[Applause] two weeks ago I met Yahweh he spoke to
two weeks ago I met Yahweh he spoke to
two weeks ago I met Yahweh he spoke to me I looked at his face and if you know
me I looked at his face and if you know
me I looked at his face and if you know your old testament you know Yahweh means
your old testament you know Yahweh means
your old testament you know Yahweh means God the great I am you’re not supposed
God the great I am you’re not supposed
God the great I am you’re not supposed to be able to look at him and live well
to be able to look at him and live well
to be able to look at him and live well i did and i’m here to talk about it
i did and i’m here to talk about it
i did and i’m here to talk about it because Yahweh lives in Haiti he has a
because Yahweh lives in Haiti he has a
because Yahweh lives in Haiti he has a wonderful huge smile he’s the gardener
wonderful huge smile he’s the gardener
wonderful huge smile he’s the gardener at the guest house where I building
at the guest house where I building
at the guest house where I building goodness foundation volunteers today
goodness foundation volunteers today
goodness foundation volunteers today when they go to the area of leg on I was
when they go to the area of leg on I was
when they go to the area of leg on I was down there last week checking out
down there last week checking out
down there last week checking out housing after Hurricane Matthew this is
housing after Hurricane Matthew this is
housing after Hurricane Matthew this is a typical teek hai a small house that
a typical teek hai a small house that
a typical teek hai a small house that building good foundation has built seven
building good foundation has built seven
building good foundation has built seven hundred of them I’m very very pleased to
hundred of them I’m very very pleased to
hundred of them I’m very very pleased to say that our ruse did well houses
say that our ruse did well houses
say that our ruse did well houses survived not so much the neighbors these
survived not so much the neighbors these
survived not so much the neighbors these are temporary shelters that still people
are temporary shelters that still people
are temporary shelters that still people are living in six years after the
are living in six years after the
are living in six years after the earthquake in 2010 some of my friends
earthquake in 2010 some of my friends
earthquake in 2010 some of my friends who are not religious use the word about
who are not religious use the word about
who are not religious use the word about an earthquake and a hurricane in a
an earthquake and a hurricane in a
an earthquake and a hurricane in a hurricane as apocalyptic I’m not afraid
hurricane as apocalyptic I’m not afraid
hurricane as apocalyptic I’m not afraid of theological language I come from a
of theological language I come from a
of theological language I come from a large southern family we get together
large southern family we get together
large southern family we get together twice a year sometimes more enjoy
twice a year sometimes more enjoy
twice a year sometimes more enjoy perfect wonderful pork BBQ a side bowl
perfect wonderful pork BBQ a side bowl
perfect wonderful pork BBQ a side bowl of theological discussion doctrinal
of theological discussion doctrinal
of theological discussion doctrinal strips on the side our conversation is
strips on the side our conversation is
strips on the side our conversation is all about stories memories and trying to
all about stories memories and trying to
all about stories memories and trying to be 16 18 years old again and almost
be 16 18 years old again and almost
be 16 18 years old again and almost always about grandma Madeline grandma
always about grandma Madeline grandma
always about grandma Madeline grandma eppley our matriarch
eppley our matriarch
eppley our matriarch the story goes like this an unlikely
the story goes like this an unlikely
the story goes like this an unlikely couple Madeline on her way to the
couple Madeline on her way to the
couple Madeline on her way to the mission field very driven smart in
mission field very driven smart in
mission field very driven smart in seminary very unusual for a Baptist
seminary very unusual for a Baptist
seminary very unusual for a Baptist young woman she had if she won’t end up
young woman she had if she won’t end up
young woman she had if she won’t end up going to China then she met Kelly a
going to China then she met Kelly a
going to China then she met Kelly a sailor just back from the North Atlantic
sailor just back from the North Atlantic
sailor just back from the North Atlantic where he was on a very fast ship chasing
where he was on a very fast ship chasing
where he was on a very fast ship chasing German submarines and he had a touch of
German submarines and he had a touch of
German submarines and he had a touch of tuberculosis so they fell in love and
tuberculosis so they fell in love and
tuberculosis so they fell in love and for love she did not go to China and for
for love she did not go to China and for
for love she did not go to China and for the Great Depression it forced them back
the Great Depression it forced them back
the Great Depression it forced them back to their homeland to his home in the
to their homeland to his home in the
to their homeland to his home in the mountains of North Carolina close to
mountains of North Carolina close to
