Respire Haiti

About 5 months ago, God had placed the desire in my heart to go on a small mission trip. I'll be honest, the idea was a little intimidating at first. I thought that maybe the desire would just fade away, but it only grew stronger, confirming that it was much more than just MY idea. Then one evening, while standing in my kitchen, I began thinking to myself, "What is God trying to teach me right now? What does he want from me during this season of my life?" Slowly, I have begun to realize that this season of my life is about growing my relationship with HIM, and learning to fully TRUST Him. And that means trusting him with every decision and in every area of my life. 

Being a pediatric nurse, I feel that He is calling me to step out of my box and take the gift of compassion and knowledge that He has given me, and use it to further His kingdom. I know that there are so many ministries that work with children in orphanages and many that are in need of nurses, but I had no idea which one to choose. I had considered a few, but I couldn't commit to one. I just couldn't find the one that felt "right". After praying for months and asking God to make it clear where it is he wanted me to go, I finally got my answer. 

A very good friend of mine, Nich, had recently moved to Haiti. A little over a week ago, I got a text message from him that read, 

"Thinking of you today! Sending prayers from Haiti." 

We small talked a little, and then I asked him if it would ever be possible for me to come to Haiti? I thought that maybe it was a long shot, but something was urging me to ask. And this was his reply.... 

"That's not even a question at all!! Brittani! That would be SO doable." 

It's amazing the way that God works. This was the confirmation I was hoping for. 

To understand more about the ministry, he encouraged me to read the book "Miracle on Voodoo Mountain", a book written by the amazing young woman who started the ministry, Respire, that he is a part of. I URGE you to read this captivating story of this young woman whom God is using in such a mighty way. The desire in my heart to visit Haiti has deepened even more after finishing this book. I just couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in one day, it was incredible. 

I have interviewed Nich so you can get a glimpse of what it's like to serve The Lord in Haiti. And if it's God's will, I will be headed there in May!! Please continue to be in prayer for him and the rest of the Respire ministry. Nich is also 100% support based, and If you feel that The Lord has put it on your heart to help support him, please gather his information at the end of his interview. 

Here we go!  

So Nich, I guess we should start out by saying how we know each other…

Well, we met each other in fourth grade, when your family moved to La Vernia, and we quickly became friends.  If I remember correctly, our passion to become world-renowned zoologists together is what we initially bonded over.  Through the years, our passions and pursuits may have changed, but our friendship only grew deeper!

When did you first realize that God was calling you to live in Haiti?  Have you always wanted to do that?

I first visited Haiti last summer (2014) as part of my role with Champions Special Ministries, a non-profit organization based out of Kansas City that serves individuals with special needs.  We worked at a special needs orphanage in Port-au-Prince for about a week, before coming back to the states for a summer of ministry across the Midwest.

At the end of the summer, I moved back to Dallas, TX to finish my Master’s Degree in Christian Education.  I worked diligently to finish my degree, find a job, and develop my ideal “five-year plan,” but the Lord never gave me a sense of peace about it all.  In September, God really began to ignite a fire in my heart for the people of Haiti.  Almost every day, the Lord would interrupt my prayers, my journaling, and my Bible reading with visions of Haiti and its people.  To be honest, I remember thinking it was frustrating, that God would interrupt my quiet times in such fashion.  I knew the Spirit was nudging my heart, but day after day, I didn’t want to believe the calling he was speaking over my life.

So, to answer your question:  No.  Haiti was never really on my radar.  It all happened pretty quickly.  God has a funny way of doing that.

Was it hard to give up everything you knew in order to follow what God was telling you to do?

Once I gave God my yes, I received confirmation after confirmation that I had made the right decision.  For example, one day I randomly bumped into a friend I hadn’t talked to in months.  As we made small talk, she said, “What are you doing after you finish school in December?”  When I told her I was moving to Haiti, her eyes could not have possibly grown any bigger.  When I questioned her reaction, she said, “Nich, that makes so much sense.  I have been having dreams for the past few weeks about you in Haiti.”

That was just one example of many I could reference.  In light of the confirmation I received from friends and family, and the peace I experienced from the Father, giving up everything became a no-brainer, because I knew I would never regret being obedient to God.

Can you tell us a little about the ministry that you are a part of?

Sure.  Founded in 2011, Respire (Res-per-ray) Haiti serves to encourage, educate, and empower restaveks (slave children), orphans and vulnerable children in Haiti.  Located in Gressier, about 20 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Respire Haiti runs a Christian school of over 500 students, most of which are restaveks, in a culture where less than 50% of children attend school.  Respire Haiti also operates community feeding and discipleship programs.

What does a typical day look like for you in Haiti?

Every day looks a little bit different around here.  In Haiti, you learn to expect the unexpected.  You also learn to wear many hats.  My main roles at Respire include spiritual formation (making disciples and mentoring young teens, preaching on Sundays, creating Bible studies), working with children who have special needs, and providing tennis lessons.

Like I said, my schedule varies from day to day, but I can do my best to give you a snapshot of a typical day in Haiti.  I usually wake up around 5 a.m., in order to spend some alone time with Jesus (read my Bible, pray, and journal).  Around 7:15 a.m., I walk up Bellevue Mountain to go to school.  It’s about a 20-minute walk.  During the morning, I work with students one-on-one in the special needs classroom.  Early afternoons are usually spent studying for and preparing my Sunday message.  I teach tennis lessons between 3-5 p.m up on the mountain on a makeshift tennis court.  And any spare time I have, I try to spend with the young kids and teens of the community.  I am usually in bed by 8 p.m.

What is/are the biggest needs that Haiti has?

