By Pierre Descieux
My name is Pierre Descieux and I am one of the board members for Project Living Hope. I was raised in Haiti but moved to the U.S in my early teens. I remember playing football (soccer) in the middle of the street where I grew up. The street would be closed to traffic and all our neighbors, family and passersby would gather to watch. Everyone would cheer for us kids for putting on a show. We didn’t have a coach showing us the game, we didn’t have a referee, and our soccer ball was made from a balloon surrounded with rags and plastic. We usually kept the real soccer ball for playing in the grass and dirt a few streets away. Although my grandmother was not a football fan, she was always seated on the side of the street to watch the games. Haitians are very passionate about the game of soccer.
Last January, I was able to participate in the weeklong soccer camp in Fonds Parisien with Guesly and the team from Oregon. I was overwhelmed with personal feelings because it brought back so many memories. Our team had lots of soccer balls, jerseys, shoes, and other equipment. to distribute The children and coaches were so happy that even the quiet ones couldn’t contain themselves. From that day on I fully understand the impact PLH’s vision could bring to the children of Haiti.
During that week of camp, Guesly and I began making plans for our next camps in Fonds Parisien. We wanted to come back as soon as possible because we had seen the importance of teaching the youth organized soccer, an opportunity neither of us had growing up playing in the street. But our plans were crushed midyear even as we were planning for our next trip. Due to an unforeseen situation, we had to make new plans. These two verses came to mind as we were looking and listening for God’s direction in the midst of our planning.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” Hebrew 13:20-21
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
In Fonds Parisien, I believe God was teaching us how to best serve a community; he was preparing us for what He had in store for us. As an organization God taught us to rely solely on Him. And God led us to a small community near St. Marc on the western coast. There, in Camp Marie, we have truly seen how our presence will make the greatest impact. We’ve also seen God’s hope in the eyes of the people in the community.
In a few weeks, PLH will have our first soccer camp in two different communities in our new location. The excitement is very high among kids and adults in the communities. Just walking around the community, strangers were shaking our hands thanking us for thinking of them. In their eyes, they see us as Haitians coming to give back to their forgotten community. The youths are excited about the camp and were eager to show us their skills as we passed by. We are looking forward to working in our new location and we are eager to share with you all how God is using all of us to further his kingdom.