My last day!

Tomorrow is the big day.. I venture home!
Crazy!!! I feel like I should still be packing to come here and checking lists to make sure I have everything. I feel like I should be trying to get use to things here and different schedules! It is crazy for me to think that I am going home tomorrow!

My foot is healed, there is still a bump but no more pain and have been able to walk on it this week and a couple days last week! That is a blessing!

These past few days I have been on baby duty, it was fun to just be able to relax with her.. She is about 4 months old pretty content with things!

We have been getting the new girls home ready, we did find out yesterday that there will be 5 girls who are pregnant.. Ages 14-16, whether raped or on their own they have a little one inside them. Here in Haiti the mother doesn't have rights if they are a minor and since they are under IBESR the baby is considered under IBESR as well.. Once they have these little ones they will be going to the nursery here where Hal and Chris stay. Hard to imagine that you can't decide on whether or not you want to keep your child or not. Hard to imagine having to give them up. Praying for these girls, in the states we have so many resources as far as helping to keep our kids or counseling to figure what we be the best decision for both parties and here you have no say..

Pretty mellow day today.. Have been praying a lot has far as going home and trying to get back into the swing of things. Praying as I leave these kids..

Still loving the fact that God has amazing control!

Just felt like I needed to write!!!

Isaiah 41:10- 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand....

I had an urgency to write today.. Felt like I should update you guys on some things that God has been showing me and what I am thankful for!

Thankful:

God's amazing creation.. I know I have said this before but to see so much destruction and corruption Haiti is still a beautiful place. The skies seems gorgeous here a little more blue! The sunsets have been amazing.. I have seen the sunrise on Occassion but don't want to make a habit of that ;)

God's peace: Through the struggles, sleepless nights and bickering between the kids.. there are some times I feel I should be in pain. Not just from my foot which I will talk about later but in my heart. I feel like I should be constantly tired or even depressed. Don't get me wrong I have my moments here of homesickness and wanting to fix things for these kids. But all in all God just lifts my pain for me a little so I can enjoy my time with Mahanata, or makes it so I am not tired so I can try to enjoy my day and time with the other kids!

I love how even the little one here are praising HIS name and giving Him thanks!

Thank you God for making the Man who invented:
PVC Pipe.. So I can take a shower after a sweaty day
Bug Spray
Anti-itch when I get bitten from missing a spot with the bug spray
American Hospitals: So many time I here on the news how people do not like the current situation they are in in which to a degree I agree it;s a hard battle of money and time that everyone has to go thru.. but we are so amazingly blessed with what we have. Some of the buildings her are condemmened yet they still do their lab work and have beds for people.. They are falling apart and even have emergency tents outside to help people to have a place for people to come... An American would not step foot in the hospitals here.. yet for them this is all they have
Jobs- whether it be 9-5 or a stay at home home.. Minimum wage here is $4 a day U.S, It is crazy how many people come to the gate and ask for a job because they are in need of anything to be able to provide for their families... Yet in American there are people who feel they are to good enough to go out and work.. They want more, more and more yet do not realized how blessed they are with what they already have. The verse in Hebrews always come to mind when I think about this... 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"
It is a hard battle in America, and I really am tryin to not become critical which I feel I have been pretty good so far.. This is just one thing that sparked my attention since I have been here.. Nannies here work 12 hour shifts some go back home to their tents then turn around and do it again the next day! Just something I want to keep in mind next time I want to complain about my job and I challenge you to do the same...

My teaching is now done: This week is a pretty free week, Can you believe I only have 8 more days left!
Still praying about my foot.. I have to do three doeses of pills instead of two now and still getting the two shots a day trying to prevent staph infection!

Calling all moms: Whether you are homescooling or public schooling your kids... The curriculum here is a little behind. If you have unwanted books or charts even if they are slightly used they could use all the help they can get.. so something to keep in mind next time you are going through things if you can!!

Loving God's Control and Peace

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 bejoyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Prayer

Hello fellow readers:

Well I am not one to have many prayer requests for myself.. yeah still working on that pride issue

However I have a situation going on in my foot that I have been praying about to get better..

I had this bug bite and my shoe seemed to rub it off which with all the dirt and stuff here it has now become infected. I have gotten two shots for and am taking medicine to help fight Staph. Praying it does not spread!!

