Another Round of Goodbyes

6/28/2012 

Today was it. My last day in Haiti. I can’t believe how fast that went! It’s just crazy! This morning me and Jamie made another round of homemade bread and we made a pasta bake thing for lunch. It turned out pretty good but I did burn my hand on the stove...maybe there is a reason I stay out of the kitchen! :) 

This afternoon was our last class so that meant it was time for the final exam. I told my students they could leave right after, but they were acting all strange and said, “no, we won’t leave.” I said that’s alright but once everyone is done I need to go back and pack. 

After they were finished with their final, they all left and went outside but they left their belongings inside. At that point I knew something was up. They all came back in and yelled, “surprise!” (We talked about surprise parties last week and they were THRILLED that they were able to surprise me today!) They gave me a card that they all signed and then a big wrapped present. They all took turns thanking me and saying how much they appreciated me. They gave me a bracelet, necklace and a hair piece that all match and say Haiti on them. And, I got some perfume and some candies...but the best of all. They got me a beautiful wood map of Haiti. Crafting wood is a popular thing in Haiti and it is sold everyone. When I opened this, they were all so happy and said, “please, come back home to us.” At that point the tears came. I had no idea just how big of an impact I had made on my students. These students don’t have much money, they live in dirt homes and yet they all pitched in to give me a good going away present. I was touched and incredibly humbled. 

After that I wasn’t so sure about leaving. I thought I was ready to leave but, now I am realizing all that I am leaving behind here in Haiti. It’s hard to believe that in less than 12 hours I will be at the airport waiting for my flight to leave. I am excited to see my friends and family but this afternoon was hard to say bye to my students. God knows if and when I will come back to Haiti and for that, I am so very grateful that HE knows my future and all that it will hold. 

Please PRAY for safety as I travel back home tomorrow. That I would catch all the planes and not be rushed or lost throughout the day. PRAY that I can emotionally re-adjust as I get back into the states and all that that entails. 

Next blog update will be from HOME! :) 

I just LOVE my Students!

6/25/12

Today I gave my students a quiz over the material that we covered last week. They all did really well and compared to last weeks' quiz, they improved so much this past week. Last week their sentence structure was awful and they had nearly no punctuation. They are the advanced class so these mistakes should not be in the papers at all. So, after last weeks quiz I grilled them a bit and said 'Stop making these silly mistakes...READ your sentences before you finish.' Well, they sure did listen! Today's quizzes were so much better and it made me proud reading their well developed sentences. 

For part of the quiz I had them write a dialogue about purchasing something. (We talked about buying and shopping this week). There were two dialogues that made me laugh out loud and I thought I would share them with you. [Please ignore their minor grammar errors]

By: Jolene

Jolene: Do you want to go with me? 

Irma: Where? 

Jolene: Shopping, today I'm free, I will take advantage to buy a pair of red shoes. 

Irma: My husband isn't there, I can go with you. You will buy something for me? 

Jolene: Ok, it not will be an expensive thing. Agree? 

Irma: Ok.                          (In the shoe store)

Irma: Remind me, what do you want exactly? 

Jolene: I need a red shoes. 

Irma: Ok do you like this one? 

Jolene: Let me see, I think it's so big. 

Irma: Oh! You are right, it's 8.

Jolene: What do you think about that one? 

Irma: Which.

Jolene: The red, after the black next to the blue. You see it? 

Irma: Let's go to see it together and you can try it. 

Jolene: Ok, it's very nice. 

Irma: How much you are available to buy it? 

Jolene: It's affordable, I can buy it. What do you want? 

Irma: It was a joke, let's come back home. 

Jolene: Ok, thank you for your help. Let's come back home. 

By: Moline

Moline: Hello Dioro! 

Dioro: Hi Moline. 

Moline: Can you help me to buy a new car? 

Dioro: Oh! Yes, let's go to the sun auto. What kind of car do you want? 

Moline: I want to buy a jeep. 

Dioro: I advise you a white tucson 2010. 

Moline: No, I prefer a red tucson. 

Dioro: I don't agree, the red car is for woman.

Moline: Oh! No, it's not true, it's depends on the person. 

Dioro: Don't lost time, let's go and you'll see which you want exactly! 

Moline: Ok! 

This is the group of girls that literally attacked me

and wouldn't let go...we had so much fun dancing and

playing!

