Walls Are A Good Thing

So I've been home a little over a month. I keep thinking the pain in my heart and urge to go back will subside, but it seems the longer I'm away, the more I want to be there. I am still trying to get my head around it all so it's likely the trip recap will be "recaps" over several weeks...or even months. The one thing I am certain of is that I will never be the same...

My week in Haiti was the most heart breaking and life changing experience of my life. I have never loved so deeply so quickly and felt so overwhelmed by the need surrounding me. The children stole my heart from the time we crossed the border as they ran alongside the trucks waving and smiling. Their immediate trust and quick laughter warmed my heart and made me wish we could all be so quick to love and let others into our hearts. The adults embraced me with smiles and greetings that transcended our language barrier. I learned very quickly that a smile and laughter are the universal language - no interpreter needed. Despite the hot, dry and bleak conditions, most of the people were joyous and grateful for the help being provided to their community.  

Part of the team spent our time there building five classrooms for a school that is scheduled to open in September. The thought of providing the means to educate children to hopefully enable and empower them to improve the way of life for themselves and generations to come brings great joy to my heart. The teacher who will oversee the school told Tim (the missionary that runs the Hispaniola Mountain Ministries) that he wanted to teach the children three things: to read, to write and about Jesus Christ. I can't think of a better mission for a school.

Amazing progress!

Prepping for the inaugural activity in one of the classrooms.
We gave the kids foam visors and stickers to decorate them.
They really had fun...and so did we!

A little help from Moise (Moses) with our activity.

One of the things that struck me most about the classrooms was the order that ensued once the kids were inside those walls. Out in the open, the kids were wild (as most kids are!) and any effort to give them anything or do almost any kind of organized activity often resulted in...well, pretty much a mob scene. Inside the walls of their classrooms, however, they sat quietly and waited their turns and were polite and orderly. It was amazing! 

It really made me think about all the times I've wanted "freedom," but God gently gave me "walls" to reign in my energy and efforts. Sometimes what feels like walls to limit us are actually walls to protect us. Thank you, God, for the times You reigned me in with walls and protected me from myself...

More to come...

Packing...or at least thinking about it.

As our departure gets closer, it's time for me to make "the list." I started trying and found myself marking through a lot of things that would normally put on it...most noticeably - MAKE UP and the mountain of hair products I normally take on a trip (I have really uncooperative hair!).

Who needs all that in Haiti, right?

Here's a peek at what I have so far...

1.  CAMERA. Enough said, but do see above (no makeup/hair products) when viewing pictures.
2.  Sunscreen. Wondering if one bottle will be enough...
3.  Bug spray. Also wondering if one bottle will be enough...
4.  Work clothes & shoes. Oh, and a hat...or two.
5.  Linens. 

Yep. I think that's about it. This should be easy, right?

Today's prayer requests:


1. The children of Anse-a-Pitres, Haiti. Pray we can be hope and love to them...so that they know they are loved and cared for, not only by this team but also by The One who created them.

2. The leadership of Anse-a-Pitres, Haiti. Pray they will be good stewards of the help being provided for their community and move it toward a better future. Ask God to give them His eyes for the people under their care so that they may make wise decisions.

A Tough Conversation

Tonight, I had a long-awaited conversation with Riley about my upcoming trip. After his bedtime story, I pulled up a map of the Island of Hispaniola to show him exactly where I would be traveling. He was full of questions - Would I get in a boat? Fly in an airplane? What would the bus look like? What would we eat?

The city we will stay in is on the DR-Haiti border at the bottom of the map:
Pedernales. We will work in a Haiti village just across the border: Anse-a-Pitres. 

I answered them to the best of my ability, and eventually we moved on to what I would be doing during my trip. In his mind, a trip this long should involve the beach and a swimming pool and lots of fun things (per our family trip to Orange Beach last summer!). And while there will (hopefully) be a chance to see the nearby beach, that is far from the focus of this trip.

Thank goodness for the Internet!! I showed him several YouTube videos of the village and then we talked about the importance of CLEAN water, how different things are in Haiti from our home, and how we have more than enough of everything but there are others with very little. He listened very intently and asked a few questions (mostly about the solar-powered water well on the YouTube video...my little science nerd!). 

But when I finished, he said the most wonderful words....

"Mama, can I go on a mission with you one day?" 

My heart overflowed with joy at his compassion and desire to help these people after hearing just my descriptions and seeing videos and pictures (Don't worry, Mom! I'm not taking him to Haiti...any time soon!). I explained that he needed to be a little older, but that we would do our best to take him on a trip. He asked if Eli could go, and I told him not yet. His response? "Yeah. He wouldn't be a very good 'missioner' right now." 

So, while my heart aches at the thought of being away from my sweet family for the week, it is full of joy at the Riley's receptiveness to embrace a life of service to others. With his daddy beginning seminary in the fall, this will certainly be our life...

I finished our talk with Riley's prayer charge. For the next few weeks, I asked him to pray for these two things, so I guess I'll ask you to do the same:

1. That people will ask Jesus to come live in their hearts while we are in Haiti and we are able to share His love with as many people as possible. 

2. That God would keep Mommy safe until she can be back at home with her boys and Daddy.