Spending time with Diddi & Mission Haiti Helping Kids

I had the great privilege over the weekend to spend a couple days with my friend Diddi Washington and a ministry she started called Mission Haiti Helping Kids. I met Diddi last November when she rode along with Sarah and me to Family of God Orphanage. Like me, Diddi is always interested in seeing what others are doing in Haiti and how ministries can overlap and help one another. Diddi is a ball of energy and inspiration. She's from New Jersey but lives in Canada with her husband. She comes to Haiti about every other month for a month at a time.


Diddi started this ministry in 2008 after coming to Haiti on a group mission trip. She noticed so many street children, running around without a home and anyone to care for them. After talking to the team leaders, they told her that helping those children was not part of their ministry. Her heart broke and she knew she had to do something to help these kids. Thus birthed Mission Haiti Helping Kids. Currently the ministry has 3 homes for needy children... one orphanage, and two homes for street boys. She also started a goat and chicken program, raising and providing goats and chickens for local communities, and runs a de-worming and scabies removal program. So far nearly 200 goats have been given to needy families and a countless number of children have been helped by the medicines.


My path have crossed with Diddi many times since I've been serving in Haiti. Typically one of us is rushing from one place to another and we haven't had a lot of quality time to spend together. She suggested I come to one of her homes, "Julia's House", on Saturday for the children's program. She then invited me to stay the night saying that she was going to take all of the kids for church on the beach the next day. I accepted and headed over to Julia's House, just a short drive from Sarah's orphanage. Every Saturday they serve a hot meal to all of the kids, sing songs, play games, and have a Bible study and prayer time. All of Diddi's kids attend as well as many other street boys and children in the neighborhood. The street boys who come are shown where they can shower and given a new pair of underwear. All of the children receive a multi-vitamin with their meal. I enjoyed observing all of the excitement. When the program was finished, we sent everyone who wasn't one of Diddi's children out the gate and we headed over to one of the boys' homes to drop off a new Mama who's come to work for Diddi. 


I spent the night with her and some of her boys eager for our day at the beach Sunday. She and I had a great time of prayer and encouraging one another that evening. There are so many things that can weigh heavily on you here, especially when you're serving alone as I often am. It is good sometimes to just chat with a friend. Get things off your chest. And pray with someone who understands. Diddi was a huge blessing to me that night. There were bits of wisdom and Scripture she shared that I won't soon forget. 


Sunday morning she and I had a devotion together from Ephesians 6. We had been speaking the night before about how our battle is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual forces where prayer is an essential weapon in this war. And I love how the NKJV says in verse 16, "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." That's not just saying, if you have time, grab the shield of faith. It says ABOVE ALL... this shield of faith is a necessity. I can't be roaming around Haiti trying to serve God with a weak faith that maybe I believe God is with me and has gone before me. That maybe God will intervene in the desperate situations I see daily. That maybe God will provide for my needs and the needs of my friends. That maybe God is powerful enough to work miracles in the lives of those around me. The Bible says in Matthew 17:20 that if I have faith even as small as a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for me. Surely I can have faith even bigger than that! And again PRAYER, in Ephesians 6:18, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Sometimes all it seems I have are my faith and my prayers and intercessions. I am being reminded that if that is all I have, it is enough. HE is enough.


After our devotion, we headed to the beach with a busload of kids. Most seats had 3-4 kids in each. Diddi knows a man, also named Didi, who has land and a private entrance to the ocean. We went there and had a wonderful time swimming and playing together in the water. We made tuna salad, spread it on some bread, and passed out mangoes for lunch. We even fed around a dozen kids who weren't ours but who were hanging around. After a few hours in the water, we sat together under a pavilion and had church. We all sang and then I told a story to the kids representing how if we love God we should obey His commandments. They were all very attentive. Diddi prayed with them and many came forward for prayer and some perhaps for salvation. We then headed back home, tired but content from a fabulous day at the beach.


I'm so thankful for Diddi's ministry. Every time I drive through any big town, I see street boys running around, hitching rides on the back of trucks, begging for money and scraps of food. Just this week while driving through Port au Prince I had a boy pop up beside my window. He was asking for money. I asked him if he knew Diddi. He said, "Wi! Diddi se manman mwen." (Yes! Diddi is my mom.) I should have asked him his name, but somewhere, somehow, Diddi has touched the life of this little boy and he hasn't forgotten. I pray they will reunite again.


I love seeing firsthand what God is doing all over the world. And I love that I have the opportunity to share stories with you about some of these ministries. I trust that as the word gets out about this or that ministry, hearts will be stirred to respond and ask God how they can help. So in case your heart is stirring from hearing about Diddi and her kids in Haiti, let me give you some prayer requests and one tangible need. 