mountains of North Carolina close to Asheville and the story the next story
Asheville and the story the next story
Asheville and the story the next story is that as she sat on the steps of that
is that as she sat on the steps of that
is that as she sat on the steps of that little shabby home and the wagon that
little shabby home and the wagon that
little shabby home and the wagon that had brought their possessions slowly
had brought their possessions slowly
had brought their possessions slowly made its way back up the road she sat
made its way back up the road she sat
made its way back up the road she sat down and she went to ballin that’s
down and she went to ballin that’s
down and she went to ballin that’s Appalachian for really big grief and
Appalachian for really big grief and
Appalachian for really big grief and then she got up which was her character
then she got up which was her character
then she got up which was her character and she went to work and she made that
and she went to work and she made that
and she went to work and she made that area her mission field she got involved
area her mission field she got involved
area her mission field she got involved in the school she was a backbone of the
in the school she was a backbone of the
in the school she was a backbone of the church she was the heart of the
church she was the heart of the
church she was the heart of the community she drove people to goodness
community she drove people to goodness
community she drove people to goodness she raised a family and the nurses
she raised a family and the nurses
she raised a family and the nurses teachers phd’s successful business
teachers phd’s successful business
teachers phd’s successful business people she had a code and she had an
people she had a code and she had an
people she had a code and she had an ethic I think they went something like
ethic I think they went something like
ethic I think they went something like this because of her faith and her love
this because of her faith and her love
this because of her faith and her love everyone knew she loved deeply number
everyone knew she loved deeply number
everyone knew she loved deeply number one you treat your neighbor like
one you treat your neighbor like
one you treat your neighbor like yourself love your neighbor like
yourself love your neighbor like
yourself love your neighbor like yourself everybody’s the same number two
yourself everybody’s the same number two
yourself everybody’s the same number two you go to school and you never stop
you go to school and you never stop
you go to school and you never stop learning and then you never ever stop
learning and then you never ever stop
learning and then you never ever stop learning and number three you work
learning and number three you work
learning and number three you work really really hard especially at number
really really hard especially at number
really really hard especially at number one and number two so
one and number two so
one and number two so for us and for me specifically she
for us and for me specifically she
for us and for me specifically she impacted me so directly that it
impacted me so directly that it
impacted me so directly that it projected me through the 1980s the first
projected me through the 1980s the first
projected me through the 1980s the first few years I lived in west africa i
few years I lived in west africa i
few years I lived in west africa i worked with volunteers who are working
worked with volunteers who are working
worked with volunteers who are working in water development next to the desert
in water development next to the desert
in water development next to the desert I learned French middle of the decade
I learned French middle of the decade
I learned French middle of the decade worked with Haitian refugees the crisis
worked with Haitian refugees the crisis
worked with Haitian refugees the crisis when so many people were coming back to
when so many people were coming back to
when so many people were coming back to Haiti from Haiti to to Virginia actually
Haiti from Haiti to to Virginia actually
Haiti from Haiti to to Virginia actually and I learned Haitian Creole then my
and I learned Haitian Creole then my
and I learned Haitian Creole then my wife and I worked in Latin America
wife and I worked in Latin America
wife and I worked in Latin America Central America South America with
Central America South America with
Central America South America with Habitat for Humanity we learned Spanish
Habitat for Humanity we learned Spanish
Habitat for Humanity we learned Spanish so when we were looking for a place to
so when we were looking for a place to
so when we were looking for a place to stay I did what we do in our family the
stay I did what we do in our family the
stay I did what we do in our family the guys we marry intelligent women we
guys we marry intelligent women we
guys we marry intelligent women we listen to them she chose Charlottesville
listen to them she chose Charlottesville
listen to them she chose Charlottesville so we ended up here in 1991 and I
so we ended up here in 1991 and I
so we ended up here in 1991 and I realized that I was in a town where I
realized that I was in a town where I
realized that I was in a town where I could thrive number one love your
could thrive number one love your
could thrive number one love your neighbor as yourself but your neighbors
