Sing

It's been a very moving evening.

I just got back from the Hope House and I don't really know where to start, all I know is that so far this night has been one of the most memorable nights I've had in Haiti so far, and I know that I need to blog about it.

This afternoon Rachel mentioned to me that there would be a special time with the Hope House kids tonight before the funeral tomorrow. Kind of like a preparation for what will be coming. I didn't really know what to expect when I arrived, and I was trusting the Lord to help me comfort the children, despite my lacking language. When I arrived though, I was shocked at what I found. There were benches set up outside and all of the kids were sitting together and singing praise songs. As I entered some of the kids came up to greet me and led me over to the other children. Two of the boys had guitars that they were strumming, not on key, but one of the older boys was leading the songs from a seat in the back. He would begin singing a song and soon all of the kids would join in as loud and wholeheartedly as I've ever seen or heard.

If there is a song that would honour God the most, I think I just witnessed it, coming from the lips of these dear children.

Just days after losing their sister, time stood still as these children sang from the bottom of their hearts words like "I could sing of Your love forever" and "Saviour, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save".

As I stood there in that moment with them under a crystal sky of stars, I felt the Lord there in such a present way. He was comforting His children and they were returning their praise. It was beautiful.

As the evening went on both Rachel and Madame Delva, who is the head mommy at the Hope House both shared and prepared the children for what to expect tomorrow. They walked through the program and told the children about what was to come, and also answered many of the questions that the children had.

Tomorrow will undoubtedly be hard, but there is hope because we will do it together. I am thankful for the blessing these children have been to me, and the amazing example of what it means to praise Jesus in the storm. Praising Him simply for who He is.

I go to bed tonight with their voices ringing in my mind and the memory of a beautiful girl who is singing along, and she is with her King.

A week in review...

This week has been quite eventful. Let me tell you about some of my adventures...

On Sunday afternoon I travelled with the Canadians (they have become my long lost family members - and also including some people from home: Dorothy DeKlerk and Catherine Stallwood) to Tytoo Gardens to visit the orphans and pass out gifts from Sauble Beach Church. There I got to meet Ed (the owner of the orphanage) for the first time and hear his testimony. It was so touching in the way that he openly shared with the team members about his journey, originally buying the oceanfront land to build a night club. However, his heart was changed by the little children that came around every afternoon looking for food, and eventually he opened his doors to the children that needed him so much. I was deeply moved as Ed's eyes filled with tears as he spoke of the love he has for the children and for the way that the Lord is using him to help so many desperate orphans. He is surely an example to us all.

During the outing I had a bit of a downfall.... Literally. As I mingled with the many children, I found myself at one point on a small cement ledge about 5 feet up on the side of the orphanage. Sitting up there we could see for quite a distance and we sang and took pictures together. At one point I stood up to get more of a group shot, but clumsily I forgot how small the ledge was and fell off! Right away people came running and all those around was very worried that I had broken something. But miraculously I stood up and didn't have so much as a scratch on my body. Many of the nurses said that with the distance I had fallen I could have seriously injured myself, but praise the Lord I was fine. Since then some small bruises on my leg have formed, which must have been from the impact, but I am pretty thankful for the Lord's protection. Unfortunately, my camera wasn't so lucky. It came down with me and suffered the worst of the damage. It is broken, which means that I am not able to show any pictures from the trip with you, but it could have been much worse!

Our week of school has also been quite eventful.... We have caught a bit of Canadian fever with the team being here and I've tried to get the kids involved in as much with the team as possible. 

On Tuesday for art we made teeth models for the dental hygienists to take to the schools and demonstrate to children how to brush their teeth properly. 

I guess we proved that coffee filters and marshmallows can be effective outside the kitchen! :) The kids and I had a lot of fun making them too, and from what you can see from the pictures we took on Teagan's camera, we probably got a little too much fill of mini marshmallows! ;)

On Thursday we headed down to the Hospital of Hope to see the nurses in action. They have been doing a lot of mobile clinics in surrounding villages which is awesome, but we were able to check out the action on our home turf.

For more detailed tracking on Laurens and Cheryl's work with the group, make sure you check out their blog - their link is on the right side panel of my blog page.

Then on Thursday afternoon we hopped back on the school bus with the group and headed into Cabaret for a market/orphanage visit. It had been almost over a month since I had seen the Good Samaritian kids in their orphanage, so I seized the moment to go along with the team and turn our school afternoon into some hands-on learning, or as Teagan calls it, a cultural learning experience! ;)

During the time at the orphanage the children had their mealtime and I am still amazed at how the youngest ones (some not older than 3) can finish an oversized plate of rice just as quick as the older ones. As I sat on the floor with a few of the children as they ate I was also humbled by the way they offered food to me. Even though they only get 2 meals per day of rice, they are still generous to share whatever they have. 

After the children finished eating we were able to pass out toys that Catherine Stallwood and a few of the other women had organized for the trip. It's always my favorite part of the trip when we get to hand out gifts because the kids get so excited. There was also a box of supplies that my class at William E. Brown purchased and sent with me for the children in Haiti and I am looking forward to passing that out in Sunday School in a few weeks!

Now that the school week is done, I can look ahead to the weekend.... I'm going to try my best to get some more planning for next week done this afternoon as well as fit in a trip to the kids club in Titayen. One of the ladies at the church has started this little bible study with all of the children in the surrounding villages all on her own. During the time they spend together they sing songs, have a bible story time and she feeds them. I was amazed when I went the first time to see so many children (close to 100), and the way that this blessed lady cares for them both physically and spiritually. It is my hope that when we go with the team and bring food for her today it will be a great encouragement.

