A gift of Spirit, and a gift of Love....

Serving as a Missionary, in a 3rd World Country was never something that I always had a passion for. Anyone who knows me, can vouch for that, but a gift from the Holy Spirit can change ones life in an instant!!!

I have been able to witness and be a part of sharing in, in Christ's love, with several families that are preparing their lives to be RADICALLY changed forever. Not only through Gods Love and Grace, but through the Holy Spirit leading them to Haiti to not only serve His people, but to be served. I have seen these families give freely of themselves to whatever Gods will is, and in the process, be led to love His children in the most amazing way. I hope these families will find joy in reading what I have witnessed as a wonderful Gift of God!

 Meet Melissa Hope!


Melissa was brought to us, by her Mom, and left at First Baptist Church's Clinic in Pernier, PAP!

    The story of this little girl, starts way before she was ever left!
After the devastating Earthquake,that left most of Haiti in desolation happened, God started working on the lives of many people! We just have to be willing to listen and be Obedient to his calling, and this is where the journey begins...

We had been given a very big blessing from Regions Bank, by a willingness to serve and be Obedient to the needs of the people of Haiti. By donating their personal Jet once a week, Medical personnel were able to come and serve freely without the burden of cost. This is were Dr. Jenny Chapman, from Huntsville, AL,comes in. She is the wonderful wife of Jack Chapman and the mother of 3 children: Haley, 10, Lori, 6, and Jackson, 2. Little did she know, when God allowed her to come to Haiti, she never expected to play such a vital role, as the one God had planned. Dr. Jenny was willing to be at Gods mercy in whatever he needed her to do. At this time, she was to administer care to the Haitian people in the Pernier Community in PaP. In being obedient, she was able to give care to over 100 people and one special little girl. This special little girls name was Melissa. She was a very sick, very tiny and frail little girl that appeared to have Downs Syndrome. After further examination, it was discovered that she had a very big heart defect. Dr. Jenny felt a heavy burden for this baby and explained to her Mom that it was a serious, life threatening problem that need immediate attention. At the time, getting that kind of attention was very limited. As Dr. Jenny's week ended, the burden only intensified. Over time, Jenny felt that she'd probably never see that Melissa again and was sure that she would die without proper care. God indeed had a plan in place that would forever change the lives of many people!!!

   On September the 8th, 2010, Dr. Jenny was once again serving in Haiti and administering care at the Pernier Clinic in PaP. This day was no ordinary day, God had placed Dr. Jenny in this Clinic for a reason. A stranger had waited patiently for her turn to see the Dr. with this little frail girl in her hands. Almost instantly, Dr. Jenny recognized this baby as Melissa, the little girl she had seen, what seemed to be so long ago. To her surprise, she was able to understand from the lady that had her, that her Mom came in and handed her over and said she would be right back....that never happened. Sadly, this was the last resort that Melissa's mom had at the moment. Not knowing what to do next, all she knew was, this baby needed help. How could a Mom that loved her baby so much, just leave and not come back? Little did Dr. Jenny know, her life would never be the same.
   Talk about God moving mountains, Dr. Jenny was overwhelmed with emotions, as she packed to go home the next morning. What would happen to this little girl, who will take care of her, all the emotions going through her head and heart that any mother would feel at that moment. Well, after serious crying and packing, we sent Jenny on her way to Huntsville, assuring her that Melissa would be taken care of. As she prayed and prayed in the days passing, she and her husband Jack, along with their children, felt a heavy burden for Melissa and what would happen to her. As the days passed, they really felt the Lord whispering to them that they were to adopt Melissa. Through many trials and sleepless nights, they have started the ball rolling and working diligently to bring Melissa home.

There is a twist to this story....

