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Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman's Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti
"It took months of God waking me up in the middle of the night before I realized I was the one He was calling to leave my comfortable American life and move to Haiti."
Miracle on Voodoo Mountain is the inspirational memoir of an accomplished and driven 24-year old who quit her job, sold everything, and moved to Haiti, by herself—all without a clear plan of action. Megan Boudreaux had visited Haiti on a few humanitarian trips but each trip multiplied the sense that someone needed to address the devastation—especially with the children, many of whom were kept as household slaves on the poverty-stricken and earthquake-devastated Caribbean island.
God guided her every step as she moved blindly to a foreign land without knowing the language, the people, or the future. From becoming the adoptive mother of former child slaves, to receiving the divine gift of the Haitian Creole language, to starting, building, and running a school for more than 500 children, "the amazingness of what God did after I made the choice to be obedient is incredible," said Megan.
Three years later, six acres on Bellevue Mountain in Gressier is the home of the nonprofit Respire Haiti at the former site of voodoo worship, and in the area that many still come to make animal sacrifices, Megan and her staff of nearly 200 are transforming this community as they educate, feed, and address the needs.
Miracle on Voodoo Mountain is the inspirational memoir of an accomplished and driven 24-year old who quit her job, sold everything, and moved to Haiti, by herself—all without a clear plan of action. Megan Boudreaux had visited Haiti on a few humanitarian trips but each trip multiplied the sense that someone needed to address the devastation—especially with the children, many of whom were kept as household slaves on the poverty-stricken and earthquake-devastated Caribbean island.
God guided her every step as she moved blindly to a foreign land without knowing the language, the people, or the future. From becoming the adoptive mother of former child slaves, to receiving the divine gift of the Haitian Creole language, to starting, building, and running a school for more than 500 children, "the amazingness of what God did after I made the choice to be obedient is incredible," said Megan.
Three years later, six acres on Bellevue Mountain in Gressier is the home of the nonprofit Respire Haiti at the former site of voodoo worship, and in the area that many still come to make animal sacrifices, Megan and her staff of nearly 200 are transforming this community as they educate, feed, and address the needs.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
66 people are currently reading
1311 people want to read
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June 24, 2016
An incredibly moving story of a young woman in her early twenties who decided to follow a calling from God. She quit her job, moved to Haiti and then didn't know what the rest of the calling was to be, but just listened and filled needs one by one. In 2011, at the age of 24 she adopted her first daughter, bought some land on a mountain and began to educate the parentless children of Haiti. Today she runs her foundation, Respire Haiti, she is married, has several acres, several classrooms, a medical center, a café (that supports the school), three more adopted children. Her story is incredible and it begs the reader to not believe until you realize that there is nothing to do but believe a story like this.
If your faith is having doubts, this book will renew you with energy.
"This is the gospel. One person at a time. One child at a time. Progress might seem small and slow at times, and it might seem impossible to ever really make a difference, but it is moments like this when we are reminded God is at work."
"God reminds me the battle here on earth is full of tragedies, heartache and brokenness. But it's not our job too fight against this world. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). Instead, my job is to spread the light."
"Prayer and worship are my secret weapons, whether dealing with a voodoo priest, a corrupt pastor running a sham orphanage, or a servant of the head horseman. I am earning to let God fight my battles."
If your faith is having doubts, this book will renew you with energy.
"This is the gospel. One person at a time. One child at a time. Progress might seem small and slow at times, and it might seem impossible to ever really make a difference, but it is moments like this when we are reminded God is at work."
"God reminds me the battle here on earth is full of tragedies, heartache and brokenness. But it's not our job too fight against this world. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). Instead, my job is to spread the light."
"Prayer and worship are my secret weapons, whether dealing with a voodoo priest, a corrupt pastor running a sham orphanage, or a servant of the head horseman. I am earning to let God fight my battles."
