Better Than Sunset

Yesterday, as the sun was setting, I decided to bring my camera and take a few pictures.  It was breathtaking.  The clouds were beautifully painted with the most vibrant colors with the mountains silhouetted in the distance.  I like to think that God paints us beautiful sunsets each night to remind us to rest in Him and to trust in His promises.  He will continue to be with us each day no matter how difficult or joyful the days are.

As I started walking towards the sunset, a little girl ran up to me with a big smile and grabbed my hand.  She started swinging it playfully and pointed to the sunset and said, "Solèy dòmi, bèl".  Which translates into "The sun is sleeping.  Beautiful."  She had the biggest smile on her face.  I asked her if she wanted to walk with me to take a picture.  She shook her head yes and said, "Wi".  We walked up to the playground and started walking along the edge of the playground and she stopped me.  She turned to me and asked, "Ou chante ak mwen?".  Which means, "Will you sing with me?".  She pulled on my arm to sit down on the cement ledge we had been walking on.  I asked her what song she wanted to sing and her response was "Savior".  The title of the song is "Mighty To Save".  This is a song that the children sing in English during worship time.  The words to this song were so real and meaningful as I sats looking out at the mountains.  We started singing...

Savior, He can move the mountains, 

My God is mighty to save, 

He is mighty to save. 

Forever, Author of salvation, 

He rose and conquered the grave, 

Jesus conquered the grave.  

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures, 

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in,

So I surrender.

I surrender

Savior, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,  

We're singing for the glory of the risen King.

This little girl, had a horrendous past before she came to our orphanage.  What a delight to sing praises to God with her.  He brought her through her hurt.  He saved her.  He is teaching her about His love and she knows Him.  How beautiful it is to know that no matter what, no matter how filthy one's past is, no matter how many times one has felt unwanted or unloved, God has always thought of you as a treasure.  He has loved you just as you are.  He longs to know you more.  This little girl knows that.

We sang holding hands and smiling.  What a gift tonight was.  We never made it to take a picture of the sunset, but the time we shared was so beautiful.  As we walked to dinner, a few girls joined us and held our hands.  One of the little girls asked if I would sing to her and tuck her in tonight.  That made my heart smile.

Baby's story

Many of you have been wondering, "What happened to the baby that was 18 days old?, Did the family return the next day for a meeting?, Does she have a new home?".  I am so thankful to tell you that story ended well.

The following day I waited for the family to return.  It was an hour past the time they were scheduled to arrive, and I hoped they were on their way.  My heart leaped for joy when I heard they were walking up our hill with the baby in their arms.

I met them, and we began our meeting together with another organization.  The night before I was calling a few surrounding orphanages that care for infants.  None of them had space.  Thankfully, one of them called me in the morning and said they can care for the baby!  I was so thankful that this little angel would have a safe, loving environment to live in.  One that would be able to provide her with formula, diapers, and comfort.

One of the girls at Grace Village crocheted the baby a bonnet.  She is wearing the bonnet in the picture above.  I am so so so thankful that this baby is being cared for.  It is devastating to know that when one lives in poverty, one often does not have the means to provide for their children.  I am so thankful that this family reached out for help.  This family desired for this baby to have a future.  When we asked the family, "What is your hope for this baby?.  The woman responded, "For her to live".

Bourik! (Donkey!)

What a morning!  I have been wanting to ride a donkey since I moved to Haiti in July.  Well, today I did!  The saddle was hand-made out of wood hammered together.  Padding was placed between the donkey and the saddle.  The padding consisted of some old rags and clothing.  The bridle was made of a thick twine.  There were 2 giant, woven saddle bags that are typically used for produce purchases at the market.

I ventured up a road close to where I live.  The scenery was beautiful.  The mountainside was green.  I passed many people on the side of the road.  Some washed their laundry in large buckets at the well pump.  Others, carried 5 gallon buckets of water on their heads back to their home for cooking, bathing, and cleaning.  Many yelled, "Blan", which means white person as they waved and smiled.  Some giggled as I laughed and greeted them on the donkey.

Some children ran after the donkey to catch up to me.  They encouraged the donkey to keep walking by saying, "Oui" and making a clicking noise with their tongue.  They laughed as the donkey increased in it's pace.  I laughed too.  We all had so much fun.
 
 

18 days old

I was told there was an emergency at the gate.  I didn't know what to think and wondered what kind of an emergency.  The security guard came to me with our translator and needed me to follow them to our gate's entrance.  There stood a man with the look of desperation filling his eyes as he held a tiny baby wrapped in blankets. There was a woman with him.  They told me they were the baby's aunt and uncle and that the mother could not care for the baby.  The man tried to give me the baby.  I prayed for wisdom and didn't know what to say or what to do.  I wondered if I held the baby if they would flee.  I stepped back from them and waved my hands in a way that would tell them I would not hold the baby.  (But, I wanted to hold her.) These people were desperate for help.  They didn't have the means to care for the baby that was 18 days old and hoped that I would.

When I saw her, my heart broke.  Her body was frail.  Her skin was thin against her bony limbs.  

As I walked up the hill to our house, I prayed more...and again asked God for wisdom.  Would we be able to care for an infant?  She is so weak and may be in need of an IV or medical attention...would she make it through the night?  Should I turn them away?  If God brought them to our gate, He must know how we can help them.  But how?  What does that look like?  I longed to love her and care for her.  I was ready to take her in.  To stay up with her all night.  To watch over her to be sure that she was still breathing.  Could this be her last night?  If I didn't take her in, would she be cared for at home?  Would she be left on the roadside...to die?  Many thoughts raced through my mind.       

