Dear Readers,

Well, we made it safely to Haiti and back. What a trip. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

I learned something while there. Many times we believe we are doing someting good to bless others. The reality, however, is that in doing so, we are the ones who come away blessed. I also learned that humor and happiness are NOT rooted in what you HAVE. It’s rooted in who you ARE & what you possess inside.

Am I getting serious again? OH NO! What has happened? Is this the end of the world? Should you crawl into your bathtub and pull a mattress over you? No. Why? Because that will be very uncomfortable. Plus, the tub hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Yuck. Get up. Put the mattress back. Get ahold of yourself!

What I mean is that I have never met people who have so little materially, yet have so much happiness, love, joy and laughter to share. We worked with over 200 orphans, transporting them from their three orphanages to a 30-plus acre compound for a 3 day long camp. From the minute I met them, I was overwhelmed with their love and desire to laugh, play and be happy with us…including me, the MAJOR DOOFUS EXTRAORDINAIRE:

In no time at all, each of us were literally surrounded by kids, as if swarmed by bees. They wanted only to be touched, loved, and played with. They’d stoop down and clean the dust off of our shoes. They’d stroke your hair, pat your back, and look up at you with wide eyes. They’d stare at the freckles on my arm, or a mole on my neck, giggling to each other. As I sat down for the first time, I’d have five children sitting in my lap, and many others surrounding me. I’d feel my hair being played with and laughter all around. As I deliberately paid attention to one child at a time, it was if I could see a little “fuel gage”…a “love meter”, if you will…filling up, slowly but surely, after being on empty for so long. Don’t get me wrong–the (amazing) people who care for these kids do an incredible job. But how can anyone have enough to daily give over 100 abandoned children what they need such that they don’t crave this attention? (I would dare say that Celiane, Valmond, Liddy, Daniel, Theodore and the others who have dedicated their lives to caring for these children are modern-day SAINTS.)

The kids were full of laughs, and despite the language barrier (they speak French Creole. I BARELY speak plain english) we instantly engaged in the international language: HUMOR.

The kids instantly figured out what a goof I am when, during the first morning chapel, I taught them a skill every child should know: how to place a latex glove over your head and blow it up using only your NOSE:

This was a HUGE hit with the kids. In fact, it was SUCH a huge hit, several of them snuck into the medical clinic we held and grabbed some gloves. Later, during a soccer game, several youngsters appeared with gloves fully inflated over their heads. Throughout the next few days, we’d see a human glove-head walking around. “Well done, Grasshopper. My job here is done.” Well, not quite.

The living conditions at the orphanages would make any of us cringe. Imagine very thin “mattresses” being shared by three or four children. Imagine children having to sleep on the concrete, and play soccer barefoot in the gravel “courtyard”. Imagine living in a very small “compound” surrounded by high walls, gates and other barriers to keep the dangerous “neighbors” from coming in and stealing what little food you have.

Despite these conditions, every one of the kids was quick to smile:

and when faced with an opportunity to watch a grown man make a complete idiot of himself, they were more than happy to join in on the fun:

So if HUMOR is the international language, I shall continue to “speak” it loud and clear. The feeling you get when you see a child (who seemingly has every worldly reason to be sad and bitter) light up and show a big smile, giggle and laugh despite those circumstances is one that can not be explained…it can only be experienced. Bringing joy into the lives of these little ones is a one of the surest ways to “open the door to the heart”…and tell them how loved and valued they are by God. But, they knew that. Thus the joy they display, seemingly so contrary to our own understanding. If you didn’t understand this, it would certainly make you THINK. Perhaps we Westerners, with all of our lavish “things” don’t take the time to “think”. We’re too distracted.

So the next time you’re tempted to look at the glass as “half empty”, I’d encourage you to count your blessings and find someone who YOU can bless with some good ol’ fashioned humor. Go ahead. Don the clown wig, the goofy glasses with the big nose, or just cross your eyes. Pull out the dribble glass. Heck, tell a lame joke. Not only will it make someone feel good, it will brighten up YOUR day as well. Consider where you (we) try to find joy, and the emptiness that always seems to perk to the surface. Perhaps the source of joy that these kids have found can be the same that (finally) fills that void in our lives.

If you’re not willing to laugh during life, you might as well get the mattress and head for the tub.

Yuk. Make sure to clean it first. Eeewwwww.

Until next time…enjoy the fun!

P.S. If you’d like to see for yourself the “joy” in these kids that I’m talking about (despite their circumstances), watch the video below. (This is what having a real relationship with God will do for you!)

If you’d like to see more of our video clips, click HERE!