January 14, 2015
Of all the nonfiction books I’ve read, this one might be the one that has touched me the most deeply. Over unbelievable and insurmountable odds, one young woman waged a war against darkness for a handful of Haitian children—and won.
Megan Boudreaux paid a brief visit to Haiti in 2010, just after the earthquake that devastated that country. While there, she hiked up to a beautiful old tamarind tree sitting by itself on top of Bellevue Mountain.
She went home, and the dreams started. She would dream about that tree night after night and wake up with her heart pounding in excitement. She went in to talk to her boss about these crazy dreams and how much she’d been impressed by the children and people.
In the middle of her ramblings, her boss spoke up. “If you think God is calling you to Haiti, you absolutely need to go. If it doesn’t work out there will always be a place for you here.”
So she went. No plan in mind, no one with her, no funding, no sponsors—just a dream and a destination, Gressier, Haiti. So many amazing and miraculous things unfold from that little step of obedience—you’ve got to read the book to believe it.
Megan Boudreaux paid a brief visit to Haiti in 2010, just after the earthquake that devastated that country. While there, she hiked up to a beautiful old tamarind tree sitting by itself on top of Bellevue Mountain.
She went home, and the dreams started. She would dream about that tree night after night and wake up with her heart pounding in excitement. She went in to talk to her boss about these crazy dreams and how much she’d been impressed by the children and people.
In the middle of her ramblings, her boss spoke up. “If you think God is calling you to Haiti, you absolutely need to go. If it doesn’t work out there will always be a place for you here.”
So she went. No plan in mind, no one with her, no funding, no sponsors—just a dream and a destination, Gressier, Haiti. So many amazing and miraculous things unfold from that little step of obedience—you’ve got to read the book to believe it.
January 5, 2018
I have very mixed feelings about this book, which my daughter and I listened to on audio. Even though as written many of her decisions don't make sense, it's hard to argue with since it's what she says God impressed on her to do and then God miraculously does something. (For example not trying to learn Creole and moving to a remote area of the country by herself/ outside of an organization based on a dream and then miraculously being able to speak and understand Creole fluently.) There are also plot points that get discussed and then dropped and picked up intermittently that are unclear if it's just not said in the book or just not something she knew the outcome of (for example what happened to Gabriel and the children at the orphanage and how Michaelle isn't mentioned for several chapters and then she's back again and was really there all along.) It's also unclear how much guidance she was getting from Haitians versus her sense of what God wanted her to do. It is very well intentioned but sometimes good intentions can have harmful outcomes, as might have happened if the orphanage director had just decided to shut her out and not let her help the children because she got angry. I appreciate her love for God, commitment to following Him, and love for Haitian children but she even talks about how these same factors lead others to support orphanages that were exploiting and trafficking children. It seems like God is doing amazing things through her bold steps of faith, which I appreciate as a Christian, but sometimes even when God is calling people, there are still challenges that need to be worked through, and things still don't always work out because of the world we live in and due to evil and/ or powerful people. I listened to this with my daughter, who was adopted from Haiti, and we had so many questions and thoughts.
February 26, 2015
restavek-awareness
What is a Restavek? Let Megan Boudreaux tell you. And then read her amazing book, Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman's Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti. At just twenty-four, this young woman went to Haiti and achieved something most people regardless of age, maturity, or faith even give a fleeting thought. I didn't know the term restavek or restavek until I read this book although I knew of the practice. Megan's narrative balances her personal quest with enough factual information to compel you to want to make a difference to someone, anyone, even yourself. Taking a leap of faith. Believing in someone or something. Megan happens to believe in God, Jesus Christ and the kindness of others. She also believes in herself although she doesn't seem to know it when her story begins. You can be an atheist, a Muslim, a nerd, a Republican or any label out there. The beauty of this book is it is a story for everyone who has ever had that feeling, a dream, and some courage. If you have love in your soul, you will be moved. Read this. And be inspired. And then maybe like Megan, we will all know what we can do.
What is a Restavek?
