Date Entered into Journal: March 30, 2011
Ministry Day Three
Today we were seperated into two ministry teams, as everyone was able to participate in the children ministry. My team was sent to a school this morning, where our class had children aged 10 to 12 years old and some of their parents. ( My team consisted of Justine, Pastor Les, Joan, Katrina, Heather, Don, Doug and myself.) We performed our Good Samartian skit, followed by Pastor Les sharing the lesson on Joy. Katrina went through the wordless book so professionally and lovingly and we ended with the salvation bracelet. I was touched by the parents, they wanted to be involved in everything that was going on in the classroom. The children in our class today were well behaved, followed instructions that we were giving them and asking for assistance when needed. I loved their manners. My heart jumped when I asked a child what the bracelet meant and he went through each of the colors: Yellow for Heaven, Black for sin, Red for the Blood of Jesus, White for a clean heart, Green to grow in Jesus. Our team lucked out with Brisso and Sam as our translators! They have such a way and love for those kids... the faces of the children that they interact with shine with smiles and love.
After this school, we went to an orphanage called Sisters of Mercy. This one was founded by Mother Theresa... and her spirit of humility, love and concern is still present there. We met up with the other team there. Our sole purpose of being here: to love those children, to interact with them, to hold them. We were there over the lunch hour and were able to assist in the feeding and caring of the children at lunch. I was able to feed a small girl, about 18 months old and feed her the meal of rice and bean paste. She was a good eater! She was so thirsty though- she gulped down her water, never taking a breath between swallows. Each time I attempted to assist her with that need for oxygen, she would cry, thinking that I am taking the water away. She appeared to have a slight case of hip dysplasia, something so correctable at home, that in Haiti, will be a hardship her entire life. She is a little girl that I could have easily taken home with me, to be my daughter. This was a good experience for everyone- we could really sense the lack of workers and how the children needed to feel loved. Leaving this orphanage was hard on the team members: one of the youngest girls of our team completely broke down as she listened to her child scream and cry when she put him down. It was hard to watch and to listen to.... those children need love and interaction so much! The need is so very dear and to be able to share that love with them- be it only an hour and a half to 2 hours- they had more love than they had the morning prior. We were not allowed to take pictures and it was a well enforced rule. The conditions were clean, but sterile, and needs were being met. There were Nuns in their uniforms as well as nursey maids. The cribs were all matching and had matressess with rubber sheet and cotton sheets on. There were more children than workers.
We had a wonderful lunch by the water afterwards. The beach was a nice place to debrieft, eat and rejevinate our spirits. The water was a seafoam blue, with big palm trees all around. The entertainment was watching a man riding his donkey down the beach, off to do business somewhere in town.
After lunch, we went to a CARE Plan orphanage/school, sponsored by the Australian Care Plan. We had everyone with us and really just had fun being with the kids. I was able to sit among the children and before I knew it, I had a whole crowd around me and a girl on each knee! All the children were already in the gazebo- about three times the size of a regular gazebo. This school was one of the cleanest and nicest schools that we had the priviledge of being at. The uniforms and shoes were in burgundy and white, and everyone (even the teachers) was just so happy!! Brisso had them singing and praying, and the best part of that? Brisso had them singing in english so that we can join in as well!! What a shock it was for me to hear my name during an improv skit of Meeshak, Shadrack and Abendigo- I was being called up to act out the evil King Nebeccnezar! I was comfortable, loving my adopted girls... however, I did enjoy the skit and it was a instant classic! It was great to just exaggerate and play up the story. I really had fun watching the children replaying our skit in their own ways. We also did the Good Samatian. Making these stories from the Bible come alive was not only fun but rewarding as well. We had to suddenly cut it short as we were late and had kept the kids too long as it was. This is when we learned that Pastor Les, who had not been feeling well all week, was being taken to a Haitian Doctor. Our love for this servant of God poured out as we prayed and left him in God's hands.
We had another bumpy ride back to the team house in the back of pick up trucks. Once there, and hydrated, we got ready for a soccer outreach. This is when we take soccer balls and go to an empty field and invite all to come and play soccer, using it as a tool to be able to share the gospel message. I was so ready for this! I was pumping up soccer balls and gettting socks and shoes on (I know! ME in socks!).... however, we never got there. Pastor Les came home and told us all about the doctor's visit ( I was so into the details of what the nurse did and what the office looked like,etc) and that it was a diagnosis of cerebal malaria. That was a shocker. Instead of our outreach, Sam took us on a 15 min. hike to the nearby beach. It wasn't as nice as the one on Sunday, as it was rocky, but still very beatiful! It was a cove that had a rock formation worn in by the ocean that was so interesting to look at. Looking up, we could see some rental properties that were HUGE! The ocean was so warm- even late in the afternoon as it was! I was able to hang out and just be myself and talk to a few team members that I didn't know so well. I really enjoyed the entire moment of time. It was a nice touch and really appreciated by all who went. (picture on right side, labelled cove, taken by Jenn Roach)
Reflections: the sky is so blue here. Always. The clouds were just placed perfectly- God's little cotton balls. I loved the weather- humid, warm, sunny. It was a good reminder of the mid July days of my youth- our hottest weather of year is their coldest!
Our team was definately God-ordained and chosen. Whenever, whoever, the needs were met. People at home were praying for us, and I could sense it.
This was day three of our ministry- and we had some bumps and bruises, Pastor Les was ill. A powerful thought came about by the team- we are doing God's work and his enemy, Satan was trying his best to keep us down. Our wonderfully tight group prayed together that night a prayer of overcoming, of protection, of thanksgiving.
God is working in each one's heart.
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