 

The weekend also brings anticipation for next week, especially since my brother Broc will be joining the second Canadian team. I can't wait to have him stay with me in my apartment. Hopefully we don't fight to much. Haha.

Finally, tomorrow is the funeral for Maggie so I appreciate you keeping everyone who knew her in your prayers. She was truly a special girl to all that knew her and it will be hard to say goodbye.

Thanks for sticking with me through the lengthy blog today. There is just so much that has been happening! I definitely feel that I am adjusting back into my life here in Haiti, and I thank you for your prayers about this. Please continue to pray that I can stay focussed on my task of teaching and that I would have creative ideas for the next few months... Your support is such a blessing!

A sad time

I am sad to have to write this message today, but the children at the Hope House and many of the mission staff need your prayers right now.

Over the past few months, one of the girls at the Hope House, Maggie (18 years old), has been suffering with an unknown illness, and was recently admitted into a hospital in Port-Au-Prince as her condition worsened. 

Much to our sadness, last night Maggie passed away. 

It brings us hope to know that she is in heaven. She has no more pain. She is with her Maker.

However, this reality also leaves the mission with a big hole that Maggie once filled. 

At the Hope House, the children are like family, and they have lost a dear sister.

Please also pray for Rachel and the mommies as they comfort the children while at the same time grieve Maggie's loss. She was so beautiful, wasn't she?

To be honest, I don't really know where I fit in all of this. Since I arrived in September, Maggie has been getting progressively worse, so I didn't really have the chance to get to know the loving and happy girl that most people at the mission did.

Please pray that I can be what people need right now... A comfort to those that are grieving. It's difficult to know what to say or what to do, but I am asking the Lord to show me how I can shine His hope and peace at this time.

Thank you.

Hustle and Bustle

I've landed in Haiti!

It was definitely not an easy goodbye on Tuesday morning, but as I peered out of the airplane from my window seat I experienced such a peace when the mountains of Haiti came into view. Over the past few days I've seen many of my Haitian friends I had to leave behind in December and they really have confirmed to me that this is where I belong right now. One particular encouragement came to me this morning from one of my translating friends that works for the mission. He gave me a wooden mug with a note inside that expressed his gratitude for my friendship and for all of the ways I have been involved in at the mission. It really sparked a fresh flame in my heart.

As far as life at the mission goes, the main event this week has definitely been the first Canadian teams' arrival. On Wednesday evening around 6:30pm I watched with the other staff members as headlights made their way up the hill to the mission guesthouse. That was the last moment of calmness that we shared before the bus doors opened and 49 team members began to unload and set up camp for the next two weeks.

During this next month of teams from Canada, Laurens and Cheryl will be very busy keeping the teams occupied. Laurens is heading up the construction team, and Cheryl will be organizing supplies with the nurses for outreach with the Hospital of Hope and mobile clinics. This also creates more busyness for me as I will be on call for the kids while their parents will be working many overtime hours.

This weekend I really need to prioritize my time as we will be starting school this Monday. I will be honest - I didn't open a book over the break, so I definitely have a lot of ground to cover with the 3 seperate grades, but I'm just hoping that the Lord will give me ideas and that my planning times would be very productive.

It's always a challenge for me to balance my time of prep and interaction with the team, and especially this month having so many friendly faces from home around, I struggle to put the time into school planning. I just wish sometimes that I could have more freedom to do other things, but I must remember that teaching is my priority this year and I have to stay committed to the task. And the promise of the verse in Philippians - He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it - reminds me to press on and keep relying on the Lord for strength.

Thank you for your prayers for the kids and I as we jump into our routine next week, and also that I would have an extra measure of patience during this month of craziness. I guess I better keep going on my lesson planning... Bye for now! :)

Home

Home. Just the word brings a warmth to my heart.A few weeks ago I took the trip home to Canada for Christmas and it has truly been the best Christmas ever. Before I even stepped on Canadian soil I was greeted by over 20 of my closest family and friends who came to the airport to surprise me. As you can see from the picture, they came prepared! haha!

I've spent the past couple of weeks on a complete high. Going from Christmas party to lunch date to movie night to sleepover to celebration dinner to... You get the picture. My schedule has been jam-packed full of wonderful family times and memorable and crazy times with friends. I know it probably sounds crazy but when I got back to Canada it kind of felt like I never left. Everything just clicked back to Canada mode in my mind, and so thankfully I was able to make the most of these precious days of being with the ones I love.

It was also so awesome to catch up with so many of my prayer partners and express my thankfulness. I kind of wish it would have never ended.

Even the snow was fun!

Yes, I will say it again. It has been the best Christmas ever.

But it's over now and life has to move on. I have to go back to reality.

This reality brings mixed feelings. I was confident that it wouldn't be hard for me to return to Haiti when I left in December. Haiti is finding a special place in my heart and I was sad to leave, so I thought I'd be able to come back quite easily.

However over the past few weeks I've been reminded of all of the things about my Canadian home that I don't have in Haiti : comfort like clean water (hot or cold) straight from the tap and no bugs or critters pestering me, but most of all, a congregation of friends and supporters encouraging and loving me beyond what I could ask for. I am really going to miss all of you and I am trusting the Lord to provide for me in these lacking areas in creative ways, just like He has been doing in the previous months. It's easy for me to get discouraged when I am not encouraged in Haiti like I am so blessed by the support at home, but it prompts me to remember who I am doing this service for. I'm doing it for the Lord, not for anyone else, and so my reward will come from Him someday. I am thankful for the joy of serving Him in Haiti and the blessings I've already been rewarded with in this new place. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers in the coming weeks.