neighbor as yourself but your neighbors
neighbor as yourself but your neighbors weren’t just local they were global it
weren’t just local they were global it
weren’t just local they were global it was everybody number two people around
was everybody number two people around
was everybody number two people around here never stop learning and number
here never stop learning and number
here never stop learning and number three I could work hard I found a place
three I could work hard I found a place
three I could work hard I found a place in the nonprofit industry and I have
in the nonprofit industry and I have
in the nonprofit industry and I have been a professional volunteer
been a professional volunteer
been a professional volunteer coordinator in every job I’ve had
coordinator in every job I’ve had
coordinator in every job I’ve had helping empower the community fast
helping empower the community fast
helping empower the community fast forward a little bit 2010 January
forward a little bit 2010 January
forward a little bit 2010 January thirteenth I was having breakfast at tip
thirteenth I was having breakfast at tip
thirteenth I was having breakfast at tip top restaurant Jack stoner he was the
top restaurant Jack stoner he was the
top restaurant Jack stoner he was the chairman of the board for building
chairman of the board for building
chairman of the board for building goodness foundation I was the newly
goodness foundation I was the newly
goodness foundation I was the newly hired executive director and the
hired executive director and the
hired executive director and the conversation went like almost every
conversation went like almost every
conversation went like almost every nonprofit conversation goes how do we
nonprofit conversation goes how do we
nonprofit conversation goes how do we get more money get more volunteers how
get more money get more volunteers how
get more money get more volunteers how do we raise awareness you know how do we
do we raise awareness you know how do we
do we raise awareness you know how do we get in the media everyone who’s done it
get in the media everyone who’s done it
get in the media everyone who’s done it knows this but for me because it was
knows this but for me because it was
knows this but for me because it was Jack’s donor I was completely stoked I
Jack’s donor I was completely stoked I
Jack’s donor I was completely stoked I wanted to work with this guy it’s a
wanted to work with this guy it’s a
wanted to work with this guy it’s a personal hero he had been to Haiti
personal hero he had been to Haiti
personal hero he had been to Haiti number of years before had a huge
number of years before had a huge
number of years before had a huge transformational experience
transformational experience
transformational experience found that he could use his construction
found that he could use his construction
found that he could use his construction skills very well as a builder came back
skills very well as a builder came back
skills very well as a builder came back and he created a visioning pulled people
and he created a visioning pulled people
and he created a visioning pulled people to him as close as friends and they
to him as close as friends and they
to him as close as friends and they decided they had a vision for an
decided they had a vision for an
decided they had a vision for an organization that would give local
organization that would give local
organization that would give local designers and builders a chance to use
designers and builders a chance to use
designers and builders a chance to use them and change the world he was unhappy
them and change the world he was unhappy
them and change the world he was unhappy with his life he was discontented with
with his life he was discontented with
with his life he was discontented with the huge gap between the haves and
the huge gap between the haves and
the huge gap between the haves and have-nots and he turned it on its ear
have-nots and he turned it on its ear
have-nots and he turned it on its ear and brought and inspired so many people
and brought and inspired so many people
and brought and inspired so many people to him and to a friends who got friends
to him and to a friends who got friends
to him and to a friends who got friends and friends that are involved that it
and friends that are involved that it
and friends that are involved that it became a movement and I watched it
became a movement and I watched it
became a movement and I watched it happen throughout for those 20 years and
happen throughout for those 20 years and
happen throughout for those 20 years and so that was January thirteenth and he
so that was January thirteenth and he
so that was January thirteenth and he said as we stepped out a tip top he said
said as we stepped out a tip top he said
said as we stepped out a tip top he said did you see the news last night and I
did you see the news last night and I
did you see the news last night and I said well no I did and he said had
said well no I did and he said had
said well no I did and he said had mentioned it before but Haiti had an
mentioned it before but Haiti had an
mentioned it before but Haiti had an earthquake and I said that can’t be true
earthquake and I said that can’t be true
earthquake and I said that can’t be true quick hadn’t happened 100 years so I
quick hadn’t happened 100 years so I
