A Better Life

It's been one month since our return from Haiti and my heart is still so full from my short week spent there.  The people I met in the village and the dirt roads I walked on are not far from my thoughts. I shared a bit with you in my last post about a dear Haitian lady I had the privileged to meet who was dying of Cancer. I kissed her face with tears streaming down mine, to see her extreme suffering with no pain medication or relief from her tumor ridden body. She just had one of her breasts removed, the gaping wound was being held together with electrical tape. Oh Jesus, them memory is burned into my mind forever. She was twisting in pain on her bed with a small battery powered fan at her fevered head. Even so, joy and peace were on her face as we prayed for her. She lay on her bed in one of the brick homes recently built by Hope Force Int.* 

Houses of Hope is what they are called, so aptly named. We had the privilege of building some Houses of Hope while we were there. It was difficult work in the heat and humidity, probably the most I have ever sweat in my life! I was jobs I normally hate, painting! But, when you a presenting a home to a family who has been living in a tent for many months, some of them years, since the earthquake in 2010, the work takes on new meaning and energy. These families have endured the tropical climate of torrential wind and rains, extreme heat, dirt and mud floors with tarps covering sticks and rubble.  That small brick dwelling, about the size of my master bedroom, with adequate ventilation (surprisingly cool) and a sturdy roof overhead.  A House of Hope.

This is how sweet Mimose left this earth on Saturday, in her House of Hope, her earthly tent, her cancer ridden body, with friends and family sweetly singing hymns over her. Her children gathered around her, never to see there mom in pain again. No more tears. . no more suffering. Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain".

After receiving this news from friends in Haiti of her Home-going. . .I was reading with my kids in morning devotions from 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan,longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

I take such a comfort in my earthly tents. . .my body my home address. I am thankful for a healthy body and a roof over my head, but often I obsess over them and give them so much more time and value than these "tents" deserve. This weekend we are taking a road trip to visit Todd's Grandma who will be turning 93. . .I know she will have a bit of perspective on her earthly tent! We look forward to probably our last visit with her before she is absent from her body and present with her Lord. 
Oh to live this life with our eternal dwelling always in view. To share hope, the only Hope the does not disappoint.  

Romans 5:4-5  we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

*the organisation we went with, based here in Franklin TN.