Often times movies begin at the end and then take you back in time to tell you the rest of the story. That is how I will begin this...at the end...
We returned home tonight in Rodney's little white truck-the one with the mini truck bed in the back that holds two comfortably. We had five people back there-Ryan, Sean, Jarrod, Emily, myself, a goat and one blue cooler, our drink cooler and several of our bags. Back up- yes I did say goat, our gift from the orphanage for all that we did... When I first saw this little thing bound and laying on its side in the middle of the yard, my first thought was' Wow it must be in some serious trouble for something". WRONG! It was to be our next meal. The problem I created for myself was simply this...I got to know the goat personally on the way home-removing some of the ropes, watering it, petting it and finally giving it a name, IGA. Iwas scarred early in life being forced by my parents to eat a pet pig and from that momet on, I made a vow never to eat anything that I have a personal connection too, Including IGA.
The rest of the day was great! We met with attorney from Porte Prince. Cathy, Angela and Emily stenciled the girls room. All the beds are back in the rooms complete with new sheets and pillows. As I was coming thru the boys room I found one of the young men standing there just rubbing his pilow...Oh the little things we take for granted each day...Shame on us. The men and Martha painted the last room and Martha made a craft with the children...No trip would ever be complete with out Martha and I sincerely mean that.
All of us ladies took a trip down town today to purchase pillows, washtubs, one shovel, one pick and a rake. The town looked like opening day at Mansfield...good news- nobody got robbed, ran over, or left and I am truly indebted to Cathy for taking us on this once in a lifetime adventure!!!
On our way to the oprhanage this morning the van lost all of its brake fluid which lift Sean driving with brakes that went all the way to the floor when you pushed in on them. Britt you would have been so proud of him; He did wonderful!
Pastor A. and his wife continually amaze me with their care and love for all these children and their goodness to us. I would love to spend a longer period of time with them down here in the future. My prayer now is that God would open the doors in the near future for them to be guests in my home so that I could return to them the gracious hospitality that they have shown to us. It is a rare thing to find such selfless people in the world today...people who give 110% of themselves day after day...I have been blessed to have gotten to know them...
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
A full day....
We been here now for two days and even tho my husband and children are back in Indiana, I am in no hurry to go home. I feel very much at home right here. I find this alittle odd considering 6 weeks ago I was home sick already just thinking about this trip. Somewhere along the way, God changed my heart and I don't even know when it happened....
Today we got alot accomplished I think...the ophanage received a new coat of paint, turquiose for the girls side and McDonalds or as Emily says, a Texas orange for the boys. I told Cathy we should stencil french frys and Big Mac's on the walls. When we arrived early this morning the beds had all been moved to the yard and the floors were being mopped in preparation for the walls being painted. The children were still in school and while we worked we could hear them singing. I have only been here one time and yet I feel as if I have known these littles for a much longer time. While we ladies painted, Ryan and Jarrod worked on putting up the clothesline and Sean helped Rodney make new benches for the church because of the growth. Several projects were started and finished today and we are very tired tonight.
Tomorrow we are going into town to purchase pillows, washtubs, a pick and shovel. When we get back to the orphanage some are going to work on stenciling walls, others are painting one more back room and others yet are moving in the beds, putting on new sheets along with pillows and pillowcases. It should be a full day.
We traveled today to another orphanage that Cathy's friend Jan has started. So many beautiful children there too. Shortly after arriving, I saw Ryan with a new little girl in his arms. I told him he was only allowed one child per trip to Haiti. They are just so easy to fall in love with.....We also met a German couple who runs an orphanage not far from Pastor A. who have been unsuccessfully trying for a very long time to be licensed. One more confirmation for me that God is so in all of this. He keeps weaving this taperstry of people and places together and I know when He is finished, it will be beautiful.
Before I left home I grabbed George Muellers autobiography to read on the plane. Also by God's design I think...You know his sole purpose for starting the orphanages in Bristol was so that God could gain all the glory thru others watching these children be provided for with out Mr. Mueller asking for a single handout from anyone. He prayed for everything,... for every need,....for every morsel of bread. His faith grew and God was continually glorified....As I am watching all of this unfold before me, my faith also continues to grow and I am burdened to pray more fervently for the needs of this orphanage and for my role in all of this. My desire, like that of Geoge Muellers is to above all else to see God glorified.....
Today we got alot accomplished I think...the ophanage received a new coat of paint, turquiose for the girls side and McDonalds or as Emily says, a Texas orange for the boys. I told Cathy we should stencil french frys and Big Mac's on the walls. When we arrived early this morning the beds had all been moved to the yard and the floors were being mopped in preparation for the walls being painted. The children were still in school and while we worked we could hear them singing. I have only been here one time and yet I feel as if I have known these littles for a much longer time. While we ladies painted, Ryan and Jarrod worked on putting up the clothesline and Sean helped Rodney make new benches for the church because of the growth. Several projects were started and finished today and we are very tired tonight.