This morning we were able to go to Mergee to visit a school where Lauren used to teach. We got there while the students were on a break and so we got to just spend time playing with them. The entire time I had kids hanging all over me and I got so lost in the crowd! It was awesome to see the little kids and give them the attention that they so desperately need. 

Tonight I took my last malaria pill while I am in Haiti. It still doesn't seem real that I am coming home in just a few short days. God has been faithful during my time here and I know he will continue to be faithful in the coming days and months ahead. Praise God for his faithfulness! 

Please PRAY that I would stay focused and teachable during my last few days here. PRAY that God prepares my heart for a drastic transition back to the States. And PRAY that I can continue to listen to and learn what God wants me to learn both here in Haiti, as well as adjusting back to life in the States. 

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Can You Say Caribbean?

6/23/2012

Today was an AMAZING day! Cindy wanted to take us to see the beach as a ‘thank you’ for coming to teach the summer english program. Of course we said yes...so we loaded up the truck...girls in the cab, guys in the bed and we headed out to the beach this morning. The drive to the beach wasn’t as bad as I had expected it to be. It was fairly easy-going the whole way. It took about an hour and a half to get there and we wasted no time getting into the water. 

The beach is NOTHING like I have ever been to before in my life....and duh, it never would be. The Caribbean and the western coast have NOTHING in comparison! We got to the beach around 9:30 or so and went straight into the water. And I am not talking toes in like the Washington or Oregon coast....we were all in...for hours. It was amazing! I have never swam in such blue water or in any ocean for as long as we did today. It was such a relaxing day and a fun way to celebrate the ending of the summer english program. 

This is the beach when we first got there in the morning. No
one was there! Gorgeous! 

We spent the morning in the ocean, which was nearly deserted because most people didn’t come until the afternoon times and even then it wasn’t that bad. The coast has several different resorts that you pay to use their beach and then you get access to their pool as well. That is why the beach area was more deserted...less people can afford to go to the resort beach when the public beach is in the next alcove. 

We went up for lunch around noon or so and played a card game while we took a break from swimming. Lauren and I went to swim in the pool a bit but didn’t last long because...it was too warm. Something else I have never experienced before....a pool that is too warm! :) 

We had lunch which was actually really good then went back down for more beach and ocean time. A couple more hours later we decided it was time to go back so we could get home before dark. It was sad to see the day come to a close because swimming in the ocean...with gorgeous views, blue skies, crystal clear water, perfectly sandy beaches and friends...but it was time. I don’t know if I will ever again swim in the Caribbean but if you ever have the chance to go...DO it! It is AMAZING! :) 

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small." Psalm 104:24-25

Ten Days...REALLY?

6/20/2012

I can’t believe how fast time is going. After so many weeks and so many experiences it is almost time to go home. I can’t even believe it! Ten days from today I will be waking up in my own bed. Drinking a cup of coffee and spending my first day back in the States with my family. I can’t even begin to describe how happy this thought makes me feel! I am so excited! 

But, on the other hand, I am not ready to leave. I don’t want to say goodbye to my friends and my new students. I do not want to say goodbye to Haiti and the country that I have grown to call ‘home.’ It is a total whirlwind and I can’t even describe the thoughts I am thinking and the emotions I am feeling. It’s all just one big bittersweet mess of emotions! 

This is what the market looks like. All
over the place people are selling their
produce on the streets like this. 

Yesterday was a super long day. We got up and headed to Pettionville early in the morning to do some shopping and to go to the doctor. Lauren is pregnant so she has her doctor up in Pettionville. It was quite the experience. Being in Haiti, you really need to plan ahead in terms of meals. You can’t just run to the store real quickly if you forget something. Everything is written out exactly what is needed and how much is needed because you never know when you will be going to the market again. We spent time getting groceries from the ladies on the street. We then went to Carribean. This blew my mind. For so long I have had a preconceived idea that Haiti is poor and doesn’t have anything that the United States does. Well, to some extent, yes Haiti is a very poor country. There is no doubt that these people live on nearly nothing. But, they do have basically anything you can ever want from America...just a million times more expensive. This grocery store was beautiful and it was massive. They had anything you can think of...Starbucks coffee, Doritos, Chocolate Milk, anything. It is incredibly expensive compared to the states, but you really CAN get whatever you want if you are willing to pay the price. It was amazing and for a brief hour of shopping I didn’t feel like I was in Haiti. Until we walked back outside to the humidity and 97 degree weather I had forgotten I was all the way in Haiti. It was crazy! 

