Haiti....One Year later

“The poor are very great people, they can teach us many beautiful things” Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is on my “Top 5 Favorite Saints” list. She is a woman of courage, prayer, impeccable poise, has a humble heart and is a servant of Jesus Christ. As I pray with some of the things that she has said, and the life lessons she has left behind, I can’t contain my missionary heart. I know that God has called me to Haiti and I get to serve the poorest 3rd world country in the Western Hemisphere. But God, through the poor, is teaching me more then I could ever teach the Haitian people that I get to share life with. 

Often times I don’t know how to answer the age old question “How’s Haiti?”  I either clam up, get nervous, explode with some ridiculous story that leaves people confused, or I just respond with “Well, it’s hot.…” But instead, I’m going to share with you a few life lessons that the people of Haiti have taught me during these past 15 months in there. 

TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY 

I can’t begin to explain the number of families who I interact with that take care of a child, aunt, cousin, brother, that nobody wanted to take care of anymore. Each and every day I learn about a new family that has brought in another person to love, feed, clothe and send to school. The Haitian people understand the importance of family, and in giving more than you believe your means can allow. They know Jesus will always fill in the spaces where they are lacking. One particular family has six children and has taken in a niece because her mother isn’t able to care for her. This family is only able to send 4 of their children to school while 2 of their children live with other relatives in another part of Haiti. But still, they have said YES to little Bernadine living with them, because they are able to provide a meal for her. 

TO TRUST IN THE LORD’S PROVIDENCE

A few times a week we are blessed to go on home visits. We pack a bag of rice, beans and our bibles, and walk down the road. Some days we leave the base with a plan to visit a particular neighbor we know is sick, and other days we just pray that the Holy Spirit guides us to those who need to know Him that day. On one such day, as the team started down the road in the hot afternoon sun, we came to Francois’ house. Francois is a 17 year old boy that has never been to school, and who lives with his mother, grandmother, two sisters and niece. That day his mother didn't have any food to give to her children, so when we showed up to pray with her she exploded into cheers yelling “MESI BONDYE, MESI JEZI” (Thank you God! Thank you Jesus!) She shares this moment with us when we sit down. She tells us that she had just offered to God all her prayers because she didn't have  a single thing to feed her family that day. She said she trusted Jesus, and that he would not leave her family hungry that day. Through his providence we came to her house that day, shared the Gospel and left her with food. Francois is now an active teen visiting our base daily, goes to school (Praise be Jesus Christ!), and comes over whenever he needs a meal. His family is slowly coming to mass more often, and exploring the Catholic faith. 

TO LAUGH 

Haitians are some of the funniest people I know. They sit around the table, on the porch or in the yard, sharing stories with each other. Yes, there is a language barrier. But we all laugh in the same language. If you can get the slightest understanding of the story and other people are laughing, then you should probably just laugh too. It’s good for the soul, and reminds you not to take yourself to serious. 

TO APPRECIATE LIFE

When I walk into a persons house they bring in chairs from the neighbors, offer you anything they can, and welcome you into their life. There isn’t any hiding behind closed doors, or secrets too shameful to share. God is welcomed into this place of love. The sick and the dyeing are cared for and prayed with, not just tossed aside. The young children are loved, cleaned, feed, educated and hugged. The unborn is given the dignity of life, even though most pregnant women aren’t married or in the financial situation to feed another mouth. The old are treated with respect. Those who are able to work, work with their whole-being and they don’t complain. 

These are just a few life lessons that the Lord has shown me through my Haitian family. I know this upcoming year will continue to be a time of growth, struggle, heart break, grace, and an abundance of trust in the Lord. Thank you for the ways you pray, give and sacrifice with and for me. I pray today to be more like Mother Teresa and let the poor into my heart in such a way that I must be changed. 

God Wins, 

Amanda

donate.lifeteen.com/amandacassar

Let's Get Away From This Place

I’m not really good at goodbyes. 

I don’t think I know anyone who actually is. 

They are often awkward, and there are usually some sort of tears. 

We say goodbye to people so often here. 

There are so many people who come in and out of here so quickly. You experience Jesus with them, sometimes it’s for the first time that the familiar light of Christ is reflecting in their eyes. It’s a beautiful, heart breaking week. 

Then there are people who you’ve known for years that God calls away. You deny their next move as the lingering days seem shorter. Before you know it your bags are packed, they are shouting your name for a final boarding call as your best friend stands there in a puddle of tears.  You release the death grip you have on each other and don’t look back. 

NEVER LOOK BACK. 

That only causes more tears. It’s like putting a fresh bandaid on to a wound that’s still gushing blood. You’re just going to have to rip it off again. 

