Gressier, Thomazeau, & Days in the Country

God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. -Psalm 29:11

Each day in Haiti sparks something new in my heart. Over the past 2 days, I've been blessed to share with my team in being exposed to the "goings on" in the outskirts of Port au Prince. Yesterday, we headed out to Gressier to visit Respire Ministries. I was completely amazed at all that has taken place in this ministry over the course of 14 months. Megan Boudreaux, age 26, the director and founder, welcomed us into her home and heart. We were able to witness firsthand what the Lord has been doing in the community of Gressier. The ministry provides schooling, medical care, and a feeding program for children. Basically, it is answering the call to help expose the condition of restaveks in Haiti. It is a form of child slavery that holds over 300,000 captive. Through this ministry, the children are educated and their minds are renewed of who they are in Jesus. I was personally amazed at how the Lord is connecting people together to minister to these children and come alongside Megan in this ministry! They recently started a soccer program. One of my team members, Maria, was a previous professional soccer player and this was a second door that the Lord has opened for her to come and minister in Haiti through soccer. A relationship was formed and a partnership has begun to link. How amazing is our Jesus!

Today, I was blessed to visit Children of Hope in Thomazeau. The children there welcomed me time and time again with the sweetness of their love. I was able to improve in my Creole and sing and dance with the children. We also were able to teach a Bible lesson to them about the love of Jesus. My favorite part of the day, though, was getting to speak into my friend, John's life. John is 13 and attends the school at Children of Hope, but goes home afterwards. His mother passed away and he lives with 8 other siblings. As I was singing with the other children, the Lord put him on my heart as our eyes connected. I was able to share with him the meaning of his name and to speak words of affirmation from the Lord about his calling in life. It was a blessed and honoring experience!

Between my singing with Welove and Janika, I was overtaken by the grace of Jesus. He constantly reminds me of how good he is. And to top it all off, we have heard how different people that we prayed for have been healed since our visit with them. How incredible is Jesus! My heart continues to long for him to touch hearts hear in Haiti--revealing his goodness and the strength that only HE can bring!

As we prepare to head back to the U.S. tomorrow, my heart is longing to stay, but knowing that I need to get back for a few days before my second trip back down here. May we each continue to be still and know that He is God and that He is truly all we need!

Taking Time #10: It is Well With My Soul

Let my cry come right into your presence, God; provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word. Give my request your personal attention, rescue me on the terms of your promise. 

-Psalm 119:169-170

Each day here in Haiti I am seeing more and more of the LIGHT of Jesus. It is truly Him who sustains us. I had the privilege of visiting Well Being Orphanage 2 days in a row, as well as visiting the children at Mother Teresa's Home for the sick children today. With each child that the Lord brings across my path, I am reminded of His unfailing goodness and how He truly meets the needs of His children. I was honored to be part of an answered prayer for food to hungry children. Each time I gaze into one of their eyes, if I take the time to really see, I see Jesus. It's absolutely beautiful and I can't help, but hold each one of them closer--knowing that our Savior is speaking directly through them.

Each moment is worth it--amongst the poor, broken, and dying. It is the love of Jesus that heals. It is He who is speaking and I am amazed! Today, as I was blessed to hold another precious baby and feed her lunch and sing her songs as I held her in my arms, I was overtaken because it wasn't just the little girl who was in front of me. It was Jesus. Jesus was allowing me to minister to Him. This is a concept that I don't fully grasp yet, but am completely captured by. I am captured by the love of my Savior and how all He has and all He is, is completely boundless. He doesn't have limitations and He is drawn to the weak. I am blessed because He is truly answering my prayers by opening my eyes to see Him before me. 

As I was leaving Well Being yesterday, some of the children sang me a song. They sang "Open the Eyes of my Heart". As I'm relaying this back to you, I am seeing how the song they sang was my prayer from the beginning and how the Lord has been answering it every step of the way. I can truly say that it is well with my soul. I am amazed and honored by the love that my Jesus brings.

Tomorrow, we will be going to the countryside to visit Respire Ministries in Gressier, Haiti. My heart is overflowing at what I believe the Lord wants to do there. Thank you for your prayers! May you continually remember that Jesus is always more than enough. Peace over each one of you!

P.S. The little girl in the picture's name is Wlove. I call her my "little love". 

Taking Time #9: Sandwiches & Hatian smiles

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones. -Isaiah 30:18

Take time. It's a phrase and reminder to me that I can hear my mom saying to me in the back of my mind. Take time. Take time to listen. Take time to be in the moment. 

Well, this is exactly what today consisted of: taking time. I was blessed to get to love on some beautiful children at Children Household of Tomorrow today. We made salvation bracelets--sharing the beautiful story of Jesus. The beads also were used for their hair. But beyond the activity, we were able to just be with the children--blessing them with peanut butter sandwiches, and singing songs. Personally, the Lord directed me to a beautiful girl named Mona Lisa and allowed me to teach some of the girls ballet. They taught me hand claps and blessed my heart with the gift of laughter.

I believe that we are given moments by Jesus to learn how to be. This, after all, was what he did best, wasn't it? He looked into a situation, a person's heart, and intervened immediately. I am learning more and more this is what love looks like. It enters immediately into a situation, but never ceases to be completely present. The children today reminded me of this.

We were also blessed to pray with our translator's friend, Emmanuel, who was sick. It was a beautiful time of being present and meeting a situation head on with prayer--trusting our sweet Jesus to intervene. As tears of gratefulness flowed down the cheeks of his face, we were reminded of the power of moving in the small is a move in the BIG--how nothing is small to Jesus.

It was a beautiful first day in Haiti and my heart looks forward to many more to come. Here's to taking time!

Taking Time #8: Meditate in Thankfulness

May each day be filled with a remembrance of a ray of sunshine that is scooped up and poured over every second of your life. May I remember the small things and rest in a place of thankfulness. As I continue to walk on this journey of faith and trying to "process" along the way, I am reminded of how precious and beautiful LIFE is! 

This past week, I was blessed and honored to attend CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) Summit 8 in southern California. It was a trip filled with stories and thoughts about the crisis and call on the church's response to orphans. There were stories of neglected children in our backyard of America, as well as in war-torn inflicted third world nations. It always seems that the innocent are inflicted by the sins of others. As I began to process what was in front of me, I was astounded at how the weather in southern California didn't feel like California. It was cold and wet and cloudy. But as the conference went on and we got to the end of it, the sun started to peek through and it was a reminder to me.

Even though there are many who are suffering and there is deep darkness in the world, there is a God who is greater. His LIGHT is brighter and He is the HOPE of the nations. 

On Saturday, I was released from my routine to explore on my own. Fortunately, the Lord has blessed me with friends all over the world--including California! So, I not only got to spend the day and night with my 2 long-time friends, Lauren & Stephanie, but I also got to go to the beach. And guess what??? The sun came out! The birds flew overhead and the smell of salt and sand filled my lungs. As a girl from the coast, I had personally been having withdrawls from the ocean. But how sweet is our God? He heard my prayer and put a double-portion of blessing on me. I jumped in the water (as freezing cold as it was) and laughed and praised the Lord in His goodness.

So, as I'm now back in Nashville and am processing a bit more, I am reminded of how important it is that we all meditate and rest in thanking God for who He is and all that He's done!

May your days be filled with laughter and your heart be filled with JOY!