quick hadn’t happened 100 years so I went back to the office and there on the
went back to the office and there on the
went back to the office and there on the screen I was horrified to see
screen I was horrified to see
screen I was horrified to see port-au-prince with a mile high cloud of
port-au-prince with a mile high cloud of
port-au-prince with a mile high cloud of concrete dust from thousands of
concrete dust from thousands of
concrete dust from thousands of buildings that had imploded on top of
buildings that had imploded on top of
buildings that had imploded on top of each other and there were images of
each other and there were images of
each other and there were images of people being dragged out of buildings
people being dragged out of buildings
people being dragged out of buildings and stories about the whole gym not the
and stories about the whole gym not the
and stories about the whole gym not the whole campus but the campus roofs
whole campus but the campus roofs
whole campus but the campus roofs falling from the port-au-prince
falling from the port-au-prince
falling from the port-au-prince University killing thousands of students
University killing thousands of students
University killing thousands of students at one time and the palace was down and
at one time and the palace was down and
at one time and the palace was down and government buildings were down and then
government buildings were down and then
government buildings were down and then the news started calling our office
the news started calling our office
the news started calling our office because we had been to Haiti and we
because we had been to Haiti and we
because we had been to Haiti and we became ground central for things about
became ground central for things about
became ground central for things about Haiti and so we ended up hearing from
Haiti and so we ended up hearing from
Haiti and so we ended up hearing from getting on the TV and getting the radio
getting on the TV and getting the radio
getting on the TV and getting the radio and talking about this horrible thing
and talking about this horrible thing
and talking about this horrible thing but I was touched mostly by the calls
but I was touched mostly by the calls
but I was touched mostly by the calls that I got from the volunteers someone
that I got from the volunteers someone
that I got from the volunteers someone called and said how’s Renee someone else
called and said how’s Renee someone else
called and said how’s Renee someone else called said house clay mom someone else
called said house clay mom someone else
called said house clay mom someone else called and said house y’all Philippe
called and said house y’all Philippe
called and said house y’all Philippe have you heard anything about him
have you heard anything about him
have you heard anything about him someone else called said how is that
someone else called said how is that
someone else called said how is that lady that lives under the church with
lady that lives under the church with
lady that lives under the church with those six kids next to the clinics that
those six kids next to the clinics that
those six kids next to the clinics that we built
we built
we built then it struck me Haiti was not a place
then it struck me Haiti was not a place
then it struck me Haiti was not a place where we go for one more tragic story
where we go for one more tragic story
where we go for one more tragic story haiti was a place where our neighbors
haiti was a place where our neighbors
haiti was a place where our neighbors lived we knew their children we played
lived we knew their children we played
lived we knew their children we played with them on construction sites we
with them on construction sites we
with them on construction sites we helped them build their homes we had
helped them build their homes we had
helped them build their homes we had whimsical memories of what it was like
whimsical memories of what it was like
whimsical memories of what it was like to be there in their villages we worked
to be there in their villages we worked
to be there in their villages we worked with him we employed them we were side
with him we employed them we were side
with him we employed them we were side by side partners with them in helping
by side partners with them in helping
by side partners with them in helping their lives and dealing with a very
their lives and dealing with a very
their lives and dealing with a very tragic history so we got busy it was
tragic history so we got busy it was
tragic history so we got busy it was about neighbors in our community helping
about neighbors in our community helping
about neighbors in our community helping our neighbors in Haiti plan went out
our neighbors in Haiti plan went out
our neighbors in Haiti plan went out once the the Emergency Response cream
once the the Emergency Response cream
once the the Emergency Response cream teams were cleared out about a month
teams were cleared out about a month
teams were cleared out about a month later we got busy and we built a trade
later we got busy and we built a trade
later we got busy and we built a trade school so that Haitians can help the
school so that Haitians can help the
school so that Haitians can help the next generation of Education buildings
next generation of Education buildings
next generation of Education buildings not implode in an earthquake schools and
