Today
I realized something. This month is more than halfway over, and I
have not written anything about what our ministry has looked like
here in Haiti!
Our
first week here, our team was joined by a group from New York. Their
team allowed us to join them in their ministry, a Vacation Bible
School for the kids. It was a lot of fun to just step back and watch
some of their group members because, for several of them, it was
their first mission trip. The theme for the week was The Wordless
Book. The book is simply five different colors: black (we are all
sinners), red (Jesus’ blood covers our sins), white (we are made
clean), green (we grow in Christ), and gold (we gain eternal life in
heaven).
Our
remaining three weeks here were originally supposed to center around
preparing a house for 50 girls to live. This house is going to be a
safe haven for teenage girls who are living in the tent cities
without families to protect them. Many of these young women have seen
and been victims of extremely terrible things. Along
with being a safe home for these girls, they will also have the
opportunity to go to counseling and learn a trade (they can become a
nurse, nanny, or secretary through this program). In a word, this
house will bring hope
to
50 young women who have nowhere else to go. So far, the rental
agreement has not been finalized on the house so we have not been
able to start working on it yet.
Our
team’s ministry has been fairly diverse this past week. Emily has a
degree in occupational therapy so she has been working with several
of the special needs children here to help them develop necessary
skills. Micah has background in education, so she has been tutoring
several children in English. Jon, Kara, and James have been helping
with various painting projects around the house. I have been helping
Chris, the owner of the orphanage, with adoption paperwork. I have
learned so much by working alongside her these past couple of weeks.
Last
week, I watched a father give up his youngest four children for
adoption. He works as a pastor up in the mountains and does not get
paid enough to support his family. I had the opportunity to sit in on
his meeting with Chris while they did intake paperwork and discussed
different aspects of the situation. I didn’t know what to think when
he was able to walk away from his children without hugging them or
telling them that he loved them. After he left, Chris said that is
how she leaves children with adoptive families in the states. She
knows that is what is best for them. But as soon as she is out of
their sight, all of her emotion comes out. Be in prayer for Pastor
Pierre and the rest of his family. His children are precious, and I
can tell that they have been well loved.
All
of us girls have been rotating night shifts with a newborn baby so
Chris does not have to lose sleep. Spending a couple of nights with
that baby makes me wish I could thank my mom for all the sleep she
lost taking care of me!
Our
team got to be a part of the yearly event of passing out school
clothes. Each child gets one pair of jeans, one pair of tennis shoes,
and two tee shirts for the year. Imagine how well that would go over
in America! These children were extremely grateful for what they got.
So
that is what our ministry in Haiti looks like so far! I have posted
some pictures of these beautiful kids on facebook, you should check
them out! Also, there are videos to come soon, when the internet
allows for it =)