Just praying for my spirits as well.. Not really wanting to my last 8 days up in the room when I could be having fun with the girls!

Thank you for your prayers and support thru all of this! Will write agin about whats been going on later!!

About Two weeks left!!!

Whoa Time seems to go by fast here.. I feel like it wasn’t to long ago I was packing and making lists on stuff to get ready to come. Now I am thinking of packing and stuff I am doing here before I leave! Well not so much the packing part (Yeah I am still a procrastinator)

This past week in a half I have been teaching at the boys home.. It’s the Kids from the orphanage who can’t afford to go to the Haitian schools. So Hal and Chris set up a makeshift school. Two teachers come every day and since one of them is sick I am filling in for him. I have been teaching the English speaking students. We have actually been going over the creation in the mornings and watching the Ken ham DVD’s it’s pretty cool to see them sponge up new information!

Friday: We(The team that is here and I) had a dance party for the kids.. It was fun watching them dance and sing along to the songs... They know a lot more then you would think... Yup even some of the boys can do an amazing moon walk.. They all say they taught themselves when you get bored and you have nothing else to do ya just figure things out.

Saturday: The team of 6 left for Ireland... Yeah I was a little Jealous they are in the cold and not sweating so much but thankful. That I was able to meet them!
Saturday afternoon was kind of an emotional time.. The biological parents come every last Saturday of the month and I just happen to be here... There were some that came in that wanted to see pictures of their kids in the states and others who wanted to know why their kids have not been adopted yet.. The hard part for me was watching the interaction between one particular family. Since I have been here we have had five new kids come into the orphanage and one was a family of four. They got to see their parents for the first time in three weeks… The oldest one who understands more of what going on went up to her parents gave them hugs and let the others come and do the same.. However the second to oldest wanted nothing to do with her, she ran to me instead which when I saw the mothers face and read her eyes my heart hurt for her… her own daughter seemed to want nothing to do with her anymore. OIEE I had to actually leave because that was the only way I thought I would get her to go to her mom. I couldn’t imagine the pain her mom felt that you want nothing to do with me, yet I have nothing I can give as far as bringing you home and keeping you with me. Then the leaving part came.. The second to youngest soon caught on to what was happening and lost it.. he cried, cried and cried.. He wanted his mom and dad yet again they couldn’t do anything for him. I couldn’t say anything to make him feel better, he can’t understand English anyways so that wouldn’t of helped even if I started talking… all I could do was just simply pray for the family. I can’t imagine watching both my parents walk out on me. But yet I can’t imagine being a parent and having to leave 4 of my children because I can’t take care of them anymore. It was just a hard battle.. I love knowing that in the end of all of this God is still in control.

Sunday: Church in the morning and then pretty much a hang out day! It’s always fun watching them play with each other although there is a lot of bickering that seems to be going on lately (or pretty much all the time I just notice it more I guess) I pray for these older girls some of them cannot be adopted anymore because they have aged out and some have nowhere to go. I pray they want to be different and still hold onto what they have been taught here at the Orphanage

A funny note: So Monday school started again and when I walk I usually have my head down looking at the dirt and rocks around me.. I am surrounded by the non-English speaking students and they get so excited that they can say my name so they are usually around me every morning.. However I am walking not paying attention and all of the sudden I hear “Teresa Woof Woof” “Teresa Woof Woof” I look over at one of the girls around me wondering what is going on then she points.. yeah I almost ran into a dog on the street they just didn’t know the word for god yet.. hey they have Woof Woof down they are making progress!!

Prayer Requests: Praying for my health.. Today I went to school for an hour but had to come back.. I have a head cold going on that is now putting pressure on my ears. Just praying for healing and that I can get over this quickly.. And praying for Haiti.. Hurricane Earl is suppose to hit either tonight or tomorrow.. I can’t imagine the rainy season here with all these tents around! Praying for Gods protection of the people!

I love Knowing that he is in Control…

Shenanigans!

"How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.."

Whoa, thats a lot of lovin going on! That was one of my verses the other day.. Just made me think and love the fact that I am child of God, no matter what.. No one can tell me different (well tell me and I believe them) No one can strip that from me.. No matter what.. Do you ever just sit in that fact? Do you ever just love that fact? You are a child of God! I LOVE it!