The doctor was a lot different than what I expected too. I expected a tiny whole-in-the-wall home that was super sketchy. But, because we were in Pettionville (where the elite live), the doctors office was much more advanced than what I originally thought. We sat forever in the waiting room because one of the Dr’s patients had actually gone into labor, so they shuffled their schedule and moved the others back so that this lady could be brought in right away. After a while in the waiting room it was Lauren’s turn. They took her back then a few minutes later they came for me and Jamie. We got to meet Baby James! I have never seen an ultrasound before so it was a neat thing to experience and can’t help me wonder what it will be like to look at the little screen and someday know that it is my baby! It was a neat experience. 

We came back home after shopping and unloaded the groceries. I took a quick nap and then it was time for class. Class yesterday was harder. Everyone was tired, it was REALLy hot and talking about food and American Hamburgers was getting everyone hungry. We made it through our 3 hour class and the day was done. 

There isn’t a lot to do here in Haiti in the evenings so we watched some more TV and then headed to bed exhausted. Yesterday was 10 days until I finally make it home. I only have 8 full days left in Haiti. I can’t even believe it. And, I know that the days are going to go faster and faster. Tomorrow we have Bible Study, then Gail arrives (another family friend from back home), we will teach and the day will be over. Friday we are going to go visit a ministry called ‘A Parent Project,’ then we are having a party with some of the neighbor kids. Saturday we are going to the beach! Then Sunday is here and my last week of being in Haiti. 

The days are going to be busy but I know that God is with me non-the-less and that He has everything planned out from my daily happenings, to my life-long adventure ahead. God knows and because of that I am content. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4

Adjusted to ANOTHER New Home!

6/17/2012

Well I have officially been in Port-au-Prince for a week now. A new home. A new ministry. A new atmosphere. A new city. A new temperature. After being here a week I am finally feeling adjusted. I feel like I am now adjusted to a new routine. I am used to teaching now. My students know me and I know them. I am slowly but surely learning names and making memories with my students. 

Fridays we don’t have classes which is nice to have 3 day weekends. Friday morning we had a Bible Study...Lauren, Jamie, Cindy and me. We talked through Colossians and all the good things in there. It was a refreshing morning but being around a ‘mom’ figure made me realize just how much I am missing my family back home. The longer I am here the more I am loving Haitian culture. I am loving the relaxed feeling. I love how close I am with God here. I am not ready to readjust to American culture again. I don’t really want to have all the material things I have because I have gotten used to not having them and it was been much nicer than what I thought it would have been. But, I AM ready to see my family again. I am ready to get big hugs and spend time with them...that will come in just a few weeks. 

Saturday we went to downtown Port-au-Prince and went souvenir shopping and saw more of the city. We drove by the Presidential Palace that is still ruined from the earthquake so many years ago. The devastation the building still has is just incredible. After that we came home and Jamie and I baked cookies. Then I got to Skype with my family! Dad figured out how to download and work Skype all by himself and we had a Skype date for an hour. I got to see their faces and hear their voices for the first time in 4 weeks! It was seriously a drink of refreshing water to a super dehydrated body. It made me tear up a bit realizing just how much I miss them but it was so worth it and it was the energy I need to make it through the next 2 weeks. 

This is the outside of the Church building. It reminded me of the
Haunted House at Disneyland! 

Today we went to church at a local church here in Port-au-Prince. This was a very wealthy church with Middle-Upper class attendees. This week there was a choir seminar so there was two large choirs that sang for us. They took offering, then a special offering for the building project. After some announcements, prayer and congregational singing, it was finally time for the sermon. The Pastor couldn’t preach today so it was the Choir Director that preached. After 50 long minutes of fist pumping and nearly yelling into the mike, the pastor said amen and sat down. I have no clue at all what he said, but I could tell the man was incredibly serious and super intense with the message he was delivering. The service was a total 2 hours and 30 minutes long. Later I found out the service was a typical service in terms of length and that the preacher today wasn’t even the screamer. There is ANOTHER preacher who screams even louder and longer than todays! Oh boy, sure makes my Dad seem very passive and mild tempered! :)

This is the inside of the Church building...the LARGEST
building I have been inside during my time in Haiti.