As I get the news that a very dear priest friend is leaving my home parish I found myself in a puddle of tears. I’m simply trying to compose and email to thank him for the man of God he’s been in my life for the past ten years. Know that God is guiding is every move brings peace to my heart. 

He would constantly joke with me that I was going to enter religious life. In a recent conversation with my Mom he told her “No matter where I am I will come to the profession of her final vows. Or if she gets married I will be there. Whatever will make her and Jesus happy, I will support”. 

Gosh, I am so blessed. 

This goodbye seems harder than most because I literally don’t know when I will see him again. He’s moving a few hundred miles away from my home town which adds thousands of miles between us. I pray one day that I can go serve in his home country of Nigera. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” Mathew 28:19

If I Were Brave.....

Asia (my best friend, just so we are all up to speed) often has these crazy ideas. Ideas that terrify me, but they bring her so much joy. She has this beautifully radical way of thinking about life. Her basic philosophy is “If you aren’t fully alive, are you really living?”. Now that seems like a wonderful way to live, and a theory that I could really jump on board with. But the questions she asks, and the ideas that she has absolutely make me shake in my flip flops. Hence forth I present you my thoughts on the  the “If I Were Brave” Challenge. 

I have always consider myself to be a pretty brave person. I was 15 the first time I traveled out of the country. I went to Italy, oh and I was alone. I went to Israel the following year with a group of juniors in High School, and college was 1200 miles away from the place I’d called home for 18 years. The distance between myself and “home” continued to grow, and I felt brave. I felt like I could conquer the world, and given a problem I could figure out some sort of solution. Even though sometimes I'd have to call my Dad, or use Google to learn how to change a tire. I did it. With little to no fear. 

When I became a missionary I realized how fearful I was. I could climb to the top of the ladder, or act like a monkey in a tree. I wasn’t terrified to take the garbage out at night, or even inspect the “creepy” buildings around camp (and trust me, there were plenty). I didn’t even mind going into the midget closet, or getting something from our car after the sun went down. But if Jesus wanted to enter a deep, dark, spider web filled spot on my heart I’d flee in fear. I didn’t think he needed to go there. I’d kindly uninvite him, closed my journal, and would just sit. But Asia’s desire to help me seek true healing, has sparked this radical thought to BE BRAVE. How simple, yet it gets my heart racing every single day. 

This morning I was reflecting on the previous days reading. 1 John 4:17 “Perfect love casts out fear”. With this scripture on the front of my heart I start the “If I Were Brave” challenge. The basic concept is that I text Asia in the morning the thing I'm going to do even though I'm scared. Then she tells me hers, and then throughout the day we do whatever we were previously afraid of. Everyday instead of sitting in fear, I will choose to stop hiding behind “if” and instead run into the fear. So I encourage you to follow this journey. Make your own challenges, and find a buddy to hold you accountable. 

Radical Hospitality....Come Lord Jesus

A rainy Saturday night. I found myself in a dimly lit chapel when my mind begins to wonder. I couldn’t understand what the priest was yelling about. But MAN was he convicted. I didn’t need to know every word he was saying to understand he loves Jesus. I asked myself over and over again, how much do I love Jesus. Do I love him enough to let others know that without every opening my mouth? 

I relate to Peter in so many ways. He denies Jesus three times (John 18: 15-27). I probably deny him three times an hour. Maybe not verbally but in other ways. 

Did I just walk past someone waiting on the bench? 

Did I Just place my dish in a sink and expect someone else to wash it? 

Did I complain about getting up early, how long was was, or how it is? 

But because Jesus is merciful, he allows me the opportunity to tell him I love him over and over again, just like Peter. By washing breakfast dishes, sitting with the woman I walked past even if I don’t know what she’s saying, and praise Jesus for a rainstorm even though I’m soaked. 

Throughout this short period of time in Haiti I’ve fallen deeper in love with Jesus. Wanting to know him in a more intimate way (a few weeks ago that word creeped me out). But now I recognize that it isn’t always easy. 

It’s an opportunity for growth. 

It’s an opportunity to deny and then reclaim the victory Jesus has already won. 

I desire a place of radical hospitality for Jesus in my heart. But as I remember from our Life Teen Missions Rule of Life (check it out here:http://www.lifeteenmissions.com/rule/) this simple thought on radical hospitality. “Hospitality, rather than being something you achieve, is something you enter. It is not something you do, but something you become. You try. You fail. You try again.”

I slowly find myself back back in that dimly lit chapel, in a small quiet town in Charlier Haiti. Jesus spoke into the depths of my heart at a moment where I didn’t expect him to. If I invite him, he will enter. 