From Blessed With A Burden Blog by Megan Boudreaux
https://blessedwithaburden.wordpress....
Copy provided by publisher
What is a Restavek? Let Megan Boudreaux tell you. And then read her amazing book, Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman's Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti. At just twenty-four, this young woman went to Haiti and achieved something most people regardless of age, maturity, or faith even give a fleeting thought. I didn't know the term restavek or restavek until I read this book although I knew of the practice. Megan's narrative balances her personal quest with enough factual information to compel you to want to make a difference to someone, anyone, even yourself. Taking a leap of faith. Believing in someone or something. Megan happens to believe in God, Jesus Christ and the kindness of others. She also believes in herself although she doesn't seem to know it when her story begins. You can be an atheist, a Muslim, a nerd, a Republican or any label out there. The beauty of this book is it is a story for everyone who has ever had that feeling, a dream, and some courage. If you have love in your soul, you will be moved. Read this. And be inspired. And then maybe like Megan, we will all know what we can do.
What is a Restavek?
From Blessed With A Burden Blog by Megan Boudreaux
https://blessedwithaburden.wordpress....
Copy provided by publisher
January 19, 2015
Megan Boudreaux - an amazing women with an amazing story of what can be accomplished in the most dire of situations, this being the Haitian earthquake. Cashing it all in for a ticket to Haiti, she has only her humanitarian services to offer but somehow gives even more...herself. A real humanitarian story of someone doing something right now. If you have blood running through your veins, I can't imagine this book would be a disappointment.
August 8, 2019
Riveting. Faith-building. Inspiring.
June 19, 2022
This was an inspiring story of Megan's experience moving to Haiti and serving the children of Gressier. There are many recounts of fighting spiritual battles, as Haiti is overrun with spiritual darkness, particularly voodoo, which Megan describes as being "more than just a religion but an experience that ties both body and soul together." They serve as a reminder that the enemy is real, and we've been given prayer to stand up against him.
As much as I liked the story overall, there were a couple things that bothered me about the story-telling.
The timeline was often unclear, and the author jumped back and forth between subplots; because of this, she repeats information - not as a reinforcement, but as if she hadn't already recorded that part of the story.
She skips over the "hard" bits of every story, which makes every recount sound like an "overnight miracle" instead of giving the reader insight into the longer struggle. For example, instead of hearing that it was hard for her family to go 5 weeks without hearing from a particular boy, I would have appreciated being privy to family meals and conversations during that time to really understand how hard it was.
As much as I liked the story overall, there were a couple things that bothered me about the story-telling.
The timeline was often unclear, and the author jumped back and forth between subplots; because of this, she repeats information - not as a reinforcement, but as if she hadn't already recorded that part of the story.
She skips over the "hard" bits of every story, which makes every recount sound like an "overnight miracle" instead of giving the reader insight into the longer struggle. For example, instead of hearing that it was hard for her family to go 5 weeks without hearing from a particular boy, I would have appreciated being privy to family meals and conversations during that time to really understand how hard it was.
September 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this memoir and story of a young, 24yo woman who quit her job and went to Haiti. One year after Haiti's devastating earthquake, Megan heads to the country after selling all her things. She doesn't exactly know what she's supposed to do there, but she has a reoccurring dream of a tamarind tree. Once she arrives, things start happening quickly. She meets a young girl under the tamarind tree, only to find out later that she is a modern day child-slave. Megan volunteers at an orphanage only to realize that the director/pastor is embezzling funds and goods and the children starving. The true story contains police stings, demon possession, children injured and starving, and orphans caught up in child-slavery. Megan starts a feeding program, and then eventually Repire Haiti to educate the children in slavery. I'm now following her on Instagram and enjoying the pictures of the school, medical clinic, etc.
Recommended.
Recommended.
September 12, 2016
What an incredible story, it's hard to imagine this is happening in this day and age. What an amazing woman Megan is. Itopened my eyes to the fact that when we want to help and be apart of something we really need to understand what we are helping with and making sure that assistance is getting to where it needs to be.
