Wealthy

"Happiness = Satisfaction / Desire"    Anonymous

“If you have enough money to satisfy your desires, you are rich. But there are two ways to be rich: You can earn, inherit, borrow, beg, or steal enough money to meet expensive desires; or you can cultivate a simple lifestyle of few desires; that way you always have more than enough money.”  Dave Ramsey, lots of people, but I think Dave Ramsey will get traffic to this blogg

Rich = Wants / cash flow   

Step one—Ask for God’s great blessing and He is bound to bless you

I pray that God will give me "Super Natural Favor"  I have had this every day since I accepted that this is what is intended for me.

What is "Super Natural Favor?'"   Annette has been using this term.  I did not slow down enough to process what she was saying.  There is a distinction between "favor" and "super natural favor."   The word "Supernatural" has always made me flinch.  Annette using the term "Supernatural favor" bothered me.  This raised my awareness to others using "Super Natural Favor" I agreed with Annette.  We (Annette & I) have been given "Super Natural Favor".  

Natural favor must be earned, but supernatural favor is a gift. Natural favor says, If you work hard enough and long enough, some people will like you some of the time.

But that acceptance must be maintained, and having to say and do all the right things becomes a form of slavery. God does not expect us to run around trying to earn favor with Him or with others. 

Example I liked "God isn't impressed with us for climbing the mountain, he made the mountain." Keith Loy

God expects us only to do God's will whether it is popular or not. Just do your best and leave the results to God.

Annette's prayer as long as I have known her "God grant me the courage to do the next right thing."

 Step two—Ask and God will enlarge your territory (Grant you success)

I pray that my territory continues to grow.  Last week was a prime example of this, I thought that my territory had shrunk by 700 instead God was showing me that my territory was already 70,000 and I was not to doing my part.

 Step three—Ask and God will bring a touch of Greatness to your life 

By being persecuted I'm showing that it never was me that was doing these things it was my God through me.  By being stripped of the distractions that money and possessions bring, I was able to finally see that I am much more.  

Step four—Ask and God will keep the "Appearance of impropriety" away.

In my case, I pray that the devil remains using incompetent tools.
I pray that, "Appearance of impropriety" stays outside and does not return to within my family.

This week I have people asking me how are you going to make money?

Money does not = Happiness

I will not go back to the "happy does not exist" rant.  But, one thing that is beyond question is that money is not the answer.

My wants/things that will satisfy me are very simple.  

I want my wife to be left alone.    This one I know is unattainable, she is not capable of walking by somebody in need that she has the ability to help.  Annette's foundational prayer "Grant me the strength to do the next right thing."  Will always keep this out of reach.  It is good for a man to want and to have something to strive for.

I want our influence to continue to grow.  I want time with my wife and kids.

This is unrealistic an assistant attorney general is a very powerful enemy to have.  They have the power of the State the "Department of Criminal Investigation" as staffers.  This is unimaginable power.  I have seen people intimidated, threatened for supporting Annette.

I want people to look beyond the headlines, and see that they could be next to be attacked.  The accusations are horrific with no facts.

Money is not the answer.  There is not enough money that any single person has to do this.

Social Injustice

11//11/2012

"Nobody cares until it becomes personal to them"

Why is this happening to me?

What answer would be sufficient to answer this question?

Mission Field: South Dakota

11/17/2012

I strongly believe that Annette and I have been given a three fold mission reset, renewal and reform for South Dakota.

Reset: the easiest way to do this is to take teams to Haiti.

Annette prays this before every trip, "god please allow them to see only what they can handle"
The first few times I heard her do this I didn't understand. The more people I expose to Haiti the more valuable these words become. It amazes me how a beautiful act of kindness will be happening right in front of us and the team member will focus on the need for the building to be painted.

When the team returns to South Dakota the team member will end up noticing the need in South Dakota. I thought they missed in Haiti. The team member will eventually start working on the noticed problem in South Dakota.

I call this a "hard reset" resetting what the team member sees as important.

Renewal: remind them what it feels like to care.

"Nobody cares until it becomes personal to them."

Mission based: take native Americans, addicts, kids, teens, families, churches to Haiti. No matter what personal injustice they have incurred Haitians have it as bad and with less.

Disciplined: teach personal accountability, you can't control the results but you can choose the path.

Reform: total
Self: open, honest, willing, transparent
Community: should be held accountable, once the population sees the benefits from living this way they will expect it from leaders as well.
School: what and how is being taught. Creativity and Critical thinking are what needs to be taught. Not, memorization.
Health: personal accountability, financial means and what is the outcome need to be held to up same standard of accountability. The individual needs to do everything in their power to do their part.
Accountability can only happen in a small group setting. Ideally an individual would be long to several. Group of peers, group that is inter generational in their chosen profession, family.

Social concerns are important; ends and means are important. What is the best possible outcome, what is the exit strategy?

Prevenient Grace

I have not heard this term since I went through my confirmation class. I was confirmed United Methodist around 1982.