This afternoon I am reflecting on how I even got to Haiti in the first place. Yes, God prompted my heart and got me here but there is more. My Dad has always had a heart for missions and he has always challenged us to be bold with the Gospel and our faith. He has encouraged my sisters and me to listen to and obey God’s word even when it might mean doing something hard. When I first brought up the idea of going on a mission trip to Haiti to work in an orphanage my Dad’s eyes lit up and a smile crept across his face. He said, ‘if you want to do that we will fully support you. If God wants you to go and do this, he will make it happen.’ It was then I knew that no matter what happened with my trip to Haiti, it was all going to be ok in the end. That’s always what my Dad has been, the reminder that even when things are bad and not fun, it will all be okay and soon everything will be better again. I wish I could be spending my Father’s Day with my Daddy. Listening to him preach, taking our traditional afternoon naps, celebrating, laughing and making new memories with him. But I know for a fact that this is where God wants me to be...and I also know that this is where my Dad wants me to be also. 

In just 11 days I will be experiencing my last full day in Haiti. I will finish teaching my last English class. I will be re-packing my bags again to finally be preparing for the long awaited trip home. I will be going to bed in another country for the last time. My time in Haiti is coming to an end and I can’t help but wonder what the rest of my summer and year are going to hold. I am learning to enjoy and live-up as much as I can in each of my days because we never know if this will ever happen again. 

PRAISE God with me for a wonderful Heavenly Father who calls us his children and speaks to our hearts, directing my paths...daily. And PRAISE God for my Earthly Father who is such a great example of a loving parent. He loves me and challenges me to be all that God is calling me to be! I am one blessed child!

Please PRAY that I can remain grounded here in Haiti and focused in my last few days here. PRAY that my teaching continues to go well and that my students can learn from me. 

Happy Fathers Day, Daddy! I love you! <3

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

Day Three: Success!

6/13/2012 

Today was a very relaxing day. I spent most of the morning reading. Then showered and read some more. We had a Haitian lunch and then got prepared for teaching. This afternoon the thunder and lightening began. There was no rain in the forecast but...it was raining ‘cats and dogs!’ (I taught me students what raining cats and dogs meant this week...so once we got to class, they proudly announced, ‘Teacher! It’s raining cats and dogs!) 

On our 30 second walk from home to class, we got drenched. Everything was sopping. I have never seen so much rain come down for so long...about 20 minutes of dumping rain. It was actually really awesome! Part of me wanted to go and run around in it because it was so cool it felt amazing! The other part of me couldn’t help but think about the homes we visited on Sunday. Walls made out of scraps of tin and old clothing and roofs made out of tarps. The people in these homes were no doubt getting drenched. There is no way to keep the rain out and there is nothing they can do to dry their things off. Everything they own has been dumped on. This thought saddened me. Here I am thinking how awesome it is to experience a rainstorm like this, when the people on the other side of the wall are experiencing the opposite...how awful is this. And, it is something that happens regularly, especially in Hurricane season. I was incredibly humbled in this moment and am so very grateful that I never have to experience rain like this in a tarp covered home.

Class time started a bit late because of the rain. Most of my students showed up late drenched. And, it was hard to hear each other speak because of the rain beating on our tin roof. After awhile I decided we needed to get started anyways so I spoke as loudly as I could and we began. Again, the whole being flexible really comes into play here! We spent 2 hours working on Money....money vocabulary and sentence structure including numbers and money. Then we took some time to sing with Jamie’s class. Something about Haitians, they LOVE to sing. It’s a hobby of many of them and most of them have incredible voices. So, we spent some time singing today, something my students have been asking for all week. We sang, ‘Father, I Adore You,’ and the favorite little kid song, ‘Oh be Joyful, Oh be Jubilant...’ That was a hit and they wanted to sing it over and over again! It was beautiful hearing these amazing voices praising Jesus. Singing is something I might have us do more often! :) 

Tonight we had dinner then watched some tv and I went back to my room to read some more. It’s days like these, very relaxing, not much planned that make me love being in Haiti. The slower lifestyle. The not constant go, go, go. I need to get this done and this done and this. That doesn’t exist for my Haitian lifestyle. It might if I was here long-term but not now and I am basking in it! It’s hard to believe that we only have 9 more class periods before we are done. That’s just two weeks of classes. Crazy! 

Thank you for continuing to Pray for me and my journey here in Haiti. PRAISE God for a smooth transition into teaching. PRAISE God that He has kept me safe so far on this journey. PRAY that my classes continue to run smoothly and despite the language barrier, we can communicate. PRAY that I am open to being taught what God wants me to learn. 