This week:

It has been a little tough for me lately, not going to lie (which by the way I am horrible at, if you are looking at me straight in the eyes.. you will know if I am lying to you or not) I have been homesick.. trying my hardest to give God that control, trying my hardest to not be in those moments. It hasn't kept me from doing anything or to hang out with the kids less.. mostly just something I am aware of at night. Wanting my familiararities again but wouldn't trade this experience for anything..



I feel like however I have found a peace in some things. I never thought I would be able to say Peace while I am in Haiti before.. I take them as glimpses from God. They have been amazing. Just a couple times have I been able to just sit in God's prescence here, not feeling like I have to do anything or hold anyone. I have to realize sometimes that in the end I am here for him. It's hard because I am here and I always feel I need to go hold a baby, or go play with the toddler, make sure that the older girls have someone to talk to.. when really I can't let that distract me from also having my time with him. It's a blanace I feel I am still needing to find.. not just here though I need to take that balance home with me as well.. I guess I say this all for accountability and prayer..

Today was my first day of teaching.. For the next two weeks I will be taking over the advanced students class. they all know english however are still behind in the whole education system.. I guess I am just saying that to America's standards.. here they are rich if they are even able to go to school.. I have a class of 8, I love them because they are like sponges. We are going over the creation movies from Ken Ham.. They have some good questions and I am praying God give me the words to say to them, I feel pretty grounded in what I believe and I back up with scripture however they are still young minds and I don't want to say something wrong and they hear differently! So I shall give a report by the end of the two weeks to see just how crazy these kids are, or how crazy they made me!

A Funny Note: I love how no matter where I am, no matter what country I am in a toddler will still eat a Pb and J the same way.. One of my favorite things here is watch the kiddos eat.. I know a little creep but i find amusement in it.. The toddlers tear apart the sandwhich lick both sides and continue to stick one hand in the peanut butter side and the other in the jelly and continue to eat.. It's funny because it almost seems in unison.. the 2, 3 yr olds will watch the 4, 5 yr olds to make sure they are doing everything right but still oh so cute to watch!

Done for tonight! Thank you for all who are reading and praying!

In Christ

Oh Pickle...

I didn't really know what to title this one so.. OH Pickle.. Just seemed to fit!!

Sunday- Church day.. still missing my church family but am still thankful I am able to here for these kiddos.. However after church was probably another highlight for me.. It was pool day.. You should of seen the kids faces.. They were going ballistic because they got to go swimming.. little did I know that they only go 5 times out of the year.. It was fun however to witness a two girls first day at a pool.. ever. The oldest is 10 yrs old and they youngest is 6 both had never been to a pool before.. That for some reason just amazed me. I know that this happpens in the world. Not everyone goes swimming that much.. but to be 10 and to never go to a pool or the beach.. Kind of sparked an intrest, not sure why yet but it was fun to see there faces light up and have joy being carried around. It was also fun to watch the older girls.. Some are 14 years old and don't know how to swim.. Yeah it would be difficult giving an orphanage swimming lessons when they only go to the pool 5 times a year. It was just a fun and relaxing day for everyone.. they all just got to be kids!!!

Monday- It was a normal day and yes sometimes I feel mondays here are the same as home.. you don't want to get up you just want to sleep a little extra... It was the night that was intresting to me. I have become close with two girls here and we decided we were going to skype with my mom. ONe looks into the screen and asked the question "Does the Electricity always stay on in the states?" At first I had to do a double take to see if she was serious.. but then I realized of course she is.. I even find myself getting excited when the electricity comes on in the room here.. She has never lived anywhere, where people do not come around and just shut your electricty off. Here the govt pretty much runs it.. They do not have enough to filter to everyone so they have to shut it off periodically in order to give everyone a chance. I never really thought about it until she asked that question though. I am able to have electricity everywhere I go at home. They are use to warm juice and super creamy butter.. They still keep everything in the fridge and don't worry about whats going to go bad or not. I mean they check dates and stuff but they don't feel they have to throw a lot away just because the power went out. I will say that they do have a generator and sometimes run that. but Just the sencerity in her voice and curiousity on her face. She wants to live in a place where they don't turn her electricty off periodically. It was just a wonderment to me.

Still trying to figure some things out... The girls get mad at one other but for a reason such as one knowing enlish and Creole and has to translate for a lot of people.. Petty to us because we want to know other languages.. But here the older girls look down on those who have translate for others.. Weird to me.. kind of seems they get jelous of one another so they have to find the thing that will spark them..