Prayer requests: 


Diddi needs dependable Haitian staff who feel called to minister to children. She needs "Mamas" and "Papas" who will work with the kids, help take care of their needs, encourage them, discipline them well, teach them about basic things such as hygiene, and of course... love them! She also has helpers come from the U.S. and Canada from time to time, but her need is for full-time people to come on board and be a blessing to the ministry and a godly example to these kids.


Diddi also needs another house. One of her homes is situated in a bad area of town and they've had some trouble in that neighborhood. Pray that she can find a good, safe house to rent soon. Also, she would love to find some land and build, preferably near the beach and land that is fertile for growing a garden and having some fruit trees. 


Tangible need:


It is so wonderful that Diddi's children are given the love and care they need, food, medicines, shelter and clothing, but they are also given the opportunity to attend school as funds are available. Unfortunately school in Haiti is expensive for parents who live on an average of $1-2 a day. School fees range from $25-100 per child per year and mandatory uniforms are $30. This doesn't include shoes and school books that are also needed. If you would like more information about this or other needs, contact Diddi at diddilynn@hotmail.com. 

One of the Mamas sharing a word with the children at the Saturday program

Two of Diddi's kids enjoying their lunch at the Saturday program.

One of Diddi's three adorable pups. Tig at the other house is Fibi's sister.

Suited up and ready to go!

I loved seeing them on all the different rafts and toys they had!

This face sums up the whole day!

These were some of the children hanging around with us. We had enough mangoes left for them to have one for every two of them.

This little boy came swimming near me while I was relaxing on a raft. I assumed he was one of Diddi's kids until he told me he lived just down from where we were swimming. I said something about the sandals I had on to keep from getting pricked by a sea urchin and he told me he didn't have any shoes. I had grabbed a pair of flipflops from Diddi's house because I didn't have shoes on for the ocean. I thought maybe I'd give them to him later if I saw him again, though in a sea of faces you've just met, it's hard to tell them apart. After our swim, I noticed him standing beside me. I didn't even have to think, I knew it was the same boy. I could tell his feet were a good size for the shoes so I gave them to him. I'll bring an extra pair down to give back to Diddi next time I come to Haiti!

Diddi and some of her precious kids

My dog Fibi

I figured it was time to give my Haitian doggy Fibi her own post. Last week I got to reunite with her at Sarah's orphanage, and while the week was packed and I saw several friends, Fibi had my attention most of the time. For one, I was so excited to get to see her again! And for two, she needed some veterinary services. 

I got Fibi when she was a puppy on January 28th when Sarah brought her over to the guest house. She had gone to pick up some food from an organization called Love a Child. They had found four puppies scavenging around a burned trash pile. They took care of them while looking for good homes. One of them didn't make it, one they gave to a nearby home, and two Sarah ended up bringing back with her. She gave one to me and one to our friend Diddi. I told Sarah it was a good strategy in trying to get me to stay in Haiti forever because I knew I'd get attached! Thankfully, as Sarah handed the puppy over to me she said that when I leave she would care for the pup at her orphanage. If that wouldn't have been part of the deal, I wouldn't have taken her. I know full well how difficult it is to find a home for stray dogs in the States. It's nearly impossible in a country like Haiti. I'd already had to go through that when I left Frodo and Sam in Namibia.

In trying to come up with a name for my new puppy, I observed her. She was a clumsy little thing, as I suppose most puppies are. I would just smile as she'd stumbled up and down the steps and try to keep her footing on the slick tile floor. I asked what the Creole word was for clumsy and the closest word given to me was "febless". That would have been a cute name on its own, but I decided to shorten it to Fibi. So my little Fibi she became. Within a week I had her potty trained, well #1 anyways! She slept with me every night, sometimes jumping down to her bed (a towel) on the floor, sometimes snuggling up by my head. I can still remember how she'd whine to get up and down from the bed because she was too small. I made a step for her out of my suitcase. Sometimes she'd just suffice to nap there instead of making the next jump up to the bed. She has brought me a lot of joy in a place that can sometimes be overwhelmingly heartbreaking. 

