A blog by Lucas Shivers, writer on the media team traveling to Haiti today:

The mournful trumpet resounded to announce the morning coverage of the Haiti earthquake. For weeks, NPR shared the heartbreak, stories and updates.

“Is it Haiti again?” Malek, my leather-headed, barely awake 8-year-old foster son said as he squinted against the sun reflecting through the windshield.

“Yep, Haiti time again,” I answered. “Did you remember to pray for them?”

“Sure did,” he peeped out, always sensitive to the vulnerable. “God bless Haiti.”

Riding in the car to school each morning, the unimaginable devastation replayed endlessly. The news announced small steps of progress, with huge unknowns of long-term recuperation and stability. Mixed with the photos, videos and coverage of the 24-hour news cycle, Haiti skyrocketed into the world’s priority list after remaining on the underside for generations.

I never dreamed I’d witness it all myself a few months later. I was blown away when I got a Facebook message asking about my interest to travel and write.

I’m not a world traveler. My wife has been to the Middle East, and we have missionary and NGO-working friends scattered about the world. We scan their update letters always eager to learn the latest. It’s been an interest, but one of those ‘out there, some day’ dreams.

I’m a teacher and a mentor. I’m a husband madly in love with my wife. I’m a foster father to a set of brothers. I’m a writer and a storyteller. I love people and learning from them.

So, here I am, just in love with God. I love being in tune with the Spirit to discern and understand the world. Like so many, I hear and see the pain, suffering and hardship of God’s children – some who know about his love and even more who don’t. I know God is in it all, then and now, and I want to share this truth with the masses both domestic and foreign. He’s the ultimate caretaker. His control is enough.

            Now, I’m heading to an island to share love. I’ll have Malek and so many others in God’s Kingdom praying for me the whole way. 

 

            My mother taught me well to be precautious and ready for anything. So, I called the county health department to set up any needed immunization or vaccination shots to get ready for Haiti. I am not overly squeamish about simple medical procedures, but the story that unfolded was more than I predicted from a routine appointment.

            It was parent-teacher conference day at school. I had a few open time slots mid-morning, and I decided to run and get my shots. I found a full waiting room of mostly mothers and babies. After filling out the release sheet, I waited flipping through magazines and blocking out the cartoons from the mounted screen. Finally, I was called back.

I talked with the nurse about all of the procedures and travel safety measures. She covered all of the details. By happenstance, or actually providence, she was a fellow believer who told me to pray over the food, and I’d be fine.

            Then, she pulled out the needles and I took the shots, one per bicep, with the flesh-tone Band-Aids to prove it. I gathered all of the brochures and information and said goodbye. As I entered the lobby again, I pulled out my credit card to pay at the counter. I felt fine, and I even got a long drink of water from the fountain. When I went back to sign the receipt, an unsteady wave started at my feet and overtook my torso. Whoa!

            Then I fainted, dropping to the ground. The nurses behind the glass jumped up, and I could hear them yelling, “What just happened to that guy?” “What did he just have?” “Get out there! Go, go.”

            I don’t remember anything, but apparently on my way down, my face slammed into the Formica countertop. My left front, bucktooth chipped off about a third of the tooth. It was stuck in my bottom lip and sent blood spilling from my mouth.

            As I came back to reality, the first thing I heard was a little girl asking, “Mommy, mommy! What just happened to that man?” So, I’m not the poster-boy for little ones waiting for shots!

I took a paper towel from one of the surrounding nurses. I pulled the tooth piece from my lip. I started apologizing and talking with a lisp since my front left tooth was gone and slurped out more air. I was given an ice pack for my swollen lip and led back to the waiting room. Why couldn’t this have happened in the office, rather than the full lobby with all of the waiting patients? I couldn’t believe it. The nurse told me I must have been nervous and glad shots were finished, causing the rush and fainting.

Over my lunch break, I went to the dentist, and they thankfully glued my front tooth back together without much fuss, pain or cost. The dentist, also a seeker of God, and the others in the office got to hear all about the upcoming trip and why I was preparing to travel overseas to share the love of Jesus.

So even with a trauma tooth and vaccines coursing through my body, I’m another step closer to Haiti. God’s control – again – was shown to me by the utter craze of the day. More and more people are learning about the trip – and more importantly – God’s love and heartbeat for all nations to come to know that love and care. Even in times of drama and spite, God loves and cares, and we’re his tools to make it known for all. 

 

 

            Telling people about my upcoming trip to Haiti has been one mixed bag. Ranging from shock and awe to celebration or unbelief, my inner circles are surprised as I get to share more about the upcoming adventure of reaching out to the vulnerable in Haiti.

My wife, a woman of extreme faith and heart for internationals, fully supported shouldering the extra load of a single-parent home for a few weeks. My foster boys thought it was pretty cool to be able to go and see what we’re only so far heard about on the radio. My parents, overcautious and still protective, will worry more than they should. “I’d pack water to make sure you have some,” my mother seriously responded.

Others who have been to Haiti and returned commented about their observations and experiences. The deforestation, disarray and groans of creation, the resilience and healing of people and endless tent cities seem to be first on people’s minds.

My students were amazed momentarily, then they went back to their assignments. My fellow teachers and school staff popped their eyes with surprise and asked about how it all happened.

My friends seem to be impressed with it all. One told of their experiences with the “worst parasite ever” from eating lettuce from a high school trip to Haiti, while others remember distant connections of hearing something to comment on from the rebuilding. They know my interests and passion to show God’s love. They ask about how to help and make it all possible.

It’s been incredible to get to share about it all with my spheres and circles in Kansas City. I love the opportunity to shed some light on recent projects and gain clarity on the current status of work being completed in Haiti.

In all of the itinerary emails and preparation details, I’m excited to engage in the stories and boots-on-the-ground reports. Those closest have been enlisted to pray and support me and my family back home. Even in dealing with the fine points, I’m eager to roll out.

 

Well, after the situation with the shots, I decided to take the pills for typhoid fever. Since it’s a live bacterium, not many pharmacies carry the vaccine. After two phone calls and a stop at a Walgreens, I had a lead to a store across town to get the medicine. I picked it up and started the eight days of treatment. On the first night, I sweated it out all night. My wife said I was a heater core.

Even after a full night’s sleep, I felt tired, jumpy, knocked out, tanked and more. It wasn’t fun. I’m not really known for being in tune with myself, but this ordeal has allowed experiences for introspection.

When I arrived at school later in the morning, a teacher asked why my eyes were glassed over. My students noticed my irritability by around 8:20 in the morning. I explained the case to them, then assigned them an essay entitled, “My Teacher May Have Typhoid.” From their creative writing, I ended up jumping out of the plane, turning into Godzilla, passing the symptoms off to the whole school, a 12-days of Christmas-style song and more. Thankfully, I wouldn’t let my students end up doing me in.

With just a small concentration of the bacteria in my body, I couldn’t imagine the full effects of what millions face daily. As the countdown ticks off to days then hours, I’m even more ready. I’m excited to be able to bring God’s healing and hope to many.

I pray our media trip to bring back stories centered on the Come, Grow, Change theme in living color with interviews, images and video to offer a snapshot to everyone about the work of God’s Kingdom in Haiti and the world. I believe in this model for missions. I want love to be spread – not any other virus or bacteria – to infect all with peace, hope and transformation.