The week before Melissa turned 1 year old, contact was finally made with her mom. After all this time, she was afraid to come forward, afraid that she would go to jail for leaving her with a stranger. After carefully assuring her this would not happen, she wanted to see Melissa one final time. That's it, just one time, for closure I'm sure, but also to know that she was ok. We took Melissa to First Baptist Church of Pernier, and were to meet her there. When church was over, we couldn't find her, did she not come, what happened?? Just when we thought she wouldn't show, there she was, standing outside the gate.  
She had WALKED 6 miles to get to the church to see her baby one last time. It was a moving experience that I will never forget. The joy on her face when she saw Melissa was priceless. Can you imagine what she was thinking when she saw this face! The tears in her eyes, said it all. She was so happy to see how healthy she looked and how much she had been loved. I was amazing to be able to be a part of what God is doing in this little girls life. Sense this day, her mom has been able to see her a few times and has asked for nothing in return. One of the most special moments happened when we had Melissa's Birthday party.With Dr. Jenny's permission, we invited Melissa's mom to be a part of her a special day, and also give Jenny a chance to thank her for allowing us to be of help in such a desperate situation. She said with tears in her eyes, that she never thought this day would come. After making the hardest decision of her life by leaving her, so that she may live, she never in a million years thought that she would be able to come together with so many people that loved her baby and would except her for what she did! That's called God's Grace!!!! Nothing more, nothing less...Isn't that what we are called to do, show a lost people God's love and grace. At that moment, it was like the world and everything in it were as it should be. I know God was pleased with what had happened that night, and nothing will ever take away the love and acceptance that mom felt when she laid her head down and closed her eyes.This is what it's all about people, serving God and letting His love and mercy flow from our every being. It's not about us, it's about Grace, it's about mercy, it's about the love we have for our Heavenly Father and the love he has for us.

   I would like to give a special "THANK YOU" from the bottom of my heart, to all the Moms in Melissa's life! Many have made small sacrifices to provide the love and care for such an amazing little girl, and without them, we wouldn't be where we are today. Kristina, you were Melissa's 1st Mom, you were here when Melissa was at her worst. You stepped up and volunteered to take the responsibility of caring for Melissa from the start. You did this out of selflessness and triumphed at it. I saw God use you in a mighty way, that would prepare you for bigger and greater things to come. It wasn't always easy, but you hung in there all the way. Thank you for everything! Wilna and Stanley, you were Mom and Dad number 2! You took on the responsibility of caring for Melissa after only 2 wks of caring for her while we were in the states for Christmas. You two are amazing, I have also seen you both give unselfishly to the well being of Melissa in a way only parents would. When you have children of your own, you will be amazing parents. God has a way of showing us abilities that we never thought we had, and through His will, enable us to do great and mighty things! Without all of you, this little girl may not have had a future and never known how special she really is! Without every one of us working together, Dr. Jenny and her family would not be able to show her how much God loves her and how God has used her life to touch so many lives.
This is not the end of Melissa's story, but the beginning! The beginning of lifelong journey between 2 moms that are worlds apart, but share love for one beautiful baby named Melissa Hope!

   I am honored to be able to share a little of Melissa's story with you, and I am truly blessed by all I have witnessed. If you would like to continue this journey with Melissa, check out Dr. Jenny's blog:
http://drjennychapman.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-tiny-bundle-of-blessed-joy-melissa.html

A day in the life of the Roberts!

Wow, that's alot of work!
Today we got up early, alot to do...it's our week to carpool and the car breaks down. Panic and disarray start to set in! Kerri and Mike need to go to the Orphanage, their car isn't really working right, but it's being used to run and get parts. Kensley and I needed to leave at 8:00 to get downtown to get my License, Greg and Chris needed to go run errands! Whew, my day begins!!!!!
Kerri and Mike finally get to leave late, Kensley and I had to rent a driver to take us downtown, while Greg and Chris take Rhonda and Darren to the Clinic for a meeting. Greg's meeting lasted longer than he thought, leaving Rhonda and Darren to sit in the truck for a while, bored to death, I'm sure! Kensley and I get downtown about 12:00, and after 3 attempts finally get my picture taken for my license! Guess what, I even got to get the first ever smiling picture on a Haitian license!!!
After we left there, on our way to Pettionville, we had a flat and I had to stand on the side of the road while they changed the tire. As if that's not enough, we go to pick up my phone from the shop and the guy locks his keys in the car!!!! Lol, you just have to laugh, this is what happens in Haiti! After about 30 mins or so, they are finally able to get the door open and we head toward the house! After all that drama, I didn't even get to the tent camp.
Well, this is what a typical day in Haiti looks like for us!!! Whether it happens in this order or not, this is what happens by the end of the day!! If this sounds like an adventure you would like to go on, just email me and I'll get you all the details on how to join us!!!
Can't wait to see you!!! If you have any other questions, you can ask any one that has been here before and they'll tell you this is exactly the truth and I'm sticking to it!!!
See you soon!