The needs of Haiti are seemingly endless.  Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, so the physical needs are obvious.  Most people do not have access to food, clean water, or medicine.  Lack of education is another huge problem.

The greatest need, and the one I care about most, is the need for Jesus’ perfect love to push back generations of darkness.  I believe with all my heart that He is Haiti’s (and the world’s)only hope.  Haiti is a very dark country, spiritually speaking.  In fact, the mountain I live on is actually known as Voodoo Mountain.  Animal sacrifices and satanic worship are common. I have witnessed countless beatings of children.  I have heard horrible stories of rape and violence inflicted on young girls and children.  I have seen children avoid another child with special needs, because special children are viewed as “cursed.”

My heart breaks the most for the young men of Gressier, Haiti.  I remember coming to Haiti in June and seeing so many women in the orphanage where we stayed.  “Where are the men?” I thought.  That was the question that burdened me the most back in September, when the Spirit was pulling my heart towards this country.  Women are naturally nurturing.  It comes so easily for most of them.  Men, on the other hand, aren’t nurturers by nature.  Establishing relationships and intentionally pouring into them day after day is not a strong gift most men possess. It is incredibly rare to find that kind of mature and Godly man in Haiti.  That’s not a dis on this country or its men.  That’s just reality.

Sometimes we’re the answers to our own prayers.  I knew the need in Haiti was great, for love, affection, and strong Godly role models.  I knew how hungry these kids were, to feel wanted, to feel cherished and valued, especially by a male figure.  And I had faith that God could move through me, and could magnify His perfect love through my imperfections.  The Bible says our faith can move mountains.  I want to see this mountain moved from darkness to light, and I believe that is going to happen one child at a time.  Jesus changed the world with Twelve.  Surely I can have an impact on this mountain.

How can we help support you and your ministry?

The first and most important way you can support me is via prayer. I desperately need the strength of the Father, the power of the Spirit, and the love of Jesus, in order to have any shot of being effective in ministry.  Pray for my learning of Haitian Creole.  Pray for my relationship with the young men of Gressier, Haiti.  Pray for my faith, that the joy of the Lord would be my strength.  Pray for patience, understanding, and a forgiving spirit.  Pray for my dependence on Jesus.

Also, if you feel so led, please consider partnering with me financially.  You can email me to find out more about how to do this. I have provided my personal email below.

Is there anything you would like to add?

If you’re interested in how God is moving in Haiti, and in particular, how he is moving in Gressier, please feel free to follow my journey at beautyonthemountain.wordpress.com … You can also find Megan Boudreaux’s (the founder of Respire Haiti) book, Miracle on Voodoo Mountain at any book store.  It is a powerfully inspiring read.

If you have any other questions or comments, or you would like to find out more about supporting me financially, please email me at bergstrom.nich@gmail.com

Thank you Brittani for taking the time to feature me on your blog.  It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of your inspiring website.

 

‘Til the World Knows,

Nich

Angel Gowns

I remember the day that I first saw it, beautifully hanging on the store mannequin. I had been looking for only a few days but I knew I would know what I wanted when I saw it. The consultant took it off the mannequin for me and I slipped into the dressing room to try it on. I walked out of the dressing room and looked in the mirror. It was beautiful. The bodice was entirely beaded, and when the light hit it just right, it sparkled. The corset back and long satin train gave it the elegant "princess" touch that I had always dreamed of. With tears of joy streaming down my face, I said "YES" to my wedding dress.

 

Fast forward a few years and that beautiful dress is tucked away in my closet, in a preservation box, untouched since my wedding day. You don't really think about what you'll do with your "dream dress" after the big day. I always thought maybe I would give it to my daughter, if I had one, although I'm sure she would have her own style and taste when it came her time. But when a marriage doesn't work out, looking back at your wedding dress brings about many mixed emotions. After much thought, I decided I would try to sell it. To be honest, I didn't try very hard. I wanted it to go to the "right" person, and I just didn't feel like I had found that person. Then one night, while at bible study, I brought up my wedding dress. I'm not sure why the topic came up, but there's a reason that it did. 

A good friend of mine began to tell me that her church was collecting wedding dresses to make burial gowns for babies who don't come home from the hospital.  She said that if I wanted to donate it, she would take it for me. Without hesitation, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. To know that my dress, that made me feel so beautiful, would be made into the wedding dress (or tux) that a baby angel would never grow up to wear. I have never lost a baby, and I pray that I never will. But having a younger brother in heaven who was a stillborn, I know that someone like my mother would have appreciated such a gesture. I can only imagine that amongst the grief that the family feels after the loss of their baby, having a gown for them is one less thing that they will have to think about. My prayer is that my gown will help acknowledge how precious that baby's life was. The truth is, like most brides, my dress was worn for maybe a total of 10 hours, and it made me feel beautiful and special during that time. But nothing can compare to how beautiful my dress will look on these precious babies as they greet their Heavenly Father who has called them home. 

I've been asked if I have mixed feelings, or if it's sad for me to let go of my dress. And I can honestly answer that by saying "no". I have to thank my Nannan (my grandma) who bought me the wedding dress of my dreams. I will always be grateful for her love and generosity. The truth is that no one can predict the future, and a failed marriage or not, a dress is just a dress. And if it's in God's plan, I might wear another wedding dress some day. But for now, this dress will serve a much greater purpose than sitting in a box, in my closet, collecting dust. These precious little angels will look more beautiful in their gowns, than I ever possibly could have. 

If you are interested in donating your wedding dress to this wonderful cause, visit nicuhelpinghands.org or email me at wittybritty0413@gmail.com. Very pale colored prom or bridesmaid dresses in colors light blue, light pink and light purple are also accepted. 

Xoxoxo, 

Brittani