Tomorrow we are going into town to purchase pillows, washtubs, a pick and shovel. When we get back to the orphanage some are going to work on stenciling walls, others are painting one more back room and others yet are moving in the beds, putting on new sheets along with pillows and pillowcases. It should be a full day.
We traveled today to another orphanage that Cathy's friend Jan has started. So many beautiful children there too. Shortly after arriving, I saw Ryan with a new little girl in his arms. I told him he was only allowed one child per trip to Haiti. They are just so easy to fall in love with.....We also met a German couple who runs an orphanage not far from Pastor A. who have been unsuccessfully trying for a very long time to be licensed. One more confirmation for me that God is so in all of this. He keeps weaving this taperstry of people and places together and I know when He is finished, it will be beautiful.
Before I left home I grabbed George Muellers autobiography to read on the plane. Also by God's design I think...You know his sole purpose for starting the orphanages in Bristol was so that God could gain all the glory thru others watching these children be provided for with out Mr. Mueller asking for a single handout from anyone. He prayed for everything,... for every need,....for every morsel of bread. His faith grew and God was continually glorified....As I am watching all of this unfold before me, my faith also continues to grow and I am burdened to pray more fervently for the needs of this orphanage and for my role in all of this. My desire, like that of Geoge Muellers is to above all else to see God glorified.....
We have arrived...
We arrived safely with no major malfunctions at all. We made the trip from the airport straight into the arms of 45 little Haitians with lots of smiling faces. The orphanage has had major changes and I was so impressed. The wall is finished, the gates are up and the little building is up for the orphanage to sell pure water each day, starting at 7AM to the community surrounding this orphanage. There is finally vegetation within the gates and Kervens proudly took me around the grounds to show me what all had been planted. He has a garden with okra growing in it. I felt like a proud mama....
Britt they all kept asking where you and Bri were at. We showed pictures of Issac and explained about the upcoming baby and wedding. To Jarrods parents, you have raised up a truly amazing young man who has been Seans right hand man with the packing and unpacking of lots of heavy heavy lugguage. I will travel with this young man anytime to any place. You should be very proud of him. Emily has been taking in all the sites and has bonded with several of the little ones already. Sean and Anna completely surrounded by the kiddos and I took lots of pictures.
We have eaten and are going back to our rooms early tonight. Luggage to still be unloaded and much needed showers to take. I will have more to say tomorrow. Linda, if you read this, I thought Ava was small, but today I held alittle baby 3months old who weighed only 4 1/2 pounds. Bones with skin was all....Toby if they can get him into riley in Indy, I said we would take him while he was in the states, I know that wouldn't surprise you much. :) Until tomorrow...
Britt they all kept asking where you and Bri were at. We showed pictures of Issac and explained about the upcoming baby and wedding. To Jarrods parents, you have raised up a truly amazing young man who has been Seans right hand man with the packing and unpacking of lots of heavy heavy lugguage. I will travel with this young man anytime to any place. You should be very proud of him. Emily has been taking in all the sites and has bonded with several of the little ones already. Sean and Anna completely surrounded by the kiddos and I took lots of pictures.
We have eaten and are going back to our rooms early tonight. Luggage to still be unloaded and much needed showers to take. I will have more to say tomorrow. Linda, if you read this, I thought Ava was small, but today I held alittle baby 3months old who weighed only 4 1/2 pounds. Bones with skin was all....Toby if they can get him into riley in Indy, I said we would take him while he was in the states, I know that wouldn't surprise you much. :) Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
How faithful our God....
I thought I knew yesterday morning what I would say on my first blog, but as the day progressed, God redirected my heart and my thoughts away from me and on to Him instead...
I am never surprised by what God can do, HE IS GOD, but I always always stand in awe of what He does. My God is always faithful...He hears my prayers and He continually shows me He is here, that He is so real....
Two weeks ago, I sent out an email to several people with a list of items for projects that were on my heart from my first trip into Haiti back in April. I prayed over this letter believing God would answer, and answer He did. I went to bed last night thinking of Eph. 3:20, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." You see God even answered my secret prayer, the one I never listed in that letter...And I stand in Awe!
Much of my first trip was spent hugging children, passing out snacks, but mainly I just observed....I was not surprised by the living conditions of Haiti, it was like I had pictured it in my mind after hearing the stories of those that had gone there before me. The layout of the ophanage was different than what I had pictured in my mind, but mostly everything else was just as my minds eye had seen it. The workers do the laundry for all the orphans in shallow dishpans held between their knees and then lay them out on the rocks to dry, and they
have one 5 gallon bucket that they use to carry water from the well across to where they sit to wash the clothes. It is a long long process....Each little bed has one sheet on it, no pillows, no cover sheet or blanket. Since the laundry is such an ordeal, the sheet on these beds only get washed once every several weeks. Some of the children are bedwetters....and the air is hot and dusty and there is no doors or windows on the concrete building that houses their beds.
