The realization of a calling and obedient action to that calling can have significant impact in a person’s life, and sometimes on a larger scale for more than just the recipient(s) of the call. The dream and calling to help the people of Haiti began to come together in an active form at a local Panera Bread restaurant as music majors Evie-D Sanchez and Sarah Quale sat discussing what they could do with Evie-D’s calling to missions. The two music majors landed on the idea of using their talents, and those of their fellow music majors, to give a benefit concert, titled Harmony for Hope, to help in the relief effort for the impoverished and devastated country of Haiti following the massive January 2010 earthquake.
From that beginning conversation, coupling God’s faithfulness and the girls’ faith and willingness, the miracles small and large started to occur on a frequent basis as the planning details began to take shape for a missions trip. Stamps were donated for mailings; an important “coincidental” meeting came together out of the blue, resulting in a connection with a Biola music alumna in Haiti and a ministry through which to channel funds from the concert. Other departments and students on campus joined in the effort, and on Tuesday, March 30th, the concert raised nearly $3,000 to be sent to the Haiti Hope Fund.
Sarah’s and Evie-D’s lives have been changed as they have watched God move and channel His work through them. And it has not stopped with the concert. As preparations for the concert were progressing, the team grew to include other students, and eventually there were six. They applied for and received grant money from Biola to be given to students who would create a program to provide sustainable, long-term help for the people of Haiti. After raising their own travel funds, this team of students who had been meeting regularly for fervent prayer, left for Haiti with 20 violins, a cello, and other musical instruments to leave for orphans and others, many of whom have nothing left of their normal lives. In northern Haiti, they worked at a music camp with a group called Indigenous Pitch, from the Philadelphia area, doing music therapy. Team members also taught music lessons, and they connected with Laurel Casseus, the Biola music alumna. In Port-au-Prince they worked with an orphanage, teaching music lessons, spending time with the children, and helping daily to feed a group of 30 other orphaned children living in tents and rubble nearby.
The team members are Evie-D Sanchez, jr. harp performance major; Sarah Quale, jr. cello performance major; Jeanette Wong, jr. psychology and biology pre med major; Jordan McGrath, jr. intercultural studies major; Tavia Grubbs, sr. guitar performance and music in worship major; and Stephanie Lowe, sr. violin performance major. And, not only have their lives been changed by this amazing journey of obedience, but hopefully the country of Haiti will have been changed for God’s glory as well. The team members plan to return to Haiti in January 2011.
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“God used our arms, hands and feet to hold children, children who have lost everything: parents, their siblings, their homes. He used our voices to be His voice, to speak of His love for them. He used song, dance, and music, and showered His joy, His peace, and His presence upon us. God used us to love on kids, to sit with them when they cried, to hold them while they slept, to laugh with them, to sing with them, to teach them about Jesus, and to teach them about music and expose them to instruments they have never seen or touched before. We were blessed to be able to witness a significant and visible change in the children, from sadness to joy, from stillness to dancing, and from darkness to life—all of which can only be explained by Jesus’ love.”
Haiti Team, August 2010**