not implode in an earthquake schools and
not implode in an earthquake schools and communities that were far from
communities that were far from
communities that were far from port-au-prince this one’s in Cap Haitien
port-au-prince this one’s in Cap Haitien
port-au-prince this one’s in Cap Haitien in the north beautiful school in hench
in the north beautiful school in hench
in the north beautiful school in hench cooperative centers where people can
cooperative centers where people can
cooperative centers where people can process mangoes and coffee economic
process mangoes and coffee economic
process mangoes and coffee economic development centers a women’s health
development centers a women’s health
development centers a women’s health clinic the only of its kind in the
clinic the only of its kind in the
clinic the only of its kind in the mountains within 50 miles and 700 homes
mountains within 50 miles and 700 homes
mountains within 50 miles and 700 homes helping people have homes after the
helping people have homes after the
helping people have homes after the earthquake and then after Hurricane
earthquake and then after Hurricane
earthquake and then after Hurricane sandy so we learned some things Haiti is
sandy so we learned some things Haiti is
sandy so we learned some things Haiti is a place where people automatically think
a place where people automatically think
a place where people automatically think about 400 years of inhumane injustice
about 400 years of inhumane injustice
about 400 years of inhumane injustice and slavery corruption bad US policies
and slavery corruption bad US policies
and slavery corruption bad US policies rice subsidies that obliterated their
rice subsidies that obliterated their
rice subsidies that obliterated their rice economy all these things are huge
rice economy all these things are huge
rice economy all these things are huge and should be discussed but what we have
and should be discussed but what we have
and should be discussed but what we have learned in our time I would like to say
learned in our time I would like to say
learned in our time I would like to say this it’s about being good neighbors a
this it’s about being good neighbors a
this it’s about being good neighbors a methodology of neighborliness number one
methodology of neighborliness number one
methodology of neighborliness number one size does matter while the international
size does matter while the international
size does matter while the international community is trying to and for good
community is trying to and for good
community is trying to and for good reason fine
reason fine
reason fine way to build the plumbing to get
way to build the plumbing to get
way to build the plumbing to get resources to the ground small
resources to the ground small
resources to the ground small organizations like ours can make a huge
organizations like ours can make a huge
organizations like ours can make a huge difference by going into communities and
difference by going into communities and
difference by going into communities and being involved on the grassroots level
being involved on the grassroots level
being involved on the grassroots level to work with number two good neighbors
to work with number two good neighbors
to work with number two good neighbors already in place organizations that have
already in place organizations that have
already in place organizations that have been there a long time but don’t want us
been there a long time but don’t want us
been there a long time but don’t want us to come in and fix them they already
to come in and fix them they already
to come in and fix them they already know how to fix themselves we partner
know how to fix themselves we partner
know how to fix themselves we partner with them it’s about a relationship it’s
with them it’s about a relationship it’s
with them it’s about a relationship it’s not about a transaction and that can
not about a transaction and that can
not about a transaction and that can happen on the community level and number
happen on the community level and number
happen on the community level and number three I don’t want to be seen as
three I don’t want to be seen as
three I don’t want to be seen as critical but then going to Haiti for a
critical but then going to Haiti for a
critical but then going to Haiti for a long time seeing thousands of volunteers
long time seeing thousands of volunteers
long time seeing thousands of volunteers get on the plains and go down to be a
get on the plains and go down to be a
get on the plains and go down to be a part of it for good reason they want to
part of it for good reason they want to
part of it for good reason they want to help people want to help they need to
help people want to help they need to
help people want to help they need to learn about these things however how
learn about these things however how
learn about these things however how many work sites when you go on or places
many work sites when you go on or places
many work sites when you go on or places where you go where Americans are doing a
where you go where Americans are doing a
where you go where Americans are doing a great job volunteering and the Haitians
great job volunteering and the Haitians
great job volunteering and the Haitians are on this side and there’s a sixty
are on this side and there’s a sixty