Some of you may think that I talk too much about Fibi or the other pets I've temporarily housed. I can admit I probably take an excessive amount of photos. I love animals. I always have. I remember taking in strays when I was a little girl. So Mom, always remember that it's your fault I bring all these animals home! I learned it all from you! :) But to be honest and a bit transparent for the moment, let me say this... Yes, I'm a missionary. And some people put me on this completely undeserved pedestal that I go off and do all of these great things and make all these sacrifices and so forth. But I am no different than anyone else. I'm just a girl who has taken God's Word for what it is, a commandment to go and be salt and light in a dying and dark world. I can't NOT go, because God's greatest commandment is to love and I've seen the need for love in some difficult places and it's to those places I feel called to go and serve. We all have a purpose and a calling on our lives to love others and to tell others about the wonderful love and sacrifice of God through His Son Jesus Christ. So please don't put me on a pedestal. But sacrifices, yes. I do make them. Being away from the ones I love most in this world is difficult. Though when I think of the sacrifice Jesus made for me, how can I focus on my own comforts and happiness? Well, bringing it back... what does all this have to do with Fibi?? Just because I go out to live and serve in places like Africa and Haiti, and love it, and write about all the blessings therein, doesn't mean that there's not a part of me that desires the same thing many of you have or desire. A home. A family. A pet. Stability. Roots. I do war with these desires though I've tried to be willing to lay down my own rights and desires to seek after God's perfect will for my life. But I do still feel some of those sacrifices. It's frustrating that I can't even have something as simple as a dog because I don't have a home and I'm never in a place long enough to make that 10 year commitment. 

But Fibi came into my life this year and I've tried to love her as much as I can as long as I'm able. I wish I could bring her to Leogane, but we don't have a yard here, just 10 feet of concrete in front of the house and crazy dogs on the other side of the gate. And if I had a home in the States I could try to send her there, but who would care for her? So here she stays. She seems to be happy there. She's pretty good with the kids, though she's still a puppy and has to be disciplined for playing too rough sometimes. She's got Sarah's dog Gracie who's about the same age. I think they're good friends though they're mostly wrestling buddies! I took them both to the vet to get spayed. I've seen too many pathetic mama dogs walking around Haiti and I don't want that for Fibi. Much less having to give Sarah any more mouths to feed! She also had an ear infection I got cleared up. And she was too skinny, so I took the liberty of buying some extra food and fattening her up. She's always been a picky eater but she's getting better now. 

So that's my Fibi. My sweet little Haitian mutt! :) And of course... here are some photos!

Fibi seemed very happy to resume her position in bed with me! I let her start to sleep with me the first night, but then figured it was best to just keep her out like she's used to now. 

She always loved lying on whatever was on the ground. If she found a towel anywhere, it became her bed. I searched for a dog bed, but didn't find one I thought would be appropriate for Haiti or that could fit easily in my suitcase. I ended up getting this comfy bathmat. She knew what to do. :) And I thought if I could get something random like this, as opposed to using a towel, the kids would recognize it as the dog's bed and leave it alone... 

Wrong! Regina and Ashley decided it was their new play mat. They started crawling around and growling like dogs. About 2 minutes after I snapped this photo and went inside, Regina came crying. Ashley had bitten her on the butt. Guess she was playing her role a tad too seriously!

Recovering from her operation. She still had the bandage on from the catheter.

Fibi and Gracie chilling out after their surgery. I was told that they needed to keep calm for one week. Easier said than done!

She even does tricks! NeNe was proud to show me how she can catch food in her mouth. She's really good!

One of the toys I brought her

I had seen them play tug-o-war with toys before, so I knew this would be a perfect toy for them.

Reminiscing about the teeny little gal the day I got her! I thought I had some photos of her and her sister together but I can't find them. But I was able to see her sister "Tig" last week for the first time since the day Sarah picked them up.

They look similar but Tig's a little smaller.

And she's got some crazy ears! Anyone remember the TV show "The Flying Nun"?!

Much Ministries in Gonaives, Haiti

Last week I had the opportunity to hang out up in Gonaives, Haiti with an organization called Much Ministries. I met Ben Rustin at the airport a few weeks ago. He had stayed at the Georgia House last year and knew several of the Baptists 4 Haiti staff I was with in the taptap. We were introduced and he told me I could come up anytime to check out what all they had going on. I took the opportunity last Tuesday to catch a ride and spent the evening and most the day Wednesday learning about and seeing firsthand some of the ministries going on there. I could not begin to tell you everything they're doing there, so I encourage you to visit their website (linked above). Meanwhile, I've got nearly two dozen photos posted here for you to get a little bit of an idea of what I was blessed to see during my short visit.


Much Ministries has been loving Haiti in many ways since 2003. Some of their projects include a trade school offering English classes and medical training, a general clinic and prenatal program, housing development, clean water efforts, and a primary school. They are always looking for individuals or teams interested in serving in Haiti, so if you've been thinking about serving short or long-term in a third-world country, Much Ministries might be a wonderful organization for you. They've even got a handy brochure you can view here or on their website.