Prevenient Grace, "There is nothing this man can do to save himself. Outside help is his only hope." John Wesley founder of the Methodist Church.

I need to reread John Wesley's "Appeals to man of reason and religion." I think I would take more from it than I did when I was twelve.

I'm psychic

11/26/2012


Now the only road into Port-au-Prince is completely blocked.

No explanation yet.

Water Project Success

Water restore to a shit load if people.

That's a meaningful mission trip.

Preventive Health Strategies

11/26/2912

Working with local community leaders in Haiti to make sure water is restored to 70,000 people Meaningful missions believes in direct support. Meaningful Missions finds the individuals in a community then makes sure they have what they need.

This community needed water. Meaningful missions talked to community leaders to find out what their water solutions were. The plans were well thought out and obvious. This was an obvious preventive health strategy, meaningful missions had the ability to help and we did.

The Preventive Health Strategies used only Haitians to do this project. The only support given was direct financial support and accountability. Training Meaningful missions local leaders to always follow up and make sure the work is completed and that nothing else is needed.

Eighteen local leaders showed up to "meaningful medicine" accountable.

Www.meaningfulmedicine.org

Preventive Health Strategies
1) See the need
2) show compassion, observe, learn,
3) If possible meet the need.

The mayor explained to me "help tomorrow just means you are not going to help my people today!"

Water was restored to this community.

Traffic jams

I have experienced traffic jams on this trip to Haiti.

Reasons for the traffics jams. If you have worked in Haiti or any other third world country you have experienced the rounding that happens in translating.

Think of the game telephone now it goes down a long line of people gets to your translator who tries to explain the situation to you.

Transportation taxi jams:
1)Accident: I understand this one
2)Bridge out: happens in America too
- this added an hour to our commute both directions everyday
3)The bridge is out and somebody has blocked the detour bridge on purpose.
4)Heavy commute traffic: rush hour happens in America too
5)Vehicle stuck in a pot hole and needs to be pushed out.
6)Police stopping every vehicle
7)One lane road and heavy traffic from other direction
8)Funeral procession
9)Communication Errors with driver
- end up at the right business wrong location
- driver doesn't arrive on time.
- because he runs into one or all of the issues listed above
-missed church yesterday because driver got to us two hours late
10) livestock crossing the road
11) Market Day- Some communities the market is right next to the only road going through town. This can bring traffic to a dead stop.
12) Americans- trying to help. Guaranteed will stop traffic
13) celebrations - same thing happens in America, Macy's thanksgiving day parade. Feels random as an American though.
14) Being lost
15) Donkey loaded down with things for market won't move.

What to pack for kids going to Haiti

The most important thing is to admit what comforts your kid.  Does your fifteen year old still sleep with his blank y.  Then you better pack his blank y.  Haiti is so alien that I have seen seasoned travelers have complete meltdowns.  Before you commit to going own the fact that there is a mortality rate associated with in going to a third world country.

My suggestions:
1) What makes them comfortable.
     Blank y
     Ipod
     Bible
     Book
2) Sunscreen
3) Bug repellant
4) Water bottle


Take the medicines your doctor gives you.  I choose the Haitian Tap-Tap to travel in  I think this provides a more engages trip.  The smells, sounds, involvement with Haitians is added.  But nice AC vehicles can be found for the same price.

Make sure you have a translator.  Then remember the translator is in charge you and your kids need to do exactly as told.  This should lead to an experience that will unite you as a family.  An experience you share and can refer back to in difficult times.

Bedtime stories from 2000 miles away

I have seen this feature advertised for months.  I honestly had no desire to try it.  I took my three young boys to Haiti.  My wife had to stay home.  My boys are well traveled.  I didn't think much about the trip.  My six year old started complaining about missing mom.

I tried Google Hang Out, I'm in Haiti.  Odd we have internet for free but no cell coverage($3/min) equals no cell coverage.

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I sent her a Facebook message to try Google Hangout.  The whole process took a few minutes to get it to work the first time.  This was a great experience, the next night the fun of playing with the funny hats and sounds was done and Annette got to make her normal funny sounds.  The boys loved it (including me).

Mayor

This picture does not do this man justice.  In Haiti a country that has been plagued with corruption the leaders are very hard to meet.  This mayor is different.  The open door policy is literally practiced.  I think if anybody (Haitian, American, Canadian) had an idea and the means to make his city better/cleaner he would act on it now.

This garbage pile is a great example.  The garbage has been building in this spot since 2008.  This is before the earthquake.  As an American this is unimaginably disgusting.  The mayor to his credit was offered the chance to make it go away, and he took it.

I think we are going to have a good relationship.  I know he is the one in charge, has the power, the ability to help things happen.   I like the fact that he has been rational and predictable in our talks.  

A mayor in any country showing up and cleaning a garbage pile all day would shock the people they represent.

For this to happen in Haiti is amazing.

New to blogging. Why do my blogs not appear in the order posted?