March 15, 2015
A beautiful story about the character of God and His ability to use His children to bring about His plans. A wonderful glimpse at the beauty and pain that is Haiti. Wonderful book I'd recommend to anyone interested in missions, Haiti, or who just need a reminder of how good God is.
June 3, 2017
This was a family read aloud that had Justin and I tearing up at points; what an inspiring and exciting read as we followed a young gal to Haiti and got to see God miraculously provide a way for her to help poor and enslaved children.
April 1, 2015
Ever thought to yourself ‘Oh no, I could never do that?’ I know that I have. For twenty four year old Megan Bourdeaux, it took months of God waking her up in the middle of the night before she realized she was the one He was calling to leave her comfortable American life and move to Haiti.
If you love children, justice and have a heart for the nations, you are sure to love this new book ‘Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman’s Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti’. I don’t know a great deal about Haiti but I know that it is a beautiful, dark and poverty stricken island in the Carribean. Furthermore it is a nation that has suffered the trauma of a devastating earthquake five years ago.
Written by Megan Boudreaux, ‘A Miracle On Voodoo Mountain’ is a remarkable memoir of how she sold everything she had and moved from the United States to Haiti in response to a unsettling God-given dream she kept experiencing. The dreams all featured the same tamarind tree that sat on top of Bellevue Mountain near Gressier, Haiti. Without a clear plan of action she trusted God’s leading, taking a leap of faith with a good dose of courage and bravery mixed in. Read more here: www.latteslacedwithgrace/2015/04/01/m...
If you love children, justice and have a heart for the nations, you are sure to love this new book ‘Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman’s Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti’. I don’t know a great deal about Haiti but I know that it is a beautiful, dark and poverty stricken island in the Carribean. Furthermore it is a nation that has suffered the trauma of a devastating earthquake five years ago.
Written by Megan Boudreaux, ‘A Miracle On Voodoo Mountain’ is a remarkable memoir of how she sold everything she had and moved from the United States to Haiti in response to a unsettling God-given dream she kept experiencing. The dreams all featured the same tamarind tree that sat on top of Bellevue Mountain near Gressier, Haiti. Without a clear plan of action she trusted God’s leading, taking a leap of faith with a good dose of courage and bravery mixed in. Read more here: www.latteslacedwithgrace/2015/04/01/m...
April 16, 2015
When I first read the review, I knew I had to read this book. It delivered everything I thought it would. I was captivated before I started, and am still hooked even after I finished the last page several days ago.
The book was easy to read and follow. It held my interest although, at times, I was saddened and moved to tears by very difficult circumstances. It was a well written and uplifting story. I was inspired by Megan's fearless courage and obvious child-like faith which moved her to answer the call, to make a difference in Haiti.
I was encouraged by the miracles and how God worked things out to make the improbable happen for Megan and the children. I was impressed by Megan's insight and confidence. Her wisdom was truly a gift, necessary to bring about the change and freedom to the children and future of Haiti.
I will definitely pass this book on, and thought it logical to go to someone who may be encouraged and inspired to adopt or help orphans in some concrete way.
Thank you W Publishing Group (an imprint of Thomas Nelson) and Book Look Bloggers for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for my review. I was not required to give a positive review and the views written are my own.
The book was easy to read and follow. It held my interest although, at times, I was saddened and moved to tears by very difficult circumstances. It was a well written and uplifting story. I was inspired by Megan's fearless courage and obvious child-like faith which moved her to answer the call, to make a difference in Haiti.
I was encouraged by the miracles and how God worked things out to make the improbable happen for Megan and the children. I was impressed by Megan's insight and confidence. Her wisdom was truly a gift, necessary to bring about the change and freedom to the children and future of Haiti.
I will definitely pass this book on, and thought it logical to go to someone who may be encouraged and inspired to adopt or help orphans in some concrete way.