Since I'm posting so many photos, maybe narrating via photo captions is the easiest way to tell more about my time there...

It's a beautiful drive to get to Gonaives from Port-au-Prince. It can take 3-4 hours (or more) depending on traffic, but for a lot of the way you've got mountains on one side and ocean on the other. We stopped for a bit and some of us took a quick dip.

Grace's rottweiler puppy, Tug, had his first swim in the ocean. He wasn't quite sure what to think about it. The waves were a little big for him. He rode in the console the rest of the way home. Crazy to think how big he'll get one day, but fit so perfectly here for now!

I sat in on April's preschool class Wednesday morning. April was interested in federal law enforcement before coming to Haiti. Now she's got a class full of little learners. Funny how God has other plans for us sometimes! Though I'm excited to hear that she has a passion for justice when it comes to child slavery and human trafficking. God has big plans for her!

 Me with some of April's kids

 The first floor cement section is part of the clinic. The second story is a missionary's home with her adopted Haitian son (incredible story there!). The yellow section is part daily feeding program, part preschool classroom, and probably part clinic waiting area if I had to guess. 

The main area where Much Ministries works is in Jubilee. It's the poorest area of Gonaives and sits on very unfertile land. Cross International and Omaha Rapid Response have teamed up to help provide these homes for some of the residents. Many lost their homes during the 2004 and 2008 floods.

 I met this sweet lady Nicole who lives in the house below. She was so proud to uncover and show me the sewing machine she was given recently. She had a stack of fabric and was ready to get to work. I'm always encouraged to hear of men and women who are trying to use the talents God has given them to help earn a living and care for their families.

Nicole's house

Some of the MUCH folks built this house and a couple of the guys live in it full-time. I got a tour and couldn't even begin to tell you all of the information about it. But it was pretty incredible and has been a great learning process for the guys who try as best as they can to impact the community while doing things in an environmentally-friendly way.

Driving around in Jubilee...

 In 2004 and 2008 there was severe flooding due to tropical storms, hurricanes, etc. The road has been redone to act as a dam. At least if there is flooding again in the future, access to Gonaives will hopefully not be cutoff like it has been in the past. Google "flooding in Gonaives, Haiti" to learn more about and see photos of what this town has suffered through during the last decade.

I always love coming across local artists receiving a sustainable income by making unique items and jewelry. MUCH has a trade school where over 100 men and women receive income through making jewelry, baskets, journals, and more. This is a little shop beside the guest house. I made a few purchases. :) A lot of the items are made from recycled materials, which makes me love them even more! These items will soon be available for purchase online through 2nd Story Goods.

The guest house was such a neat place. They had three teams in while I was there. It was nice being around so many people from the States, especially so many who have committed to living in Haiti indefinitely. I enjoyed swapping stories and learning more about how many were called to Haiti and their unique role here. The house itself had a neat setup, cute dogs, and I loved the artwork that was hanging everywhere you looked. Here are some of my favorites...

A great reminder, and I love how the clock is in the center... To me it said, "Give thanks... every minute, every hour."

A gift for Velly

I always bring as many goodies as I can fit in my suitcase for my friends in Haiti. Having been here now several times, I've learned what some of the best and most needed items are to pack. I'm also inspired sometimes with unique ideas for what to bring. Sometimes my friends will specifically ask me to bring them something, like my friend Miracle who crochets and asked me to bring her some yarn. Others ideas come to me through observation.


While in Haiti earlier this year, I went to a nail salon down from the God's Planet guest house run by a lady named Velly. She gives great pedicures for only $2.50! I got a couple much needed ones during my two and a half months in Croix des Bouquets.


Here's a photo of Velly and my soon to be well pedicured foot...

I put out the word back home that I wanted to take her some nail polishes and pedicure supplies. Some of you offered to help and I was able to get a nice little bag filled with items to take her. Unfortunately, Velly was out of town when I was visiting Croix des Bouquets, but her friends were running her shop in her absence and were happy to take them on her behalf. I had built a friendship was Velly and had been looking forward to seeing her and giving her the items in person, but I know it will still be a blessing to her and her shop. Thank you to those of you who gave! I love giving gifts. But I also love empowering those who are trying to earn a living by helping and rewarding them for their business endeavors. I love being able to donate yarn to Miracle and salon supplies to Velly. They are two women of many who are trying to make a way for their families by the work of their own hands. It's commendable and significant, especially in a country where 78% of Haitians live on less than $2 a day, and the unemployment rate is over 40%.

If you'd like to know how you can help those like Miracle and Velly, send me an email and I'll be happy to give you more information.

An outside view of Velly's salon

 Some of the items I brought to give to her