My hearts desire is not to see them Americanized, but simply to see them moved ahead into at least my grandmother's generation, where, quite frankly, many times I would like to see us move back to.....clotheslines instead of rocks for drying clothes, (although my grandmother removed some of her toughest stains by laying them in the grass. Unfortunately there is no grass at the ophanage, only dirt and rocks.) and washtubs, in place of shallow dishpans. I want to see at least one more sheet for each bed so they can be changed more often, and pillows to lay their little heads on each night. I have a desire to see a garden at this orphange. Maybe it is because I am a gardener and nothing makes me happier than to dig my hands into dirt, to plant and watch it grow, and to enjoy the fruits of my labor during the harvest months. We live in a country where food is readily available, they do not. I was told that under those rocks and top layer of dirt, there is good soil...the problem is the one shovel they have is broke in half...not the handle but the shovel part. I want to see them have a shovel that is able to do what it was design to do, dig.
My secret prayer was simply this...to see an abundance of money come in...that would not only buy the shovel, washtubs, pillows, and fans but to have enough left over to pay the 12 teachers that continually come to the ophanage to teach. By the time the basic needs are meet for the children, there is no money left to pay the teachers. Yet they continue to teach, hoping someday the money will be there. Cathy told me a good wage for a teacher would be $100 a month. I don't know a teacher anywhere in this country that would teach for $100 a week let alone a month. So that was my prayer...and God has faithfully answered it. Late into last night the calls continued to come in to let me know that checks had been mailed and the amounts they were for and I went to bed praising God, for He never fails...
Now I want to simply say thank you to each of you who gave...of yourselves and of your time and money. What you allowed God to do through you will help people whom most of you will never meet and my prayer for you is this......That God will bless each of you.... 'abundantly above all that you could ask or think'....
I am never surprised by what God can do, HE IS GOD, but I always always stand in awe of what He does. My God is always faithful...He hears my prayers and He continually shows me He is here, that He is so real....
Two weeks ago, I sent out an email to several people with a list of items for projects that were on my heart from my first trip into Haiti back in April. I prayed over this letter believing God would answer, and answer He did. I went to bed last night thinking of Eph. 3:20, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." You see God even answered my secret prayer, the one I never listed in that letter...And I stand in Awe!
Much of my first trip was spent hugging children, passing out snacks, but mainly I just observed....I was not surprised by the living conditions of Haiti, it was like I had pictured it in my mind after hearing the stories of those that had gone there before me. The layout of the ophanage was different than what I had pictured in my mind, but mostly everything else was just as my minds eye had seen it. The workers do the laundry for all the orphans in shallow dishpans held between their knees and then lay them out on the rocks to dry, and they
have one 5 gallon bucket that they use to carry water from the well across to where they sit to wash the clothes. It is a long long process....Each little bed has one sheet on it, no pillows, no cover sheet or blanket. Since the laundry is such an ordeal, the sheet on these beds only get washed once every several weeks. Some of the children are bedwetters....and the air is hot and dusty and there is no doors or windows on the concrete building that houses their beds.
My hearts desire is not to see them Americanized, but simply to see them moved ahead into at least my grandmother's generation, where, quite frankly, many times I would like to see us move back to.....clotheslines instead of rocks for drying clothes, (although my grandmother removed some of her toughest stains by laying them in the grass. Unfortunately there is no grass at the ophanage, only dirt and rocks.) and washtubs, in place of shallow dishpans. I want to see at least one more sheet for each bed so they can be changed more often, and pillows to lay their little heads on each night. I have a desire to see a garden at this orphange. Maybe it is because I am a gardener and nothing makes me happier than to dig my hands into dirt, to plant and watch it grow, and to enjoy the fruits of my labor during the harvest months. We live in a country where food is readily available, they do not. I was told that under those rocks and top layer of dirt, there is good soil...the problem is the one shovel they have is broke in half...not the handle but the shovel part. I want to see them have a shovel that is able to do what it was design to do, dig.
My secret prayer was simply this...to see an abundance of money come in...that would not only buy the shovel, washtubs, pillows, and fans but to have enough left over to pay the 12 teachers that continually come to the ophanage to teach. By the time the basic needs are meet for the children, there is no money left to pay the teachers. Yet they continue to teach, hoping someday the money will be there. Cathy told me a good wage for a teacher would be $100 a month. I don't know a teacher anywhere in this country that would teach for $100 a week let alone a month. So that was my prayer...and God has faithfully answered it. Late into last night the calls continued to come in to let me know that checks had been mailed and the amounts they were for and I went to bed praising God, for He never fails...
Now I want to simply say thank you to each of you who gave...of yourselves and of your time and money. What you allowed God to do through you will help people whom most of you will never meet and my prayer for you is this......That God will bless each of you.... 'abundantly above all that you could ask or think'....
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