Push Back

Ralph Waldo Emerson described this truth of human nature accurately:
Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

POINT #1: YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AREN’T YOU

POINT #2: YOU CAN’T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, ONLY YOUR REACTIONS

POINT #3: WHEN YOU STOP BLAMING, YOU TAKE BACK YOUR POWER


Today when I look at the kids in Haiti. I have more hope for them than I do my own kids.
The statement that has stuck with me about Annette's ordeal is "shocking to one's sense of fairness."

The Haitian kids don't expect things to be fair. But, they do expect to be able to have a rational and reasonable conversation.

They don't expect to be treated fairly by the government. The expectation by Haitians is that if you are noticed by an official (doing above average) your lively hoods, business, kids and land will be taken by the government.

When I am able to take a step back and look at the situation from Haiti. The most likely direction for the Haitian kids is up. My kids the next leg will likely be even further down.

Drop off

The little kids in the back of the tap-tap are being dropped off at a Haitian orphanage.

The whole experience brings back memories of taking livestock to market in the back of a pickup with my grandpa when I was a kid. The only difference being that at least some paperwork was done on the livestock(a check if nothing else).

https://www.meaningfulmedicine.org/donations

Cleaning up the Garabage

Preventive Health Strategies

This garbage pile has been her since 2008. Every time we drive by it Annette gets pissed "Why? Hasn't anybody cleaned that up?"

God works in amazing ways. This week I met the mayor of the community with the garbage pile.

Thanks to the many supporters on this trip the mayor is personally overseeing the cleaning up of this garbage pile today. On a Sunday!

Let me make that clear "today!"

New mayor!

God put us in the right place at the right time!

I wonder how many times the previous mayor was given the resources to do this job.

Happy birthday Annette!  It is because of you that this garbage is being cleaned up today.

Getting this garbage cleaned up is going to prevent lots of health problems both long term and today.

This is meaningful. Thank you to everybody that supports

www.meaningfulmedicine.org
God is good!

Michael St-Vilien

I'm sitting next to Michael in the back of a Haitian Tap-Tap (painted pickup/Haitian primary form of transportation) as I write this.

Michael Does an excellent job of negotiating for the organizations we work with in Haiti.

We have used Michael as a negotiator in government negotiations.

We have used Michael to calm an angry mob.

We have used Michael to calm angry clergy.

We have used Michael in negotiating supplies from Haitians and other organizations that have what we are lacking. We have had times that the thing we need is not available for sale in Haiti.

Michael is very well connected and was able to help us get what was needed. Michael has done this type of negotiating for us on things like fans, medicines, medical care. For those who have not operated in a third world country. I can not express the importance of this skill set. We have used other interpreters. The difference is like driving a 1982 Chevy Pinto and a brand new Ferrari they both do the same thing. But? How do you describe the difference to somebody that has never driven.

Michael understands the nuances if the English language this has come in most handy when we have been in danger and did not know it.

Personally the scariest place i have ever been in Haiti. It was after dark and the place that I had arranged to stay with my kids changed their mind.

Michael was not with us. Michael dropped everything and helped us to find a safe place to stay on a moments notice.

Michael is well connected in the Haitian community. Michael has helped us scale up quickly for events. Michael has with little notice get us 25 good English interpreters for a medical team.

Michael is always willing to do what is needed.

Michael's phone number 5093837508

Michael St-Vilien

Michael Does an excellent job of negotiating for the organizations we work with in Haiti.

We have used Michael as a negotiator in government negotiations.

We have used Michael to calm an angry mob.

We have used Michael in negotiating supplies from Haitians and other organizations that have what we are lacking. We have had times that the thing we need is not available for sale in Haiti.

Michael is very well connected and was able to help us get what was needed. Michael has done this type of negotiating for us on things like fans, medicines, medical care. For those who have not operated in a third world country. I can not express the importance of this skill set. We have used other interpreters. The difference is like driving a 1982 Chevy Pinto and a brand new Ferrari they both do the same thing. But? How do you describe the difference to somebody that has never driven.

Michael understands the nuances if the English language this has come in most handy when we have been in danger and did not know it.

Personally the scariest place i have ever been in Haiti. It was after dark and the place that I had arranged to stay with my kids changed their mind.

Michael was not with us. Michael dropped everything and helped us to find a safe place to stay on a moments notice.

Michael is well connected in the Haitian community. Michael has helped us scale up quickly for events. Michael has with little notice get us 25 good English interpreters for a medical team.

Michael is always willing to do what is needed.

Michael's phone number 5093837508

Michael St.-vilien the best Haitian Interpreter

The best interpreter in Haiti. Michael has been my interpreter on several trips to Haiti. Michael is a true professional. I would highly recommend him to any groups heading to Haiti. Michael does an amazing job of keeping me safe and well informed. I now take my kids to Haiti with me if I know Michael can interpret for me, this is the highest recommendation I can give Michael. The easiest way to contact Michael is to message him through Facebook.