sacrificial giving... a reality "check"

Huge reality check today that challenged my understanding of what it means to give sacrificially.

I'm sitting here staring at an envelop from a dear friend of mine who has sold all her her possessions and left her life behind to spend 11 months as a missionary, ministering in 11 different countries. In the envelop... a check for $160.00.

The remainder of what I need to cover my expenses to return to Haiti. From a missionary.

Apart from the woman who runs RENMEN, I can't think of another woman I've been blessed to have personally met who inspires or encourages me more by their acts of selflessness.

Francis Chan writes in Crazy Love that "God's definition of what matters is pretty straight forward. He measures our lives by how we love". Michelle Smith, you love with a force that can only be explained by Christ working in and through you.

I am blessed beyond words to be the receiver tonight of just one aspect of how He is working in you. When I set foot in RENMEN and get to wrap my arms around those children again please know you are right there with me wrapping your arms around them too. I'm humbled to know you and to be able to call you a friend and sister. Thank you for continually showing me what it looks like to walk by faith, not by sight!

Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.

Sometimes God just knocks the breath right out of me. Apart from my last blog, I haven't done any support raising for my return trip to Haiti. Emphasis on I. Yet again, God shows up to make it clear He has it worked out....

Today, not one but TWO wonderful people handed me cash to support the trip. Their support combined gives me enough to buy the plane ticket for the last leg of my trip! As much as I might like Miami, I hadn't planned on moving there so I'm very grateful to be able to buy this plane ticket to get back to San Diego on January 5th. With the pressure off of transportation, I can now focus on raising support for the costs of staying at RENMEN (she's asked for a 20$/day towards room/board) and raising money for the kids.

Big thanks to Anthony & Bernie, you guys are such a blessing & encouragement and I am so grateful for you! May the Lord reward you for your kindness...May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done. ~ Ruth 1:8/2:12

.:love:.

photo courtesy of Tiffany Handley

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

- Galatians 5:6 -

True faith manifests itself through our actions.

-Francis Chan-

Returning to RENMEN!

As promised.... the details. And, a bit of an update...


I remember the exact moment I first consciously acknowledged that God was putting it on my heart to return to Haiti. I was sitting by the sludge-free pool with Emily after our team had cleaned it out with the kids. Afterwards, I remember praying that if God provided the finances, I would return not just to Haiti but specifically to the children at RENMEN....fast forward to days after I get back to San Diego. An unexpected email about a bonus I was told I wasn't going to get. In the email in June, I was told that there had been a change and we would in fact be getting a bonus for the amount of $600. For me, this was confirmation of the call to return; I set that money aside and promised that I would use it to honor God's calling on my heart.


In the meantime, the older children at RENMEN use the computers to write me letters via Facebook (yes, amazing how far reaching social networks go!) that pull my heart in ways I can't put into words. My heart has become like a wild garden with corners and spaces that God brings light and love to through their words and love. Yes, the children bring me love. It still blows my mind how much God uses them to show me and teach me about His love for me.


Through the past three months my car has broken down (yes, again), I've had to replace a cell phone, and pay for major work on my computer because of a virus. I've also had to give up my current housing because of rent increase, look for new housing, and budget for costs that go along with that. All of these expenses were not included in my budget, which was extremly tight from not working in June and minimally in July. But I refused to touch that money. And just as He promises, God has carried me through. I wish I could say I haven't been anxious at all over the past three months, but through that God has been patient with me, teaching me to let go of worry and what walking with Him looks and feels like when you lay that worry down:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life? Matthew 6:25

Not only has God carried me through, He blessed me with unexpected work in September that has enabled me to almost clear a debt that needs to be paid off by the end of October. And, as of October 1st, I now have health insurance provided for through work even though I am still part time.


My hunger for God has grown exponentially since Haiti. I'm about 2/3 of the way through a 40 day fast, which started off as a food-fast from sun up to sundown and quickly became a full out, liquids-only fast. In and of itself to talk about this experience would be an entirely new blog... There's no denying that I want more. C.S. Lewis writes:

If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.