Thank you W Publishing Group (an imprint of Thomas Nelson) and Book Look Bloggers for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for my review. I was not required to give a positive review and the views written are my own.
October 25, 2015
Everyone should read this book. Every.One. The fact that 2/3 of the world's population lives on less than 2 dollars a day and the fact that there are over 300,000 children being used as child slaves in Haiti right now today, is just unbelievable. We must do something. Megan Boudreaux did just that. She saw a need, she felt God's calling and she went. At 24 years old, she moved to Haiti alone, took on a corrupt orphanage that was actually selling children and started a school for the children of the town. Her story is amazing and awe-inspiring and the fact that she is from the same town that I live in fills me with great pride. She witnesses the results of horrific abuse and takes in the broken and unwanted day in and day out. She has adopted several Haitian children of her own and has now expanded her facilities to include a safe house, a medical clinic and multiple classrooms. If ever you have found yourself wishing that there was something you could do, there is. Donate. Spread the word. Read the book. It will move you, inspire you and show you that if you have faith and believe, you can move mountains. 5 fantastic stars.
February 2, 2018
Being as we're heading to Respire Haiti in a few weeks, I thought it'd be wise to read a book by it's founder. Quite the story. Less than a year after the devastating earthquake, she went off to Haiti without much of a plan in place, in hopes of doing whatever possible to make it a better place. She ended up adopting a few Haitian children, toppling a corrupt orphanage manager, getting married, founding a ministry with a school, athletic program, medical clinics, cafe, safe house, therapy center, and whatever else deemed necessary for the Haitian people.
I learned what a restavek is (essentially a child sent by his or her parents to work for a host household--basically a pre-glass slipper Cinderella with in a worse situation...aka slave), and that the seemingly meek can be the most powerful agents of change. I went from being slightly ambivalent about the trip to being excited. Still not sure specifically what I'll be doing, but I'm more confident that there will be something laid out for me to do upon arrival. Better start practicing my Creole!
I learned what a restavek is (essentially a child sent by his or her parents to work for a host household--basically a pre-glass slipper Cinderella with in a worse situation...aka slave), and that the seemingly meek can be the most powerful agents of change. I went from being slightly ambivalent about the trip to being excited. Still not sure specifically what I'll be doing, but I'm more confident that there will be something laid out for me to do upon arrival. Better start practicing my Creole!
February 7, 2017
Having been to Respire Haiti, I can say that this is truly a remarkable story of faith and dedication. It never ceases to amaze me what great things God has accomplished through the willingness of one woman to listen to His calling. This is a wonderful story that should lead us to believe that God can accomplish great things if people will just be obedient. Perhaps he could even use you & me to accomplish great things. Miracle on Voodoo Mountain is full of examples of circumstances that only God could orchestrate. I call them "God Things". I also call them "miracles". Thank you Megan for all you do. I would suggest that you don't start this book unless you have ample time to finish it, because you won't want to put it down.
August 31, 2017
Although obviously a new writer, this young woman tells a compelling story. Her big heart for the children of Haiti and her love for Jesus shine through as she paints word pictures of life in a devastated country filled with orphans, a hideous child trafficking industry, and extreme poverty. Divine appointments and interventions abound as this young lady opens her heart to these unwanted orphans and God opens the pocketbooks of many to donate towards the school complex she has dreamt of building for poor Haitian kids.
November 22, 2016
This is an inspiring story about a young woman's heart for God's children in Haiti. Very similar to Kisses from Katie, but much more culturally sensitive. Boudreaux works hard to refrain from the "White Saviour" complex and desires to empower the local Haitian people to affect change in their own country.
I loved reading it & am now reading it to our elementary aged boys. My desire is for their eyes to be opened a bit more to global poverty & live a bit differently as a result.
I loved reading it & am now reading it to our elementary aged boys. My desire is for their eyes to be opened a bit more to global poverty & live a bit differently as a result.