The Blindness of Survival...

From the words of a Godly Haitian Man:
After spending time in a Tent Camp recently, we encountered a beautiful 16yr old girl that is pregnant and already has twins! Her twins are 18 months old and she is 8 months pregnant now, living with her mom in a tent! When asked how are you doing taking care of your babies, her reaction is far too common, I can't!
So how is it that these girls, women, keep having children, when they can't take care of them or themselves....their way of survival. To us "Americans", this is absurd! This is not our way of thinking, or our culture, but in many 3rd world countries, it's a way of survival. When you are starving, no place to live, you do what you have to, to survive. This is what I'm starting to understand here. When you're desperate and someone offers to pay you, take care of you, or feed you, you'll do whatever it takes. This is why so many babies are being born and taken to Orphanages, or left in garbage piles & door steps... "For Survival"! It breaks my heart to see all the beautiful faces here, that are innocent and have no idea what their future holds. Through Gods grace and love, we are here to help give them a chance to see God's love and provide hope to such a beautiful creation, no matter who their parents are!

When the Haitian men, who are supposed to be the head of the house, and the spiritual leader, get off their butts and quit expecting people to hand them money for nothing, Haiti will start to change! When you don't have anything already, and people give you a tent, food, and anything else to survive, why would you want to work?

Are we really helping these people, or are we just enabling them to continue to be lazy and worthless???? This is the question we all need to ask ourselves. Do we continue to give or do we help provide skills to better themselves and teach them that Gods plan doesn't include the way they've been living! Change, but Gods change is what's needed, not mans. Ashton nailed it the other day, when she asked me what are we doing for these people? I told her that we were here to work through the local churches to help the communities pull together and grow in God grace. She then said "No", what are we doing for "THESE PEOPLE", on the street!!! That's what it's truly about! Reaching the people that are lost, not in a community, not in a church fellowship, the one in the tent cities that have nothing!
The situation here is so big and overwhelming, where do you start? All I can do is pray, pray, pray, and ask God to show us what and where we will be the most effective. I, in my human form want to fix everything, but then I realize it has to be God through me. His will, not mine, is the only way. Until God's plan is revealed, we just have to pray that we are full of His grace and love as He first loved us.

What do you find in Tent Camps in Haiti?

Today started out with an agenda, but Haiti had a different plan!
We started out going to a house, somewhere in Haiti, to see a baby that a daddy can't take care of anymore. And that's where my journey began today!
Sounds like an easy task, not in Haiti!!!! We end up going around the whole city of PAP, only to end up back where we started...in a Tent City, "At The Airport"!!!! It would have been so much easier to just go to the Airport in the first place, maybe about 30 min. at the most! But noooo not for me, I didn't get lunch until after 4:00pm! Talk about starving!!
Anyway....
We got into the camp, and there were alot of Haitians wondering what in the world a "Blanc" was doing there in their camp! Talk abou feeling awkward... That was me!! Well we were able to find the person over the Camp and he was able to help is find the the person we were looking for! While there, we talked to a 16 year old pregnant girl that was pregnant, about to pop, and already had 2 other kids!! Now, saying that, she doesn't want to keep any of them!
This is what keeps Haiti the way it is and it is very saddening! Whether Kids having kids for the pleasure of sex, or being sexually abused, the problem still stands. It is was it is, but without proper knowledge of Birth Control, it will continue on the same coarse!!! Don't get me wrong, it's not just the kids...they have to learn it from somewhere!!!
As were were getting back to the car, the man in charge shared with us, that the Camp has way to many kids and they need to find homes for them. The Moms can't take care of their babies and just want someone to care for them! This situation is very real and very ramped in Hait, as well as other 3rd World countries that doesn't educated their people on the use of birth control!!!
We have had an invitation to come back and speak with the moms in the camp about the well being of their children. Please pray that God gives us the words to speak as we journey down this path of uncharted territory!!! May God get all the glory for everything we say and do!!