A funny note: I found out here there is no tooth fairy.. In Haitian culture you want to throw your tooth on the roof.. The Mice will then eat it and you tell the mice I would like ugly teeth and because the mice are stubborn they will do the oppposite and give you pretty teeth (which of course is what you want in the first place) A little one lost two teeth here yesterday.. Hard to see when you are use to things at home as far as putting it under your pillow and waiting for the tooth fairy(your parents) to come in the middle of the night and you find out they are actually saving your teeth and when you are older and find them it was kind of cool to go back and look at them.. There is no saving here.. nothing gets put under the pillow, they either throw it on the roof or just throw it away.. and you kno what they are perfectly fine with it. Content with whatever desicion they make.. Opens my eyes more to the things that we do are really not that big of deal at all...

Well thats all for my rambling today! Will hopefully have more for you later this week!.. Sorry it's kind of hard to upload pictures onto this site so none for this one!!

In Christ

"But whatever was my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" -- Philippians 3:7

Where to begin?

It's been three days since I last updated everyone so I thought I would.. I just don't know how to out in words what I am going thru.

Friday: I had my early fun with the toddlers.. They are Pistols! A lot of slapping and biting going! But then some of the staff with Chris, the other team that is here and I did some adventuring of Port-Au Prince.. It was hard to see. There is ruble everywhere.. building after building is down. The whiff of smells is horrible. One thing that hit me hard was we went to see the hospital where they had picked up Marcos. That was overwhleming at first.. Not just because it gave me a glimpse of what he survived but just that these buildings are somewhat of life saving to them. Americas would not even step inside the gates if they were looking at these buildings. We get so wrapped up in the system and how the buildings could be better in America yes to some degree they can be but these people have no choice. It is still hard for me to be here and Marcos not be. I had told Joe and Joanne that I believe I am going through my anger stage right now.. all a guy needed to do was sign a piece of paper.. I am giving that to God though. He is in control and only he knows why. I have to be okay with that! Upon being at the hospital, I also got to see the nurse that took care of him when he was born and had to go through his surgeries. She was sweet.. I never did catch her name she had no idea what I was saying and I had no idea what she was saying and that was ok. We had also driven by some of the major tent cities.. They live in tents... Still hard to wrap my mind around. When I was a child we use to go camping a lot and we had fun setting our tents up, whether it was for just a weekend or a week it was fun for us.. This is not there fun, this is there life, this is there home. Some of the staff that even work here at the orphanage get off work and go to these tents.. How crazy is that? One thing I am praying about strongly is when I get back to America and go on living. I start my job again and soon will start school again.. I am praying that while at work I am not going to be judgemental, while at school i am not going to be judgemental.. when I walk into a building that is air conditioned or newly remodeled I pray I am not judgemental. I am going to be honest: I can get wrapped up in material things.. I am one to keep sentimental things especially when it come to my dads stuff.. to be Honest in the end None of these things will matter.. that is something that has hit my heart..

All these emotions were just on one day.. I have a feeling I am going to have some more as I continue with 4 1/2 weeks left..

Prayer Request: The older girls and the handicapped: Everyone wants a cute baby, everyone wants to start new.. there are girls here that are crying themselves to sleep because they miss their parents or they don't think anyone wants them because they are not babies anymore they are growing into beautiful young ladies. There are girls here that are wishing just for a family! If you have a heart to adopt I would not limit it just to the babies here or any other orphanage.. I would pray for the older ones as well! There are three handicapped girls that are here. I have the joy of spending 4 to 5 hours with them every morning.. They are joys! I love hanging with them and playing with them.. They don't undertsand me and I have no idea what they need or want but just to have attention and love that is all they seem to want! Chris is saying they are petty going to be here until they leave haiti! Which is fine with her, but still hard to imagine that this is their home.. and this is it for them. however when they get Heaven they are going to have an amazing time in the arms of our father just like all us born agains are.



There is so much beauty here in Haiti. a beautiful background paints the devestation. God is still here, God is still shining thru, God is still a protector. Do you know how amazing that is?!



"How humble your love, with a strength like no there and the heart of a father, how majestic your whispers what a wonderful God.. You made the earth and saw that is was good, you sent your only son for you are good"