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 

God Equips the Called

6/12/2012 

Today was a great day! We woke up this morning and got ready for the day then headed out for an adventure in Port-au-Prince. We went to the market to try and find some produce and wow...what a different experience that was. We drove to the place where they normally find good produce and they didn’t have much. So, we piled into the truck and went to a new place. Each place we went didn’t have much to pick from and they were wanting ridiculously high prices for things. After stopping at 3 different stands, we went to a larger market area that was way sketchier. Again, there wasn’t much there and the prices were too high. After that we went to the real grocery store with the armed gun-mans standing by the door. We got a few things there and went to a couple more stands on the way home. It was a several hour event for only a few items. It made me realize how much we take it for granted hopping in the car and running to the store to be back in 10 minutes with everything on the list. 

We came back and had lunch. Then I spent a few hours going over my lesson for the day. I got online and was able to chat with Larisa for a long time and that was just the encouragement I needed to get me through my day! Amazing what a few minutes with a good friend can do to encourage your heart! 

Then it was time for class. We talked about routines and schedules and why we like to have daily routines. Today’s class was 3 hours long and I thought it was going to be really hard. But, thankfully, I was more confident and relaxed and so were my students. They were in a very chatty mood which helped to get us going. My students are in the advanced class, so they know a lot of words. They understand a lot. They just need practice speaking with each other...so that is what I provide them with the most. Topics to discuss and time to talk with one another. We ended our class and I felt so much better about what I was doing and I felt like God had prepared me for this even though yesterday I felt totally inadequate. 

After class we watched a movie and now I am resting in bed. I am tired tonight but I feel so much more at peace being here than I was yesterday at this time. I am so grateful that the Lord has prepared me for this and He knows what is in store for my upcoming days and weeks. If this weren’t so there is no way I would be surviving. Praise the Lord! 

Instead of a Bible verse, I am going to end with this quote. My sister Jori Anne always had this quote up in her room and it is perfectly fitting for what I am feeling tonight: 

“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” 

Praise the Lord! 

"Hello Teacher Jennica"

6/11/2012

Wow. What an experience today was. This morning was wonderful...had a slow morning and did some reading. Then Jamie and I got a kitchen lesson from Lauren. We have now been enrolled in ‘Lauren’s cooking school’ for the next three weeks. We made homemade french bread; beef stroganoff; a salad and a banana pudding dessert. It was amazing how much food we made in the little kitchen this morning! 

Port-au-Prince is much different than Pettionville. Being in the city means much busier streets, more homes built like shacks and worst of all...HEAT. The temperature is no where NEAR what it was in Pettionville. Here, in Port-au-Prince it is HOT. All the time. I am continually drenched in sweat and everything is sticky. It is neat to see a different part of Haiti and to have a different experience than what I did for the last 3 weeks with my babies, but man...it was MUCH different!  

Today around noon I got my binder of lesson plans. I got a first look of what I was supposed to be teaching in 3 hours. I read through the lesson a couple times and prayed a few times and a short few hours later I found myself at the front of my classroom with 12 eager sets of eyes looking at me. I introduced myself and asked if anyone had questions. The first question came right away, “are you single? or married?” haha I was warned about this but I replied and everyone laughed. My class has 2 girls in it...thank goodness for these ladies! :) 

After spending some time introducing ourselves, we got into our lesson. I was teaching today on weather. That doesn’t sound too difficult right? Well, how would you describe windchill or blizzard to a country that hasn’t seen or experienced this before? It is a lot more difficult than what it seems! After getting those ‘deer in the headlights look’ I stumbled my way through and we survived the first day! 

We made it. Beyond the language burier and the strong accents, we somehow managed to communicate...at least a little bit. And, today was the first day so it could only get better right? That’s my hope at least! :) 

This is such a different experience than my daily time with my little ones, but I am grateful that I am experiencing this as well. I can talk with my students and with time I am confident that it will get even better. I am praying it will! 

Tonight we are going over to have dessert with Bruce and Cindy...then will hang out and go to sleep. I love that my Haitian lifestyle is so much more relaxed and much more enjoyable with it not being so fast-paced American. Evenings of just rest and friends are so refreshing! 

Please PRAY that I can learn better what it means to teach. PRAY that I am patient with my students. PRAY that I can be creative in describing words and concepts they have never experienced before. PRAY for good rest and preparation time each day and PRAY that the students catch onto my speaking and teaching style. 