I sent our orphanage director to buy diapers, formula, and bottles.  I asked the family to wait while I made a few phone calls.  They agreed.  They sat patiently for hours as I called a variety of people who could help guide me in making decisions.  I served the family dinner and invited them to our evening church service.  After much prayer, numerous phone calls, and counsel from other orphanages, a decision was made.  We would invite the family back to Grace tomorrow for a meeting to decide how we can be of assistance to this family.  I don't know what the outcome will be, but I need to trust God.  As I looked in the woman's eyes, I saw compassion for the child, I saw a deep love, a desire to hold onto hope, a longing for what is best for this baby.  She agreed to return to our orphanage tomorrow for a meeting.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make our paths straight."

Weddings in Haiti

The bride and the groom pulled up to the church in separate vehicles and waited in them until they walked down the aisle.  The sun was hot and the sweat beaded on their foreheads.  The bride was dressed in a beautiful white dress with a veil over her face.  She carried a lovely bouquet of white flowers.

The groom wore a beige suit with a white glove on his left hand (He removed the glove when it was time to exchange rings).  Music played as the bridesmaids slowly danced down the aisles.  It was beautiful.  We sang hymns and the pastor read some Bible verses.  A choir sang and a band played.  Many people were taking photos.  One man had an i-pad and was using photo booth to take pictures.  He used all kinds of special effects.  After the wedding, we drove to a building down the road for a reception.  The pastor led the guests in a prayer and we all sang a hymn.  The best man gave a speech too.  There was a delicious buffet of Haitian food including rice, beans, cabbage salad, vegetables, and fried plantains.

There was even a tall cake decorated with red flowers.  The bride and groom shared champagne and cut the cake together.

It was a beautiful celebration and I was amazed at how many similar traditions there were to an American wedding.  It was also fun to learn about Haitian wedding traditions.

Snapshots!

So much has been happening in Haiti.  Below you will see a variety of photos to let you know what is new at Grace Village!

School is open!  Every morning the children gather at the flagpole to sing Haiti’s National Anthem, pray, and sing a hymn.  Then, the children walk single file to their classroom to begin their day of learning.  Some of these children have never attended school.  Many families in Titanyen can not afford to pay for their children to attend school.  Our school is providing a free, Christ-centered education, that is empowering children to be future leaders in their country.

I have been working with the tailors to gather uniform measurements for all of our students.  It has been a big job.  The children are so excited to have new school clothes and shoes. 

The tailor pictured above is Pierre.  Healing Haiti cares for him in the eldercare program.  We have asked him to make the boys shirts for our 3 kindergarten classes.  I went to his home to deliver the fabric that he needs for the shirts. 

After school, the children have a tutoring session and then it is playtime!  Sometimes, we enjoy using chalk.  I drew a picture of Shersunny.  She was all smiles to see herself on the sidewalk.

What a joy it was to reunite 3 young brothers with their family!  I visited them in their house and they were all doing well.  Here is their new family photo!  The mom said she was so happy when she heard her youngest son praying.  He was praying for her.  She also was so thankful that the boys learned about God at Grace Village.  She hears them singing praises to God all day as they play in the yard.  She also said the boys ask to go to church everyday.  What a blessing it is for them to be together again.

Our church baptized 6 people in the ocean last week.  What a beautiful experience to witness.  Above is a photo of the people who were baptized with the pastors.

I will be moving into a new home!  How exciting!  Currently, a clinic is being built at Grace Village.  My friend Jess (another long-term missionary at Grace) and I will be moving into the bottom floor of the clinic.  I am looking forward to having a small kitchen.  I can cook on a stove (no more microwaves) and I can wash my dishes in a sink!  This is great news!!! 

Home

Squeals of excitement!  Children running with arms open wide!  Smiles stretching from ear to ear!  Laughter!  Jumping!  Joyful hearts!  This was my welcome from 61 children when I returned to Grace Village.  I was in the Dominican Republic for 5 nights.  I needed to get my passport stamped and also needed rest and relaxation.  It was a refreshing time away, but I was ready to come home.

 
My favorite memory of staying in Boca Chica was kayaking in the bay.  The ocean water was crystal clear and a beautiful turquoise color.  I paddled out in a little kayak a few of the mornings.  One morning, Jess and I shared a tandem kayak and ventured to the island.  We brought snorkeling equipment...even flippers!  We were both a little nervous about jumping in, but wanted to see the fish.  So, we each leaned over opposites sides of the kayak and stuck our heads under water.  Everything was so clear.  We saw some beautiful fish, old shells, and sea urchins.  Jess started getting eager to jump in the water.  I was a little nervous.  I have a fear that the fish are going to eat me.  It is a silly fear, but the water makes me a little scared.  I can swim and I had a life vest, so I decided to face my fears and jump right in!  We parked our boat, in the roots of the trees on the island, and started exploring the beauty that God has created in the ocean!  I saw Dorree (Regal Tang fish) from Finding Nemo!  I saw some other colorful fish that I have only seen in ocean life storybooks.  I am so thankful that I decided to jump right in the water!

 
Check out my new hair do!  I had my hair braided in the Domincan on the beach.  The children at Grace have been asking to braid my hair like theirs.  So, I thought it would be a fun surprise to return home with lots of braids!  The children thought I was so very beautiful.  I kept them in for about a week.