What's gonna happen now?

Well, here we are again waiting to hear what the Election results will be for the next round!! Who do we believe will be the final 2...Manigat and Martelly! Celestin pulled out early and I know he's up to something! Why would you pull out of a race that you've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on and fought so hard to cheat your way into and quit now? My guess is,he knew he'd be out anyway!
There is always something exciting going on in Haiti, whether it be saving someones life or Violence in the streets! Lol So, as we sit by and wait for the results to be read, we as Christians should be on our knees praying that Gods Kingdom come His Will be done! Talk about a life changing experience, let's see what Satan thinks when all Gods people are praying for the mighty hand of God to surround Haiti and it's Governmental leaders.
Well, whatever the outcome is, life will go on as usual and our Mighty Father is still on the Throne! We are safe and stocked up on all the food we need for a few days, just in case, and will keep you posted on all that happens in Haiti!
Blessings to all!

A New Beginning!

Where do I begin? First off, I'd like to thank my Heavenly Father for where we are right now! Second, I'd like to send a BIG thank you to everyone who has supported us and prayed for us on this Journey God has us on!
Last year was amazing and went by so fast! We met so many people and established many unforgettable relationships that only God could have orchestrated! Blessing to everyone is not even the beginning of what we feel you all deserve! Without each one of you, and your willingness to serve God, our mission would not be what it is today!
So many people have been touched by your presence and been showed GRACE and Gods LOVE, and for that we are forever grateful! We never want to take credit for anything our Lord allows us to do, we just want Him to receive all the Glory he deserves!
In the last year, while having an Easter Egg hunt at CHOH Orphanage, the Lord laid upon my heart the desire to help a sick little boy named Reynoldson. This little boy was very tiny and sick, and with lots of prayers and love, it was clear that this baby was to be with us! As of today, the adoption is almost complete we have a lasting friendship with Isaac's mom and dad!
Through many trials and obstacles, lives have been changed and transformed! With the help of Mission Lazarus, CHOH has been transformed! They have a new sleeping dorm for the boys and staff along with a kindergarten area and a 4 room school for the community. Bobby and Lourdie are even getting new living quarters that is much needed...with all the children there, they need to have a place of rest and reformation! A new much needed home was able to be built for a family of 15 that was living in a 2 room house, because people believed in serving a risen Lord!
These are jus a few of the things God is allowing us to be a part of! The Roberts family are not super hero's or extraordinary, just a family willing to serve God on a regular basis! We have learned that you don't have to be perfect, or have lots of money, just love God and be WILLING to serve wherever He leads you.
Our newest project is a Children's Home! We have been prying for a while about how to help the innocent children that are left behind. Like our little Melissa, so many kids are abandoned by their parents, not because they don't care but because it's the only chance they have for survival. We wanted to set up a place where they will be taken care of and shown God's love and mercy. This place will house up to 6 babies, 6 boys, and 6 girls ranging from 0-12 years of age. It will be set up through The First Baptist Church of Pernier, another way we are helping grow a community for Christ. We will help teach the children how to love and respect themselves as well as the Heavenly Father that created them. We will be collecting items to supply the home with all the necessities it needs to sustain itself. If you are interested in helping donate items or serving by reading books to the children, you can message me anytime.
Thank you so much again for helping make our journey so memorable and allowing us to see God move in mighty ways. We hope to see you in Haiti as the Lord prepares your heart to serve!

