Wonderful Counselor

September 17, 2013

Today my devotional today was about God being a wonderful counselor. It couldn't be more perfect for the day we are finishing out.

“And He will be called a Wonderful Counselor” –Isaiah 9:6

I was in our staff lounge, not feeling too well, exhausted and tired mainly. I had just laid down to rest when I heard what sounded like blood-curdling screams let out. I ran out of the staff lounge to the balcony overlooking the Miriam Center. They knew. They had been told. About an hour and a half prior we received the news that one of our precious lower-functioning children of the Miriam Center had gotten sick and could not be revived.

It is devastating. I had seen her every day since I had been here and would always hold her hand and greet her with a hello and a brush of hand against her cheek. She would light right up and give you the biggest smile.

The mamas of the MC had just finished dressing her and doing her hair and then their wailing began. Apparently that is how they mourn here in Haiti. Letting out loud screams and they let them out for about five minutes.  

Most big funerals in Haiti go on for about three hours and they consist of the constant screams of why’s. Tomorrow we will hold a small service and then walk to the cemetery for burial.

Tonight in my devotional it was perfect for what we/I needed.

He is there to counsel you with arms of love. Rest in Me and soon you will see the clouds disappear. Trust Me today.

The Lord is there with listening ears and compassionate eyes. With discerning thought and gentle affirmation- He speaks directly to the issues in my life.

Thank you Lord for always being there.

God is never the author of confusion. His counsel is 100% accurate.

As sad as it is to lose a precious, innocent child- God is present and is there. He is with her now and she is of full body and mind and smiling her ever-bright smile. She is made perfect.

He Lights The Way

He Lights The Way

September 17, 2013

One of the things that Caitlin and I like to do after dinner is stand on the roof watching the sunset. We go up to the roof because it is quiet. We have just finished dinner and it is lighter on the roof as the sun sets and we wait for the power to come on, also there is always a nice cool breeze.

Last night Caitlin told me a story about the cross on the church across the street from the mission. I never knew that at night it is lit up by solar lights. It is a glowing reflection of God’s love to the people of the village here, but also to those outside of St. Louis. It lights the way… literally.

Many years ago there was a boat full of Haitians who were lost at sea when a storm hit- their boat capsized and they saw the cross on the church and the began to swim towards it and it got them safely back to shore.

It is so cool to know that God lights the way in so many ways here in Haiti. 

The Branch

The Branch

I praise you God for being my: BRANCH.

“In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious.” –Isaiah 4:2

The branch has been extended for me to come back to Haiti to help build branches… to help others take root in Haiti. To build connection to the people here for sponsorship and funding of the programs for NWHCM.

This program is called The Family Tree (http://nwhcm.org/).

It’s a really cool new way to connect with the child that you sponsor. It gives you access to how they are doing on a somewhat-regular basis. It shows pictures and gives updates- more than most giving programs that update you once a year.

Amber and I are working to update all of the photos for everyone within our programs at our Saint Louis du Nord and La Baie campuses.

My devotional for this on September 14^th was perfect.

No matter where we go, He will comfort us with His loving grace.

This family tree sponsorship program will allow the children, people, and programs of the mission to be covered- to hopefully become fully sponsored.

God’s mercies never dry up. His “branches” will always reach far enough to cover.

Lord- I pray for the family tree of NWHCM. That is will be fruitful and your abundance would be multiplied and poured out.

Lord- thank you for your continual covering grace and protection. The ways that you provide for me are beautiful and glorious.

Sticky Hands

Today while we were painting one of the classrooms of the Miriam Center, Autumn (physcial therapist for the mission) sent out one of the women to purchase her groceries.
She came back with buckets and buckets of mangos and so Autumn gave one out to each of the kids of the Miriam Center. After we finished painting part of the room before lunch, I went over to greet each of my boys. When I got to Carlos, he was sucking on his mango and I patted him on the head and said hello again. He motioned me to wait. He proceed to suck on the mango as he began wiping his hands on his shirt and then reached for my hand. He wanted to hold my hand with his mango-sticky hand and go for a walk.
I am loving all of the connecting moments that I am experiencing with the children here. They just desire to be loved on and shown attention.

Fast Asleep

I am yet to be a mom, but tonight I felt like I got to experience what it is to be a mom and to put a child to bed.

