I'm going back to Haiti in January for about a week to follow up with people we were working with this summer and to see how to move forward after the hurricanes hit the country this fall. Which means I'm jumping back into the fundraising process! Please join with me in bringing hope to Haiti by providing the means to make it happen!
Here's how you can donate:
Online...
...you can go to www.frontlinedc.com/global to donate online. The link is under the 4th heading from the top titled "How Can I Support a Team?" You'll have to register and sign in to donate - none of your info will be given out or used for mailing lists. You should see the team name "Gathering Haiti (AU)" in the drop down menu to select from teams. Just follow the instructions from there!
Checks...
...can be made out to McLean Bible Church. Please be sure to put my name and 'GI-Gathering Haiti (AU) 09' in the memo of all checks written. Checks can be sent to:
Rachael Jankowsky
4827 Yuma St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
If you have any questions please let me know!
Here's how you can donate:
Online...
...you can go to www.frontlinedc.com/global to donate online. The link is under the 4th heading from the top titled "How Can I Support a Team?" You'll have to register and sign in to donate - none of your info will be given out or used for mailing lists. You should see the team name "Gathering Haiti (AU)" in the drop down menu to select from teams. Just follow the instructions from there!
Checks...
...can be made out to McLean Bible Church. Please be sure to put my name and 'GI-Gathering Haiti (AU) 09' in the memo of all checks written. Checks can be sent to:
Rachael Jankowsky
4827 Yuma St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
If you have any questions please let me know!
THANK YOU!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tarantulas!
Yes, yesterday there was a tarantula in my room.
Those things are crazy! Lorette, the lady who runs the internet center across from us, came over to say good morning and ended up teaching us a valuable Haiti survival skill. Sarah and I wrangled it outside with some well-directed bug spray and she killed it for us with a broom. Which took a couple minutes - he was a fighter! He actually turned, reared up and hissed at us at one point. But he is dead and we are not.
Man vs. Nature? 1 Point: Man
Today was our first day of classes and it was interesting to say the least. Creole is pretty easy to pick up, though. So hopefully we'll be able to build that up quickly so that we can run the classroom by ourselves without Edzert's help. He helped with a little translation and explanation today, getting the classes organized.
Oh, and Lorette and Dave both said that we should expect more tarantulas, so I'll keep you updated on how that goes...
Those things are crazy! Lorette, the lady who runs the internet center across from us, came over to say good morning and ended up teaching us a valuable Haiti survival skill. Sarah and I wrangled it outside with some well-directed bug spray and she killed it for us with a broom. Which took a couple minutes - he was a fighter! He actually turned, reared up and hissed at us at one point. But he is dead and we are not.
Man vs. Nature? 1 Point: Man
Today was our first day of classes and it was interesting to say the least. Creole is pretty easy to pick up, though. So hopefully we'll be able to build that up quickly so that we can run the classroom by ourselves without Edzert's help. He helped with a little translation and explanation today, getting the classes organized.
Oh, and Lorette and Dave both said that we should expect more tarantulas, so I'll keep you updated on how that goes...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Let there be light!
Still our first night in Petit Goave and still no electricity and still raining. But Dave brought us an oil lamp. I never thought I'd use one of those inside, but I guess it's normal here so, hey, why not?! We've got to get ready for school tomorrow somehow!
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