God Knows Were Here

I am so sorry that it has been a while since the last post. There is so much to report, it is hard to put it into words. Yesterday, half of our team left . Honestly, it feels like my right arm is missing. It was such an honor and privilege to serve with them here in Haiti. We miss them terribly.

I think today has been one of the most powerful days for me in Haiti. We spent the morning working at the orphanage. The boys were working on the never ending construction list which included shelves for the storage room, and cabinets for the ladies in the kitchen area. The ladies spent the morning taking pictures of each child individually and sibling pictures. It was a special moment for the kids because they were bathed and dressed in their best clothes for a brief moment to feel special. Some eyes looked deep in the camera with a grin to melt your heart, while other eyes were filled with pain and fear. 

At 11 a.m., we left the orphanage to travel to a remote and "rougher" area of PAP to visit another orphanage. Our orphanage director, said this orphanage had been on his heart for about week, and he felt we needed to take them some food. So, before we left all the food was inventoried to see what could be taken to this other orphanage. The traffic was horrific on the way to the orphanage, it was the worst we have seen since we have been here. It took over an hour and half to travel what should have taken about twenty minutes. Of course, there was no AC, let's just say it was a rough trip. We had a hard time finding the orphanage, and had to turn around several times.  Thanks to one of our security guys, we finally found it.

As we drove up to the orphanage, all I saw was a few tents. When he said we were here, I was shocked. It didn't look any different from a small tent city that I see every time I open my hotel door. When I say they have nothing, I really mean it. They had nothing. "This is the orphanage," raced through my mind.

Then, we were greeted by the sweetest most beautiful faces. We gathered under a tarp to hear a word from the lady overseeing the orphanage. She is a Haitian woman who heard a call from God to start an orphanage. She told God that she had no money or resources to start it, but God told her to do it anyway. She said these words that will forever change my life, "God knows we are here." God knew that she needed food to feed the 100 children in her orphanage, and God knew exactly where the food needed to be dropped off.  All God needed from us, obedience to deliver the food.

God knows that I am. God knows that you are here. We have two challenges in knowing this truth: 1.) God knows we are here, so our job is to trust Him. He will provide exactly what we need when we need it, and in His timing. 2.) God knows we are here, and that may mean that He is calling us to be His hands and feet by being obedient to a calling. 

Under the tent, the kids had a church service. There was singing, preaching and praising all led by the children. Tears ran down my face as I was watching these children worship Jesus. Then, our group sang Hosanna, Mighty to Save, and You're the God of this City over the children and workers. Our team gathered over each child and worker and prayed for them. God's presence was under that tarp today. Then, the kids sang us out as we left with the world longest song, but it was so sweet. I can not wait to share the video from today!

My initial reaction from the day was, "Why are we taking this other orphanage food, when food is so scare here." Our orphanage (Maison de Enfants) has a kingdom agenda. They see beyond themselves. They know that God is going to provide for them. In fact, on the agenda for tomorrow morning is to visit a tent city, to pass out food and hygiene kits. They have taught us a huge lesson,  God is the supplier of all things.

During breakfast at the hotel a question was posed from a stranger at a near by table, "What are you going to do with the things you see and hear today?" There is one more thing the lady said today under the tarp that struck me, "Don't forget I'm here." How can I forget after the things I saw and heard today? It was life changing and challenging.  Let me rephrase that, "Lord, please don't ever let me forget the things I saw and heard today!"