October 29, 2017
The only criticism I'd have is that I wish this book was longer. I would have liked to read more details of the work being done there, relationships, the culture, etc. It was a very good, quick read, but I wanted to know more.
April 29, 2018
I recommend this book to anyone who loves the Lord and wants to help children.
I loved the book and hope someday I can start build or work in an orphanage. Read this book and learn of God's great love forgiveness and mercy
I loved the book and hope someday I can start build or work in an orphanage. Read this book and learn of God's great love forgiveness and mercy
May 27, 2017
I will never forgot this book. Wow.
January 15, 2018
This book is fantastic and leaves you wanting to read the follow up story.
March 2, 2018
This book is excellent! Just wow. A must read - it will encourage your faith 100x over
October 27, 2018
A well-written and incredible inspiring story of a woman following God's purpose for her life and impacting the lives of so many around her!
March 20, 2025
What is life????? A question you will ask after reading this. I truly have not heard a story so bold and courageous as this. In addition, a story so marked by the fingerprints of Jesus. A story that will challenge your boldness and wonder why you haven’t heard her name before now. She is still going strong for the Lord (of course I looked it up after seeing publication date lol). A true testimony of Yeshuas faithfulness.
December 1, 2023
I love books about young missionary women obeying Gods calling. This was exactly like “Kisses form Katie” . The author seemed to have a “claim it” approach to prayer, so certain things seemed a little far stretched from what the Bible says. Overall enjoyable book and very inspiring to obey God and His will for our lives.
December 21, 2025
Loved this book so much. I learned of Respire Haiti from a fellow mom at my kids’ school who works on fundraising for the organization. I randomly came across this book at our local library and had to get it. The eye-opening read was fully hopeful and heartbreaking all at once. It was a really great reminder of the places that God asks us to go when we’re open to listening.
June 21, 2018
(4.5 stars) - This is a really remarkable story and you should read it because we get a glimpse of a God who sometimes does use the extraordinary and the miraculous.
Megan Boudreaux basically upends her life five months after a visit to Haiti to go back to Haiti and...do something, but she has no clue what. From a human perspective this is the height of folly—no real plans, nothing but an impulse from God to move to Haiti, but of course God doesn’t really care about whether we think that what He is doing is sensible or not, so off Megan goes...by herself. Like I said, the height of folly from a human perspective.
She almost immediately begins working on behalf of restaveks [children that are kept in slave-like conditions because no one really wants them], the work blossoms as Megan and the people that she works with in Haiti begin to see God working in extraordinary ways, and I do mean extraordinary. She [by her own account] grasps Creole without really studying it, God just gives it to her as a gift; they are able to buy land to build a school and the owner of Otter Box writes her a check for a huge sum to help build it; she has encounters with voodoo and the forces of evil [Respire Haiti - the organization she founds] ends up buying part of a mountain that has been used for voodoo ceremonies; she ends up with a school for 500 children, a medical clinic, a counseling center, a freedom house for teens at risk, and she gets married all in the space of about 5 to 6 years! It’s really remarkable.
The reader wonders, “how come this all seems so easy and happens so quickly?” About halfway through the book, we discover why things go so smoothly [for Haiti, which isn’t all that smooth as I’m sure Megan would attest], she writes about a local pastor and his wife who tell her that they had been praying underneath a tamarind tree every week at 4 am that God would provide someone to come and transform the area, and then Megan shows up and it really is transformed. I believe, and I’m sure that Megan believes, that it is this foundational twelve years of prayer that paved the way for everything that follows.
I do have one worry as I read this excellent book. God’s normal way of working is not what we find here. Most missionaries don’t find that God has given them knowledge of the language as a gift, most must labor for years to understand, read and write their target language. For most missionaries, the way is difficult and beset with many obstacles, I know a couple who have been working in tribal missions in Brazil for 28 years and not seen the kind of rapid change that Megan has seen. We need to be careful and understand that God works how he wants where he wants, but his normal work is the slow, difficult work of plugging away day after day, often with little or not “fruit.” I’m quite sure that Megan understands this. I can see someone reading her book and going somewhere else expecting to see the results that she has seen and being disappointed. This is the inherent danger of this book, thinking that what “worked” in Grassier, Haiti, will “work” elsewhere.
