Tile Floors

I recently had to write an article for the H2H Newsletter about my year at H2H and I wanted to share if with you too...

As I only have one page in this newsletter to summarize my year at H2H I’m going to direct you to my blog for the details (www.rebeccalarkin.blogspot.com) & here I’m just going to tell you what I’ve learned about tile floors. Disappointed? Give it a read before you decide ☺

The Guesthouse has tile floors - I have swept them, mopped them, cleaned vomit off them, cleaned blood off them, been brought to tears on them, slept on them, slipped on them & several times experienced God on them.

The Call to come to H2H was clear but the reason was a bit fuzzy. I’ve struggled with knowing there are other people who are more qualified & have more to offer the kids. In my pep talks I kept reminding myself that my strength is my versatility & that could cover all circumstances – weak, I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures! Thanks to my dad’s coaching technique I am pretty good at giving pep talks, even to myself. That kept me going for several months but a time came when it was no longer sufficient as it relied on my ability to always be there for myself. How can you be there when you’re too tired to take out your contacts before going to bed most nights - which I don’t recommend several nights in a row! How can you be there when you’re broken? There were times when I laid on my immaculately mopped tile floor (that only slightly smelled like the mildew mop I used) and cried out to God to become my strength, to be the food that nourishes me, to be the water that hydrates me, to remove my personal agenda & to align my dreams with His will for my life. It wasn’t an immediate change, nor one that is finished, but God met me as I laid on the tile floor & answered my prayers in practical ways. He helped me stomach the spaghetti/rice diet. He gave me discernment to know when to help & when to allow someone else to step in. He gave me pep talks when I looked into the kids’ eyes. He gave me fellowship & encouragement through new friends. He gave me strength when I had to look into the face of death, starvation & evil. He filled me with His love so there was always enough for others. This year I was His tile floor, which He swept, mopped, waxed & repaired when broken. On His floor the kids found love, not because the floor was anything special, but because on the tile floor they played with their Father.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement in H2H. Many of you have never met your sponsorship child, sat in the buildings you've helped build or seen Pastor Luc in action behind the pulpit. Yet you've decided to help. You've made sacrifices. The sacrifices I made to come here are nothing in comparison to the joy the kids give me. I hope that as you read through my blog you are given that same joy, as the kids here are real & they know you are real! They pray for you & they thank God for your commitment to help them.

Rebecca Larkin
rebeccalarkin6@hotmail.com

Quarter Pounder Club

Ok, I'll be the first to admit the 'Quarter Pounder Club' is a terrible name for a Club but read on before you judge me...

As you all know by now, I'm heading back to Haiti at the end of August and am planning to live there indefinitely. I'll be honest, I have mixed feelings about going back this time. I've been having such a great summer - I'm staying at my parents house in Crescent Beach and so has the rest of the family....brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephew and of course my Grandma Rose! Being home, and being pampered at home, is not going to make it easy to go back to the harsh life in Haiti but it's helped me realize something... I'm going back for a very specific reason & that reason is worth giving up the comforts for home - the kids! I miss the kids so much I have to avoid thinking about them or the thought of being away for another month is too much. I have tried hard to switch gears and stay focused on what is going on in Canada but each phone call back to Haiti makes it more difficult.

When I started my 'support raising' I decided I wasn't going to ask people to sponsor me - I figured people know what I'm doing & they can get involved if they'd like. But, after talking to people the last few weeks, I've realized 2 things...

1. People want to be asked to be involved! I was surprised by this so it's probably not true for everyone but I have approached a few people and they were really excited about partnering with me. They'd always wanted to do something like I'm doing but haven't had the opportunity because of family or work commitments. They appreciated being able to be involved by sponsoring me & were excited about feeling apart of it by reading my blog & knowing their contribution is making a difference to the kids.

2. You don't have to give a lot! Some people have said they'd like to help but they can only afford $25/mth & they think that's not worth giving. This is not true!!!! If all of my sponsors only gave $25/mth I'd be thrilled!! It would mean I have a bigger support base which means more people 'caring' for me. I want you to partner with me, not just give me money every month. Haiti can be a lonely place so knowing that people are thinking & praying for me...or just believing that what I'm doing is worth doing...means so much to me. Here's where the Quarter Pounder Club comes in - this was my failed attempt at creatively encouraging you to support me with $25/mth...don't worry, there will be no meetings & I promise never to mention the Club name again :)

So here's the big request... I'd really appreciate your support, whatever the amount, as I can't continue to work at H2H in Haiti without finding partners.

If you'd like to support me monthly, using automatic withdrawal, email me for the automatic withdrawal form & send it to the below address with a separate note indicating you'd like to support me. All donations are fully tax deductable and tax receipts will be issued at the end of the year. If you'd prefer to donate in another way (credit card, post dated checks, lump sum, etc) email me and I'll give you instructions.

Thank you so much for considering this & I'm still home for the next 4 weeks so let me know if you'd like to get together...especially if it involves food that is not rice & beans!!!

May God bless you as you are a blessing to others,

Rebecca Larkin
rebeccalarkin6@hotmail.com