COME LORD JESUS! 

Happy Advent!

What's the Number for 911 in Haiti?

Here I jot down my thoughts during a recent trip to the local Hospital. Two of our teens needed to visit the doctor. Nothing was an emergency, but they were hurting and we wanted to help.


Sensory overload.

Babies crying. 

Three women in blue outfits.
Five women in white.
Eight women trying their hardest to get the height and weight of a screaming baby. 
All eyes in the room turned to them. 

Families pass by with bags filled to the bring and pots empty that once held rice. 

Hard wooden benches. 

No clean air to breathe. 

Is the room getting smaller?

The babies are now screaming as one. Like a roaring orchestra, ascending into a crescendo of one of Bach's famous Overtures. 

A mother moves closer to me, as the sweat starts to pour off my brow. 

I can't believe this is the life I live. I wouldn't change it for any opportunity in the world. 

This life. 
My life. 
I'm so blessed. 

Time seems to go by slower when you don't really know what's happening around you. As I struggle to learn Creole, I try to pick up any word that I can. Try to sympathize with a young mother who has a screaming baby with a fever. But I don't know what that's like. That's not the cards I was dealt. I've been brought to Haiti to love, to serve, and to give as much time and energy to these beautiful people that I call family. 

It's not easy. But it's worth it. 

Hitting the Road....again

I'm currently sitting in my old college dorm. Literally the same room I spent my entire senior year growing, learning, exploring, laughing, crying and figuring out what I'm supposed to do with my life. The same room that I first realized what Jesus wanted me to do with my life. The room that I got "the phone" from Life Teen Missions asking me to join them.

And now here I am. Two years later getting my stuff together to jump on a plane to head back to Haiti. The country who has stolen my heart. I'm fearful of what these next two years are going to hold for me, but I'm trusting in Jesus.

I've had an incredible past month. It started with a road trip with my Mom and Best Friend from Atlanta, GA back up to New York. Spending a few days on Long Island, a quick day trip to Boston to witness the marriage of Nate and Kiera. A bunch of doctors appointments to figure out why I'm feeling all sorts of crazy. Another quick day trip up to Pennsylvania this time to watch my Dad be a NASCAR driver! Loads of family time, boat time, and time with my favorite American foods. The trip wrapped up with a 16 hour car ride to Nashville TN with my Mom & Dad, dinner with one of my favorite teenagers, surprising my best friend, seeing my sister and sorority sisters and mass at the Abbey one last time.

Tomorrow I jump on a plane into another 3 months of an unknown adventure. Pray for Amy and I for on time flights, no lost luggage and that our bags could be under 50lbs.

GOD WINS
Amanda

Wedding time with Lazer. We serve together in Haiti! 

Some family time! 

Spent the day on Fire Island with these clowns!

Sweet Baby Autumn is getting HUGE! And she's so holy. Just hanging out with the saints 

Hey girl! 

Surprising my BFF by just walking into her house. GOT YA 

A Haitian Summer

I'm two weeks into my 4 week stay in America and I think I'm finally ready to share the way God has been so faithful to me this past summer.

HE IS FAITHFUL BECAUSE I LIVE IN BEAUTIFUL HAITI!

We had  5 American's that lived, prayed and worked with us the entire summer. Giving us the opportunity to continue ministering to the Haitians. 

I live with 12 Haitians and 9 American's. Here are Ginlee and Syngee just hanging out. Being the older sister has been such a fun part of living at camp, and has taught me a ton. 

This is BeBe. She has worked at our base in the kitchen for awhile. This summer she decided that her and her boyfriend of 40 years were going to get married in the Catholic Church! She was baptized, went to confession and was married all in one day.

This is Amy! She's one of the gals that I get to live with and  journey with for the next two years. 

Ricky was one of my campers during my very first summer as a missionary. He just served as a missionary at Hidden Lake, and came down to Haiti to serve with us for a week. 

I was a Confirmation sponsor! Vaniel is our gatekeeper and went through RCIA with some of the Life Teen Missionaries throughout the year.

TiRoro is our cute little grandpa. He plays the bongo better than anyone I've ever met. 

WE HAD SUMMER CAMP IN HAITI! Summer camp is the place that started it all for me. Summer camp in America was where Jesus first made his presence known to me, and really placed missions on my heart. Now, 5 summers later, HE has me here in Haiti serving these teens. 

I could go on and on about the ways Jesus moved in my heart. These few pictures just show a glimpse into what God did in my heart this summer. I'm a woman who is on fire for the Lord and I can't wait to head back to Haiti in just two short weeks.