are on this side and there’s a sixty percent unemployment situation going on
percent unemployment situation going on
percent unemployment situation going on the Americans often are doing the jobs
the Americans often are doing the jobs
the Americans often are doing the jobs that people can do I’m not saying don’t
that people can do I’m not saying don’t
that people can do I’m not saying don’t go I’m just saying let’s find more ways
go I’m just saying let’s find more ways
go I’m just saying let’s find more ways to employ people because neighbors help
to employ people because neighbors help
to employ people because neighbors help other neighbors have the dignity of jobs
other neighbors have the dignity of jobs
other neighbors have the dignity of jobs what we do now we send small teams work
what we do now we send small teams work
what we do now we send small teams work side-by-side with Asians we employ
side-by-side with Asians we employ
side-by-side with Asians we employ dozens and dozens of impatience to give
dozens and dozens of impatience to give
dozens and dozens of impatience to give them the dignity of jobs so they can
them the dignity of jobs so they can
them the dignity of jobs so they can send their kids to school and so that
send their kids to school and so that
send their kids to school and so that they can pay for medical bills so we’ve
they can pay for medical bills so we’ve
they can pay for medical bills so we’ve learned a few things and now i’m talking
learned a few things and now i’m talking
learned a few things and now i’m talking about yahweh I said Yahweh I went out to
about yahweh I said Yahweh I went out to
about yahweh I said Yahweh I went out to your village destra we built that
your village destra we built that
your village destra we built that community center out there I heard that
community center out there I heard that
community center out there I heard that the storm hit and it was well used but
the storm hit and it was well used but
the storm hit and it was well used but no one will talk to me they’re little
no one will talk to me they’re little
no one will talk to me they’re little traumatized by the situation what
traumatized by the situation what
traumatized by the situation what happened he said I’ll tell you what
happened he said I’ll tell you what
happened he said I’ll tell you what happened he said when the hurricane hit
happened he said when the hurricane hit
happened he said when the hurricane hit and the wind started blowing in the
and the wind started blowing in the
and the wind started blowing in the water rose out of the ocean and the
water rose out of the ocean and the
water rose out of the ocean and the river right next door flooded the whole
river right next door flooded the whole
river right next door flooded the whole village water level picked up one or two
village water level picked up one or two
village water level picked up one or two feet and when people who lived in those
feet and when people who lived in those
feet and when people who lived in those temporary
temporary
temporary shelters started getting flooded out
shelters started getting flooded out
shelters started getting flooded out they headed for the community center and
they headed for the community center and
they headed for the community center and so for two days the wind house so loud
so for two days the wind house so loud
so for two days the wind house so loud we could not hear it I said come be a
we could not hear it I said come be a
we could not hear it I said come be a Monday la how many people were there he
Monday la how many people were there he
Monday la how many people were there he said oh I don’t know I’m peel I’m p lime
said oh I don’t know I’m peel I’m p lime
said oh I don’t know I’m peel I’m p lime peel it’s like don’t tell me how many
peel it’s like don’t tell me how many
peel it’s like don’t tell me how many families wheat decent puck only eight or
families wheat decent puck only eight or
families wheat decent puck only eight or nine really so you’re talking about 80
nine really so you’re talking about 80
nine really so you’re talking about 80 or 90 100 people grandpa’s grandmas kids
or 90 100 people grandpa’s grandmas kids
or 90 100 people grandpa’s grandmas kids cousins everything in that shelter he
cousins everything in that shelter he
cousins everything in that shelter he said yeah yeah yeah yeah we couldn’t
said yeah yeah yeah yeah we couldn’t
said yeah yeah yeah yeah we couldn’t hear ourselves talk we couldn’t hear
hear ourselves talk we couldn’t hear
hear ourselves talk we couldn’t hear ourselves things and the kids were
ourselves things and the kids were
ourselves things and the kids were crying and I said that must have been
crying and I said that must have been
crying and I said that must have been horrible he said oh no no lieb only
horrible he said oh no no lieb only
horrible he said oh no no lieb only buncombe plan said what as good as good
buncombe plan said what as good as good
buncombe plan said what as good as good he said yeah guide Oh Lita Kambei the
he said yeah guide Oh Lita Kambei the
he said yeah guide Oh Lita Kambei the roof it stayed on and then he went back
roof it stayed on and then he went back
roof it stayed on and then he went back to his garden Thank You Yahweh
to his garden Thank You Yahweh
to his garden Thank You Yahweh [Applause]
”
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