With that caveat, it’s a really good book and exciting to see God move in miraculous ways.
Megan Boudreaux basically upends her life five months after a visit to Haiti to go back to Haiti and...do something, but she has no clue what. From a human perspective this is the height of folly—no real plans, nothing but an impulse from God to move to Haiti, but of course God doesn’t really care about whether we think that what He is doing is sensible or not, so off Megan goes...by herself. Like I said, the height of folly from a human perspective.
She almost immediately begins working on behalf of restaveks [children that are kept in slave-like conditions because no one really wants them], the work blossoms as Megan and the people that she works with in Haiti begin to see God working in extraordinary ways, and I do mean extraordinary. She [by her own account] grasps Creole without really studying it, God just gives it to her as a gift; they are able to buy land to build a school and the owner of Otter Box writes her a check for a huge sum to help build it; she has encounters with voodoo and the forces of evil [Respire Haiti - the organization she founds] ends up buying part of a mountain that has been used for voodoo ceremonies; she ends up with a school for 500 children, a medical clinic, a counseling center, a freedom house for teens at risk, and she gets married all in the space of about 5 to 6 years! It’s really remarkable.
The reader wonders, “how come this all seems so easy and happens so quickly?” About halfway through the book, we discover why things go so smoothly [for Haiti, which isn’t all that smooth as I’m sure Megan would attest], she writes about a local pastor and his wife who tell her that they had been praying underneath a tamarind tree every week at 4 am that God would provide someone to come and transform the area, and then Megan shows up and it really is transformed. I believe, and I’m sure that Megan believes, that it is this foundational twelve years of prayer that paved the way for everything that follows.
I do have one worry as I read this excellent book. God’s normal way of working is not what we find here. Most missionaries don’t find that God has given them knowledge of the language as a gift, most must labor for years to understand, read and write their target language. For most missionaries, the way is difficult and beset with many obstacles, I know a couple who have been working in tribal missions in Brazil for 28 years and not seen the kind of rapid change that Megan has seen. We need to be careful and understand that God works how he wants where he wants, but his normal work is the slow, difficult work of plugging away day after day, often with little or not “fruit.” I’m quite sure that Megan understands this. I can see someone reading her book and going somewhere else expecting to see the results that she has seen and being disappointed. This is the inherent danger of this book, thinking that what “worked” in Grassier, Haiti, will “work” elsewhere.
With that caveat, it’s a really good book and exciting to see God move in miraculous ways.
March 1, 2018
If you've been to Haiti or want to go, know this: it doesn't appear to be a tourist spot. Most people on the plane I was on had volunteers on it. This book was written by a Louisiana gal who heard God tell her to go to Haiti after the earthquake. It's an easy read that moves quickly because of the expanding revelation of the plight of orphans and of Megan's personal discovery of God's coordinated responses.
What a personally challenging and encouraging read. Megan follows Holy Spirit's lead. She gave specific examples of answered prayer. The LORD is at work through inexperienced youth in service is exemplary, hopeful, and significant. A yielded energetic life can affect many for good and lasting results. Our good God has, is, and will be working for his people in Haiti.
Having been to Haiti within the last few months on a medical mission trip in the same area, I found it quite eye opening because I noticed in conversations with strangers in the airport going and leaving, that about 33% of the Americans were spending short vacations in orphanages. Haitian parents can not afford their children. A couple of groups were returning to the same place they had been before. It SEEMED that all passengers but 3 were volunteers in many assorted endeavors: home building, agriculture projects, activities in a church....