Left to Right: Mackenly and Carlos

After dinner tonight at the mission I showered and got ready for bed. I went to our staff lounge and was awaiting a telephone call, so I decided to wander downstairs to our clinic. We were having a movie night with the kids on campus. I first noticed that one of our MC kids was literally passed out asleep on the concrete. Through the room of children, I spotted Mackenly. Mackenly is one of the kids I have recently been bonding with recently and spent some of the day hanging out with. I saw him sitting on the side wall with a space next to him and so I went over to sit next to him. I started scratching his back and he immediately laid down on my lap and within minutes he fell asleep. So I picked him up and carried him back to his room where one of the nurses/mamas of the MC took him.

I came back and picked up Carlos who was fast asleep on the concrete and carried him back to the room and into his bed. As I walked into his room, I had to help Mackenly set up his bed and blew him a kiss goodnight and whispered “Bon We”, which is good night in Creole.

It’s moments like those that make me excited to be a mom one day. Moments like those that allow me to love like a mother to these motherless children of the Miriam Center. It’s those moments that make me thankful for the love Christ has shown me that allows me to love these children as He loves me. I am truly thankful that I get to pour and invest into Mackenly and Carlos.

Bon We!

If you would like to sponsor Mackenly or Carlos for a one time donation or monthly at $30, please click on the link below:

http://nwhcm.org/sponsorship/special-needs/makenly-pierre-louis

A Beautiful Place To Be

Beautiful Place to Be

Today (September 13, 2013) I found myself painting for several hours in the Miriam Center’s Bird Cage. Some of the children found it amusing as they would sit and stare or just sit outside the cage and watch me.

One little girl that I have made a connection with is Roselore. Roselore came to the mission the mission about two years ago. She used to have seizures all the time and as of recently she hasn’t had any in months. The left side of her body when she first arrived did not function- and she lost the ability to walk. Now you find Roselore running around the mission, with a sassy attitude and giggling like crazy.

Today and like every day I have been here so far I pushed her on the sings in the morning. She speaks some English and shouted, “Push please, push please”. So I pushed her for almost ten minutes this morning.

After lunch as I was painting we were listening to Tyrone Wells, my favorite artist. One thing I love about music is that it can transcend and speak through all cultures. As one of my favorites came on, I began singing it to Roselore and she began dancing.

One line goes:

ABC, it's as simple as can be

123, baby you've got me

So I don't know my right hand from my left

Green light go, and I'm standing still

Red light stop, I keep going 'til

I don't know just what I should do next

Stuck up on this crazy ride

I'm all jumbled up inside

As I sang “stuck up on this crazy ride”, Roselore looked at me with an upset face and said “I not crazy”. I just laughed and said “No, no it’s the song”.

Amidst our Tyrone Wells music hour we then began listening to “A Beautiful Place To Be” and Roselore would sway back and forth to the song. She then realized the song said beautiful and she caught onto the song quickly and would slightly sing along to the chorus:

You make the world a beautiful place to be (2xs)

And I never want to see you go

Yours is the only world I want to know

You make the world a beautiful place to be

It’s amazing how music can just speak, no matter the language or communication barrier. And it helps that she was loving my favorite artist. Music truly does make the world a beautiful place.

If you'd like to sponsor Roselore- you can sponsor her for $30 a month or make a one time donation.

http://nwhcm.org/sponsorship/special-needs/roselore-charlestin

Check out Tyrone's Music Video:

Saved By The GPS

The other day I was driving home from an evening at a friend's house.

While stopped at a stop light I was adjusting my GPS.
The light turned green for me, but I stayed there... with my foot on the break because my GPS fell.
I reached to grab it while still stopped and I am so glad I did.

Less than ten feet in front of me, a car on the opposite end of the intersection ran a red light. And came within inches of the car to my left. Had I moved, had my GPS not fallen I would have been t-boned. Hit on my driver's side, but I can't help but be so thankful for God in that moment.

Even more so because when I first stopped at the light, I decided I wanted to listen to worship music and put on my favorite worship song. It began playing as that car missed me and almost hit the other call.

God has such a great purpose for me and continues to protect me and thwart Satan's attempt to attack me and harm me.
His mercies are new each morning and He continues to protect me.

2Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.