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

My Turn to Say Goodbye

6/10/2012 

Today was a very bittersweet day. I had a hard time sleeping last night because I knew I was just a few hours away from saying goodbye to my new friends and my beautiful babies. This morning we went to Haitian church then to english church...it all went by way too fast. We had lunch and the time came for me to say bye to my little angels. We spent 30 minutes together in the nursery before my friends came to pick me up. It was nice to be able to hug and kiss my babies one last time. I felt the tears coming but tried hard to hold them in. The babies acted as if they knew I would be leaving them...they kept hugging me and didn’t want to let me go. When I finally put Miss W. down she fell apart and that’s when my tears came. Not just a few...LOTS. The thought of never seeing these little ones again breaks my heart. The thought that only 1 of my 6 babies has a forever home is heartbreaking to me. I had no idea that after just 3 weeks I would be so bonded to them. I so badly want to come back...those darlings wrapped their fingers around my heart and are clinging tightly to it. 

Despite the hardness of saying goodbye to my new friends and my angels, it was great to be reunited with friends from back home again. Mason, Lauren and Jamie came to pick me up and after a bumpy ride home, we made it to Port-au-Prince, where Mason and Lauren serve. We unpacked and got settled in some then Mason, Jamie and I went visiting in the town. We met so many people, beautiful people, lots of children in their small homes...made out of any scrap material they can find. Most of the homes in this area were wiped out from the Earthquake. People still can’t afford to fix their homes well so they are living in shacks with tarps over their heads. There is no way to even begin to describe the devastation these people call home. It was fun to be able to see the town and see homes. My Vancouver church, Evergreen Bible Church, just sent a team of men to build a house for a family in need and I was able to see the finished product! It is awesome to see how much progress can be done in terms of building homes for the people with help from Haitians and Americans. 

After several hours out in the community, we came back home. We got some food then watched a movie. Tonight I am going to be exhausted. So many emotions are flooding my heart and mind right now and I can’t sort them through. I am happy to see old friends again and to start the second part of my journey here. But I am also heartbroken from saying goodbye to my babies. Wondering if I will come back is floating around in my mind. I don’t even have words for the emotions I am feeling now. Hopefully with time and prayer I can begin to sort my feelings out and decide what my heart is telling me to do. 

Please PRAY that I can process these hard goodbyes well. Please PRAY that tomorrow as I begin teaching (5/11) I can fight off nerves or any fears I might have. PRAY that as I adjust to a new part of Haiti I can find my rest and peace in God. 

PRAISE God that we were safe in our travels today. PRAISE God that I have made it this far in my journey...He will continue to be faithful each and everyday. 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Learning to Trust...and Wait...

6/8/2012 

Friday has come and gone. My last full day with my babies is done. It was such a bittersweet day. It was good thinking about the fact that in 3 days I am going to be reunited with friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. And, in 3 weeks, I will be walking off the plane to see my family again! But, it was also deeply saddening because I realized that time with my babies is ending. Three weeks with them was not enough time. It took me a full week to get into a routine and then I had 2 weeks with them once I knew the routine and knew them. It was over in the blink of an eye. Some days felt like they would never end, but for the most part, it flew by....kinda what I was expecting it to.

This morning went quickly with taking Alyssa’s group picture. Then this afternoon we took the kids for a walk down the street to buy juice from a small stand. The juice was so good...it was way too sweet but it was cold and it wasn’t water! I never realized how much I take cold drinks for granted back home...not until coming here at least! I am excited for more cold drinks when I get home! 

Today I couldn’t help but wonder if I will ever come back to GLA. Some days were hard and I would answer, ‘no way, it was a good experience but I don’t see that happening again.’ Other days I think, ‘Of course! And for much longer next time!’ But today was different. I didn’t really feel either of those. I wonder if I could move to another country and live in a different culture. If I could get used to limited selections, limited internet access, limited communication with my family and friends or not. It is nice here have internet for so little. It is nice not having cable or a cell phone. My lifestyle in Haiti is much more relaxed. Everyday I sit outside my bedroom and watch the sunset. Everyday I spend hours reading. READING! I have finished all the books I have with me so all I am reading now is my Bible. It is wonderful. I sit on the porch as the sunsets and read my Bible....daily. The thought that THIS could be my life. This, being so close to God could be a reality is mind boggling...and it makes the other things (cable, internet, cell phones) seem so worthless. Sometimes I think that I can do this no problem. Helping children in different countries be united with a family that will love them and provide for them sounds like an amazing life! Other times I think, ‘maybe I will just adopt some children in the future.’ I still don’t know what my future holds. And, for the first time in a long time, I am okay with that. I know God already knows and He has a plan that is better than anything I can imagine. I know that as long as I continue to say yes to his prompting and seek him in my everyday life, then all the questions I have about my future will be revealed to me. God will guide and direct my steps...whether that means ministry in the states somehow or ministry cross-culturally...God knows and He will lead me when the time is right. 