I'm walking in the weight of this.


And so, that $600.00 remained untouched. Waiting for God's timing to be used. Until today. Today, it was used to purchase a one way plane ticket from Toronto on Dec. 29th (where I will be for the holidays) to Miami, and a return ticket for Miami to Port-au-Prince from December 29th- January 5th. So yes, that means I will be spending New Years Eve with 55 children in Haiti and I can't think of anywhere on earth I would rather be!


I currently do not have enough funds to purchas a ticket from Miami to San Diego, or to cover the $20 a day it will cost for room, board, and transportation while I am at RENMEN from Dec. 29th-January 5th. But I KNOW God will provide. I can't wait to see when, where, and who He will use, but to know that somehow He will be taking me back to those children has given me an overwhelming sense of peace. They own a huge chunk of real estate in my heart and we (Amy & Emily are also returning with me) have asked Mama Florence to keep it a secret from them so we can be a Christmas surprise. Mama wrote us today saying:

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXITED AND VERY HAPPY . The kids will have a blessed holiday with you around, they were asking this afternoon "is there anyway they will see you one day" and I gave them a flat "No, they went to make other kids happy." Bless you all.

And so tonight I sit in a peace that is beyond all understanding, a joy that is complete, a love that is faithful; tonight I sit in expectancy for how God is going to continue to move in my life in ways that humble me and bring my heart to it's knees.


If you are reading this and God has put it on your heart in any way to support me, whether it is in prayer or financially, in my returning to Haiti and RENMEN please don't hesitate to contact me (mdpiche@gmail.com). I need to raise another $390 to be fully supported.


Or, if a burden has been placed on your heart the way it has mine to make a committment to these children, to let them know they are not forgotten 10 months after the earthquake, and you have a desire to sponsor their education or even come with me to Haiti, please prayerfully consider taking a step of faith and contact me to find out how you can be a part of loving on God's children.

How to Sponsor a Child at RENMEN

The children of RENMEN are now in recess from school and will begin again October 4th for another session. Education in Haiti is not free, there is a dollar amount attached in going to school at all levels.

And so Florence Thybulle (Director/Founder), and the Board of Directors, have sent out an appeal: sponsoring one of the children to go to school will cost from $40US to $50US per month and this includes the monthly fee for school, transport and lunch while they are out of the orphanage. There are 5 boys and 31 girls that attend school outside of RENMEN.

These children are very talented and to deprive them from an education would be very sad. There is currently one sponsor from Florida who was able to get a scholarship for one of our girls and possibly for a second one as well. It's people like you who make a can make a huge difference in improving the lives of these children, an consequently the future of Haiti, through enabling them to receive quality education so that they can contribute back to their community.

With 55+ children living at RENMEN full time this is not easy and the goal of the foundation is to make sure the children are well educated so that in the future they can make this country and this world a better place to live in. On behalf of our president and founder, Florence Thybulle, and the Board of Directors, I want to say THANK YOU in advance for listening to your heart and considering if you are able to make a contribution to RENMEN so that a child will have a good and solid education. A sponsorshp form is available for download here. Please note that the RENMEN Foundation is a US registered non-profit organization under Internal Revenue code section 501(c)(3).

You can also donate directly to RENMEN via the foundation's PayPal account here.

For further information on how to begin the sponsorship process, please contact us by...

eMail: foyerenmen@hotmail.com

Phone: 011-509-3464-5399 / 011-509-3476-5050

Returning to RENMEN: Support needed

Dear friends and family,

I'm happy to tell you that I am returning to the RENMEN Foundation in Haiti from Dec. 29-Jan.5th! I am currently trying to raise prayer & financial support. If you are able to help in any way, please contact me via email: mdpiche@gmail.com. I need approximately another $390.00 to cover the remaining costs for airfare and room-and-board while I am there.

Thanks so much!