Updates from Haiti

Yay, I told you I can do it by myself!

Going on a walk with Daddy!

As I sit here today, with Melissa asleep, I realize that I haven't blogged in a while. I'm so sorry for that and I'll try to catch you up!!!

Since my last blog, we have taken on a new baby! NO, No, she's not staying forever! LOL Just until we are able to get her a little healthier. She was abandoned at our clinic in Pernier. Actually, it's First Baptist Church of Pernier's clinic, but we work out of it and have supported it since it was started. I like to call it ours, cause I feel like we are a part of it. Anyway, Melissa was taken to the clinic by her mom and given to a lady that was waiting to be seen and told her that she would be right back. Sadly, she never came back. We believe that the decision the mom made, was not an easy one. Why, Melissa has been seen at the clinic on 3 other occasions, by our wonderful team of Dr.s and nurses that have voluntarily came to serve. She is 6 months old, has Downs Syndrome, and a heart defect. Melissa is very small for her age, but we believe that it's due to the heart defect. Dr. Jenny Chapman scooped her up and started feed and loving one this very fragile little girl, like she was her own. Unfortunately, she had to leave going back to the states the next day. With that being said, Kristina Birkhead, jumped in and took responsibility of being mom to this little girl. Now the funny thing about this, is that Kristina hates children.....I have been very proud of her and what she is doing for Melissa. She has taken charge and flourished in ways that are unbelievable. I know that the Lord is definitely working on this girl, cause now she loves Melissa without reservations and beyond her faults and disabilities as any other MOM would. Well, now Kristina has a full time job at the kids school as a teacher, and Mentor for the girls there, to help lead them in a way that is glorifying to God.
On top of this big adventure comes our own...as you all know, we have our own little bundle of joy!!! Isaac is getting so big!! Everyday is a new adventure for him and us!!! He has learned to walk and is getting faster everyday. I get so tickled watching him do new things. He has learned to go up and down stairs, so now we have to put up a guard gate. I just can't believe how much life and excitement he has brought to this family, and more amazed how the kids have taken responsibility in helping me.
Well, the CHOH, the Orphanage Isaac came from has been trying to get their Kresh license. This license will allow the Orphanage to become a legal adoption agency. After all the research and paper work has been sent in and resent, they are now awaiting INSPECTION!!!! With that being done, Isaac has had to be at the Orphanage at all times. We are trying to take him out there on Monday, pick him up in the afternoon on Wed. and return him on Thurs. morning and pick him back up on Friday afternoon for the weekend. It's very hard to do, but we are trying to make the best of it. We have heard that the inspection will be done at least by next Friday!!! We know that this is what we've all been working and praying to happen, but the wait is terrible. If you've ever been to Haiti, you know that nothing happens here in a hurry!!!
On the upside of things, we did talk to a lawyer day before yesterday! He has already started getting our permanent residency taken care of and said that it shouldn't take but at the most 21 days. After that is done, he will write a letter for us to take to the Embassy and apply for Isaac Visa to travel to the states with us at Christmas. We'll have enough done and with our guardianship, we shouldn't have a problem. He will continue to work on the adoption part, but said that with us having 2 other children already, that it may take a little while longer to complete. We will actually have to have the President of Haiti sign off on it, then it has to be logged into something, but it will be worth the wait. I'm just excited that he will, God willing, come home with us Christmas.
As you all know, adoptions cost alot of money! Right now, we are praying that God will provide that money. The cost will be $6,500.00 and anyone who feels led to help us with the costs would be greatly appreciated. We don't want people to just give because they feel they have too, we want people to be led by the Holy Spirit to give. We know that God will provide, we also want everyone to be involved in our amazing journey.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in our Journey to Haiti! God is amazing and His spirit is ever present in our daily walk. Not everything is perfect, but through God's Holy Spirit, everything is possible!!!

If you would like to help with adoption costs, please send it to:

Chadasha Foundation
C/O Chris Keylon
P.O. Box 743
Louisville, TN. 37777