I still don’t know if I will ever return to GLA, but that doesn’t need to be decided now. If that is what God has for me then I will be here in an instant. If not, I am ok with that and I know God has other things in mind for me. 

Please PRAY with me that once I move on I will be open to what God has for me. Please PRAY that I remember that God has a plan and that I can trust that He will reveal his will for my life. Please continue to PRAY for my babies. 5 of them still are waiting for homes and families. PRAY God would provide for these children and show them his love in new ways everyday. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart...” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Hands of Love

6/7/2012 

Today was another great day with my kiddos. We had another pool day today which was wonderful as always. We had lots of fun playing with the toys and cooling off in the water. Having pool day also means extra time in the sun...so again, I am another shade darker than I was this morning. I am pretty sure that I have never been this tan before or so quickly in my life! It is wonderful! 

This morning it was my turn to get all my kids up at once for a group picture and play time. We had so much fun together! It was fun to see my boys playing together, Mr. A and Mr. C were adorable! It was fun to see Mr. A and big sister Miss W. play together and smile together. It was so fun to see all my babies at once! I understand why it’s so hard for families with multiple children to get a good picture of all of them, but we tried and we had fun doing it! 

Me with all of my babies! (L to R) Mr. D; Miss S; Mr. A; Miss S; Mr. C and Miss W.

Because I got all my babies up this morning, I was able to bring up some kids that don’t have an assigned volunteer and got them out. I brought up my B. who, after being in the pool for a mere 5 minutes fell asleep...sitting up...STILL in the pool. It was pretty cute so I took a quick video and then changed him and took him back to the nursery. Then I was able to get up Mr. M who is a little WILD man! He is into everything all the time! It was nice to be able to just put him in the pool and let him go. He likes his independence and I like that the pool is a confined space! :) 

After bring up the boys, another volunteer Holly and I brought up two of the new babies. These babies joined GLA a week ago today when the government shut down their orphanage. These darling angels came to GLA absolutely terrified of adults. They were malnourished, mistreated and deeply wounded emotionally upon their arrival. Slowly they have been warming up to the staff and volunteers. Starting on Tuesday, we brought them out to the balcony for the first time. They didn’t do much but sit in our arms because they were so scared...but today was a different story. Holly and I started with holding them closely and rocking them....whispering ‘we love you,’ ‘Jesus loves you,’ and ‘you are safe’ in their little ears. Then we got them on the floor. I thought it would be a good idea to give them some physical touch since that is an important love language, especially to babies and children. So, we put baby lotion on them...and they absolutely loved it! Their little eyes started to warm up and they both nodded when I asked them if they liked it. I said, ‘trey bien?’ (very good?) I don’t know if they understood or if they were just nodding at whatever I said, but either way, they were accepting our physical touch and our loving hands...something they would have pulled away from a week ago. 

We ended up playing with some toys and bubbles and even though they didn’t do much play (it was mostly us playing in front of them), they didn’t pull back and they accepted us playing. Our time together came to an end and we put them in the cribs again and gave them both toys. We kissed their heads and said we love you and will see you tomorrow. Slowly we walked away then turned again to see an ever so faint smile on their little faces. Teeth showing and everything. They are warming up and they are feeling Jesus’ love...probably for the first time in their young lives. It brought tears to our eyes and we were so blessed to witness this moment of bonding! 

I wish I had more time with these two new ones, but I am grateful that the other volunteers will still be here and can be Jesus’ hands and arms to these and all the others once I leave. I am just so grateful that I was able to experience this while I am still here at GLA. 

Please PRAY for these two sweet little angels. PRAY they adjust well and begin to open up and be children. PRAY that any memories of their hurt and abuse be forgotten and that new memories can be formed at GLA. PRAY that the staff and the volunteers who work closely with these two can show them that the love of Christ surpasses all understanding. 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35