Off on a tangent: I pray:
(If only projects could be coordinated to start an industry of sorts or undergird new industries. In Indonesia they are making grocery sacks of the cassava root because it's biodegradable. Manufacture sisal twine? Could mango or papaya be canned? Could waste management be started on a neighborhood basis? Mounds of trash in streets is definitely third world--except not in ALL third world countries appear so. Starting small with a pilot project for trash elimination might then become replicable in other neighborhoods. Might volunteer programmers use cell phone data to figure out a suggested system of one way roads that would help congestion in Port-au-Prince? Having to spend two hours for a 20 mile destination is untenable. If only the government could/would organize volunteers, a seemingly next step in utilizing "free help". Now that the UN has left after disaster relief for the 2011 earthquake, coordination would speed sustainable development.)
What a personally challenging and encouraging read. Megan follows Holy Spirit's lead. She gave specific examples of answered prayer. The LORD is at work through inexperienced youth in service is exemplary, hopeful, and significant. A yielded energetic life can affect many for good and lasting results. Our good God has, is, and will be working for his people in Haiti.
Having been to Haiti within the last few months on a medical mission trip in the same area, I found it quite eye opening because I noticed in conversations with strangers in the airport going and leaving, that about 33% of the Americans were spending short vacations in orphanages. Haitian parents can not afford their children. A couple of groups were returning to the same place they had been before. It SEEMED that all passengers but 3 were volunteers in many assorted endeavors: home building, agriculture projects, activities in a church....
Off on a tangent: I pray:
(If only projects could be coordinated to start an industry of sorts or undergird new industries. In Indonesia they are making grocery sacks of the cassava root because it's biodegradable. Manufacture sisal twine? Could mango or papaya be canned? Could waste management be started on a neighborhood basis? Mounds of trash in streets is definitely third world--except not in ALL third world countries appear so. Starting small with a pilot project for trash elimination might then become replicable in other neighborhoods. Might volunteer programmers use cell phone data to figure out a suggested system of one way roads that would help congestion in Port-au-Prince? Having to spend two hours for a 20 mile destination is untenable. If only the government could/would organize volunteers, a seemingly next step in utilizing "free help". Now that the UN has left after disaster relief for the 2011 earthquake, coordination would speed sustainable development.)
March 5, 2019
I was skeptical of this book based on title (which seemed a bit like click-bait), but it was highly recommended so I persevered. I'm so glad I did, the book is much better than its title.
Megan Boudreaux's memoir helped me remember my priorities are always to love God (through obedience and worship), and to love my neighbor (through acts of grace and self-sacrifice). If you want shaken up, if you want a reminder that through our God we are overcomers, I highly recommend this book.
Quotes:
The more I saw this, the more I realized that some of the corruption in Haitian orphanages is a direct result of American churches and organizations who are well-meaning but who perpetuate the cycle of corruption and exploitation by donating without accountability.
All this confusion proved that the “savior” mentality of many Americans can blind people to real evil that is happening.
But the real world is hard, and the real world in Haiti is even harder.
There are no superstars here; we’re all just servants.
Of course, once I actually stopped worrying about all of the details, God put everything into place. Honestly, He just began organizing it all, and I had no choice but to catch up with Him and listen.
Megan Boudreaux's memoir helped me remember my priorities are always to love God (through obedience and worship), and to love my neighbor (through acts of grace and self-sacrifice). If you want shaken up, if you want a reminder that through our God we are overcomers, I highly recommend this book.
Quotes:
The more I saw this, the more I realized that some of the corruption in Haitian orphanages is a direct result of American churches and organizations who are well-meaning but who perpetuate the cycle of corruption and exploitation by donating without accountability.
All this confusion proved that the “savior” mentality of many Americans can blind people to real evil that is happening.
But the real world is hard, and the real world in Haiti is even harder.
There are no superstars here; we’re all just servants.
Of course, once I actually stopped worrying about all of the details, God put everything into place. Honestly, He just began organizing it all, and I had no choice but to catch up with Him and listen.
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