Gratitude Reminder

There are so many times here when I am reminded to be grateful. Today was one of those times. I walked with sweet Fifi (she helps cook and clean at the guest house) to see the house that she was getting ready to move into. We sometimes spend so much time worrying about what color to paint our walls or that our house is too small or outdated, but this sweet lady couldn't stop praising Jesus for the place she was going to be able to live in. It is a single room with no bathroom and no kitchen, but when Megan told her that she would help her get it she smiled so big and immediately raised up her arms and said "Merci Jezi!" I was just so humbled to see her instantly begin to express her gratitude to the Lord and am challenged to be more thankful for the many blessings I have received.

Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Surprise visit

We stopped in to visit Sarah yesterday! She is doing so well!! It was great to see her and know that she is getting the care she needs. This is Sarah with my roommate Sharon.

Lespwa

I am so glad that we are to fully set our hope on the grace of Jesus.  We cannot do anything on our own, it is Jesus working through us to accomplish His tasks.  Sometimes I think that there are a lot of things I need to do to be productive but what I really need to do is stop making to do lists :)  I've been going on a lot of what I like to call "community hikes" lately.  I call them community hikes because I'm with people that I live in community with, out in the community where we live, and even though we're typically walking along "roads" it's more like a hiking trail than a road (which I love!)

Last Saturday, five of us set out to go to the other side of Bellevue Mountain to walk around the community there.  I've been over there before, but we took some different paths this time.  It was incredibly beautiful!  It rained most of the time which was a welcome blessing because then it was nice and cool!

Using banana leaves as umbrellas :)

We came upon a soccer field (basically a clearing with a couple of sticks in the ground for goals) where we took some photos and waved across the valley to some kids who were super excited to see us.

Adam, Jake, Megan & Sharon

After leaving the soccer field we walked through an area that had several houses.  There were voodoo symbols everywhere and drawings on the ground where we were passing through.  Although I know that voodoo is a common practice here, this was my first actual encounter with it.  Honestly it was a little surreal.  We greeted the people who lived around there and they were all very friendly, but there was just a feeling of darkness that is hard to describe.  I just prayed for those people and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come flood this place.  Our hope is in Jesus alone.  Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and for the Lord to push back darkness in this place.  

Tree just beyond where we saw the voodoo symbols.  There was a place at the bottom of this tree where they burn things as a part of their rituals/ceremonies

We're planning to go on another hike today, starting where we ended last time so I'm sure I'll have more photos to share next week.  

For now, I'll leave you with a few photos from a walk we took last night around the area where we live.  I love just being out in the community to greet people and give them a smile or encouraging word.  God is so amazing and I am in awe at the beauty of His creation.

Psalm 28:6-7  Blessed be the Lord!  For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

What I've been up to

My goal is to blog once a week so this is an overdue update, but better late than never, right?!  We've been super busy with several teams and this is the first time in awhile I've actually had enough time to sit down and write something.

I've been teaching a community english class three times every week.  When I came here I really didn't think I would be teaching, but it just happened and now I love it :)  The students are so eager to learn and it has been great getting to know them!  They are super interested in not only the language, but also in Bible teaching, so I will be working on getting some Bible lessons to teach them.

 I spend a lot of time working in the cafe.  It just opened at the beginning of April, so it is still a work in progress, but it is going great!  I get to spend a lot of time with Tachi which is awesome!  Sometimes she only speaks to me in creole (even though she's fluent in english), so hopefully I'll be fluent in creole soon :)

Now that all the summer interns are here I get to spend more time at the school.  Lately, we've been working on making crafts for their sponsors.  Summer tutoring will start soon and I will be helping out with that as well.  This photo is of the flag raising ceremony that happens every day before school starts.

I've been killing a lot of ants.  They just come out of nowhere and there are so many of them!

Haiti has the best mangos so sometimes we make mango salsa....it is amazing.

I've also been spending time with the kids at the feeding program on Saturday.  They don't even want to do anything in particular, they just love to hang out.  They just tell me to sit down so that they can sit on my lap or they love to just be picked up and held.  I really love this time because it is just being the hands and feet of Jesus and loving on kids that may not be shown any positive attention at all.  

Psalm 82:3-4
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Update on Sarah

I didn't actually get to go along to pick up Sarah, so I'm just going to share Megan's thoughts with you all again.  We were definitely praising the Lord a lot for this beautiful new beginning for Sarah!  Please continue to pray for her.  Sometimes we have to truly let go and just be patient in order for the Lord to show us His plan.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

http://blessedwithaburden.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/when-the-ending-is-really-the-beginning/

I have no words....

...so I'm just going to use Megan's blog to update all of you on what has been happening the past couple of days.  Please pray with us.

http://blessedwithaburden.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/god-knows-the-ending/

Saturday Feeding Programs

Today was my first time to go to the Saturday feeding programs so I just thought I would share a few photos. Enjoy!