Our First Excursion Together

We went on our first excursion together and it was fun :) We took all of the kids who are 6 and older up to the Baptist Mission. I have been to the Baptist Mission several times but only to eat and shop for souvenirs and once to take one of our kids to the hospital there for x-rays. I didn't know they have a little zoo, that is where we took the kids. When I found out we were going to the zoo I was very curious what a "zoo" in Haiti would be like. Now, I do think there is an actual zoo here in Haiti but this zoo was a little...more like what I thought it would be. They had different kinds of birds, goats, rabbits and one monkey. Let me tell you about this RIDICULOUS monkey. I like monkey's but this guy was ugly! We were all standing around his cage and the kids were trying to take pictures but he wouldn't stay still. He came over to where I was standing and planted himself on the fence of his cage right in front of my face. All the kids gathered around and watched the funny monkey who was making faces at them, they laughed it was funny. I decided to move out of the way so some other kids could come look, well when I moved to another spot he followed me, the kids laughed and I was like, "Ha that's funny." Well I moved again and...he followed me again! So now EVERYONE thinks this is the funniest thing and they kept telling me to walk around his cage to see if he'd follow me, he did. I even sneaked away and hid behind the crowd then walked to the other side of his cage and HE FOUND ME!! Let me tell you what the children are calling me now, "Madam Makak" which is "Mrs. Monkey". I don't love that name but the kids are sure getting a kick out of it! 

After we walked around the zoo which took about 20 minutes, we went back to the truck to eat the sandwiches that the older kids made for us the night before, yum! Then we went to the little museum they have. I didn't actually get to see the museum because our little Edwar had an upset stomach and I held him in the truck. 
Now for my favorite part of the day, the drive home! I wasn't really looking forward to it because traffic was horrible that day and what normally takes us about 2 hours to get to the Baptist Mission took us 3. Anyway, we headed back and few minutes down the road one of the men with us who was helping with the kids started singing, the older kids joined in and soon the whole truck was in song. Misterline, one of our older girls, kept asking me to sing the English songs that I sing with them at night before bed. I thought the songs would die out but these kids sang praises to our Savior the WHOLE WAY HOME and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! For a while we had a couple trucks full of white people who were following extra close to listen and watch the kids sing and dance on the truck. I noticed they weren't the only people who were noticing this truck full of children from an orphanage singing and dancing, the people on the streets were pretty intrigued by the sight as well :) I just closed my eyes and listened to the kids and mama's praise the Lord. I thought, if I was enjoying that moment so much I could only imagine how blessed the Lord was by His children, these sweet orphans, praising His name! It was a fantastic end to our excursion! If you want to see more pictures or hear a little bit of the singing you can check them out on Facebook. These kids amaze me all the time, they have so much joy and I know it comes from their Father. I pray I get to continue watching them grow more and more in their joy for Him!

Bonwit

So one of my favorite times with the kids starts every night around 8pm when I go say "bonwit", goodnight. Last year when I was here with a team we started meeting with the girls every night before bed to sing, pray and kiss them goodnight, it was a very special time. When I returned this year with the team the kids of course wanted to have that time together again. It didn't take long before the boys were asking me why I sing and pray with the girls but I just say "bonwit" to them. Now that I live here I start with the little kids rooms and end with the big girls room and I get to sing, pray and kiss each little precious face goodnight. 
For a while some of the 11-14 year old boys thought they were too cool for a kiss on the cheek and a hug goodnight, but now they all ask me why I spend more time in the girls room and make sure I sing with them EVERY night :) Tonight 3 of the boys blessed my heart and they don't even know it. When I went to say goodnight to the boys 3 of them hadn't made it into the room yet. I returned a little later to ask one of the oldest boys to help me with something and my almost 14 year old, Nesly said with his head hanging and a sad voice, "Emily, you didn't say goodnight to me..." I said I am so sorry, kissed his cheek and told him I love him. Then the other two boys of course needed their "goodnight" too. They were so cute and made me feel so good to know that they do accept and appreciate my love for them! I think our "bonwit" time has become as special to them, at least some of them, as it has to me. If I don't get to say goodnight to some of the little ones because they are already asleep when I come to the room, they always ask me first thing the next day, "Why didn't you come pray with me and say goodnight?". I get yelled at if I try to leave before they get a chance to give me hugs and kisses from them, they're too cute!!
My prayer is that they would experience God's love through me. I know that sounds crazy because God's love is perfect and I am a sinner but praise Him because He has saved me from my sins AND because He uses us with all of our imperfections so I am praying He will use me here with these precious children who love to be held, hugged, kissed, told "I love you" and kissed "bonwit" no matter how old or young they are! Bonwit!

The Lord is too good!

I want to share a cool personal story that happened with God and myself the other night. You may or may not know that I had been praying to move here since 2006, 6 years. Through the 6 years of waiting I thought the reason it wasn't happening was because God was preparing someone to move here with, so I wouldn't be coming alone. Well, when I was invited to move here July, 2011 I realized that was not why it had taken 6 years because I found out I would be moving here alone. In the 6 months of preparing to move here and actually getting here God and I had many conversations about that, moving here alone. I finally shut up long enough to understand Him say that I am coming here alone because He wants me to rely on Him and turn to Him alone in a way I haven't before. See I like people, I love people, I am too often more quick to turn to a friend or loved one than I am the Lord in a time of need, whether for advice, answers, comfort, fun or affection and He told me I am coming here to receive all of that from Him without the distraction of "others". So that was a long introduction to my story but now it will make more sense to you :)
Okay, so I have been sick on and off again for the past 2 and half weeks. A few days ago I was really frustrated because I hadn't been able to sleep for a couple days, EDH(city electricity) wasn't coming on at night which makes it more difficult to sleep, I didn't feel good, the kids were not their best that day and I was just tired. When it was time to lay down, again not having EDH, I turned on some Laverne & Shirley to fall asleep to, didn't work. I decided to play some of my worship music on my laptop in hopes of falling asleep to that, that didn't work. Then I decided to put a movie in because anyone who knows me well know I can NOT stay awake through a movie. I put in Blindside. As I watching it I felt like the Lord was asking, "Why are you watching this movie, why are you trying to distract yourself with things? Why aren't you in my Word and resting in the peace I give you." I thought about that for awhile but continued to be a fool and stuck with my original plan, falling asleep to the movie. As I continued to watch the movie I couldn't ignore what the Lord had asked me. So like a fool I thought well maybe if I go read my Bible all the background noise will fade away or EDH will turn on....I sure am lame. I kicked myself for that and then remembered why I am here, to get lost in the Lord, rest in Him and be obedient to His voice. I decided resting in the Word of God was a much better plan than all my previous plans. I jumped off my bed and as soon as I pushed stop on the movie EDH came on! I cried and thanked the Lord and apologized for being so foolish. Then I went to sit down and open the Word, I asked the Lord what I should read and He said to read the Psalm that I would read for the next day. I opened up my Bible to Psalm 20 and cried my eyes out! Why am I so ridiculous. Why do I have to be so human and try to distract myself from Christ. All He wants to do is love on me, hold me in His arms and comfort me and yet I continually push Him away, even out here in Haiti by myself. There is no better place to be than in the arms of Christ and there is no better peace than the peace that comes from my Savior. I don't deserve His loving kindness and yet He never holds it back from me. Now read some of the words I read that night and be blessed :) 


   Psalm 20
    For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 ¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
   may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
   and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
   and accept your burnt offerings........

I love my Savior!!!